The Mail Bag
Conspicuous by their absence
Comments (12)
I posted this earlier in an answer to another thread but I think it's worthy of debate in its own right. We have a record 26,000 plus season ticket holders, sold out the Burnley away game in 24 hours, had a huge number of people seeking Cup Final tickets, but we're struggling to sell out for the opening home game against Arsenal.
What the hell is going on? Don't give me the holiday's excuse or the obstructed views argument. There's something more fundamental than that. Are we developing into a small club after all, albeit with a genuinely passionate but dwindling fan base?
Ray Robinson, Posted 12/08/2009 at 19:25:11
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Mike Dillon
2 Posted 13/08/2009 at 04:41:45
2 Posted 13/08/2009 at 04:41:45
Ray, I had an opportunity for a ticket for the Arsenal game.
All tickets I could find were obstructed. Having been in obstructed views in the past, the view is absolutely terrible, especially from the lower bullens, where I’d be sat. No thanks.
I’m sure countless blues would feel the same.
All tickets I could find were obstructed. Having been in obstructed views in the past, the view is absolutely terrible, especially from the lower bullens, where I’d be sat. No thanks.
I’m sure countless blues would feel the same.
Peter Griffin
3 Posted 13/08/2009 at 09:28:59
3 Posted 13/08/2009 at 09:28:59
Ray if you go on the OS and the eticketing section you will see what seats are available. Not many and all obstructed views. There are only seats in the MS and upper gladdy, all obstructed, but again not many so a virtual sellout. Also for the plaeasure of sitting behind a post the club are kind enough to offer a £1 discount!!!!! Let’s not forget it’s televised on ESPN.
"Developing into a small club" don’t talk shite.
"Developing into a small club" don’t talk shite.
Erik Dols
4 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:16:29
4 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:16:29
The vast majority of regulars on this site has visited Goodison more often than I did but even I know from experience that there are a lot of obstructed views that are not slightly obstructed but that make watching the match from your seat almost impossible. So I think the obstructed views claim is valid one. I won’t accept an obstructed view anymore, except for the derby or possibly a big European/cup match.
Paul Gladwell
5 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:16:18
5 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:16:18
Oh the old obstructed view crap again but I am sure they will all be there if it was Kirkby.
Those seats have been there for years and never stopped people in the past until pub football came along with sky and the Arab channel.
They say its too pricey yet spend a fortune on ale in the pub watching it,I Know a good few who will be doing this on Saturday, not because of shit views but because they are not committed to Everton like others are.
If you want to see the blues enough you will and no post in the way would ever put me off games like this coming Saturday.
Those seats have been there for years and never stopped people in the past until pub football came along with sky and the Arab channel.
They say its too pricey yet spend a fortune on ale in the pub watching it,I Know a good few who will be doing this on Saturday, not because of shit views but because they are not committed to Everton like others are.
If you want to see the blues enough you will and no post in the way would ever put me off games like this coming Saturday.
Michael Ward
6 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:33:50
6 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:33:50
Ray, I am a scouser currently living in Jersey and I have booked a weeks holiday next week to go home, so I looked at tickets to try and get the match while I’m home, all the seats were obstructed and only one or two seats were together, so if i wanted to go with my family there was no point.
I decided that I would just go the European game on Thursday instead where I can get a decent seat. I have sat in the obstructed views many a time, but to say we are a small club when only obstructed views are left is a bit of a joke, especially given we have broken the record for season ticket sales this season.
I decided that I would just go the European game on Thursday instead where I can get a decent seat. I have sat in the obstructed views many a time, but to say we are a small club when only obstructed views are left is a bit of a joke, especially given we have broken the record for season ticket sales this season.
Hugo Kondratiuk
7 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:46:02
7 Posted 13/08/2009 at 10:46:02
Except it sold out yesterday.
Steve Callaghan
8 Posted 13/08/2009 at 11:51:24
8 Posted 13/08/2009 at 11:51:24
Ray - you ask valid questions and yes there are mitigating circumstances as to why the obstructed seats don’t sell - but when you look at our average attendances not all of the missing seats are obstructed.
I have wondered for a while now why we cannot fill all our unobstructed seats and we do leave ourselves open to criticism when we cannot get close to 40K average.
