Look Closer To Home Mr Lansdown

[ooRya]

I think the Chairman has every right to be disapointed with the attendences recently.I was also disapointed to see such a poor gate last game.You would expect with City going well to see at least 13000.

That said the cost of attendence puts many partimers off - despite the fact that prices are 'competative' when compared to other 1st Divion clubs.

The catering is dire outside of the Dolman Hall and expensive with poor quality service and that also has an effect.Its been that way for many seasons but never gets any better despite almost weekly complaints.

Like others, I'm sure that if City maintain a top 6 place that attendences will increase - especially after xmas when the end of season is in sight.

How much are they paying you?

I think there`s a link between the post "bring back the noise" and what you`re saying.

It is being killed off (not just at AG) but country wide by over commercialism, all seater stadiums, over pricing and the general feeling by many fans that rather than being their club, they are more of an imbuggerance to the powers that be.

It`s interesting to note that in the previously mentioned post, most of the games with atmos mentioned when there was a hostility in the ground, either towards the opposition team or fans.Nowadays with our PC society where you`re not allowed to swear, stand up, have a few before the game (the list is endless) it has taken all the passion out of supporting your team.

Years ago football was the preserve of the working class where it was the one opportunity to go and let off steam shout and scream and in some cases have a row with opposing fans, this was the case for 100 years before it became big business fuelling huge salaries for mediocre players who have no loyalty to their club or its supporters. I started watching my football in the 70s when the game was full of characters like stan bowles, tony currie, frank worthington, alan hudson etc, who played as much for enjoyment as money, players who inspired as well as infuriated, players who expected levels of abuse that now a days you`d be thrown out for dishing out.where are the characters in todays game?.

Essentially football has become a product of a sterile society where originality, flair, passion, anger, joy, hatred are all considered taboo.

Years ago Ashton Gate used to be a hostile place for teams and their fans. The powers that be have done their best to change ( in some ways for the better) but the upshot of that is what we are left with now.

SAD.....BUT TRUE.

[NiceRed]

Have you got any evidence to back that up? I don't believe that's correct at all.

They'll be 12,000+ down there tomorrow and our average is still around 11,000 for this season.

We still have plenty of games to come that, so long as we maintain current form, will see big crowds at AG - Yeovil, Forest, Cheltenham, Millwall etc.

At every away game between now and Xmas we'll take 1,000 + fans as well. I think support's still very healthy myself. This league is perhaps not as attractive as it has been in the past mind without the likes of Stoke, Plymouth, QPR, Reading, Rovers, Swindon, Cardiff, Sheff Weds etc

Was just about to post something along these lines. Our average gate is fractionally over the 11 000 mark and we haven't had any of what I would call "big" home games yet - except maybe Brighton. If we continue to do ok then the Forest and Yeovil games will push gates up significantly.

That said, a general trend in the last couple of years has been for lower league clubs to increase gates (with Prem clubs decreasing slightly - Man U and Arsenal excepting) and we have not see too much evidence of that so far. So it's right to have a few concerns.

1 of the problems in recent years is that fans come to home games with too high expectations - expecting City to roll over the likes of Colchester/Blackpool/Wrexham without too much effort. Often this has happened and so we almost get it in our minds that the team doesn't really need us to cheer them on to a win, hence the quiet atmosphere and the boredom. There's another thread going on at the moment remembering the atmosphere in the 5-2 win over Crewe in our relegation year. That happened when we had not yet won a game that season and were really up against it.

[Barrs Court Red]

If City fans expectation have been too high, who is to blame and who stirs up these feelings seemingly before every season?

[aller g]

Open E.E. = BIGGER ATTENDANCE; WAKE UP STEVE

as much as i'd like the EE open, this is no reason to why we still have a poor attendance.

infact its a crap reason.

by opening the east end it would give us couple of hundred people a chance to go in there. the attendance would be the same.

yes theres a couple of people who may come back to watch us if its opened back up but its not the 5000+ extra we need to sell out ashton gate.

[Guest mesa boogie]

I think you're missing the point here. The reason why Bristol are getting attendances of 10,000ish is because they are forward thinking and thus successful. Rovers and City's attendances have been falling for a while now and nothing has been done by either club to stop the rot. Bristol's football supports as a whole are cheesed off.

