dwindling crowds/atmosphere

[Fosse69]

It's funny that nobody ever mentions our crumbling/tired ground when we win 4-0.

Why is that?

Anybody?

I think Bournemouth would like our capacity at present.

[Mario]

It's funny that nobody ever mentions our crumbling/tired ground when we win 4-0.

Why is that?

Anybody?

 

Because you don't have to keep reminding people that the Bycars Railway Stand and Paddock are crumbling/tired whether we win or lose

[Valiant Haze]

When you consider how Mr Big talks to his customers, then the actual attendance is pretty good !

Arrogance and ignorance in abundance

[For Us All]

When you consider how Mr Big talks to his customers, then the actual attendance is pretty good !

Arrogance and ignorance in abundance

 

There did seem quite a few people who were hoping we'd lose in front of less than 2,000 but it didn't quite work out that way.

Love it.

UTV.

[Family Stand Terrier]

It's funny that nobody ever mentions our crumbling/tired ground when we win 4-0.

Why is that?

Anybody?

 

The problem with that kind of attitude is that it's so short sighted. This thread, literally, has customers (existing and potential) putting forward issues that affect whether or not they attend. You can treat my posts however you wish, but your ignorance says it all really, especially when the evidence is there for all to see...attendances are dropping. ST provided quite a descriptive overview of his last experience of attending a Vale match v Charlton. You can bury your head in the sand, ignore the blatantly obvious when our competitors are improving every single part of their product, or our Chairman can take on board the issues being raised and look at ways to address them. I hope he takes a more sophisticated approach than the one you're suggesting, which is to do nothing simply because fans "should" attend.

[man in the pub]

In the main I agree that the team is the most important part. But when the chips are down, it's the other things (matchday experience, vibe from the club, atmosphere) that make people turn up. There isn't a whole lot of positive things to say about any of those things are there?

 

What Chips, where are they ? I couldn't get a pie at halftime against Hartlepool.

[fairportnick]

There did seem quite a few people who were hoping we'd lose in front of less than 2,000 but it didn't quite work out that way.

Love it.

UTV.

 

How sad

[Conrad]

What Chips, where are they ? I couldn't get a pie at halftime against Hartlepool.

 

No hot food left before half time must be the unexpected huge crowd.

[man in the pub]

No hot food left before half time must be the unexpected huge crowd.

 

No think it was the warm weather .

[For Us All]

How sad

 

I hope you're not too disappointed.

[For Us All]

The problem with that kind of attitude is that it's so short sighted. This thread, literally, has customers (existing and potential) putting forward issues that affect whether or not they attend. You can treat my posts however you wish, but your ignorance says it all really, especially when the evidence is there for all to see...attendances are dropping. ST provided quite a descriptive overview of his last experience of attending a Vale match v Charlton. You can bury your head in the sand, ignore the blatantly obvious when our competitors are improving every single part of their product, or our Chairman can take on board the issues being raised and look at ways to address them. I hope he takes a more sophisticated approach than the one you're suggesting, which is to do nothing simply because fans "should" attend.

 

 

Anyone can make excuses not to attend home matches but some of the criticisms in ST's post wouldn't be top of my list.

Call me old-fashioned if you want but my matchday experience at Vale Park just involves me turning up,supporting the team and hopefully seeing them win,which so far this season they have succeeded in doing.

Not too bothered about new licks of paint and urinals to be honest but each to their own.

[Warren]

The start of most games consists of us playing poorly, passing the ball round at the back and giving it away up front. It is neither effective nor entertaining. Away from home we are useless. We are under achieving and its not entertaining. So crowds are falling short of potential numbers. If you kick off and pass it back to the keeper as we did last home league game, what does the manager and owner expect!

[geosname]

Anyone can make excuses not to attend home matches but some of the criticisms in ST's post wouldn't be top of my list.

Call me old-fashioned if you want but my matchday experience at Vale Park just involves me turning up,supporting the team and hopefully seeing them win,which so far this season they have succeeded in doing.

Not too bothered about new licks of paint and urinals to be honest but each to their own.

 

I wouldnt call you old fashioned... a hard core supporter perhaps?

I dont have a problem with the people who turn up no matter what... I am concerned however that the number of people who fit into this category isnt enough to sustain the club.

We have to get away from the "because I do it everyone should do it" attitude.

Smurf seems to expect fans to just turn up.... they have... just not in the numbers he expects or needs.

