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Capacity for more: rivals look to lure more fans as figures show half-empty crowds



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Published Date: 13 May 2008
By John Tompson
SHEFFIELD Wednesday and Barnsley will be aiming to fill more seats next season after latest Championships statistics confirmed their grounds were half-empty in the last campaign.
On average, Oakwell was filling just 49.3 per cent of the club's 23,186 places - the worst average home attendance in terms of percentage of stadium capacity of all 24 Championship clubs.

Hillsborough was only one place better, with 53.7 per cent of the ground's capacity being filled for an average Owls fixture this season.

Yet the four largest crowds at Championship matches this season involved Yorkshire clubs.

Wednesday gained the Championship's highest attendance (and second highest outside the Premier League) when 36,208 watched them secure Championship survival by beating Norwich 4-1 on the final day of the season.

And the highest attendance at Hillsborough since the Sheffield derby in 2001 was trumped only by the 38,256 fans who saw Leeds beat Gilling-ham in League One on May 3.

Southampton's end-of-season 3-2 victory over the Blades was watched by 31,975 and Wednesday's crucial 3-1 victory away at Leicester the previous weekend witnessed the Championship's third highest gate at 31,892.

What could be done to increase crowds at our local grounds? Cheaper ticket prices? Better standard of football? More welcoming atmosphere? Tell us what you think. Post your comments below.

Last month's Sheffield derby at Bramall Lane came in fourth, with an attendance of 31,760 - the ground's largest all season.

Blades fans recorded the highest average attendance in the Championship, being the only club to top 25,000.

They averaged 25,631, ahead of Norwich with 24,555 and relegated Leicester on 23,509.

Wednesday's average was 21,410 - eighth best in the division - while Barnsley averaged 11,452 which ranked them 21st.

CLUBS' CROWD STATS:

SHEFFIELD UNITED
CHAMPIONSHIP
Total: 589,508
Highest: 31,760 (v Sheffield Wednesday, April 8, drew 2-2)
Lowest: 23,161 (v Watford, Jan 29, drew 1-1)
Average: 25,631
Ground capacity: 32,609
Average percentage filled: 78.6. (7/24)

SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
CHAMPIONSHIP
Total: 492,438
Highest: 36,208 (v Norwich, May 4, won 4-1)
Lowest: 17,559 (v Bristol City, Sept 1, lost 1-0)
Average: 21,410 (8/24)
Ground capacity: 39,814
Average percentage filled: 53.7 (23/24)

BARNSLEY
CHAMPIONSHIP
Total: 263,389.
Highest: 18,257 (v Sheffield Wed, March 1, drew 0-0)
Lowest: 8,531 (v Blackpool, Nov 5, won 2-1)
Average: 11,452 (21/24)
Ground capacity: 23,186.
Average percentage filled: 49.3 (24/24)

DONCASTER ROVERS
LEAGUE ONE
Total: 183,504.
Highest: 15,001 (v Leeds United, Apr 1, lost 1-0)
Lowest: 5,967 (v Yeovil Town, Dec 16, lost 2-1)
Average: 7,978 (7/24).
Ground capacity: 15,231
Average percentage filled: 52.3 (14/24)

ROTHERHAM UNITED
LEAGUE TWO
Total: 96,529
Highest: 6,709 (v Wycombe, Jan 19, drew 1-1)
Lowest: 2,979 (v Brentford, Apr 5, lost 2-1)
Average: 4,197 (10/24)
Capacity: 8,300
Average percentage filled: 50.5 (4/24)

CHESTERFIELD
LEAGUE TWO
Total: 91,041
Highest: 6,300 (v Mansfield Town, Dec 12, won 2-0)
Lowest: 3,274 (v Hereford United, Jan 21, Won 4-0, and v Accrington, Mar 22, won 4-2)
Average: 3,958 (13/24)
Capacity: 8,504
Average percentage filled: 46.5 (6/24)

SHEFFIELD FC
UNIBOND LEAGUE DIVISION ONE SOUTH
Total: 6,951
Highest: 647 (v Goole AFC, Nov 17, drew 0-0)
Lowest: 201 (v Spalding United, Apr 23, won 7-2)
Average: 331
Ground capacity: 1,500
Average percentage filled: 22.1

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The full article contains 701 words and appears in Sheffield Star newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

  • Last Updated: 14 May 2008 12:26 PM
  • Source: Sheffield Star
  • Location: Sheffield
 
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1

bobsego,

sheffield 13/05/2008 08:59:51
Everybody knows that the insulting comment's made by D Allen,and the cost of ticket's has had a lot to do with attendance figues at Hillsborough.Just look at the last game when ticket prices were cut.
As for Utd we all know that they sold two year season ticket's when they had one season in the premier league
2

DUMBOLDOWL,

Mansfield 13/05/2008 09:59:33
You ask "What could be done to fill our local grounds"?