[CiderHider]

I think you're missing the point here. The reason why Bristol are getting attendances of 10,000ish is because they are forward thinking and thus successful. Rovers and City's attendances have been falling for a while now and nothing has been done by either club to stop the rot. Bristol's football supports as a whole are cheesed off.

We need Championship football to flourish, you can't expect everyone to drop everything to watch Carlisle United can you? I know many people will goto AG regardless of the opposition, they are the backbone of the support and should be respected, but with teamns like Leeds, Birmingham etc.. comming to AG people will make more of an effort because they know it should be better class football with better class players.

We already have a team allmost able to compete in the Championship, just a few minor adjustments and we'll be pushing for the Premiership

Now i'm being silly.

[Guest North Street]

I don't doubt that but simpley to say "Open E.E. = BIGGER ATTENDANCE" i don't beleive. That indicated the attendance will improve through the EE being open, meaning people only turn up for the east end.

Personally i think the poor attendance is due to high ticket prices and people thinking the same will happen as seasons before ie. Failure!

City have nearly always been failures, really crap in the eighties, nearly all of the nineties and now really.

Opening the East End would help to improve attendances at Ashton Gate without question coupled with Lansdown realising that his constant "nannyism" is turning fans away from a club that has always been a large & important part of their lives. Many fans are quite used to failure as it is synonymous with City but at the moment the club is supposed to be on the up and saturday will see another crap gate with most sat watching seemingly barely alive. The East End, smoking, singing, standing, cost are all part of a wider picture of what i am hearing from long standing supporters of where City have lost their way.Tommorow i am reduced to carrying a bloody petition around pubs and the theme i will hear will be smoking, singing,

standing, cost, STEVEN LANSDOWN" from those in the 3 Lions etc who are reduced to hoping like me a bit of what BCFC was may come back to us.

Ashton Gate has also become more than a little crap, Our club does not have to be like this at least of the pitch!

[Bristol Boy]

Spot on. Top post, we all know why.

I am one of I'm sure quite a considerable number that don't actually enjoy going to Ashton Gate anymore. It has become more of a chore. Money wasted on yet another season ticket, and the funny thing is WERE 2ND! This should be the MOST enjoyable time. Granted away from home its awesome being on a great run of form good atmostphere etc.

But I'm not going to fall into the trap of everything is great because were 2nd in the league, because in my opinion City could win 5-0 on saturday and I wouldn't enjoy it any more or any less than I we were to lose 1-0. Which I have to say makes me feel sick.

Hopefully one day home games will be good again. And even for average home games we will be getting 15-16000...But yer know what, I just don't see it.

I'm interested that you say you'd still be dissatisfied if we won 5-0?

Why do you say that it's a chore?

I think I know where you're coming from, having also spoke to some other fans who may feel similarly to you and complain that matchdays are not as interesting as they were.

[NiceRed]

If City fans expectation have been too high, who is to blame and who stirs up these feelings seemingly before every season?

I'm guessing you're making reference to SL's pre-season "pitch" then?

So would you rather SL came out with something like:

"To be honest, even though we are once again pre-season favourites, we probably won't go up this season as, well, we always mess it up don't we? Infact, I wouldn't bother buying a season ticket yet as I don't really know how the team will do, and we're not exactly going to start playing like Brazil are we? You're probably better off going to the Mall on a Saturday afternoon. Or that @Bristol thing looks fun"

Despite year after year of failure many City fans still think we have the God given right to beat the smaller clubs in this league - this has been going on long before SL was a part of the club.

[Red`s Ashtonic Lustpit]

I know this to be a flight of fancy, but I would be much more willing to travel to AG, from the Midlands, if I knew I could go in the EE; but more importantly a TERRACED EE,with a reasonable entrance fee of say £10-£12.

Maybe this is simplistic, but I am sure hundreds (probably thousands) would echo my sentiments.

Please don`t give me the "21st century ground" twaddle. The ubervolk in Germany have terracing, and operate it safely (and at a very low entrance fee). If it can be done there, why not here?

[StapleHillPhil]

I'm guessing you're making reference to SL's pre-season "pitch" then?

I'd rather he said naff all rather than heaping more pressure on the team even before a ball is kicked in anger.

There are a dozen or so understandable reasons as to why fans don't feel enthusiastic about the football club any longer. In most cases I'd guess the cause is due to the strategy formulated in the boardroom.

