Dot Counting Preston North End Home Ticket Thread 13th December (12:30pm)

[Colin B]

Time to open this one, with two weeks to go.

At midnight last night we were at 8,692 home GA sales, meaning 1,104 remaining.

That's actually not bad, 100/200 below some games and 100/200 above others at this stage. As it's a 12:30 kick off, against pretty dull opposition I would imagine it's one where the ticket exchange doesn't need to be opened.

Also, I expect it to be below 11,000 total as Preston are very unlikely to sell out, even though they're doing well. They sold out last season, but it was in the good weather and a new ground for their ground tickers. They have taken 1,000 to Portsmouth and 1,100 to Millwall for Saturday 3pm kick offs, so I'd expect under 1,000 to us for a 12:30pm kick off.

 

[Stanford yellow]

You know they'll open the exchange!!!

 

[Stranger]

Seen absolutely zero publicity from the club about this one. Probably one of the few games this season that won't sell itself

 

[Essexyellows]

Seen absolutely zero publicity from the club about this one. Probably one of the few games this season that won't sell itself

Decades of experience..........

 

[ECYellow]

There seems to be a distinct lack of focus on this game from the club! This is arguably the hardest sell of the season so far.

We have two humongous away games before Preston, however. We need a monster following at Swansea for what is a HUGE game. Hopefully the team are backed in number…

 

[m]

Instinctively I'd expect an early KO against Preston to be a serious contender for our lowest Saturday crowd of the season.

They look to have vastly improved on the pitch.

 

[Mumyellow]

Seen absolutely zero publicity from the club about this one. Probably one of the few games this season that won't sell itself

I have seen this promoted as the Christmas extravaganza on social media and on the screen on Friday

 

[Northstandboy]

Seen absolutely zero publicity from the club about this one. Probably one of the few games this season that won't sell itself

They were advertising it at the Ipswich game.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

They were advertising it at the Ipswich game.

That’s great but they are sort of preaching to the converted doing that.
They would do well to get word out to the wider county.

They really need to massively improve marketing by 2028 when they want to fill the new stadium and maximise all the different revenue streams that comes with it.

 

[holdsteady]

That’s great but they are sort of preaching to the converted doing that.
They would do well to get word out to the wider county.

They really need to massively improve marketing by 2028 when they want to fill the new stadium and maximise all the different revenue streams that comes with it.

As the new ground move approaches, the year before say, the club really needs to ramp up marketing across the whole county, no area left out, as this is a once in a generation chance to really push the club out there and get this move right. Last time was a disaster, taken us years to recover, this time needs to be spot on.

 

[Colin B]

Time to open this one, with two weeks to go.

At midnight last night we were at 8,692 home GA sales, meaning 1,104 remaining.

That's actually not bad, 100/200 below some games and 100/200 above others at this stage. As it's a 12:30 kick off, against pretty dull opposition I would imagine it's one where the ticket exchange doesn't need to be opened.

Also, I expect it to be below 11,000 total as Preston are very unlikely to sell out, even though they're doing well. They sold out last season, but it was in the good weather and a new ground for their ground tickers. They have taken 1,000 to Portsmouth and 1,100 to Millwall for Saturday 3pm kick offs, so I'd expect under 1,000 to us for a 12:30pm kick off.

Midnight Monday update.

Sales are now at 8,803 which means 111 sold in the previous 48 hours. This seems to be the normal pace of sales for recent games, with an increase in the week leading to kick off.

This one won't be our highest gate of the season, but it also doesn't look like a disaster either. I'll do a forecast in a few days time.

The ticket exchange is not open, and I'd like to see it stay that way for this one, to help progress toward a decent overall attendance figure, as the away sales will not be great.

 

[Colin B]

Midnight Monday update.

Sales are now at 8,803 which means 111 sold in the previous 48 hours. This seems to be the normal pace of sales for recent games, with an increase in the week leading to kick off.

This one won't be our highest gate of the season, but it also doesn't look like a disaster either. I'll do a forecast in a few days time.

