Och Aye Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Following on from some comments in other threads, what can be done to improve things? The apathy from chairman/owners/SPFL chiefs I find depressing. They don't seem to see how bad things are getting. They should be all meeting up and brainstorming in an effort to improve things. Price of going to games is ridiculous - English league are talking about capping price for away fans to £20 to get more atmosphere at games. Great idea, £10 in Scotland I'd say £15 for home fans or at least try it, for more the one off games. Atmosphere at club games is poor most of the time. Let's get standing areas back especially at grounds with empty spaces behind goals like Firhill and New Douglas Park. I know it's financial but it looks amateurish for the top league. There just doesn't seem to be any club owners coming out and rattling a few cages. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ormond Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 The trouble is that bigger leagues in Europe can afford to lower entry fees because of the revenues they receive from tv and sponsorship. That hits Scottish fitba' bad. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecie Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Nothing. It's going rather well right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenfrewBlue Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 The first step is to make the product more attractive. It costs less to go to see a 3d movie in a comfy heated cinema and you have more chance of guaranteed entertainment. Too many games are over priced and about as entertaining as toothache. So you either drop the price or improve the facilities or improve the entertainment. I don't think TV football is the biggest danger to the game. There are far more reasons for kids not to be interested in Scottish football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamntg Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I was looking at going to Crystal Palace game on way back from Faro and they wanted me to join their Silver Membership club to get the right to buy tickets. That was £25. Then, it turns out, you are only entitled to buy two tickets for that £25, so to get tickets for me and my two wee boys I'd have to splash out £50. And then - the cheapest tickets would be £38 for me and £19 each for the kids. Total bill of £126. Nah. They won't give me my £25 back though!AFC Wimbledon or Brentford, here I come... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 (edited) Pricing and general treatment of away fans are a big factor. It should be such an easy market for clubs to tap into, these are existing customers, people who already attend games, and clubs could honestly not do less to try and encourage folk to go as an away fan. Overpriced, stuck in a dark corner of the stadium, herded like cattle, poor stewarding, banning drums etc.... Larger and noisier away supports create a better atmosphere, which improves the matchday experience for everyone and could help improve home attendances too over time. Edited October 5, 2015 by sbcmfc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 What's the definition of 'improve' ? Have our stadiums packed out every weekend ? Have our clubs win European trophies ? Attract some of the world's best players to our league ? Have Scottish players in some of Europe's top clubs ? Have a succesful international side ? All of these criteria could apply when it comes to 'improving' our game, yet achieving one (or more) of these criteria above may not necessarily lead to the others being fulfilled. We need to know what we're trying to achieve when we say 'improve our game'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Och Aye Posted October 5, 2015 Author Share Posted October 5, 2015 Exactly the point I was making Rossy. Club/league bosses don't seem to setting any achievement targets. They are sitting on their hands while Scottish football deteriorates. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenfrewBlue Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 What's the definition of 'improve' ? Have our stadiums packed out every weekend ? Have our clubs win European trophies ? Attract some of the world's best players to our league ? Have Scottish players in some of Europe's top clubs ? Have a succesful international side ? All of these criteria could apply when it comes to 'improving' our game, yet achieving one (or more) of these criteria above may not necessarily lead to the others being fulfilled. We need to know what we're trying to achieve when we say 'improve our game'. Fair point.As a minimum surely we want better results when Scotland play and the clubs are in Europe as a minimum? We also want more entertainment. How else do you attract the next generation of fans? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Angus_Young Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 What's the definition of 'improve' ? Have our stadiums packed out every weekend ? Have Scottish players in some of Europe's top clubs ? Have a succesful international side ? '. I think out of the ones you mention these are a bit more realistic. I've said it before but I think a successful international side will probably be the end game for the majority of posters on here. In the short term, improving crowds and youth development has got to be right up there in terms if priorities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chief Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 The easiest thing would be to move to summer football. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 In the short term, improving crowds and youth development has got to be right up there in terms if priorities. I've suggested measures to improve the crowds too, but I think there are stats that say Scottish football is very well supported by head of population. Obviously the heavy weighting of these supporters toward 2 teams has a detrimental effect on the rest. It also appears to be in decline, so taking measures to stop that would be good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donaldo87 Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Nothing. The only thing that truly helps is competition. As one example look at Aberdeen's attendances since their up turn in fortune. People are lost to football and aint gonna come back if tickets are reduced from £22 to £15 or if they can get a pint at the game. These things should still be done but aint gonna bring the crowds back in big numbers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rossy Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I now believe that you can discount one thing that's been stated over and over again....that more competition in the game will bring crowds back. Over the last 10 years or so, almost ever team in the Premiership and a few outside it, have either been in a cup final or won a trophy. In fact, I doubt if there's ever been a period in the Scottish game where so many teams have a realistic chance of winning a trophy. And despite that, it's had no influence at all on crowds. I don't believe that it's so much the internal factors in the Scottish game......the level of skill, competitiveness....that stop people going to football, rather it's the external factors.....saturation coverage of European football and the Premiership on TV, other acticities available etc etc . So how do you compete with that ? Well, the Scottish game is incredibly poorly marketed by those in power. TV rights are sold for a pittance, our national broadcaster ignores the game, and we meekly follow England in the naming of our leagues. Woeful. Our game is under-sold in so many different ways. Other than that, some out of the box thinking is needed, and I'm more attracted to the idea of summer football as time goes on as an example of that. However, there are some realities that have to be faced. The days of our teams being a force in Europe are probably