[Guest mesa boogie]

We need Championship football to flourish, you can't expect everyone to drop everything to watch Carlisle United can you? I know many people will goto AG regardless of the opposition, they are the backbone of the support and should be respected, but with teamns like Leeds, Birmingham etc.. comming to AG people will make more of an effort because they know it should be better class football with better class players.

We already have a team allmost able to compete in the Championship, just a few minor adjustments and we'll be pushing for the Premiership

Now i'm being silly.

Both teams at the moment are doing their very best to loose a whole generation of supporters, I'd rather see a kid in one of your red rags than a Manure or Chelski shirt.

[Robbored]

ahhh the bloody prawn sandwich brigade in their with their "special memberships"

i remember last season when it was actually open to all fans, the food was just as rubbish as the rest of the ground!

As you know the Dolman Hall has been refurbished and now has a very well equiped,purpose bulit kitchen/food kiosk which is well staffed and serves some decent tuck - its still pricy though'.I didn't notice prawn sandwiches on the menu.....

The 'food' in the rest of the stadium is very poor in comparison.

[NiceRed]

I know this to be a flight of fancy, but I would be much more willing to travel to AG, from the Midlands, if I knew I could go in the EE; but more importantly a TERRACED EE,with a reasonable entrance fee of say £10-£12.

Maybe this is simplistic, but I am sure hundreds (probably thousands) would echo my sentiments.

Please don`t give me the "21st century ground" twaddle. The ubervolk in Germany have terracing, and operate it safely (and at a very low entrance fee). If it can be done there, why not here?

Agree with the East End bit in a way - would certainly make attending more fun. However, I don't remember us getting 15-20k in the last few years the EE was open terraced so who knows. Would be fun finding out.

I've no idea how foreign clubs get away with charging next to nothing and are still allowed huge terraces to stand on. Dortmund is the best example - terracing for Bundesliga games, then they simply bolt seats in for Champs League matches.

It's not really hard to figure out why the Bundesliga has the highest average gates in Europe. Dortmund was the best supported team in Europe last year with gates of 80k+ - and they finished midtable!

[ooRya]

City have nearly always been failures, really crap in the eighties, nearly all of the nineties and now really.

Opening the East End would help to improve attendances at Ashton Gate without question coupled with Lansdown realising that his constant "nannyism" is turning fans away from a club that has always been a large & important part of their lives. Many fans are quite used to failure as it is synonymous with City but at the moment the club is supposed to be on the up and saturday will see another crap gate with most sat watching seemingly barely alive. The East End, smoking, singing, standing, cost are all part of a wider picture of what i am hearing from long standing supporters of where City have lost their way.Tommorow i am reduced to carrying a bloody petition around pubs and the theme i will hear will be smoking, singing,

standing, cost, STEVEN LANSDOWN" from those in the 3 Lions etc who are reduced to hoping like me a bit of what BCFC was may come back to us.

Ashton Gate has also become more than a little crap, Our club does not have to be like this at least of the pitch!

You and many others in this and similar threads, clearly and passionately care about the state of "the football experience" at Ashton Gate. I will include myself in that as I long for days gone by when watching football was so much more than it is today.

I do find it a little depressing though that you are endorsing the sanitised modern football world by making your protest with a petition. I can't really see supporters from those bygone days doing that!

Having said that, at least you're doing something positive, and i really hope it gets somewhere......I just can't help feeling that Mr lansdown might be more inclined to listen if say, everyone stood up for the whole game, or did something that was just a bit more direct.

[stortfordred]

I know this to be a flight of fancy, but I would be much more willing to travel to AG, from the Midlands, if I knew I could go in the EE; but more importantly a TERRACED EE,with a reasonable entrance fee of say £10-£12.

Maybe this is simplistic, but I am sure hundreds (probably thousands) would echo my sentiments.

Please don`t give me the "21st century ground" twaddle. The ubervolk in Germany have terracing, and operate it safely (and at a very low entrance fee). If it can be done there, why not here?

Even non-league football costs a tenner now. This is just not being realistic.

It is true that the East End being open has enhanced the atmosphere on occasions but it also true that there have been other times at AG when two of the other three sides of the ground have been rocking without an input from the East End. There is nothing inherently wrong with the acoustics in, for example, the Dolman, it's just that there are too often not enough people prepared to join in.

Standing on its own is not enough either. we were mobbed out at Brentford last Saturday. Was there any noise from the terraces? More from the stand in my opinion. I quote the Brentford fans: 'Top of the league and you still don't sing.' Harsh but fair.

