I don't see it as worrying. Imo we have to do things like this to try to tempt lost supporters and stay-aways back. There's the risk of course that we give another abysmal performance and instead of being tempted back they're more determined to stay away(!) but we can't just sit back, do nothing and hope.
A great gesture by the club. I think Sky TV is a real issue for midweek games, and giving season ticket holders extra value by allowing them to bring a couple of mates makes a lot of sense. Tempt a few out of the pub to see a game live! Who knows, it might start a habit for a few of those free tickets! Quite a few took up the offer last time, and there was something similar. Free hot drink to boot, even if you don't bring a friend!
Perhaps I’m still just on a downer but it seems to me that this is not just due to poor performances, but due to silly kick off times and over-televised games.
We haven't had any of the clubs with big away followings at Oakwell yet which will impact those figures. I also wonder if it's based on official stadium capacity or actual useable seats - the unusable section of the West Stand will possibly be detrimental. 52% is poor though
A free warm drink (last had one Luton away night game) and half price food making it reasonably priced. Plus the chance to take two people for nowt. Can't fault it.
Can’t fault it at all. I still don’t think it’ll make much of a difference though. Folk will still choose to watch at home on Sky and have a hot drink when they want it (or something stronger given the way we’re playing). Mystified why clubs in L1 and 2 ever agreed the new Sky deal. It’ll cost a lot of clubs dearly in the long run. The only thing that will tempt people back into the ground is winning football and entertaining too would be a bonus. We’ve had one measly home league win since February, that’s why fans are apathetic towards attending games.
No issue with the Club trying things to drive up attendances. However I fear it’s going to make little difference. I guess time will tell, but after year on year of people saying ‘we’ll struggle to shift season tickets’, I think next year will finally see a drop. The irony being it won’t actually be because of what’s happened on the pitch. I guess the CFOs will say this has been costed into the Sky deal, but I think you will see it in the stands. The new deal has absolutely wrecked the season for so many. I get it’s guaranteed £ for the Club, but the fans have been a distant afterthought. So gestures like this are fine, but don’t make up for the sell out to Sky, where the fans didn’t even come into the conversation. From next year, renewing for me won’t be based on going to the match on a Saturday. It will be based on whether I’m prepared to write off a grand a year to keep supporting the Club, knowing I might only get to a handful of games. I can absolutely guarantee I won’t be paying a Sky subscription though, to watch games I’ve already paid for, that they’ve now deprived me of going to see.
Yep, agree 100%. Be a massive drop next season I reckon. Clubs lower down should never have agreed the deal with Sky.
I can see why they have tbh. Guaranteed income innit. Promises of growing the brand, etc etc. Faustian pact.
It is worrying but at the same time I don't think it's worrying in terms of bfc alone. I think it's just a very worrying situation that lower league football is currently in after selling its soul to the devil in respect of the TV deal. So yes it's extremely worrying that the club has suffered such a large loss in supporters but I don't think it is solely a problem for us however I do think that last season and this close seasons activities did actually have a large affect on ticket sales with season tickets looking significantly down. But while it's worrying it's also really good to see someone at Oakwell has got their arse in gear and been proactive in trying to do something about it. Will it work? God knows but it's a bloody good attempt to get people back imo. I'll be taking up their offer of 2 free tickets for people who wouldn't usually come and I'll also be getting a hot drink for the first time in god knows how long too. Only thing I'd be adding to it if I was the club would be to get some pre match entertainment on if possible, a local band or something from the college. Give people a reason to come on down early and then make use of the excellently discounted food and drink to buy their dinner here. It's a good opportunity to pack the place out for the entire evening and have families in from 6pm really. Worrying for football, yes. Worrying for bfc, yes. But mainly a really good attempt to reverse the trend.