The ticket exchange is not open, and I'd like to see it stay that way for this one, to help progress toward a decent overall attendance figure, as the away sales will not be great.

Midnight Wednesday update.

Nothing much to report here. Predictably moderate sales of 61 seats over the last 48 hours, leaving us with 932 home GA seats remaining, and home GA sales of 8,864 so far.

Still a bit early to accurately forecast this one. I'd think maybe 50 per day until midnight Sunday and then 75/100 per day from then until kick off would be reasonable for this game. This would leave us at about 9,700 home sales, in line with recent games.

 

[Colin B]

Midnight Wednesday update.

Nothing much to report here. Predictably moderate sales of 61 seats over the last 48 hours, leaving us with 932 home GA seats remaining, and home GA sales of 8,864 so far.

Still a bit early to accurately forecast this one. I'd think maybe 50 per day until midnight Sunday and then 75/100 per day from then until kick off would be reasonable for this game. This would leave us at about 9,700 home sales, in line with recent games.

Midnight Friday update.

Continued steady sales over the last 48 hours leaving us at 8,948 home GA sales, meaning 848 seats remaining. The 84 seats sold in the last two days is about par for this stage, and I think everything about this one (apart from the expected away following) screams average.

 

[holdsteady]

Do we have an idea of the away following yet other than it not selling out? What do they average? Although if they have played Blackburn away that might not tell us much I suppose, given how much that must skew their average.

 

[Eric Blair]

What is it about the male brain that these dot counting threads are my favourite?

 

[Colin B]

Midnight Friday update.

Continued steady sales over the last 48 hours leaving us at 8,948 home GA sales, meaning 848 seats remaining. The 84 seats sold in the last two days is about par for this stage, and I think everything about this one (apart from the expected away following) screams average.

Midnight Sunday update.

The steady sales pattern continues with 72 sales since midnight Friday. We are now at 9,020 home GA sales. I was hoping for a feel good factor, and subsequent boost to sales, after picking up wins at Swansea and possibly Blackburn, but that ship sailed before 4pm on Saturday. It's a very difficult one to predict, as there are a few variables in the mix this week. Such as, will we even play on Tuesday night? If so, will it be another morale sapping negative performance and result? How will our fans respond to Saturday's defeat, and possibly nothing positive on Tuesday? Will sales fall off a cliff? Will the club actually do anything to try to entice floating fans along to this one?

With all of that in mind, I'll sit on the fence until Wednesday morning before putting in a detailed forecast.

In response to @holdsteady asking about Preston's away following, they are one of the least well followed clubs in this division (despite having a good season) and average 1,295 so far this season. They have taken fewer than 1,000 away three times and their figure was boosted by taking 2,376 to Sheffield Wednesday. They don't seem to travel south particularly well and took 748 to Portsmouth, 1,027 to Southampton, and 1,190 to a play off tussle at Millwall. All were Saturday kick offs. I've heard a figure of 1,200 being mentioned as what they'll bring to us, but I think that's on the optimistic side personally, but we'll see on Saturday.

 

[Stranger]

I think, whatever the GA sales, there'll be lots of empty seats at this one as I know of several season ticket holders that won't be going, for different reasons - for many it's the Saturday that they'll be doing their Christmas shopping as they're going to Charlton the following weekend. Quite a few are just fvcked off with watching the current team and others aren't travelling from further afield because the transport option are so sh!t at this time of year. So whatever the official attendance is, I reckon you can knock off a decent percentage

 

[Colin B]

I think, whatever the GA sales, there'll be lots of empty seats at this one as I know of several season ticket holders that won't be going, for different reasons - for many it's the Saturday that they'll be doing their Christmas shopping as they're going to Charlton the following weekend. Quite a few are just fvcked off with watching the current team and others aren't travelling from further afield because the transport option are so sh!t at this time of year. So whatever the official attendance is, I reckon you can knock off a decent percentage

I agree that there will be empty seats, from non attending season ticket holders, there always are for 12:30 kick off games, and they're mostly in the family stand, but are also noticeable in other parts of the ground.

