2009 attendances

[SkStu]

you did, i assume, see the bit where i agreed with John on that point? I'll say it again, if you like. Crowds should not deem whether a club should be in the Premier.

My problem was how you dismissed it saying that you were doing something right as you were top of the league. "Im alright Jack"

[pineapple stu]

We clearly are doing something right if we're top of the league. It's in fact a sad indictment of the rest of the league if they can't keep up with us, and I don't see why this point should be dismissed. Instead, it's focussed on more than it needs to be. Of course our crowds are sh!t. Of course we're constantly trying to improve them (having a CPO in the First Division when we don't need one, for example). But all clubs' crowds are sh!t. And it still irks me that people get our crowd figures so far wrong in percentage terms; it's almost like we're a stereotype of ourselves.

(And you're right; it was kingdom hoop who said we shouldn't be in the Premier; I mixed you two up somehow).

[Dodge]

Pineapple Stu, youre quick to point out the problems of every other club regarding finances etc so im surprised that youre not more gracious or accepting of people pointing out UCD's problems.



Well said IMO

[Lamper.sffc]

We clearly are doing something right if we're top of the league. It's in fact a sad indictment of the rest of the league if they can't keep up with us, and I don't see why this point should be dismissed. Instead, it's focussed on more than it needs to be. Of course our crowds are sh!t. Of course we're constantly trying to improve them (having a CPO in the First Division when we don't need one, for example). But all clubs' crowds are sh!t. And it still irks me that people get our crowd figures so far wrong in percentage terms; it's almost like we're a stereotype of ourselves.

(And you're right; it was kingdom hoop who said we shouldn't be in the Premier; I mixed you two up somehow).

Ah deja vu. Its seems like it wasnt too long ago that i was defending my club against similar accusation from you about our crowds. It seems Stu can dish it out but cant take it.

OH. Top of the league after 3 games. Come on man. Its nothing to brag about this early in the league.

[pineapple stu]

Even though the point was taken? It's just not as big a point as many make out, and many exaggerate the crowds too.

(And on SkStu's original point, the issue of appealing to students has been covered many many times here before. It's a case of, when students start in UCD, they either (a) supporting Man U, Chelsea, Liverpool, etc, (b) support St Pat's, Bohs, Cork, etc or (c) don't like football. So the college thing is, to a large extent, a false idol (or some better phrase someone else may think of).

(And for lamper, though I don't recall our debates off pat, I would imagine my issues with Fingal were over (a) over-estimation of potential crowds and (b) going full time on crowds of 500-600. I have frequently defended clubs with small crowds who live within their means)

[Candystripe]

Not offical yet, but directors said 260 more than Drogs game.

I estimate 3,350

Should be very close.


ps ...........3,462

official!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[pineapple stu]

How did you get the official figure at half four in the morning?!

[sonofstan]

On the UCD thing: I agree to an extent that it's a lost cause trying to muster up more than a handful of students to go to games - culturally, football in general, never mind LoI football, is off the radar for a most of the student body out there - take a walk around and you'll see lots of rugby shirts and a smaller, but noticeable amount of GAA shirts, but you'll hardly see any of the Prem/Celtic/ Barca/ Milan shirts that you'd see on a walk down most Irish streets. More than any other university here, Belfield is largely fed by private schools - it must be a disconcertingly monocultural place to arrive in for undergrads coming from outside- And those schools play rugby.

[osarusan]

(And you're right; it was kingdom hoop who said we shouldn't be in the Premier; I mixed you two up somehow).

Kingdomkerry I think.

[Rovers Maniac]

Under 100 at UCD is this fact? Poor enough crowd although i went to a game last year v Bray and Bray must have had over half the crowd in a crowd of less han 200.

[Dalymountrower]

2,500 in the Jodi, 1,500- 1,600 in the Connacht side. Others are estimating 4,500 in total.

Good crowd, great atmosphere and credit to both clubs for a quality match. Injury hit Bohs look unstoppable, while Rovers are good enough for a top three finish.

[MariborKev]

How did you get the official figure at half four in the morning?!

I'd say he got it a lot earlier, only got home to post it at that stage:D

[Patrick Dunne]

Good crowds at Dalymount, Oriel and the Brandywell last night.

This mornings Star has 4,500 down for Dalymount, and 3,200 for Oriel (no figure for Brandywell).

[oriel]

Good crowds at Dalymount, Oriel and the Brandywell last night.

