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

[Steve Gilbert]

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!

Very well said. I personally can’t wait to go to the game tonight and cheer on the team. Am I expecting a great performance? No but it’s not going to put me off.
Losing 3-0 away to Barrow, now that was a good reason for someone to not bother going after that one, Wigan at home under Clotet, another reason for someone who might not want to carry going. A couple of seasons fighting in the Championship? Bring it on!

 

[MJB]

Was catching up on a recent Only Connect last night and one of the 2 point clues caught my eye…



Alas the connection wasn’t “Famous Dot Counters”.

 

[werthersoriginal]

Very well said. I personally can’t wait to go to the game tonight and cheer on the team. Am I expecting a great performance? No but it’s not going to put me off.
Losing 3-0 away to Barrow, now that was a good reason for someone to not bother going after that one, Wigan at home under Clotet, another reason for someone who might not want to carry going. A couple of seasons fighting in the Championship? Bring it on!

There's no way I'm going to Blackburn but I hate to miss a home game, however bad we've been - the point of football is that you don't know what's going to happen. I think basically we've only got 10K fans, any more than that is just people who'll come along for a day out to Wembley or wherever, and a fair proportion of that 10K don't live nearby and so can be put off by poor form or bad weather.

 

[tim lane]

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!

Thank you, EC. That is an excellent post, with which I fully agree. I was at Swansea on Saturday and, yes, it was a terrible performance. But, believe it or not, I still enjoyed visiting what was, for me, a new Championship Ground - I'd been to the Vetch Field a couple of times - and by the time I got home I was ready to enjoy the rest of the weekend. An expensive and disappointing experience from a performance perspective, certainly, but I guess I'm just a 'glass half full' kind of guy.

 

[Sutton Yellow]

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!

I don't think it's as simple as newer/younger supporters being a little more apathetic to some home games. I think it probably works across demographics and the Kassam is a big part of that. The football and the prospect of seeing an attractive game (regardless of the level), the stadium and overall matchday experience are a big part of it.

There are some supporters who actively prefer to go to away games over home games, and I know family members in that bracket.

You and I aren't in that bracket, but I think as long as we are at the current stadium there is likely to remain some who are very selective.

At the current stadium, everything needs to be right to bring crowds in eg marketing, point of sale, travel, quality of game, result etc. There just seems no margin for error.

 

[holdsteady]

I don't think it's as simple as newer/younger supporters being a little more apathetic to some home games. I think it probably works across demographics and the Kassam is a big part of that. The football and the prospect of seeing an attractive game (regardless of the level), the stadium and overall matchday experience are a big part of it.

There are some supporters who actively prefer to go to away games over home games, and I know family members in that bracket.

You and I aren't in that bracket, but I think as long as we are at the current stadium there is likely to remain some who are very selective.

At the current stadium, everything needs to be right to bring crowds in eg marketing, point of sale, travel, quality of game, result etc. There just seems no margin for error.

I think any supporter who prefers and actively chooses to do away games but not home games, excluding those who do so for geographical reasons, has a bit of a cheek to moan about the quality of football on offer given how little they put in the pot in the pot to fund the squad.

 

[Sutton Yellow]

I think any supporter who prefers and actively chooses to do away games but not home games, excluding those who do so for geographical reasons, has a bit of a cheek to moan about the quality of football on offer given how little they put in the pot in the pot to fund the squad.

I think you've over interpreted and personalised it, seemingly taking offence.

I never mentioned anyone moaning. It is a reality though, that support exists on a spectrum, and some might be less inclined than others to see certain games and a range if factors comes into it.

When people say they want to give up eg a membership subscription they almost always say it is 'cost'. In reality, other factors lie behind that which means it represents less 'value' to them. It's difficult at the current stadium to give full value to some people.

 

[Steve Gilbert]

I don't think it's as simple as newer/younger supporters being a little more apathetic to some home games. I think it probably works across demographics and the Kassam is a big part of that. The football and the prospect of seeing an attractive game (regardless of the level), the stadium and overall matchday experience are a big part of it.