The "company" approach seems to be talk to the fans who are hardcore and ignore the rest because they are not hardcore but expect/demand that the phantom fans come out of the woodwork... but talking to the hardcore seems to be a chore no one wants to do.

But lets be honest... even if these "missing" fans miraculously turned up and pushed the gates up to the "average" there still wouldnt be enough to move forward.

I wouldnt suggest painting the stadium, rebuilding/finishing stands, installing new toilets, spending millions as the way to go... for any of those things to have an impact you have to have people inside to appreciate them.

I agree with the statement that there are no guarantees in football, there is never a guarantee the team will win or even play well... but then there is no guarantee the fans turn up either.

 

The first step, I would suggest, is a change in attitude from the top down.

 

Its important to know and understand why fans attend but its crucial to know why they dont.

[Family Stand Terrier]

Anyone can make excuses not to attend home matches but some of the criticisms in ST's post wouldn't be top of my list.

Call me old-fashioned if you want but my matchday experience at Vale Park just involves me turning up,supporting the team and hopefully seeing them win,which so far this season they have succeeded in doing.

Not too bothered about new licks of paint and urinals to be honest but each to their own.

 

You'll notice I've highlighted your use of the words "my" and "me". You then go on to say "each to their own". There in lies the problem. Everyone is expected to adopt exactly the same approach. Everyone is different. I was sarcastic before which probably isn't helpful, but my frustration is with the lack of empathy people show for others that, for whatever reason, aren't currently attending. The attitude towards them is hostile, as though they're obliged to attend and by not doing so they should be derided and insulted. Unfortunately, we're living in much different times. Like it or not, there are a lot of youngsters now that won't have family demanding they follow their routine of watching the Vale every other week. They're going to have a choice to make and lets face it, they'll choose Stoke over us at the moment. On the pitch there's not a lot Smurf can do above what he's already doing. Off the pitch is where he could really make a difference. At the moment I just don't think he's doing enough. That's my point. In these modern times we need to up our game to retain the fans we already have, attract back those that have stopped turning up (find out why!!) and then we need a massive push to attract new young fans at the time when they'd be looking at choosing a team to follow for life. That's where free tickets comes in for starters. If we can then improve the stadium to the standards that fit modern expectations (not just those that have accepted the same standards over a 20/30/40/50 year period) then we can't really say we haven't tried. At the moment, we're simply not competing off the pitch.

[smithie]

You'll notice I've highlighted your use of the words "my" and "me". You then go on to say "each to their own". There in lies the problem. Everyone is expected to adopt exactly the same approach. Everyone is different. I was sarcastic before which probably isn't helpful, but my frustration is with the lack of empathy people show for others that, for whatever reason, aren't currently attending. The attitude towards them is hostile, as though they're obliged to attend and by not doing so they should be derided and insulted. Unfortunately, we're living in much different times. Like it or not, there are a lot of youngsters now that won't have family demanding they follow their routine of watching the Vale every other week. They're going to have a choice to make and lets face it, they'll choose Stoke over us at the moment. On the pitch there's not a lot Smurf can do above what he's already doing. Off the pitch is where he could really make a difference. At the moment I just don't think he's doing enough. That's my point. In these modern times we need to up our game to retain the fans we already have, attract back those that have stopped turning up (find out why!!) and then we need a massive push to attract new young fans at the time when they'd be looking at choosing a team to follow for life. That's where free tickets comes in for starters. If we can then improve the stadium to the standards that fit modern expectations (not just those that have accepted the same standards over a 20/30/40/50 year period) then we can't really say we haven't tried. At the moment, we're simply not competing off the pitch.

 

As ever, I partly agree and partly disagree!

 

There's plenty of evidence that the "new" grounds aren't what most people are looking for.

 

The word "soulless" is often used about these places for a reason. Frequently found on retail parks and motorway junctions, these stadia are utterly nondescript in my opinion.

 

Shrewsbury, Northampton and Colchester are 3 that have seen a loss of atmosphere while chasing the corporate dollar - and they've not seen sustained upturns in support either.

 

In my opinion we should play on what we have and who we are a lot more. For away fans of a drinking age, Vale is a cracking day out pub-wise. Vale is Burslem, and Burslem is Vale.

 

Without a doubt we need to attract new younger fans and a "whole-day" experience with playing football in the morning and then watching it in the afternoon is probably the way to go. It certainly has to be affordable for a family to attend, and to my mind we don't reach out enough to the East European communities who undoubtedly love their football.

 

All my opinion, of course!