Quote Sheepridge Giant="Sheepridge Giant"Jeez we do have a load of fair weather and totally fickle 'fans'
Things didn't go all our own way last season,so the attitude becomes for many - boo hoo,I'll just walk away.Incredible.'"
Attitudes like that are frankly a disgrace, there are a load of reasons why some people have not renewed, last seasons form being a smaller one, price increases will be another another, timing of fixtures and the effect on value for money is another, very significant reason.
Taking myself and family (2 adults and a student concession) as an example, last seasons form is not a factor, but we have not yet renewed (may do so but probably not). Due to being a student away from home my son got to four matches last year, so it would take some convincing to renew that one. As regards my wife and I various other commitments/circumstances make Friday and Monday matches extremely difficult so on the basis of last year that is four matches off, it is likely that at least one more will be missed due to holidays. As a consequence I am likely to attend no more than 8 home matches next season. A season ticket costs £ 199 where we sit or £ 192 pay at the gate. The ground is never likely to be so full we cannot get good seats and paying at the gate does not require a £ 400 lump sum now, costs will be spread throughout the season. We are not fickle fans it is likely we will attend as many away as home matches, if the scheduling suits we will be there, that means Saturdays or Sundays.
We have got a lot of young fans, which is good and the club have done well there, but I would think that families with younger kids will have similar issues with being able to make Friday and Monday matches, you can see that inside the ground, the family stand is significantly busier on Sundays than for evening matches. Excellent value season tickets are only excellent value if you can use them, that is little to do with "fickle fans".
It is not new that our crowds are significantly lower for evening matches (I mean the home areas), but season ticket pricing hasn't accounted for that, now I do not expect the club to cater for the unusual circumstances that affect my wife and I but I would expect them to cater better for the very many families with young kids with for example a family ticket that offers value against likely attendance which just is not 13 matches for families.