[bh_red]

As you know the Dolman Hall has been refurbished and now has a very well equiped,purpose bulit kitchen/food kiosk which is well staffed and serves some decent tuck - its still pricy though'.I didn't notice prawn sandwiches on the menu.....

The 'food' in the rest of the stadium is very poor in comparison.

no doubt paid for by the fans with their £5 per season subs to get into the place, it's all well that they have done that but no doubt their are probably less people going in their in previous seasons, so they are probably losing money from less beer being sold,

yet another charge for the fans to us a facility that was free before, what next 20p to take a wee?

[Old Dazzler]

SL actually put the blame for our low crowds at the door of the England Team, the WAGS and bungs.

Out of interest is there anybody out there who has, or knows someone who has, missed a single City game for any of those reasons? I can't imagine that anyone would use such an excuse, but Steve has presumably seen some evidence to back up his words!

There may be 101 reasons for not going to a game, but the fact that Victoria Beckham went shopping in Baaden Baaden can't be one of them.

[Robbored]

no doubt paid for by the fans with their £5 per season subs to get into the place, it's all well that they have done that but no doubt their are probably less people going in their in previous seasons, so they are probably losing money from less beer being sold,

Numbers visiting the Dolman Hall are very much the same as last season - approx 800-1000 per game.As far as I'm aware sales of beer and food are slightly up on last season.

[sirscrumpton]

SL actually put the blame for our low crowds at the door of the England Team, the WAGS and bungs.

Out of interest is there anybody out there who has, or knows someone who has, missed a single City game for any of those reasons? I can't imagine that anyone would use such an excuse, but Steve has presumably seen some evidence to back up his words!

There may be 101 reasons for not going to a game, but the fact that Victoria Beckham went shopping in Baaden Baaden can't be one of them.

I've missed City games to go watch England play.

[Guest]

So from that, are you saying that you or other people simply don't go because you cant sit in the EE?

If so, regardless of my point of view on the EastEnd, that is very poor excuse imo.

Got it in one final straw in my case, a long line of poor decisions and shoddy treatment of home fans; until he reconsiders or passes through; I will be looking at away games more.

The 2 others that I go with feel the same as do many more. Reduced admissions and all sorts have been tried, maybe things arent bad enough to give many fans what they want just yet

[Puckle_red]

I'm interested that you say you'd still be dissatisfied if we won 5-0?

Why do you say that it's a chore?

I think I know where you're coming from, having also spoke to some other fans who may feel similarly to you and complain that matchdays are not as interesting as they were.

OK, of course I'd be pleased with the team, and the 3 points, but I still wouldn't of enjoyed the "matchday experience" I don't find sitting in silence (apart from the irritating drum), with my arms crossed, watching the game exciting, I don't even find it interesting. If I wanted to do that I'd sit at home watching Man United or Chelsea. It has started to feel hollow, as I said 5-0 win or 1-0 loss, it doesnt change the matchday experience, only the mood I go home in.

For example, in the season 03/04 I think it was the playoff final season, and the Eastend was regularly open, I remember coming home from a game vs Oldham Athletic and City had lost 2-0 and were pretty dreadful, but on the way back in the car my Dad and his mate said "what an awful game" I said, "well actually I enjoyed it, I had great fun in the Eastend." DESPITE the fact we lost 2-0! Now there were also games that we won when the EE was open of course and they were amazing games. If your starting to understand my point? I could go home tomorrow after watching City thrash Crewe 5-0. And I'd be pleased, but bored, and waiting to get home. I would feel excactly the same if we lost 1-0 at home to crewe tmorrow apart from disapointed with losing but still bored.

Its beginning to be a chore because, I don't enjoy it, I could easily wake up tomorrow morning and be told I'm not going to Ashton Gate today and I would maybe even be happy rather than disapointed. I feels hollow in victory it feels hollow in draw or defeat. If I hadnt have purchased my ST I wouldn't go.

I hope that explains my previous post BB.

[England]

Sorry Steve but I just got bored with hearing the same old lies put out by your board over the last few years. Forty odd years of support including 37 as a season ticket holder counted for nothing as far as you were concerned so I just thought s#d it. I will continue to support the team from afar but after the Tinnion fiasco and your lies about new stands etc I will not return until you are down the road still clutching your millions. Nice bloke but a football chairman - I don't think so.