This mornings Star has 4,500 down for Dalymount, and 3,200 for Oriel (no figure for Brandywell).

The same paper gave 3,600 for our match v bohs (4,500)

I would say 4,000 would be closer to the mark for last night :

Stand 2/3 full; = 1,000
Shed 2,000
Terracing nr Stand 500
Away 500


I`ll wait for others at the game to comment, and/or dfc.com but last night wasn`t that far off the Bohs game crowd.

[Inside Man]

But all clubs' crowds are sh!t. And it still irks me that people get our crowd figures so far wrong in percentage terms; it's almost like we're a stereotype of ourselves.
Indeed all clubs crowds are sh!t stu, however yours are by far the worst and hamper the league in my view. Fans are the centre of it all, if there is no fans you have to start wondering whats the use. No fans = no club. Now that is my view on it.
And stu you really know its getting pathetic when your fighting over 60 people.:rolleyes:

[SMorgan]

Diffinately over 4,000 in Oriel Park.

I would say that last night's crowd was bigger than that of the Bohs game.

[jebus]

626 I believe were announced for Limerick-Athlone last night, that will most likely be halved for the Monaghan game given the dross we produced

As far as UCD are concerned, and I'm sure this won't be an original idea, but have the club never thought of moving their fixture to Thursday night? More college kids about on that night after all

[Poor Student]

How UCD (footie club) cannot appeal to the students there in an effective way is beyond me.

It used to baffle me too. I still believe that heavily sustained promotion and offers could grow attendances over a medium to long period of time but the club does not have the resources to do so.

It is more difficult than you think to get the message out there on the campus. A couple of years ago I postered the pillars in the college every Thursday morning (that's when they're cleaned off) on the week of a home game. Within an hour the large societies like B&L and C&E had ripped them off or postered over them. I also approached the SU about helping promote games and was told by the then president that students would be offended by them doing so. It didn't stop them using their resources to poster about Columbian trade unions later that week however. You'd need a body of volunteers on the campus to begin with to get the club's message out there. It's a chicken and egg type situation.

[Black and White]

The same paper gave 3,600 for our match v bohs (4,500)

I would say 4,000 would be closer to the mark for last night :

Stand 2/3 full; = 1,000
Shed 2,000
Terracing nr Stand 500
Away 500


I`ll wait for others at the game to comment, and/or dfc.com but last night wasn`t that far off the Bohs game crowd.

A few officials where saying in the bar after the game last night that they sold more tickets before the game as per usual match night than they did before the Bohs game, id say the crowd was closer to the 3,900 to 4,000 mark. If you look, the terracing to the town side of the stand was jammers, i had to severly barge me way through to get to the jacks at one stage, there where peops standing alont the wall behind the town end goals from the stand side the whole way across to the shed side, there was 3 rows of people standing behind each other the whole way along the wall on the shed side, from corner flag to corner flag.

Shed was absolutly jammers, even the small uncovered sections each side of the she dwhere packed, under the stand was packed, the stand it self was 3/4 full if more but was completly full as there was barely any Drogs in it. Then the away section I was actually diisappointed with the crowd they brought down, they where all in the ground already at 7.15 when we arrived but it looked a tad bit smaller than the Bohs crowd, id say best part of 400-450!

[Poor Student]

As far as UCD are concerned, and I'm sure this won't be an original idea, but have the club never thought of moving their fixture to Thursday night? More college kids about on that night after all

It was considered about a year ago and the CPO discussed it with the fans. I think it was put to a vote of the club committee and they voted against it. I think with the location of the Bowl and a bit of promotion it would be worth a punt but it was tried before and didn't work as far as I know.

[Black and White]

Has there being any major changes to UCD's attendances since they moved to the bowl?

[Lamper.sffc]

456 confirmed on Sporting Fingal site.

[Green&whitearmy]

decent enough crowd in bry last night, i was on boat sides of the pitch throughout the game and could see the stands and there was at least 1200 at it, about 50-60 galway fans down.

[osarusan]

however yours are by far the worst and hamper the league in my view.
How so? Despite their poor crowds, UCD have been able to survive for quite a long time, and not only in the First Division either.

The fact that they can survive quite comfortably shows that they don't hamper the league or are not out of place in it.

It is up to other teams to show that the gap in income (from attendances at least) between UCD and (some) other clubs is consistently reflected in results on the field of play, but that is not being done at the moment, certainly at First Division level.

