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Cash flow hit by stay-away fans
Date published: 29 September 2009
THE effect of the recession is biting hard at Boundary Park where Athletic’s home attendances are down by almost 15-per-cent.
Club officials are not commenting publicly on the issue, but privately they are worried about cash flow.
The tough economic conditions and Athletic’s poor start to the campaign are the two main reasons for the large fall in paying customers.
At this time last year, Athletic were top of Coca-Cola League One, whereas this time they have been languishing in the lower reaches of the table.
But club officials are hoping back-to-back wins against Carlisle and Southend will provide a feelgood factor and woo some of the stayaway fans back to Boundary Park.
When you compare the attendances for the first four home games of the campaign, they show a fall of 3,344 on the same fixtures last season.
The four games against Stockport, Swindon, Hartlepool and Carlisle last season attracted 22,773 fans, while this time the figure is 19,429.
That equates to 836 fewer paying customers coming through the gate for each game and possibly a £50,000 fall in income over the four matches.
Replicate that over a full season, and gate receipts could be down by around £300,000.
Athletic will be watching with interest the turn-out for tonight’s home match against Milton Keynes Dons in League One.
It is the first Tuesday night home league game of the campaign and for midweek matches the attendance is usually lower than for a weekend fixture.
There is no chance of it matching last season’s attendance of 5,530 for a Saturday fixture.
For this season’s matches at Boundary Park, there has been a sharp fall compared to last term.
And for the last home game against Carlisle, the home following dipped below 3,500.
Athletic kicked off their campaign against Stockport where the crowd held up well, with home fans numbering 5,250 compared to 5,412 last season. The overall gate was 6,918 compared to 7,605 in January for their previous meeting.
Since then, there has been a downward spiral.
Home fans fell below the 4,000 mark for the visit of Swindon, when there were 3,983 locals compared to 4,455 last season.
It was a similar story against Hartlepool when the home following of 3,746 was down on last season’s 4,090.
The Carlisle game produced the biggest fall, with 3,477 home fans compared to 5,200 last season.
That said, last season’s fixture came during the Christmas period when gates are larger than usual.
In addition, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy tie against Accrington Stanley attracted a gate of 1,448, of which 1,287 were home fans.
That is believed to be the lowest attendance ever for a competitive match at Boundary Park, certainly for the last 30 years. The previous low in that period was 1,841 for a Simod Cup tie against West Brom in 1987.
Athletic’s away following is also well down on last season, which is not surprising given the vast amount of travelling involved.
The highest total for an away fixture was 297 at Leyton Orient while the lowest was 163 for the midweek match at Millwall. The average for the six away games is 214 per match.
Comments
You only have to look at the current economic climate to see why attendances are falling. With people losing their jobs £20 is a huge chunk of income that could be better spent elsewhere.
Old_Mancunian, the new stadium would be open 7 days a week, not just on matchdays, therefore generating an income stream that Boundary Park cannot provide. As for the memorial garden being 'ripped up' as you put it, no detailed plans have been released yet, have they?
To Old_mancunian, I think thats every reason to leave BP, everyone keeps saying we will loose fans by moving to broadway - we are losing them anyway. Its the same problem, the 3500 die hards will be at the games regardless of venue. The floating fans will go if we are either winning, a decent cup draw or if its FREE!!! The people of Oldham would rather sit at home and moan about things rather than support the club, TTA and the Team. Keeping The Faith!
Here they are again moaning about stay away fans, what do they expect?, a lousy start to season, cut after cut after cut, a new ground has been nothing but a farce and they wondering why the crowds are down?. I suggest they take their heads from were the sun does not shine, and see the real world. for now they have lost my support.
Visiting BP is not a pleasant experience these days. And I don't mean the team's form or the stadium. I mean being told everywhere that you're not allowed to do this, not allowed to do that, treated like a prisoner for 2 hours. And 20 quid for the privilege.
What was the point of knocking the Broadway Stand down, it was one of the best places to watch the game from.
A coat of paint at Boundary Park and active marketing team would improve matters.
How much wedge would relocation cost to gain us a crèche-like, tip-tap plastic, thin-binlinered, scaled down version of BP with its iconic floodlights and a home of great memories. It’s not in bad nick at all. For those who think BP is passed it take a look at characterless new Yeovil ground to see what we don’t want to end up with and compare poor old St James' Park, Exeter next March and you'll realise why BP should be a national monument and given a chance to play host to future greatness!
Great news OLDHAM SCUMLAND is no longer supporting the latics, no great loss, lets have a party
What would be the point of moving to a stadium 3.5 miles away from Man City's ground? If you lived in Failsworth, (most of whom regard themselves as Mancunians), and had £20 to spare on football would you spend it on PL football or FL football?
So let me get this straight, you only support a football team if they are doing well?? Great fans!!
Eddy m_Burke, I have supported the club since they was in the pits of the old fourth Division, we got beat nearly every week, but i payed my money and did not moan. Now i have to make a 500 mile round trip for a home game, unlike chaddy the bender it take a whole lot of time and money for each match, so for now i do not feel it is worth my while making the trip untill they turn the tide (hope they continue to win) the money is better in my pocket.
I don't But other people do. I know for a fact some people just want to watch a game of football, not supporting a particular team.
My origional comment is in regard to our beloved club trying to find more fans.
OLDHAM SCUMLAND so your only a latics fan when were winning and doing well, you say there is no point in coming watching them at the moment, and your the one who's always moaning about attendances and budgets, no wonder were struggling if most fans are like you, stay away completely.
Chaddy the BENDER, why do you not read what i put before making yourself look stupid, you live round the corner i do not. As for following Latics i probably spent more last season than you have for the past 4 seasons.
Oh and by the way chaddy the bender why should i moan about stay away fans, I for one understand why they do not go, its the directors that moan.
Actually OLDHAM SCUMLAND i do not live just round the corner, do us all a favour and stick to scottish football it's all your good for
Have Your Say
This raises the point - Will more fans turn up for a new stadium or for a winning team? A new stadium would be nice but not if it's empty. The plans to rip up the memorial ground in the present climate of Afghanistan/Iraq is a step too far and could lose more fans. I think they should build the houses round BP and refurbish the true home of Latics.
By Old_Mancunian @ 29/09/2009 12:33:34