Comparison of LOI and BSP

FourFourTwo had a feature on the Blue Square Premier(BSP) this month.

What interested me was the wage and attendances figures

Average attendance of 1,758 and average wages of £800.

Our average attendance is in the 1700s(though I think it is few hundred too high). Any guesses on what the average wage would be?

I mean total wage package/52 to give the weekly. So adding in basic, bonuses etc.

The article featured on the Setanta coverage but they made the point that they need to continue to improve the facilities in order to turn the interest in the TV games(70k+ average viewers) into increased attendance.

That is where I fundamental disagree with Rico, the product is there but we won't increase attendances until facilities improve.

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Originally Posted by Maribor

Average attendance of 1,758 and average wages of £800

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Hard to think that LOI wage levels would be below average €1000.

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Originally Posted by Maribor

That is where I fundamental disagree with Rico, the product is there but we won't increase attendances until facilities improve.

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True. Better facilities would make the same football a much better looking product. Only state grants can solve that & no chance of them increasing in the next few years of recession.

IMO LOI grounds need to be turned into large pubs. Irish people won't attend sport without alcohol. Without alcohol only the hardcore would attend doy racing.

I have just moved over to england and watch Dartford fc in the Ryman league. Over 1000 at each game in a fantastic brand new council built ground. It makes me realise just whats not there at home in the IL:(

loi has better players tho, or at least the better players in LOI are far superior to BSP.

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Originally Posted by pete

Hard to think that LOI wage levels would be below average €1000.



True. Better facilities would make the same football a much better looking product. Only state grants can solve that & no chance of them increasing in the next few years of recession.

IMO LOI grounds need to be turned into large pubs. Irish people won't attend sport without alcohol. Without alcohol only the hardcore would attend doy racing.

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Agreed!!!

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Originally Posted by Dassa

in a fantastic brand new council built ground.

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Hold that thought. Who do councils in Ireland build for?

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Originally Posted by BohDiddley

Hold that thought. Who do councils in Ireland build for?

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Councillors friends and back-pockets? OR is that just the zoning:rolleyes:

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Originally Posted by BohDiddley

Hold that thought. Who do councils in Ireland build for?

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Shamrock Rovers...

Oh and the average LOI wage would easily be below €1,000 pete. Half the pats squad alone is on less than that and we'd be one of the biggest spenders

800 for the blue square league, wouldnt have thought it would be that much so low down.

Don't forget they play at least 25 home games (23 league games plus Cups). Outside of the top four here, you've got 18 home games. Those seven extra gates add up.

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Originally Posted by Duggie

800 for the blue square league, wouldnt have thought it would be that much so low down.

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Thats a sizeable drop off from the average League Two wage too.

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Originally Posted by Maribor

That is where I fundamental disagree with Rico, the product is there but we won't increase attendances until facilities improve.

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I think this idea is over rated and used as an excuse for some not to attend
Its football we are after - i dont go to football games cause the half time pie is delicious and the seat is comfy - and if people really do think like this (which some do) then do we really want them in our grounds?

Irish people just dont do LOI - there is no band wagon to follow in the LOI

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Its football we are after - i dont go to football games cause the half time pie is delicious and the seat is comfy - and if people really do think like this (which some do) then do we really want them in our grounds?

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yes, we want them (we being the league - I personally have given up on them)

If we had a ground breaking new marketing campaign that got people into the grounds for the first time ever, there's nothing to make a floating fan come back again. They might get lucky and get a cracker but more than likely they'll sit in uncomfortable seats, or stand on unsafe terracing and have to queue up at a van if they want chips and a coke. Remember that the people who go to LOI games at the moment don't care how ****ty the ground is, but we're a tiny minority, and we're not the people the league needs to attract.

My own personal opinion is that until alcohol is widely available at LOI grounds, we've no chance.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

and if people really do think like this (which some do) then do we really want them in our grounds?

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Yes, we do .... most definitely, without doubt we do need them, them and all their mates as well. Thats exactly what we need .... keep this in mind and be nice to them. Hell, i'd even give up my seat for them. Tell everyone you know

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Originally Posted by Dodge

My own personal opinion is that until alcohol is widely available at LOI grounds, we've no chance.

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Agree with that. Limerick did a promotion with alcohol involved and it got a few more people through the gates. The alcohol was free to a certain extent (5euro for a hotdog, match program and a beer) but it was definately the alcohol that got a few more people in.

marketing games that may only attract 500 - 1000 is a waste of time. thats not the way forward. better grounds is the only way forward IMO.

I don't think Pats (usually try to pass the ball) or Drogs (rarely pass the ball) this season played any different in Europe compared with LOI games but away grounds so much better backdrop for TV audience.

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Originally Posted by pete

Hard to think that LOI wage levels would be below average €1000.

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I find it harder to think of a LOI club that could currently sustain or justify a grand a week average wages. The sums just don't add up for me.

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Originally Posted by pete

IMO LOI grounds need to be turned into large pubs. Irish people won't attend sport without alcohol.

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Absolutely agree

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Originally Posted by irishultra

loi has better players tho, or at least the better players in LOI are far superior to BSP.

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...once again -absolutely agree.

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Originally Posted by Duggie

800 for the blue square league, wouldnt have thought it would be that much so low down.

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As with the LOI I just can't see the justification of those wages as a percentage of turnover at that level. I don't think I'm taking an entirely extreme example when I point to a good chunk of the Leeds United squad being on less than that not so long ago ...two divisions higher up.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

I think this idea is over rated and used as an excuse for some not to attend
Its football we are after - i dont go to football games cause the half time pie is delicious and the seat is comfy - and if people really do think like this (which some do) then do we really want them in our grounds?

Irish people just dont do LOI - there is no band wagon to follow in the LOI

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I see your point but you don't need converting. It has to be put to people as an entertainment product where they're sure to have a good time. We're dead in the water if we're holding it up as some sort of social or communal responsibility to attend. There's many other options out there that people will drift to more easily.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

I think this idea is over rated and used as an excuse for some not to attend
Its football we are after - i dont go to football games cause the half time pie is delicious and the seat is comfy - and if people really do think like this (which some do) then do we really want them in our grounds?

Irish people just dont do LOI - there is no band wagon to follow in the LOI

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Kinda agree with you here but at the same time the toilets in tolka are horrible, a smelly p*ssed soaked floor with no lights.

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Originally Posted by bennocelt

Its football we are after - i dont go to football games cause the half time pie is delicious and the seat is comfy - and if people really do think like this (which some do) then do we really want them in our grounds?

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The reality is that we need everybody in our grounds.

Benno, studies by the SRG group in Deloitte show that attendances can improve by up to 30% with the introduction of better facilities.