[oriel]

Diffinately over 4,000 in Oriel Park.

I would say that last night's crowd was bigger than that of the Bohs game.

I dont think so, for the Bohs game (4,500) every seat in the stand was taken, last night it was 2/3 full. Then again the shed looked more jammed last night. I still say around the 4,000 mark.

[Dodge]

How so? Despite their poor crowds, UCD have been able to survive for quite a long time, and not only in the First Division either.

The fact that they can survive quite comfortably shows that they don't hamper the league or are not out of place in it.

It is up to other teams to show that the gap in income between UCD and (some) other clubs is consistently reflected in results on the field of play, but that is not being done at the moment, certainly at First Division level.

Spot on, as ever. Love the way people think that if UCD go down, the league will magically attract thousands to all the games

[eamoss]

I don't think there was 4000 last night at Dundalk V Drogheda. I would guess the attendance was about the 3,700 or 3,800 figure.

Really wish Dundalk would release official figure because afaik they do count attendances and have a number 20mins before the end of the match as per FAI rules.

[Black and White]

I don't think there was 4000 last night at Dundalk V Drogheda. I would guess the attendance was about the 3,700 or 3,800 figure.

Really wish Dundalk would release official figure because afaik they do count attendances and have a number 20mins before the end of the match as per FAI rules.

They cant really like season ticket holders dont have their tickets stamped or are given a ticket or whatnot so whose to say every season ticket holder is guna show up to every game, there is no way unless they issue a receipt to everyone that passes through the turnstiles on a given night to get an official figure. But when clubs do give official figures, have any of ye ever wondered why they are always rounded up to the nearest 100 most of the time!ie 3500 or 4000!

[kingdom hoop]

(And you're right; it was kingdom hoop who said we shouldn't be in the Premier; I mixed you two up somehow).

No, that wasn't me -


160 is a disgrace. A junior B team would get that. A team like UCD should never be let in to the premier division.


Stick to the numbers Stu! :)

[BohDiddley]

Spot on, as ever. Love the way people think that if UCD go down, the league will magically attract thousands to all the games
I don't think anyone is saying that.

[Youths4Ever]

456 confirmed on Sporting Fingal site.


do you know many the stand holds at full capacity?

[Sam_Heggy]

According to extratime, the attendance at Terryland between Mervue and Finn Harps was 170. Big drop from two weeks ago

Yeah that would be about right, 30 or so Harps fans there.

[Buile Shuibhne]

They cant really like season ticket holders dont have their tickets stamped or are given a ticket or whatnot so whose to say every season ticket holder is guna show up to every game, there is no way unless they issue a receipt to everyone that passes through the turnstiles on a given night to get an official figure. But when clubs do give official figures, have any of ye ever wondered why they are always rounded up to the nearest 100 most of the time!ie 3500 or 4000!

Shels season ticket holders go thru a designated working turnstile which counts the total number of people.
As a cross-check the season ticket number is also ticked-off on a simple printed list, with in the case of family season tickets the number of family members attending that night marked off.


Separately in relation to family tickets - do Sporting Franchise count an arbitrary figure of 4, when calculating their attendances, for every one they sell?

[Candystripe]

How did you get the official figure at half four in the morning?!


From a text message which I got earlier although when I charged my phone only then did I see the message. :rolleyes:

Seemed to be more kids than normal at the game in the uncovered side.Non paying side for them if accompanied by an adult.

[LeixlipRed]

I'd say 800-1000 in the RSC last night. About 300 Shels fans included in that I would say too.

[Dunny]

Official Dundalk V Drogheda attendance was 3,883.

[Black and White]

Official Dundalk V Drogheda attendance was 3,883.

Where did you get that from?

[JC_GUFC]

Where did you get that from?

From his scanner. Do you need to ask?!?!

[eamoss]

They cant really like season ticket holders dont have their tickets stamped or are given a ticket or whatnot so whose to say every season ticket holder is guna show up to every game, there is no way unless they issue a receipt to everyone that passes through the turnstiles on a given night to get an official figure. But when clubs do give official figures, have any of ye ever wondered why they are always rounded up to the nearest 100 most of the time!ie 3500 or 4000!
Em they are not official figures that is just the reporters guess at the attendance.

Last night attendance they counted the number of season ticket holders at the game. I'm not sure how they did it though.