In the case of Hillsborough, treating the supporters with respect, and fulfilling AGM promises would go a long way.
3

Fingers,

13/05/2008 10:09:14
It's not difficult to see how attendances could be increased is it. Attending football has become quite expensive especially for anyone with kids but fans will attend if one of two factors are in place; a team playing good football or reasonable prices.

Wednesday have shot themselves in the foot by increasing prices on the back of a very disappointing year whereas the small club near CCC have used every trick in the book to get the crowds in and provide a good atmosphere even if the football fell well below a good standard.

I am embarrassed by the Hillsborough boards attempts at managing the crowd, from the woeful derby game ticketing, only saved by the misfortune of the Coventry game, to the comments from the ex-Chairman and now a 12% increase in prices.

I have said it before and I will say it again.Drop the price significantly for early season ticket purchases and look to an increase in concession sales. A half full Hillsborough is not necessary (though I do remember standing on an uncovered Kop in a below 7,000 attendance against Oxford and a last minute goal) and should not be repeated next year. There is still time to drop the prices, please do it now.
4

Big Maz,

13/05/2008 12:45:45
As an owl, i think that prices do need to be cut, not just so its cheaper for everyone, although that is what we want, but for there to be a fantasic atmosphere. The last game at home to Norwich was a cracking game and it matched the atmosphere. I wish that there was 30,000 plus at hillsborough every week!

CUT THE PRICES AND BRING BACK THE FANS!
5

broomhill owl,

13/05/2008 12:51:31
I've an idea..reduce season ticket prices at swfc rather than increase them!! The fact that those set the prices appear not to be able see past the end of their noses (or egos?!) on this issue is beyond me!
6

Jamesowl,

Sheffield 13/05/2008 14:23:54
As a Wednesday fan, I ask the Board of Directors to please reduce the price of season tickets and also do what Sheffield United are doing, let under 12's have free admission if accompanied by an adult. Larger attendances also bring extra cash in, i.e sale of programmes and refreshments.
7

Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 13/05/2008 15:38:31
For all those whinging about the price of season tickets.

These Owls supporters are the first to moan and groan and generally slate the players on the pitch and the board off it, when they are watching rubbish, which they usually are doing these days at Hillsborough.

They are the ones shouting barbed comments, like "What a load of rubbish" and write on forums like this one, complaining that we sell all our good players and don't bring any quality in.

Can I ask? Where does all this money come from, in order that the club don't have to sell their best players and so that they are able to go out and buy a better quality of player? Wednesday fans live in a fantasy cuckoo land, I'm afraid and I find it totally embarrassing reading a lot of the posts on here, as most of these fans down at S6 must only be half awake most of the time.

The Wednesday board are damned if they do and damned if they don't!! I really feel sorry for the directors and the manager and am incensed with the fans of my club. It is they that are letting the club down.

They need to wake up and see sense and for once, start living in the real world.

You make my blood boil Wednesday supporters!!

Until this happens, Sheffield Wednesday will continue to live in the stone age and will keep going backwards, down the slippery slope to extinction.

Nothing will happen to change things down at Hillsborough, if the fans continue to believe that we have a right to be a Premier League club and that we are still a massive club and believe that the rest of the country still think of us as a big club.

Well, I've got news for you lot. They no longer consider us to be a big club, because we are not! We have a rusting hulk for a stadium, that needs multi-millions spending on it and is quite frankly embarrassing and a squad of players that are at best relegation fodder for next season. The days of us being a big club are long gone and the sooner we get used to reality, then the sooner we can sta
8

B&Wwizzards,

S6 13/05/2008 15:52:36
Try giving discounts on season tickets. Mine £515 :(
What about 0% instalment plan to help pay for tickes. Or be really radical & charge a flat fee say £300 for a season ticket. It worked at Bradford.
9

owlsman 1,

goldthorpe 13/05/2008 16:52:18
glad to see parson cross owl is so in touch with the board ,well its about time the board were in touch with the fans not all of us moaning lot can afford a grand a year for me and 2 kids for season tickets or for that matter justify it and while they persist in ripping us off and treating us like something theyve trod in i will carry on picking and choosing games so next time your sat in your 10 bedroom mansion writing on hear remember we are not all as rich as you
10

Parson X Owl,

Sheffield 13/05/2008 17:28:26
As the user name suggests, I LIVE in PARSON CROSS.

When was the last time you went past a 10 bedroomed mansion in Parson Cross?

If you want to go and see rubbish football and probably see 3rd tier football, then don't moan about the half empty stadium, when you don't go to the matches.

Empty seats = No money in the clubs coffers = Rubbish football and lower league football = Disgruntled, moaning fans = People deciding to watch football at Bramall Lane instead = The demise of Sheffield Wednesday!!

You decide on the future of football down at S6, but don't start crying when the club eventually folds, because the blame will lie with people like you and no one else!
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