Gate figure conspiracy-gate?

[Fox Talbot]

When the gate for Sheff U was announced I assumed a junior media bod had cocked up by giving the real figure. But there's been no correction and last night's figure was done on the same basis - presumably not counting absent STH.

For the last x years it's been the policy of almost all clubs to report gates on a tickets sold basis - improves the image, creates a sense of demand and helps sustain higher prices. Obviously clubs have to know the real figure and share it with police and transport so they get the right manpower out but otherwise keep it to themselves.

My question is - whose interests does it serve for Reading FC to suddenly, mid-season, without explanation, change that policy at the point real gates have gone below 10,000 for the first time this century?

[Sutekh]

Good question. suggest asking STAR to raise it at the management meetings they regularly attend at the club or get BBCRB to find out.

[genome]

G8 g8

[Green]

Assume it's some kind of tax fiddle. Cash payments then don't have to be declared.

[CountryRoyal]

I have it on good authority that the eventual plan is to sell the stadium and relocate to Adams Park and ground share with Wycomb.

[Denver Royal]

I have it on good authority that the eventual plan is to sell the stadium and relocate to Adams Park and ground share with Wycomb.

Not sure if serious? Just asking. If so, how long has that been the plan, and why?

[Royal Tezza]

I'm part of the problem as I've barely been to a game this year but couldn't believe it when I heard the attendance figures the last couple of games - that is more concerning than what's going on on the pitch IMO.

A couple of thoughts from recent experiences

- We had a sell out (home) crowd for the 500th game vs Burton and put in (at that point) our worst performance of the season. I said to my Dad that there is no better opportunity for the club, management and players to put on a show for the fans and drive up interest in a flagging season. They won't have attracted many people back that day.

- More generally the ground is becoming increasingly more of a pain in the arse to get to, one of the few advantages of an out of town stadium is being able to get there and get home fast quickly and easily in a car. The loss of several car parking options means that people are even less likely to be oxf*rd turning up to watch us get spanked by some also rans and bore the crap out of everyone in the process.

The club needs to act fast.

[muirinho]

I have it on good authority that the eventual plan is to sell the stadium and relocate to Adams Park and ground share with Wycomb.

Presumably the latest hot-take from your deeply embedded source, aka Queensley

[windermereROYAL]

I have it on good authority that the eventual plan is to sell the stadium and relocate to Adams Park and ground share with Wycomb.

Not sure if serious? Just asking. If so, how long has that been the plan, and why?

Don`t feed the troll. please

[CountryRoyal]

I have it on good authority that the eventual plan is to sell the stadium and relocate to Adams Park and ground share with Wycomb.

Not sure if serious? Just asking. If so, how long has that been the plan, and why?

Don`t feed the troll. please

It's true, my mate's neighbour's cat's previous owner was on holiday in Beijing and overheard someone talking about it.

100%.

[savage 4 england]

The owners want to knock a stand down and extend the car park. Lower attendances will help justify this.

[Dr_Hfuhruhurr]

When the gate for Sheff U was announced I assumed a junior media bod had cocked up by giving the real figure. But there's been no correction and last night's figure was done on the same basis - presumably not counting absent STH.

For the last x years it's been the policy of almost all clubs to report gates on a tickets sold basis - improves the image, creates a sense of demand and helps sustain higher prices. Obviously clubs have to know the real figure and share it with police and transport so they get the right manpower out but otherwise keep it to themselves.

My question is - whose interests does it serve for Reading FC to suddenly, mid-season, without explanation, change that policy at the point real gates have gone below 10,000 for the first time this century?

How about the other theory? That gates are falling and Reading have never automatically counted STHs?
I can tell you, purely anecdotally of course, that I know plenty of people that dont go any more.

[Gunny Fishcake]

But presumably not counting absent STH.

For the last x years it's been the policy of almost all clubs to report gates on a tickets sold basis

This bollox about counting season ticket sales in crowd attendances is a total myth.

The official attendance is simply how many people go through the turnstile each game.

Just imagine hypothetically 500 hundred people turn up Saturday , plus 3000 Leeds fans, how in gods earth could the crowd be announced as 15,000 or what ever ?

[parky]

But presumably not counting absent STH.

For the last x years it's been the policy of almost all clubs to report gates on a tickets sold basis

This bollox about counting season ticket sales in crowd attendances is a total myth.

The official attendance is simply how many people go through the turnstile each game.

Just imagine hypothetically 500 hundred people turn up Saturday , plus 3000 Leeds fans, how in gods earth could the crowd be announced as 15,000 or what ever ?

Isn't that exactly what this thread is discussing?

[Gunny Fishcake]

I'm just adding my view. and doing it not very well

[JR]

But presumably not counting absent STH.

For the last x years it's been the policy of almost all clubs to report gates on a tickets sold basis

This bollox about counting season ticket sales in crowd attendances is a total myth.

The official attendance is simply how many people go through the turnstile each game.

Just imagine hypothetically 500 hundred people turn up Saturday , plus 3000 Leeds fans, how in gods earth could the crowd be announced as 15,000 or what ever ?

It isn’t bollox - many a time we have been in a 30-40% full stadium and the official figure has been 15k.

In my personal opinion and experience from over 200 games at the Mad Stad they have definitely changed the way they calculate the figure in the last two games.

My group have a predict the attendance game and it is widely accepted that you do an estimated count of the crowd and then add on 20%.

[Hound]

There definitely didn’t look 8k less in the stadium between the Derby and Sheff Utd games

Would basically have meant less than half the people there, and Sheff Utd bought a reasonable number

[72 bus]

My group have a predict the attendance game and it is widely accepted that you do an estimated count of the crowd and then add on 20%.

Fun group of guys, love to see you lot when you really let your hair down.

[Fox Talbot]

I'm just adding my view. and doing it not very well

Your view that counting missing STH are not counted in attendances is incorrect. For the most recent glaring incidence look at last weeks Arsenal v Man C, declared as 59,000 and widely laughed in the press at as half the seats were empty. There have been times recently when people in the Madstad have laughed when the 'official ' attendance has gone on the scoreboard. Which may be why they don't put it up any more.

Back to the OP - in whose interest is it to declare the lower figure? The one suggestion offered so far is that the club can be closed down and the car park extended. Had the poster said Thai Disneyland extended ....

Where is MultiSync1830 gone when you need him/her/it to offer a good theory?

[windermereROYAL]

So if ST holders are not counted does that mean that those attended were not counted ? I said last week there were more than 6700. and there were certainly more than 9.000 last night.