NO SUBSTITUTE FOR BEING THERE

[onearmbandit]

When I chaired the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum the subject of attendance figures came up In one our meetings. We asked the straightforward question, ‘does the announced gate attendance figure include all Season Card holders whether they attend or not?’. The then Financial Director of MFC, David Joyes, admitted that the figure announced at each match was in fact “tickets sold“ (including away fans) and not the number of fans who actually attended the game and clicked a turnstile. In June 2022 MFC publicly declared they had sold ”over 18,000 season cards” for the 2022/23 season. In the new ambitious Michael Carrick era, with MFC announcing that “almost 24,000“ watched yesterday’s Bristol City clash, I hope to see non-attending season card holding seats around the Riverside start to fill up and real attendances start to rise. UP THE BORO!

 

[r00fie1]

Hear! Hear!

 

[Nobby_Barnes]

Here! Here !

 

[newyddion]

When I chaired the Middlesbrough Supporters Forum the subject of attendance figures came up In one our meetings. We asked the straightforward question, ‘does the announced gate attendance figure include all Season Card holders whether they attend or not?’. The then Financial Director of MFC, David Joyes, admitted that the figure announced at each match was in fact “tickets sold“ (including away fans) and not the number of fans who actually attended the game and clicked a turnstile. In June 2022 MFC publicly declared they had sold ”over 18,000 season cards” for the 2022/23 season. In the new ambitious Michael Carrick era, with MFC announcing that “almost 24,000“ watched yesterday’s Bristol City clash, I hope to see non-attending season card holding seats around the Riverside start to fill up and real attendances start to rise. UP THE BORO!

‘non-attending season card holding seats’

utter madness with the cost of everything going up that folks don’t give their empty seats up.

I wonder if we could put a system in place so that less fortunate folks could take up empty seats already paid for?

 

[onearmbandit]

If this was strictly observed I wonder what real attendances would be?

‘3. Use of Season Card

3.1. Season Cards are issued for your personal use and you shall not resell, dispose of, assign, transfer or lend or otherwise deal with the Season Card or the benefit of it to any other person without the prior written consent of the Club’.

 

[Alexander Supertramp]

Would be good if the club teamed up with a local charity where season ticket holders could drop their ticket off if they were going to miss a game due to a holiday etc

I’d use it

 

[Theyalwaysletyoudown]

‘non-attending season card holding seats’

utter madness with the cost of everything going up that folks don’t give their empty seats up.

Ours haven't (all) been in use because of some ill health. Can barely give them away among friends and family. If there was a simple and convenient mechanism to offer them up for someone to use on a cheaper or free basis (ie, we release them for a particular game, someone buys on an exchange and gets a paper ticket) I would often put them up when we can't get there but the club won't want to undercut actual ticket sales.

 

[Redwurzel]

The season ticket costs around £19 per game but to get to a game costs me a lot more than £19.

The ST money helps the club while a £65 train ticket or fuel does not.

 

[Redwurzel]

Ours haven't (all) been in use because of some ill health. Can barely give them away among friends and family. If there was a simple and convenient mechanism to offer them up for someone to use on a cheaper or free basis (ie, we release them for a particular game, someone buys on an exchange and gets a paper ticket) I would often put them up when we can't get there but the club won't want to undercut actual ticket sales.

The problem is that some clever alec would say I am not buying a season ticket next season when they are plenty of free or cheap seats going for most games.

I think the Club could give out some free tickets to people doing voluntary work for the Club or Foundation. They may already do. Also school pupils who successfully complete school project work.

 

[onearmbandit]

The problem is that some clever alec would say I am not buying a season ticket next season when they are plenty of free or cheap seats going for most games.

I think the Club could give out some free tickets to people doing voluntary work for the Club or Foundation. They may already do. Also school pupils who successfully complete school project work.

 

[Kosovo]

If the club wants bigger crowds drop the walk up price. Our walk up prices imo are way over the top.

 

[NorthumberlandBoro]

Is non attending season card holders really a big number?
Other than for ill health/emergencies who forks out for a season card and doesn't bother going?

 

[Norfolkred1]

If the club wants bigger crowds drop the walk up price. Our walk up prices imo are way over the top.

To the point that it would be cheaper in the long run over a season ticket price.

 

[onearmbandit]

It is important to fill the stadium too. We fans are genuinely the 12th man. Without us there is no atmosphere, no funds, and ultimately no game. I hope that the Club takes a loss leader view on ticket prices for the FA Cup. Let’s hear the Riverside roar! The younger generation are the committed season ticket holders of the future.

 

[Kosovo]

To the point that it would be cheaper in the long run over a season ticket price.

Not cheaper but same price. Not everyone can afford a big lump sum for a ST ticket or to be saddled with a DD for a number of months to pay for one.

 

[Norfolkred1]

The pricing debate will rumble on season after season. The Club will say 'you don't have to come' It's a business all the same. I hate paying that price for a ST but it gets the seat I enjoy and the surrounding fans that I have come to know over the years.

 

[clay]

I'm a ST holder, and I've missed three home games this season: missed the opener against WBA because of last-minute train cancellations, missed the Sheff Utd game because I caught covid at QPR, and missed Brum due to family commitments. Wigan on Boxing Day is looking unlikely too.

Is non attending season card holders really a big number?

All the seats around me in the South are ST seats, and I'm yet to see them all filled at the same game.

 

[onearmbandit]

The pricing debate will rumble on season after season. The Club will say 'you don't have to come' It's a business all the same. I hate paying that price for a ST but it gets the seat I enjoy and the surrounding fans that I have come to know over the years.

I agree. There’s more to having a season ticket. We enjoy an excellent view and banter with the regulars who have become friends across the years.

 

[Almeria2005]

I am a pensioner have been living in Spain since 2002 and have kept my season ticket so I can sit with members of my family when I come home.normally my family upgrade it so someone else can use it

 

[fmttmadmin]

Ours haven't (all) been in use because of some ill health. Can barely give them away among friends and family. If there was a simple and convenient mechanism to offer them up for someone to use on a cheaper or free basis (ie, we release them for a particular game, someone buys on an exchange and gets a paper ticket) I would often put them up when we can't get there but the club won't want to undercut actual ticket sales.

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