There are some supporters who actively prefer to go to away games over home games, and I know family members in that bracket.

You and I aren't in that bracket, but I think as long as we are at the current stadium there is likely to remain some who are very selective.

At the current stadium, everything needs to be right to bring crowds in eg marketing, point of sale, travel, quality of game, result etc. There just seems no margin for error.

It was the same stadium and match day experience last season when we were selling out every week.

 

[holdsteady]

I think you've over interpreted and personalised it, seemingly taking offence.

I never mentioned anyone moaning. It is a reality though, that support exists on a spectrum, and some might be less inclined than others to see certain games and a range if factors comes into it.

When people say they want to give up eg a membership subscription they almost always say it is 'cost'. In reality, other factors lie behind that which means it represents less 'value' to them. It's difficult at the current stadium to give full value to some people.

Neither of those, but I have had a conversation with someone at an away game before, who lived just outside Oxford, who didn't do home games because he didn't like the experience compared to away games.

 

[Colin B]

It was the same stadium and match day experience last season when we were selling out every week.

I've published the figures before to disprove this Steve, but we weren't selling out every week last season.

We "nearly" sold out every week last season, with an average of 112 empty seats. This season we are also "nearly" selling out, with an average of 271 empty seats.

It's down by a bit, but not a lot, although I suspect the trend will be heading lower if things don't improve. What frustrates me is that the club don't do anything to improve the situation, and some of their actions are almost complicit.

 

[Oxford57]

I have been a season ticket holder since the move to the kassam, as time goes by I have missed games due to a serious illness in which I managed to watch only 5 games at the latter end of the season, so for me it was a waste of money? However I expected that, I missed a lot of games due to shielding as I was clinically vunerable,.
I missed a few games due to family issues, and this time I used the exchange and was credited for the 5 games where my seat was listed.
This season so far again I have missed games due to illness and family issues, the games I knew I could’nt make have been listed and so far the Boxing Day fixture is the only one taken up on, .
Is there a lack of demand from the floating supporter?, is the exchange system flawed?

Our first grandchild is due end of January, so I could end up missing more games due to this, again I will list my seat,
There seems to be feeling on here that people who have used the exchange system should just give up their season tickets as they are not committed to the cause, what I do with my season ticket is done to me.

 

[carefreeoufc]

Apologies, @Colin B. I'm sure you've covered this stuff before, but I don't always retain where the information is on different threads. Based on the dots, you're presumably able to see how many "floating" fans we have? Using Wikipedia, it looks like our closest (comparable game) last season was the 14th Dec vs Sheffield Weds at home where we last 3-1 in front of 11,567.

It would be interesting (possibly something our commercial team with decades of experience know) whether floating fans begin to hold back on games, particularly if they're less attractive, when coming up to Christmas (saving cash for presents etc). Likewise, and this is harder to answer, are we seeing the increasing lack of disposable income "bite" for those fans that might fancy rocking up to a game, but now are watching the cash more.

I should be clear, my interest is specifically in these floating fans, because I think they are more likely to be swayed by other aspects. As opposed to the likes of us on here. I've no idea how many of this cohort we have.

 

[Stranger]

It would be interesting (possibly something our commercial team with decades of experience know) whether floating fans begin to hold back on games, particularly if they're less attractive

I think the attractiveness of floating fans is not especially something our commercial team has decades of experience determining

 

[Steve Gilbert]

I've published the figures before to disprove this Steve, but we weren't selling out every week last season.

We "nearly" sold out every week last season, with an average of 112 empty seats. This season we are also "nearly" selling out, with an average of 271 empty seats.

It's down by a bit, but not a lot, although I suspect the trend will be heading lower if things don't improve. What frustrates me is that the club don't do anything to improve the situation, and some of their actions are almost complicit.

