Post by Alex on Aug 1, 2006 9:55:05 GMT -1
Hull City will kick-off their new Championship season with 2,000 less season ticket holders cheering them on. Chairman Adam Pearson has confirmed that sales for the forthcoming campaign are down on last year's figure of 14,000.
With four days to go before the Tigers' opening Championship clash at West Bromwich Albion, the current number of season ticket holders is just under 12,000.
Season ticket prices for the 2006/7 season range from £535 (£490 maximum discount before April 8) for an adult and child in the West Family stand to £390 (£365 discount) for an adult in the East stand, to £200 (£180 discount) for juniors and OAPs in the South Stand.
Pearson feels the reason behind the drop-off in numbers is because fans who bought season tickets for the first time last season have not done so again this season.
He told the Mail: "It seems that a lot of the people that bought season tickets for the first time last year have not renewed. Season ticket sales are 2,000 down on last year which means they are at 11,900. We don't seem to have lost many fans who have been season ticket holders for a while, but we have lost 2,000 people who have virtually just joined us."
Having secured back-to-back promotions, the Tigers saw an upturn in ticket sales last year as fans rushed to see the side play in the second tier of English football for the first time since the 1990-91 season.
The average home attendance at the KC was 19,841, 12th in the Championship. Interestingly, that was 4,000 more than promoted team Watford managed, and just 400 less than champions Reading. But after winning just eight of their 23 games at the KC Stadium, the fans seem to have decided to stay away this season.
Under former manager Peter Taylor, City were guilty of a series of drab home performances - scoring an average of just a goal a game.
New boss Phil Parkinson appears to be prepared to play a much more attacking brand of football and it is hoped attendances will increase once fans have seen the new style of play.
Pearson is more than happy with season ticket sales after reaching a number that many teams in the division could only wish for.
But he admitted he was disappointed about the low attendance for City's recent pre-season matches against Aston Villa and AS Nancy - when just 4,677 fans came to watch the French side.
This figure can be put into context though by a fixture the following day, when just over 4,000 fans turned up at the Hawthorns to watch West Brom take on Real Sociedad.
He added: "I was disappointed on Saturday, but friendlies are friendlies. To be honest if I was a supporter I'd struggle to go to friendlies because they are a training exercise and it is difficult to enjoy them. It is slightly disappointing because they are a good side and it cost us a fair bit of money to bring them in, but that is life and you get on with it. I can't blame people for not wanting to attend friendlies. I just don't think that there is a big market for them."
Source: Hull Daily Mail
Well, my opinion is similar to those that have posted comments on the HDM page. The glory supporters who came along after promotions (possibly expecting a third?), have now left, after last season's poor performances both home and away. Now this could either be positive (as daft as it sounds) or negative.
Positive: The true supporters have left, perhaps generating a better atmosphere with the true supporters all singing?
Negative: The obvious, less amounts in the coffers, an emptier looking stadium (depending on how many on the day sales there etc).
With four days to go before the Tigers' opening Championship clash at West Bromwich Albion, the current number of season ticket holders is just under 12,000.
Season ticket prices for the 2006/7 season range from £535 (£490 maximum discount before April 8) for an adult and child in the West Family stand to £390 (£365 discount) for an adult in the East stand, to £200 (£180 discount) for juniors and OAPs in the South Stand.
Pearson feels the reason behind the drop-off in numbers is because fans who bought season tickets for the first time last season have not done so again this season.
He told the Mail: "It seems that a lot of the people that bought season tickets for the first time last year have not renewed. Season ticket sales are 2,000 down on last year which means they are at 11,900. We don't seem to have lost many fans who have been season ticket holders for a while, but we have lost 2,000 people who have virtually just joined us."
Having secured back-to-back promotions, the Tigers saw an upturn in ticket sales last year as fans rushed to see the side play in the second tier of English football for the first time since the 1990-91 season.
The average home attendance at the KC was 19,841, 12th in the Championship. Interestingly, that was 4,000 more than promoted team Watford managed, and just 400 less than champions Reading. But after winning just eight of their 23 games at the KC Stadium, the fans seem to have decided to stay away this season.
Under former manager Peter Taylor, City were guilty of a series of drab home performances - scoring an average of just a goal a game.
New boss Phil Parkinson appears to be prepared to play a much more attacking brand of football and it is hoped attendances will increase once fans have seen the new style of play.
Pearson is more than happy with season ticket sales after reaching a number that many teams in the division could only wish for.
But he admitted he was disappointed about the low attendance for City's recent pre-season matches against Aston Villa and AS Nancy - when just 4,677 fans came to watch the French side.
This figure can be put into context though by a fixture the following day, when just over 4,000 fans turned up at the Hawthorns to watch West Brom take on Real Sociedad.
He added: "I was disappointed on Saturday, but friendlies are friendlies. To be honest if I was a supporter I'd struggle to go to friendlies because they are a training exercise and it is difficult to enjoy them. It is slightly disappointing because they are a good side and it cost us a fair bit of money to bring them in, but that is life and you get on with it. I can't blame people for not wanting to attend friendlies. I just don't think that there is a big market for them."
Source: Hull Daily Mail
Well, my opinion is similar to those that have posted comments on the HDM page. The glory supporters who came along after promotions (possibly expecting a third?), have now left, after last season's poor performances both home and away. Now this could either be positive (as daft as it sounds) or negative.
Positive: The true supporters have left, perhaps generating a better atmosphere with the true supporters all singing?
Negative: The obvious, less amounts in the coffers, an emptier looking stadium (depending on how many on the day sales there etc).
What's everyone's thoughts? 
