I would hope the ground is very much League Two standard or we’ve got a problem!!!😳
Sure you can make a pedantic point. Or you could try and address the main argument I was making about whether the stadium is good enough to attract enough fans to ensure life in League One is not a constant drain on finances and making our current losses look pretty good by comparison. Up to you
How does the stadium need to be better to attract fans? I think your initial point was about younger fans in particular - does an 8 year old really care what a stadium looks like? If it’s because it’s not as shiny and smart as Premier League grounds on the TV then we’ve got no chance, you’re talking a complete cultural shift being required and getting people out of their armchairs.
As for attracting more fans in general, I thought it was all about the standard of football and entertainment on offer, that’s what I keep reading year on year on here and other social media.
Yes our stadium may be not be as new and pioneering as it once was, but it’s still only 21 years old and compares more than favourably to many in our division and even in the division above.
I would hope the ground is very much League Two standard or we’ve got a problem!!!😳
Do you go to any away matches jb ?
Our ground is possibly the worst in the EFL.
But then I remembered Forest Green Rovers.
Been to quite a few over the years, and to say ours is the worst is a considerable exaggeration. There are plenty worse, less attractive, tired looking, worse press facilities or in need of a lick of paint than ours. As for Forest Green - yes, just strange🤔
The area maybe lacking at the stadium is corporate and conference facilities (no pun intended). More specifically, matchday hospitality and revenue streams on non-match days, of which there are around 340 in a year.
I know the suite upstairs is hired out by businesses and for functions, but we’ve never made the best use of the social club for example. As for match days, we’re not in a position to offer hospitality boxes as such, and the format of hospitality in a communal rather than private area is not something we’ve ever been able to enhance as we’ve moved up the leagues, so in that respect, yes we are constrained. Even Forest Green have got private corporate rooms!😳
I would hope the ground is very much League Two standard or we’ve got a problem!!!😳
I took it that Steve was suggesting the quality/size etc of our stadium was of lower league two/middle of national standard.
But we need to be careful here. Would having a shiny new 12000 all seated super arena mean that we would suddenly be attracting 7000 home fans on a regular basis? Absolutely not, and others have found out the hard way.
Well just over 10 years ago Brighton’s crowds dipped to just over 4,500 which was about 60 per cent capacity and now of course it’s up to 30,000 on average.
Building the infrastructure that can attract fans may not be sufficient for a club to prosper but it is certainly necessary. In other words, it’s part of a mix of investment but a vital part.
During the early part of their ownership the Eren team did raise the issue of stadium improvement but of course it’s rarely mentioned now because they are now caretakers ready to move on if they find the right people. But the same questions will face whoever comes next.
I’m genuinely surprised this is proving remotely controversial. I like the Broadfield but I’m just realistic that we are unlikely to find an owner willing to spend big on something better, so we should treasure what we have. But our 3 seasons in League 1 show the economics do not add up of us heading much higher than we are now. Staying in League 2 and not slipping back to non league is realistically success for us
I took it that Steve was suggesting the quality/size etc of our stadium was of lower league two/middle of national standard.
But we need to be careful here. Would having a shiny new 12000 all seated super arena mean that we would suddenly be attracting 7000 home fans on a regular basis? Absolutely not, and others have found out the hard way.
Well just over 10 years ago Brighton’s crowds dipped to just over 4,500 which was about 60 per cent capacity and now of course it’s up to 30,000 on average.
Building the infrastructure that can attract fans may not be sufficient for a club to prosper but it is certainly necessary. In other words, it’s part of a mix of investment but a vital part.
During the early part of their ownership the Eren team did raise the issue of stadium improvement but of course it’s rarely mentioned now because they are now caretakers ready to move on if they find the right people. But the same questions will face whoever comes next.
I’m genuinely surprised this is proving remotely controversial. I like the Broadfield but I’m just realistic that we are unlikely to find an owner willing to spend big on something better, so we should treasure what we have. But our 3 seasons in League 1 show the economics do not add up of us heading much higher than we are now. Staying in League 2 and not slipping back to non league is realistically success for us
but we werent selling out turning fans away in league one. Also falmer village were helped by winning promition to championshiop and premier league.