Where did you get that from?
OrielWeb

[Louth4sam]

I think it was only that game and it was to cover for extra stewards and police at the game. Usually €10 in for an adult

What a crock of sh!t. You can either deal with a big crowd or you can't. Imagine the uproar if we charged more for games against Bohs or rovers than we did against Sligo and Galway. It was a sneaky act by Kildare to make more money and they even had the cheek to sell us tickets with €10 printed on them for €15. There was 1000 Dundalk fans there so even at €10 a head Kildare would have taken in 10k so don't try and tell me that that wouldn't cover the cost of whatever security was needed with a small fortune left over to go into the coffers.

[Louth4sam]

Official Dundalk V Drogheda attendance was 3,883.

Well in that case the Bohs figure seems too high as it was only around a couple of hundred more than the Drogs match. I'd say 4100 would be a more accurate figure.

[RoversHead]

A few years ago i ran a food franchise in ucd and i offered free lunch to loi fans wearing their colours or producing a ucd ticket stub from the previos ucd home game,in a one month period i gave away six free lunches 3 pats fans and 3 of my beloved hoops brothers.its a graveyard always will be.

[sonofstan]

Recap (officials in bold)

Premier Division

Bohs v Rovers = 4,500
Bray v Galway = 1,300
Derry v Cork = 3,462
Dundalk v Drogheda = 3,883
Sligo v Pats = ?


PD average w/o Sligo-Pats game = [B]3,286.25



If we could get crowds like that every week, we might have a viable league

[Fribbler]

If we could get crowds like that every week, we might have a viable league
I'd be sceptical of us holding up those kinds of figures. Our first two games were special; the first being our return to the premium/against the champions, and the second being the first proper (non-friendly) louth derby in yonks. Still, I share CelticTiger's sneaking optomism that this could be a good year for attendances. Recessions, ill winds etc.... :)

[gufc2000]

Recap (officials in bold)

Premier Division

Bohs v Rovers = 4,500
Bray v Galway = 1,300
Derry v Cork = 3,462
Dundalk v Drogheda = 3,883
Sligo v Pats = ?

First Division

Limerick v Athlone = 626
Mervue v Harps = ?
Fingal v Wexford = 456
UCD v Monaghan = 160
Waterford v Shels = 1,000?
Longford v Kildare = ?

PD average w/o Sligo-Pats game = 3,286.25

FD average so far = 560.5
Official attendance at Terryland was 170 as per extratime

[pete]

If we could get crowds like that every week, we might have a viable league

Traditionally we have had some of the bigger crowds but I am not optimistic for the immediate future at the cross.

Not having a go at Bohs but not sure about the future of the league is so rosy when League Champions only get 2500 home fans for their biggest game of the season.

[sligoman]

Premier Division

Bohs v Rovers = 4,500
Bray v Galway = 1,300
Derry v Cork = 3,462
Dundalk v Drogheda = 3,883
Sligo v Pats = ?

First Division

Limerick v Athlone = 626
Mervue v Harps = 170
Fingal v Wexford = 456
UCD v Monaghan = 160
Waterford v Shels = 1,000
Longford v Kildare = ?

PD average w/o Sligo-Pats game = 3,286.25

FD average so far = 482.4

Anyone got Sligo-Pats or Longford-Kildare to complete it?Why are you taking over pineapple stu's job?

[Rovers fan]

Around 1600(or 1700) in the showgrounds I'd say. Poor enough.

[oriel]

Well in that case the Bohs figure seems too high as it was only around a couple of hundred more than the Drogs match. I'd say 4100 would be a more accurate figure.

Yeah 3,883 is def official for Drogs game.

Would also agree 4,500 too high for Bohs, I`d revise this down to 4,200 now.

[Dalymountrower]

Traditionally we have had some of the bigger crowds but I am not optimistic for the immediate future at the cross.

Not having a go at Bohs but not sure about the future of the league is so rosy when League Champions only get 2500 home fans for their biggest game of the season.

Of course your`re not!!!!!!. Bohs have a hard core fan base of around 2,000 with a travelling support as good as any in the league. We don`t get the fair weather fans that fleetingly successful provincial clubs attract. Not many neutral domestic football fans in Dublin unfortunately and that isn`t going to change without a significant European break through. I would be optimisic though that MNS and the improved coverage and improved football will bring in improved numbers. I would be delighted if we end up with an average of 2,500 by the end of the season for league games.