What I can't agree with is the rest of your post. Christmas shopping? Really? The shops are open on Sundays, and every other day of the week. Transport options are shit all year round, not just for this Saturday, where they'll be no better or no worse than usual. As for being pissed off with watching the current team, that is a strange reaction for a home game. Were they pissed off with the Middlesbrough performance? Or Ipswich? Away performances like Saturday's have been abject at times and anyone (myself included) is entitled to be pissed off with them, but the home performances have generally been OK, or at least they haven't been bad enough to make people stay away if they already have a season ticket.

 

[Sutton Yellow]

If I was stressed out by our league position and some rather turgid away performances, I wouldn't choose peak Saturday shopping as the solution!

That's what Sunday trading is for.

 

[Wallop]

If I was stressed out by our league position and some rather turgid away performances, I wouldn't choose peak Saturday shopping as the solution!

That's what Sunday trading is for.

It’s what online buying is for.

 

[Stranger]

I agree that there will be empty seats, from non attending season ticket holders, there always are for 12:30 kick off games, and they're mostly in the family stand, but are also noticeable in other parts of the ground.

What I can't agree with is the rest of your post. Christmas shopping? Really? The shops are open on Sundays, and every other day of the week. Transport options are shit all year round, not just for this Saturday, where they'll be no better or no worse than usual. As for being pissed off with watching the current team, that is a strange reaction for a home game. Were they pissed off with the Middlesbrough performance? Or Ipswich? Away performances like Saturday's have been abject at times and anyone (myself included) is entitled to be pissed off with them, but the home performances have generally been OK, or at least they haven't been bad enough to make people stay away if they already have a season ticket.

For me, I absolutely agree with you, but there are some weirdos out there who don't live and breathe Oxford United. I would never sack off a game, especially a home game, to go shopping or to do something with the family or for any other reason, but sadly there are some people out there who are not fanatics (madness, I know). For example, the old boy who sits next to me was saying at the last home game that it's getting to cold for him and he might knock it on the head till the weather improves. Someone else I know find it difficult to drive at night, etc etc. Not everyone either wants to put is able to pull out all the stops to attend every game, that's all

 

[Colin B]

For me, I absolutely agree with you, but there are some weirdos out there who don't live and breathe Oxford United. I would never sack off a game, especially a home game, to go shopping or to do something with the family or for any other reason, but sadly there are some people out there who are not fanatics (madness, I know). For example, the old boy who sits next to me was saying at the last home game that it's getting to cold for him and he might knock it on the head till the weather improves. Someone else I know find it difficult to drive at night, etc etc. Not everyone either wants to put is able to pull out all the stops to attend every game, that's all

I wasn't having a go at you mate, that wasn't the intention, but I suppose in a way I was having a go at these (literally in one case you quote!) fair weather supporters.

If they're season ticket holders and have denied someone else the chance of buying a season ticket, and pick and choose their games, I don't think they should be a season ticket holder. If we hadn't sold out of season tickets I'd have no issue with it. But our ticketing supremos decided to stop selling season tickets and there is a waiting list, while we have people who can't be arsed to go for several months hogging a season ticket. I just think it's wrong and selfish. Why don't they just buy a match ticket for the 50% of matches that they attend and let someone else buy the season ticket?

It seems like every ticket sales thread ends up with this issue being raised.

 

[Essexyellows]

I wasn't having a go at you mate, that wasn't the intention, but I suppose in a way I was having a go at these (literally in one case you quote!) fair weather supporters.

If they're season ticket holders and have denied someone else the chance of buying a season ticket, and pick and choose their games, I don't think they should be a season ticket holder. If we hadn't sold out of season tickets I'd have no issue with it. But our ticketing supremos decided to stop selling season tickets and there is a waiting list, while we have people who can't be arsed to go for several months hogging a season ticket. I just think it's wrong and selfish. Why don't they just buy a match ticket for the 50% of matches that they attend and let someone else buy the season ticket?

It seems like every ticket sales thread ends up with this issue being raised.