On your last point Colin, you are right, the marketing of games is the poorest it’s been in a good few years IMO. It is also the club that panicked and stopped selling ST’s last year and again decided to limit them this year and have a waiting list when in reality there is no need for one.

The numbers between seasons are minimal but the concern is if they keep declining year on year.

 

[Essexyellows]

I've published the figures before to disprove this Steve, but we weren't selling out every week last season.

We "nearly" sold out every week last season, with an average of 112 empty seats. This season we are also "nearly" selling out, with an average of 271 empty seats.

It's down by a bit, but not a lot, although I suspect the trend will be heading lower if things don't improve. What frustrates me is that the club don't do anything to improve the situation, and some of their actions are almost complicit.

Ergo there was no need to have a ST "Waiting List".

Those 200 ish empties could have been sold and the £££`s be sat in the bank.

 

[Colin B]

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.

Midnight Tuesday update.

Sorry to add to the doom and gloom, but sales for this one have really slowed up over the last few days.

Only 33 sales since midnight Monday, leaving us at 9,057 home GA sales. Our lowest Saturday home fans attendance was Millwall with 9,545 and I think we're in danger of not beating that unless things really pick up. With the boxes added in we're currently somewhere around 9,300 and I'd normally be confident of 250 sales over three and a half days, but with net sales of only 109 in the last four days, I'm not so sure?

With Preston not selling out I think we're looking sub 11,000 total.

 

[Sarge]

Midnight Tuesday update.

Sorry to add to the doom and gloom, but sales for this one have really slowed up over the last few days.

Only 33 sales since midnight Monday, leaving us at 9,057 home GA sales. Our lowest Saturday home fans attendance was Millwall with 9,545 and I think we're in danger of not beating that unless things really pick up. With the boxes added in we're currently somewhere around 9,300 and I'd normally be confident of 250 sales over three and a half days, but with net sales of only 109 in the last four days, I'm not so sure?

With Preston not selling out I think we're looking sub 11,000 total.

PNE are currently 4th in the Championship, despite the early kick off they should be capable of selling out a relatively small away allocation ( shouldnt they?)

The early kick off does have an effeect of course- none of my 3 granddaughters , nor partners son are able to make a 12.30 ko- if it had been 3pm 2 of me granddaughters and partners son would be going to Saturday's game, as they finish work around midday/ 12.30pm.

Recent results, ( v Swansea & Blackburn especially) are also a factor IMO

 

[Colin B]

Midnight Tuesday update.

Sorry to add to the doom and gloom, but sales for this one have really slowed up over the last few days.

Only 33 sales since midnight Monday, leaving us at 9,057 home GA sales. Our lowest Saturday home fans attendance was Millwall with 9,545 and I think we're in danger of not beating that unless things really pick up. With the boxes added in we're currently somewhere around 9,300 and I'd normally be confident of 250 sales over three and a half days, but with net sales of only 109 in the last four days, I'm not so sure?

With Preston not selling out I think we're looking sub 11,000 total.

Midnight Wednesday update.

Only 50 sales in the preceding 24 hours, leaving us at 9,107 home GA sales. That's the lowest Saturday figure, at this stage, this season, apart from Millwall. It is only about 20 above that Millwall figure. It's 200/300 down on comparable games. We also still have the unsold restaurant seats to be added in along with the unused "club" seats that usually appear in the end two blocks of SSL and the end block of SSU at the fence end (although about 30 seats were added back in to Block 1 a few days ago), so things could get worse.

Brace yourselves for the inquest after Saturday's attendance is announced as 10,663 but there appear to be less than 10,000 in the ground............

 

[Colin B]

Midnight Wednesday update.

Only 50 sales in the preceding 24 hours, leaving us at 9,107 home GA sales. That's the lowest Saturday figure, at this stage, this season, apart from Millwall. It is only about 20 above that Millwall figure. It's 200/300 down on comparable games. We also still have the unsold restaurant seats to be added in along with the unused "club" seats that usually appear in the end two blocks of SSL and the end block of SSU at the fence end (although about 30 seats were added back in to Block 1 a few days ago), so things could get worse.