gone. Maybe we should be looking at other smaller leagues around Europe.....Belgium, Denmark, Sweden etc....to see how they develop players, sell them around Europe, and then use these players to have a better international side, rather than putting the emphasis on our teams trying to attain a level in Europe that they'll never reach ? Just a thought, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Cutting prices does not work. Motherwell tried and failed. My team, Partick Thistle, have to charge £22 to cover costs and it is run on a shoestring. If you gave tickets away for free they would not sell out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbcmfc Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Cutting prices does not work. Motherwell tried and failed. My team, Partick Thistle, have to charge £22 to cover costs and it is run on a shoestring. If you gave tickets away for free they would not sell out. I felt Motherwells scatter gun approach to pricing when they were doing all the cheap tickets was done very poorly and why it never really worked. Although I do agree, you couldn't fill most grounds if you opened the gates for free. A consistent well marketed lower price (around the £15 mark for an adult?) for home and away fans could work in my opinion. I'm going to go to probably 5-6 away games this season, if say Partick thistle were offering a £15 ticket, it might not make me go to 10 away games, but it would certainly make Firhill a more interesting proposition to be one of my 5-6. As my son gets a bit older and I start taking him, we might go to more games, but as an example at Dens Park on Saturday the Motherwell fans were stuck in the main stand behind a pillar and charged £34 for an adult and child. Not many folk can justify the cost on a weekly basis or certainly see better value elsewhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy North Croy Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Summer football Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deecie Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Increased prices and starting the season later. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Summer football What a summer we've had. I've just stopped peeling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I think Scottish football could improve a lot more than it is. Lifestyle, choice, tastes and disposable income is so different from 20 years ago but the game has not cottoned on. It's still dominated by "pie and bovril" brigade. Usually angry with it. Ideally you'd franchise it. Reduce number of teams and hype it up with marquee players like Australian league. That's never gonna happen though. There is a lot going for it and I still like going. My 11 year old neice and 8 year old nephew have started coming to the football and they love it. It's free for U16's at Firhill which is a particular bonus for my wallet. They like the crowd, the excitement, "Mad Bobby" who they have christened who sits in the family section with 2 kids but still swears and they meet the players after the game. However so many of my friends have stopped going. Simply lost interest. Lost in the fog of war of English Premiership. You need to market it to death. It can't compete with La Liga or English Premiership. They should look at sports such as Aussie Rules and Rugby League who have a huge community fanbase with loyalty and family support. Promote it. Keep it positive. Reach out to all manner of groups. They also need to make it more of an "event". Stadiums need to be much better. Better seating. Better views. Different areas for different groups. Standing areas. Family areas. "Prawn sandwich" areas. Offer events before and after game with choice including better food and also a beer if you want. I've been to MLS, A-League, Rugby League, NFL etc and they are all more friendly, positive and offer a better product and choice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RenfrewBlue Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I think Scottish football could improve a lot more than it is. Lifestyle, choice, tastes and disposable income is so different from 20 years ago but the game has not cottoned on. It's still dominated by "pie and bovril" brigade. Usually angry with it. Ideally you'd franchise it. Reduce number of teams and hype it up with marquee players like Australian league. That's never gonna happen though. There is a lot going for it and I still like going. My 11 year old neice and 8 year old nephew have started coming to the football and they love it. It's free for U16's at Firhill which is a particular bonus for my wallet. They like the crowd, the excitement, "Mad Bobby" who they have christened who sits in the family section with 2 kids but still swears and they meet the players after the game. However so many of my friends have stopped going. Simply lost interest. Lost in the fog of war of English Premiership. You need to market it to death. It can't compete with La Liga or English Premiership. They should look at sports such as Aussie Rules and Rugby League who have a huge community fanbase with loyalty and family support. Promote it. Keep it positive. Reach out to all manner of groups. They also need to make it more of an "event". Stadiums need to be much better. Better seating. Better views. Different areas for different groups. Standing areas. Family areas. "Prawn sandwich" areas. Offer events before and after game with choice including better food and also a beer if you want. I've been to MLS, A-League, Rugby League, NFL etc and they are all more friendly, positive and offer a better product and choice. All good positive suggestions.Let's face it, going to the toilet is only done at the game if you're totally desperate as they are generally filthy and utterly stinking. The food is normally shite. The best grub I've had at Ibrox was at the Rugby 7s at Commonwealth Games. They brought in a different caterer and it was night and day compared to the usual crap. It can all be done but needs the clubs to put some effort and cash in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Donaldo87 Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I now believe that you can discount one thing that's been stated over and over again....that more competition in the game will bring crowds back. Over the last 10 years or so, almost ever team in the Premiership and a few outside it, have either been in a cup final or won a trophy. In fact, I doubt if there's ever been a period in the Scottish game where so many teams have a realistic chance of winning a trophy. And despite that, it's had no influence at all on crowds. Disagree Rossy - maybe not in the early rounds but I would say that every team gets a boost in crowds for cup games. Especially when you get to the Semi / Final. The trick is to get them to come to run of the mill league games as well. If there is something to play for the fans will come out (and if they think they have a chance) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShedTA Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Start with a clear out of the dinosaurs and old boys network running the game. We might just then get some decent ideas for improvement. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jimstroma Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Make it as competitive as possible. Cap wages, transfer fees etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AberdeenAngus Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Apparently the percentage of the total population attending League games in Scotland is higher here than down south on a regular basis. It could be said however that 4 or 5 clubs account for much of that. Fewer senior clubs would be ideal but no idea how you get to that point. Pricing, summer football and getting a better deal from tv companies are all things that need looking at too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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