The area maybe lacking at the stadium is corporate and conference facilities (no pun intended). More specifically, matchday hospitality and revenue streams on non-match days, of which there are around 340 in a year.
I know the suite upstairs is hired out by businesses and for functions, but we’ve never made the best use of the social club for example. As for match days, we’re not in a position to offer hospitality boxes as such, and the format of hospitality in a communal rather than private area is not something we’ve ever been able to enhance as we’ve moved up the leagues, so in that respect, yes we are constrained. Even Forest Green have got private corporate rooms!😳
i think Redz bar by size design is so basic no frills it doesnt have the same appeal plenty of even non league clubs have.
Well just over 10 years ago Brighton’s crowds dipped to just over 4,500 which was about 60 per cent capacity and now of course it’s up to 30,000 on average.
Building the infrastructure that can attract fans may not be sufficient for a club to prosper but it is certainly necessary. In other words, it’s part of a mix of investment but a vital part.
During the early part of their ownership the Eren team did raise the issue of stadium improvement but of course it’s rarely mentioned now because they are now caretakers ready to move on if they find the right people. But the same questions will face whoever comes next.
I’m genuinely surprised this is proving remotely controversial. I like the Broadfield but I’m just realistic that we are unlikely to find an owner willing to spend big on something better, so we should treasure what we have. But our 3 seasons in League 1 show the economics do not add up of us heading much higher than we are now. Staying in League 2 and not slipping back to non league is realistically success for us
but we werent selling out turning fans away in league one. Also falmer village were helped by winning promition to championshiop and premier league.
Neither were Brighton, see my point about Withdean being only 50-60 per cent full - this was the case for quite a few seasons from 2006 onwards
but we werent selling out turning fans away in league one. Also falmer village were helped by winning promition to championshiop and premier league.
Neither were Brighton, see my point about Withdean being only 50-60 per cent full - this was the case for quite a few seasons from 2006 onwards
ok i accept you make reasoned argument. Could it possibly be the numner of football fans in the county/area have already been captured by the pipe dreams of the falmer village people? Perhaps there are only so many to go around. I dont know but am just putting it out there and wonder what others thoughts are e.g. most High Streets only so many chemists, pet shops or off licenses can survive.
I sit in the west stand, the view from there is comparable with any ground in the football league and better than most. We offer standing for away supporters which many appreciate. Our ground is fit for purpose for a team playing in the lower leagues. Hospitaliy boxes would be good to raise money. Lets praise the ground for what it is, a good lower league ground.
They are an established league club so have an established fan base. However they have had their ups and downs and I can remember going to the Goldstone in early 1980s when they regularly had attendances of 10,000 to 15,000 despite cup runs and the like.
We are a new league club, when I started going to Crawley in late 1989s crowds of 200-300 were not unusual.
Not to mention the number of other clubs within an hour's travel.
Also remember that in the year Brighton were promoted they had a loss of £39m (actually £65m in two seasons) which makes ZE's million a year look like loose change. Something to bear in mind if we are still thinking about the Championship in 8 years which I guess was just a soundbite anyway.
I for one am very grateful that ZE is spunking away £1000's every year just to keep OUR club going and allowing it to stay in L2. He very unlikely to get his investments back unless we unearth and sell on the new Harry Kane.
I for one am very grateful that ZE is spunking away £1000's every year just to keep OUR club going and allowing it to stay in L2. He very unlikely to get his investments back unless we unearth and sell on the new Harry Kane.
Indeed quite sobering that he puts in roughly £2750 a day!!! And despite that we wound up lower in the league than when he started, not to mention not winning a single FL/FAC game.
I for one am very grateful that ZE is spunking away £1000's every year just to keep OUR club going and allowing it to stay in L2. He very unlikely to get his investments back unless we unearth and sell on the new Harry Kane.
Indeed quite sobering that he puts in roughly £2750 a day!!! And despite that we wound up lower in the league than when he started, not to mention not winning a single FL/FAC game.
Who would be a football club owner....
yes im thankful BUT equally concerned if he gets bored etc where does that leave us? All our eggs are basketed up in one basket. Not sure id describe him as "spunking away" in the same sentance as a compliment though! (or maybe that mine English)