Everton shoot themselves in the foot here somewhat by charging full whack for obstructed views - why on earth these seats are not sold at half price is beyond me - if so they would be snapped up because some are not that bad at all - and if you move your neck or arse in your seat you can still see the action. Granted some are crap but still worth £15-£17.
However, you have a point - we are a big club but cannot regularly breach 40K - yet often we sell out for away games. Yes, obstructed views are an issue and their price but also why don’t we have a waiting list for season tickets like the ’big clubs’?
With the Board consisting of the present pauper incumbents the only way we can increase revenue is via Sky, marketing and through the turnstiles. No way - with this lot - can we continue to break transfer records - and sometimes I agree I think our attendances are poor for a club that is in the top 5 in the land.
I have wondered for a while now why we cannot fill all our unobstructed seats and we do leave ourselves open to criticism when we cannot get close to 40K average.
Everton shoot themselves in the foot here somewhat by charging full whack for obstructed views - why on earth these seats are not sold at half price is beyond me - if so they would be snapped up because some are not that bad at all - and if you move your neck or arse in your seat you can still see the action. Granted some are crap but still worth £15-£17.
However, you have a point - we are a big club but cannot regularly breach 40K - yet often we sell out for away games. Yes, obstructed views are an issue and their price but also why don’t we have a waiting list for season tickets like the ’big clubs’?
With the Board consisting of the present pauper incumbents the only way we can increase revenue is via Sky, marketing and through the turnstiles. No way - with this lot - can we continue to break transfer records - and sometimes I agree I think our attendances are poor for a club that is in the top 5 in the land.
Martin Berry
9 Posted 13/08/2009 at 17:24:09
9 Posted 13/08/2009 at 17:24:09
It now seems a pointless thread. We are defo sold out. Just checked OS.
COYB
COYB
John Martin
10 Posted 13/08/2009 at 18:18:32
10 Posted 13/08/2009 at 18:18:32
I’m lucky to have a season ticket in the lower Gwladys. Today on the bus the person sitting behind was telling her friend how her son had gone to Goodison for a ticket to the Arsenal game but decided against it due to obstructed views. I also work with a regular match goer who also took that option. The cost of tickets nowadays plus the fact the game is on TV and in pubs means crowds will slightly drop due to our obstructed views.
Ray Robinson
11 Posted 13/08/2009 at 19:21:21
11 Posted 13/08/2009 at 19:21:21
Ok, I posted the thread for a bit of discussion. I accept that the obstructed views does have an impact although I have suffered them before myself and it never really put me off going to the match. Better to be there than not.
Steve Callaghan seems to be the only one that caught my drift which was that we often struggle to sell out matches at home even when there are unobstructed views available. We took 6,000 to Nurnberg two seasons ago and yet only had 28,000 at the Liege home game last year. How many do you think will attend the Sigma game next week despite reduced prices?
I know the recession is hitting home but there does seem to be a huge disparity between the magnificent core support and the relatively poor home attendances. We have 26,000 season ticket holders and yet may struggle to get 35,000 for some matches - including away support.
It can’t all be explained by obstructed views can it?
Steve Callaghan seems to be the only one that caught my drift which was that we often struggle to sell out matches at home even when there are unobstructed views available. We took 6,000 to Nurnberg two seasons ago and yet only had 28,000 at the Liege home game last year. How many do you think will attend the Sigma game next week despite reduced prices?
I know the recession is hitting home but there does seem to be a huge disparity between the magnificent core support and the relatively poor home attendances. We have 26,000 season ticket holders and yet may struggle to get 35,000 for some matches - including away support.
It can’t all be explained by obstructed views can it?
Andy Callan
12 Posted 14/08/2009 at 20:08:17
12 Posted 14/08/2009 at 20:08:17
It’s on the tele marra; simple as that innit.....?!?!?!?!?
Fuck em anyway, I’m goin’ so if people wana watch it at home then so be it.
They’re still Evertonians at the end of the day.....
Fuck em anyway, I’m goin’ so if people wana watch it at home then so be it.
They’re still Evertonians at the end of the day.....
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1 Posted 13/08/2009 at 04:03:27
Why would anyone want to pay that ?
The club needs to reduce the price of these tickets.
I’m sure anyone who has sat at the back of the Bullens Road Lower and Gwladys will agree.