If they hadn`t stopped selling ST`s would there be a waiting list? If the waiting list is 200 (random figure) get them sold.
My old boss used to say nothing beats "cash in the till".

Likewise those on the waiting list can also get various Memberships and buy tickets, use exchange when its open, be lent tickets, officially or otherwise, so are not "locked out."

ST Holders are probably the least selfish of anyone in the ground, they`ve stumped up money well before a ball is kicked, players signed etc. and many utilise their tickets in a number of ways.

Personal view - if I lend my ticket to a friend I can guarantee two things - he`ll use it and won`t be in the allocated seat, the "system" thinks I`m there whether I am or not.

The ones the club should be targeting are the ones who don`t use their ST, shall we say, as flexibly.

And I`m using the football as an excuse NOT to go Christmas shopping. Sorry, can`t do the morning, its a 12.30 KO and the traffic means I won`t be home till mid-evening.

 

[Colin B]

If they hadn`t stopped selling ST`s would there be a waiting list? If the waiting list is 200 (random figure) get them sold.
My old boss used to say nothing beats "cash in the till".

Likewise those on the waiting list can also get various Memberships and buy tickets, use exchange when its open, be lent tickets, officially or otherwise, so are not "locked out."

ST Holders are probably the least selfish of anyone in the ground, they`ve stumped up money well before a ball is kicked, players signed etc. and many utilise their tickets in a number of ways.

Personal view - if I lend my ticket to a friend I can guarantee two things - he`ll use it and won`t be in the allocated seat, the "system" thinks I`m there whether I am or not.

The ones the club should be targeting are the ones who don`t use their ST, shall we say, as flexibly.

And I`m using the football as an excuse NOT to go Christmas shopping. Sorry, can`t do the morning, its a 12.30 KO and the traffic means I won`t be home till mid-evening.

I know the people who were locked out from buying season tickets can buy match day tickets, and I'm sure many of them do. That's not the point.

The point is we have people "point hugging" season tickets, hence the same empty seats at most games. They are the people who should be buying match day tickets and let someone who is actually going to use the ticket have one.

The club's decision is what is really to blame here, and I bet some of those individuals are very pleased that their decision has turned fans against each other. Divide and conquer etc..............

 

[MarkG]

Mark Ashton reckons the Ipswich no-shows are around 10 to 12% of ST holders. However they have 20,500 holders and a waiting list of 6,000 and a maximum capacity of under 30,000. Not sure what kind of rules he is thinking of, but some other clubs have a rule that you can "miss" say four games other than those where you have put up for exchange.

Interesting to read the comments below the article which mirrors many of the points on here.

Ipswich Town investigating season ticket holders who don't turn up

Ipswich Town chairman Mark Ashton has revealed the club are going to introduce new rules regarding season ticket holders who regularly don't turn up…

www.eadt.co.uk

 

[Essexyellows]

I know the people who were locked out from buying season tickets can buy match day tickets, and I'm sure many of them do. That's not the point.

The point is we have people "point hugging" season tickets, hence the same empty seats at most games. They are the people who should be buying match day tickets and let someone who is actually going to use the ticket have one.

The club's decision is what is really to blame here, and I bet some of those individuals are very pleased that their decision has turned fans against each other. Divide and conquer etc..............

If only we had some form of input about these things..............

 

[carefreeoufc]

It’s all moan, moan, moan. Everyone gets their opportunity twice a year at either the Fans Forum or the customer satisfaction survey that is sent out by email.

About time the club were cut some slack! It’s not all fun and games balancing match day activations whilst scouring the depths of the European football league for players with Indonesian ancestry.

 

[Colin B]

Midnight Sunday update.

The steady sales pattern continues with 72 sales since midnight Friday. We are now at 9,020 home GA sales. I was hoping for a feel good factor, and subsequent boost to sales, after picking up wins at Swansea and possibly Blackburn, but that ship sailed before 4pm on Saturday. It's a very difficult one to predict, as there are a few variables in the mix this week. Such as, will we even play on Tuesday night? If so, will it be another morale sapping negative performance and result? How will our fans respond to Saturday's defeat, and possibly nothing positive on Tuesday? Will sales fall off a cliff? Will the club actually do anything to try to entice floating fans along to this one?