[Old Dazzler]

I've missed City games to go watch England play.

Sorry, doesn't count, my fault for not fully explaining. He blamed England's mediocre World Cup campaign for fans not turning up at AG.

[havanatopia]

Spot on. Top post, we all know why.

I am one of I'm sure quite a considerable number that don't actually enjoy going to Ashton Gate anymore. It has become more of a chore. Money wasted on yet another season ticket, and the funny thing is WERE 2ND! This should be the MOST enjoyable time. Granted away from home its awesome being on a great run of form good atmostphere etc.

But I'm not going to fall into the trap of everything is great because were 2nd in the league, because in my opinion City could win 5-0 on saturday and I wouldn't enjoy it any more or any less than I we were to lose 1-0. Which I have to say makes me feel sick.

Hopefully one day home games will be good again. And even for average home games we will be getting 15-16000...But yer know what, I just don't see it.

EVEN when Stoke City were doing reasonably well last season they were only getting 15-16k and they always got 12-13k in their div 1 days with us. City will be lucky to sustain 14k plus in mid table or lower in the championship.

[reddevil]

I know this to be a flight of fancy, but I would be much more willing to travel to AG, from the Midlands, if I knew I could go in the EE; but more importantly a TERRACED EE,with a reasonable entrance fee of say £10-£12.

Maybe this is simplistic, but I am sure hundreds (probably thousands) would echo my sentiments.

Please don`t give me the "21st century ground" twaddle. The ubervolk in Germany have terracing, and operate it safely (and at a very low entrance fee). If it can be done there, why not here?

I think the answer to the German question is that it may be difficult legally to revert to terracing, from what I remember of the Taylor report once you have seats it is not possible to get a safety certificate to go to a terrace. And to be blunt no-one has ever been killed in a German stadium which is probably why you still have immense stadiums like the Westfalion.

I think the point about pricing is still valid, by having 6-7,000 empty seats every week and people willing to fill it means an big opportunity is being missed. When Bristol rugby were in national league one if you had a season ticket and missed a game you could exchange the unused ticket for a later game, by doing that you not only attract fans to buy season who can't attend every game but also get new people to the stadium. Now look where Brizzle are, top of the table with sell outs each week and a real feel of unity from club to fans to players.

There are plenty other ways to do it at the gate, offer say six game season tickets, non-Saturday season tickets for people who play local football and maybe discounted prices for the less popular seats like the uncovered Atyeo bits or the corners of the Williams stand. I first went to City on a £5 student ticket in 95 and been a regular ever since.

Although City and this board in particular seem to have its fair share of moaners I really don't feel Sexton and Lansdown are pro-active enough.

Just one whinge from me, if you don't like the food don't buy it then it might actually improve! Surely anyone can go three hours without a pasty??

[arpaul]

The catering is dire outside of the Dolman Hall and expensive with poor quality service and that also has an effect.Its been that way for many seasons but never gets any better despite almost weekly complaints.

This can't be used as an excuse.

You go to Ashton Gate, to watch football. The catering is a side issue, unless Mr Sexstone has introduced a Lindleys season ticket.

[arpaul]

I think the Chairman has every right to be disapointed with the attendences recently.I was also disapointed to see such a poor gate last game.You would expect with City going well to see at least 13000.

I'm afraid Robbored, that your boardroom pals have to take the majority of blame for the falling attendances.

In Danny Wilsons final season, I think average attendances were in the region of about 12,878(league only)

The highest being 19,101 whilst the lowest 9,365

After departing, Mr Lansdown decided that a cheaper option was needed to save costs. Enter Mr Tinpot.

In his only full season, the average dropped to 11,391 an average of very nearly 1500 every game.

Add that figure to the Oldham attendance and you get your 13,000.

Whilst letting old arguments lay, my point is, that over 4 years the Wilson regime managed to increase attendances.

Once supporters stop coming, it will take something special to entice them back.

Let's hope Mr Lansdown hasn't got any more bright ideas!!

[Lordofthebling]

Ahhh more BCFC media spin, this time we arent the "greatest fans in the country" we are being criticised...

And who gets the blame? The Wags.

Oh dear, wake up and smell the coffee. Too much hype, let down time and time again and chasing the big buck corporate focus.

I love the media circus that is BCFC.

[The Fat Controller]

Bunch of moaning numptys.