jimmy
10-26-2005, 03:11 PM
To start with,The Champions League.The marketing and hype over this competition is nothing short of propaganda.We continuously hear how this is the greatest club competition in the world and it has the greatest players on show.The financial rewards for getting to the group stages and further are astronomical..But if you take a step back and look at what it means to the hardcore fans across Europe,it puts the hype of the Champions League into the Catergory of our very own Carling Cup.In the early rounds the crowds are pityfull and are considerably lower than the clubs league attendences.Even when you get to the Group Stages the crowds dont set the heights and hype we are led to believe by the media band wagon.Juventus,Barcelona,Real Madrid and Inter Milans Stadiums are often less than half full and thats with massivelly reduced pricing.We are now seeing the same in this country with the likes of London Utds crowds dipping in this competition.The Champions League is run for the TV audiences (Armchair Supporters) not the people on the terraces and in the stands,that provide the clubs much needed revenue through the league season.
Now are very own Premier League.Lets start with Chelski.This Football Club has priced the normal working class fan out of the game.At this moment in time its not a problem for the money bags of football,but the History of football shows that things can change very quickly and if the Abramovich Empire crumbles for what ever reason.What would be the consequences for Chelski if this were to happen,after neglecting their working class fans for so many years and pricing them out of the game.If you look back not so long ago the mighty Chelski were in the old 2nd Division and all there affluent supporters had deserted them and the working class had lost interest in them after been priced out of watching their team.Consequently the season they got promoted back to the old Division 1 Chelskis crowds were abysmal that season Just over 6000 watched them for one league game and their average crowd that season was 15000.I went to watch City play them on the last day of the season when Chelski were being presented with the Title.A bumper crowd of just over 15000 were there to witness it and Chelski won the game 4-1 with Jimmy Quinn scoring for City.Back to modern day now and statistics show 65% of Chelskis season ticket holders earn over £35000 per annum.Compare this to Sheffield Wednesday where 14% of their season ticket holders earn the same amount.
Finally The Football League.
If we look at l33dsscum and how their crowds have been affected after relegation and the pricing out of loyal fans.For years they have been in the Empire of football and now they are in the Championship.Their affluent loyal fans (cough) have deserted them and its not L33ds v London Utd in front of 40000 fans,its l33ds v Crewe in front of 18000.Lets now take Swindon Town bottom of the league and charging £21 to watch unattractive non entertaining football.Oldham charge around the same in a dillapadated excuse for a Stadium that wouldnt look out of place in the 1930s.
The conclusions i have drawn from focusing on the state of Football,is the bubble could be starting to burst in the Championship and football League,but as yet its not in the Premier League.
The Premier League can survive with the money generated by Television and armchair supporters.There is the thought that the strangle hold of Chelski and the chance of lesser teams making an impact are making the Premier league a debacle for the paying loyal hardcore fans in the Stands.But as long as Sky are willing to pay Mega bucks for the rights to show live games,then nothing will change in the Premier League.
However The Championship,Football League and clubs themselves need to take a long hard look at what needs to be done to get the crowds in.These leagues are not the money leagues and have not got super stars on the pitch.The loyal fans are being ripped off and clubs,cant see they are not going to attract new supporters by charging astranomical prices to watch basement teams.
Football is the peoples game for the People and not for the TV and media to manipulate.Its time the Marketing Gurus got off their arses and gave the people something back for being so loyal,before the people and their sons and daughters who pay their wages leave the game for good.:(
Now are very own Premier League.Lets start with Chelski.This Football Club has priced the normal working class fan out of the game.At this moment in time its not a problem for the money bags of football,but the History of football shows that things can change very quickly and if the Abramovich Empire crumbles for what ever reason.What would be the consequences for Chelski if this were to happen,after neglecting their working class fans for so many years and pricing them out of the game.If you look back not so long ago the mighty Chelski were in the old 2nd Division and all there affluent supporters had deserted them and the working class had lost interest in them after been priced out of watching their team.Consequently the season they got promoted back to the old Division 1 Chelskis crowds were abysmal that season Just over 6000 watched them for one league game and their average crowd that season was 15000.I went to watch City play them on the last day of the season when Chelski were being presented with the Title.A bumper crowd of just over 15000 were there to witness it and Chelski won the game 4-1 with Jimmy Quinn scoring for City.Back to modern day now and statistics show 65% of Chelskis season ticket holders earn over £35000 per annum.Compare this to Sheffield Wednesday where 14% of their season ticket holders earn the same amount.
Finally The Football League.
If we look at l33dsscum and how their crowds have been affected after relegation and the pricing out of loyal fans.For years they have been in the Empire of football and now they are in the Championship.Their affluent loyal fans (cough) have deserted them and its not L33ds v London Utd in front of 40000 fans,its l33ds v Crewe in front of 18000.Lets now take Swindon Town bottom of the league and charging £21 to watch unattractive non entertaining football.Oldham charge around the same in a dillapadated excuse for a Stadium that wouldnt look out of place in the 1930s.
The conclusions i have drawn from focusing on the state of Football,is the bubble could be starting to burst in the Championship and football League,but as yet its not in the Premier League.
The Premier League can survive with the money generated by Television and armchair supporters.There is the thought that the strangle hold of Chelski and the chance of lesser teams making an impact are making the Premier league a debacle for the paying loyal hardcore fans in the Stands.But as long as Sky are willing to pay Mega bucks for the rights to show live games,then nothing will change in the Premier League.
However The Championship,Football League and clubs themselves need to take a long hard look at what needs to be done to get the crowds in.These leagues are not the money leagues and have not got super stars on the pitch.The loyal fans are being ripped off and clubs,cant see they are not going to attract new supporters by charging astranomical prices to watch basement teams.
Football is the peoples game for the People and not for the TV and media to manipulate.Its time the Marketing Gurus got off their arses and gave the people something back for being so loyal,before the people and their sons and daughters who pay their wages leave the game for good.:(