With all of that in mind, I'll sit on the fence until Wednesday morning before putting in a detailed forecast.

In response to @holdsteady asking about Preston's away following, they are one of the least well followed clubs in this division (despite having a good season) and average 1,295 so far this season. They have taken fewer than 1,000 away three times and their figure was boosted by taking 2,376 to Sheffield Wednesday. They don't seem to travel south particularly well and took 748 to Portsmouth, 1,027 to Southampton, and 1,190 to a play off tussle at Millwall. All were Saturday kick offs. I've heard a figure of 1,200 being mentioned as what they'll bring to us, but I think that's on the optimistic side personally, but we'll see on Saturday.

Midnight Monday update.

Pretty sluggish sales for the 24 hour period of 34 seats, but the club put 30 back on sale in SSL Block 1, so we had virtually zero movement in the attendance figure.

This one needs to start moving a lot faster, or we're looking at a Millwall like home attendance, which together with a lower than usual away following, will put us below 11,000.

There appears to be a mood of apathy and despondency around the club at the moment, and this is exactly the sort of fixture we don't need to lift it.

 

[Sarge]

I know the people who were locked out from buying season tickets can buy match day tickets, and I'm sure many of them do. That's not the point.

The point is we have people "point hugging" season tickets, hence the same empty seats at most games. They are the people who should be buying match day tickets and let someone who is actually going to use the ticket have one.

The club's decision is what is really to blame here, and I bet some of those individuals are very pleased that their decision has turned fans against each other. Divide and conquer etc..............

Argree.

Perhaps, nstead of having a season ticket that only get used a few times a season, an OUFC membership is a viable option?

I think OUFC memberships ( standard ones) are £20 for concessions & £30 for adults? you get a coupla quid off the price of matchday tickets if bought in advance

My granddaughters and my partner's son have OUFC memberships- as due to other commitments - mainly work ( grandaughters have sat morning/ after school jobs ,partner's son also ineriably works ), its a struggle for them to get to most night games, and early kickoffs too. None of them have had any problem getting tickets for any of the games that they can make (so far)- usually, but not exclusively, Saturday 3pm kick offs

 

[ECYellow]

Midnight Monday update.

Pretty sluggish sales for the 24 hour period of 34 seats, but the club put 30 back on sale in SSL Block 1, so we had virtually zero movement in the attendance figure.

This one needs to start moving a lot faster, or we're looking at a Millwall like home attendance, which together with a lower than usual away following, will put us below 11,000.

There appears to be a mood of apathy and despondency around the club at the moment, and this is exactly the sort of fixture we don't need to lift it.

Things are by no means perfect right now, nobody wants to see improved performances more than I do, but I just do not understand this (it’s not a dig at you, Colin!).

If you have been supporting this club for more than the last 10 years, you will have seen plenty of times that have been far FAR worse than a few disappointing performances on the pitch which is what we are seeing atm.

Conference years 2-4 were largely awful. 2000-2001 relegation year was utterly inept, the football at the end of Atkins time, when we started losing, was dire. Rix, Kemp & Patterson to name a few…

I can only put this apathy down to newer, younger supporters, that have comparatively speaking, seen a pretty glorious rise for 10/15 years, or so. There cannot be many teams in the 92 that have been as successful as us, in terms of league rise since our promotion in 2010.

It isn’t sustainable for a club like ours to continue rising, while we have our current stadium situation. A levelling out is inevitable. If people aren’t attending because of the fare on offer, I’d question whether or not they really are ‘all in’ on Oxford United, because there can be no doubt that on the whole, the club has done, and is doing terrifically well to offer supporters championship football, while still in the shadows of Firoz Kassam!

We all want more desire and heart in some of the performances, I’ve been one that’s been beating that drum in recent weeks. That said, perhaps some of those with apathy that are staying away need to take a look at themselves and perhaps rediscover a bit of backbone, in order to get their arses to the ground and support our team. They need every single one of us!