Brace yourselves for the inquest after Saturday's attendance is announced as 10,663 but there appear to be less than 10,000 in the ground............

Midnight Thursday update.

The sluggish pattern continues. A further 56 sales in the preceding 24 hours left us at 9,163 home GA sales at midnight. I'd now say our target has to be 9,545 home sales, to beat the Millwall game, and at the moment that's in the balance. We should be at about 9,400 with the boxes added in, so are looking for about 150 sales today and tomorrow morning. There have been about 30 sales this morning so far, so it will be touch and go.

Others may have seen some, but I have seen zero marketing from the club for this game. It was never going to be an attractive game as nobody wants to see #teamslikepreston but it seems as though we haven't tried very hard. At least they haven't opened the ticket exchange.

 

[Thomas/Brock/Jones]

Tbf its always a lower attendance on a saturday leading up to Christmas with presents , events going on especially an early kick off .

 

[Steve Gilbert]

Midnight Thursday update.

The sluggish pattern continues. A further 56 sales in the preceding 24 hours left us at 9,163 home GA sales at midnight. I'd now say our target has to be 9,545 home sales, to beat the Millwall game, and at the moment that's in the balance. We should be at about 9,400 with the boxes added in, so are looking for about 150 sales today and tomorrow morning. There have been about 30 sales this morning so far, so it will be touch and go.

Others may have seen some, but I have seen zero marketing from the club for this game. It was never going to be an attractive game as nobody wants to see #teamslikepreston but it seems as though we haven't tried very hard. At least they haven't opened the ticket exchange.

They are marketing it as their 'Christmas Extravaganza'.

 

[Common Villager]

They are marketing it as their 'Christmas Extravaganza'.

Matchday: Activated

 

[Colin B]

Tbf its always a lower attendance on a saturday leading up to Christmas with presents , events going on especially an early kick off .

Sorry, but I don't buy that. Even if I did, surely that is next weekend anyway?

We seem to have the highest percentage of fans who are away on holiday at the start of the season, the highest percentage whose kids play Saturday morning football, the highest percentage who can't make midweek games, and now the highest percentage who go Christmas shopping! We certainly have the highest percentage of excuse makers.

As an aside, last season's highest home attendance was 11,567 verses Sheffield Wednesday. Guess when it was? 14 December, the exact same weekend as this game.

 

[Colin B]

They are marketing it as their 'Christmas Extravaganza'.

I've just looked on the official website and found it.

Until then I hadn't seen a single thing about it, and our ticket sales suggest that neither has the target audience.

 

[werthersoriginal]

I've just looked on the official website and found it.

Until then I hadn't seen a single thing about it, and our ticket sales suggest that neither has the target audience.

I've actually seen quite a lot about it on social media, and a notification for it popped up in my iphone calendar, a bit annoyingly. Still not sure what it is.

 

[Bretch Hill]

Wondering if the Christmas extravaganza will out do the Baxi light show. As allways I’m looking foward to the game let’s hope there’s some kind of footballing extravaganza on the pitch

 

[Royalstandard74]

Let’s hope Oxford doesn’t take the roll as pantomime villain during the Christmas extravaganza!

 

[BicesterU]

Just listed my tickets in the Family Stand on the exchange.

(Not really, just trying to make @Colin B's head explode.)

 

[Essexyellows]

So here is where the real basic marketing can improve............ "Christmas Extravaganza, come down early, pop in the club shop etc etc".

Rather than "Christmas Extravaganza at 12.30pm" (eg: Kick off time!)

 

[EastStandKieran]

So here is where the real basic marketing can improve............ "Christmas Extravaganza, come down early, pop in the club shop etc etc".

Rather than "Christmas Extravaganza at 12.30pm" (eg: Kick off time!)

On my iPhone calendar it does say 10-12:30