The Riverside stadium saw a record low attendance for a league game yesterday, 14,633 for the televised clash between Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. There are those who think that a mixture of television overkill and the recession will empty stadiums everywhere.
The Riverside stadium saw a record low attendance for a league game yesterday, 14,633 for the televised clash between Middlesbrough and Sheffield United. There are those who think that a mixture of television overkill and the recession will empty stadiums everywhere.
There are, however, probably special factors at work at Middlesbrough. Boro manager Gordon Strachan commented, ‘In area like this, where unemployment’s huge, you’re not going to get people turning up to a game that’s on TV. The recession’s hitting hard, especially in this area. It’s only footballers who seem to have money.’
Season ticket holders are the bedrock of support: attendance figures count them whether they are in the stadium or not (it’s required for levy purposes). It’s committed money up front at a time of the year when cash flow is otherwise low. Each year in most clubs many fans declare on message boards and to anyone who will listen that they’ve had enough of what’s served up on the pitch and aren’t coming back. And most of them do.
So how are season ticket sales holding up? At Manchester United prices were held this year for the first time since the Glazers acquired the club in 2005 but sales have still fallen 2,000 short of quota. The club claims that many of those approached on the waiting list only wanted the cheaper seats or could not commit the £680-plus for a season ticket in tough economic times. Dislike of the Glazers may also have played its part.
In spite of the unpopularity of Liverpool’s current owners and an increase of about 7 per cent in prices, season ticket sales have stayed steady at 24,000. To me that seems quite a low figure for a club of Liverpool’s standing) with a capacity of 44,000. Indeed, Everton claims sales of 25,000. It will certainly need to be improved when they do eventually get a stadium in Stanley Park with a capacity of 60,000.
Season tickets provide a steady income, but corporate hospitality is the iceing on the cake. Manchester United has seen corporate sales hold up well with 84 per cent of the 8,000 seats available annually now bought, and good demand for the 1,000 sold on a match-by-match basis.
Across the city at Eastlands Manchester City has spent £1.5m refurbishing its corporate hospitality suites to create what the club claims are some of the best in the Premier League. Almost all of the 68 platinum boxes have been taken with about a 90 per cent rebooking rate. pulling in some £3m. Prices range between £25,000 and £100,000. Some offer the ultimate in corporate bling with more than 240 heated leather seats with company logo inscribed. As an added bonus, boxes can be used as offices during the week.