As I’ve said before, a season ticket isn’t about economics for me. It is about giving the club some money and if I break even or am even a bit down on the deal then I’m cool with that. If it wasn’t for the family and friends I sit near then I’d have moved to a “no” but I’m holding on to guage the mood amongst our little gang.
A bit like one of those key swing constituencies in general elections, if our little constituency of eight season ticket holders is breached then I fear for the club.
Averaging over 1,000 in league games this season which is remarkable in some ways but it is also a lesson in successfully riding a wave. Marine’s wave was last season’s FA Cup and they’ve spent the money really well. The team, despite another gruelling schedule sit second in the league thanks to some wise moves in the transfer market. But they’ve also invested in the facilities and match day has become a bit of a local event. Local beers and locally sourced food served from a brand spanking new facility that also operates as a bar/restaurant during the week.
It has worked. That four figure average attendance is roughly treble what it was before last season. So that’s like Walsall post Cardiff or Wembley managing to attract and keep around 12,000 supporters for the season afterwards. And it irks and hurts that unlike other clubs who’ve had a playing “bubble” over the last couple of decades that we haven’t capitalised. And it’s not that hard. You just follow up and put something on that’s worth coming back for. Marine have managed it primarily on the back of willing volunteers. Just hope they get promoted now.
On another thread it was suggested that it might be a powerful idea to generate a long listing of fans, particularly long term fans, who were prepared to say that they are planning not to renew their ST after the crap that has gone on during January.
This list, if long enough, could be valuable proof of the strength of current feelings towards the Board of WFC and some form of financial threat that just might scare them.
Probably the best form of real protest that has teeth.
The listing would need to be generated in a safe place for obvious reasons.
If ISSA for example were prepared to gather that list privately?
From what I have seen on the recent UTS board there are a lot who would agree. Add that to ISSA members and other external threads and the numbers might just be powerful.
Good idea or not?
Myself and my two sons have already agreed we are not renewing after this season, and we are already started to miss some games. Again on Saturday we will not be attending. I will probably come next season to the odd few games. Regarding possible watching other teams might go see rushall next year haven’t been in ages but always looks busy when I go pasted.
I’m not renewing either. I’m not sure how many matches I will go to with this season ticket either as it is so depressing. The match day experience is rubbish and the football is even worse.
In the relegation season went to 10 + games so yes lack of onfield success isn’t the main metric.
Think the last few years have worn me down a bit plus lack of match going habit from the pandemic.
May do Harrogate away before season is out as it’s a nice place to spend a few hours but that will probably be it for the season although Vale at home to have a (non vile chant) chuckle at Clarke is tempting but would be so much better going for top 7 with them.
Ultimately club is just not doing enough to suggest it is serious about getting promoted anytime soon. Fans aren’t stupid and can see everything is tired and heading the wrong way out of this league so I can see home attendances reflecting that next season.
Please don’t think I’m a happy clapper , far from it , but I think we need to be careful regards mass withdrawal of season ticket holders.
I get it I really do , I know it seems like the only thing they will listen to , but ultimately do you really want to go to Rushall or Hednesford or wherever I know I don’t, especially at the expense of your club .
The club have totally FUced up with virtually everything from PR , false promises, lack of change ,shocking recruitment in management and players ,in short a total Shi show .
But is withdrawal of support the only answer?
I can only see it causing a deeper entrenchment of views on both sides , I’ve always believed in meaningful dialogue , but the club really do need to acknowledge just how strong feelings are running and not in meaningless soundbites but real positive action , or else they will inevitably suffer the consequences ,but so would we .
Just my opinion , at the moment I will be renewing.
Pomletts time to prove that he isn’t just Bonsers rent collector is up as far as I’m concerned. I see no way forward for the club under current ownership.
I’m expecting another narrow escape from relegation and that’s simply not acceptable. No more ST for me
It shouldn’t just be one way where the fan feels guilty about not renewing. The club should be doing everything they can to want the supporter to keep attending rather than guilt trip them into keep on coming.
Regardless of the game, what would make someone want to come to the stadium? There is nothing in the way of a decent day out that would make you want to come again. I’ve offered my friends money to come and they don’t want to come cause it’s a crap place to attend in general regardless of the football. I could list endless examples this season where the club has needlessly annoyed its own fanbase, produced embarrassing media output gaffe one after another, the ‘highlight’ being “not a bad week” after our fourth loss in a row and a fans favourite’s career seemingly on the edge of being over. My respect dropped a lot for Pomlett when he tried to claim with a straight face he had made significant changes to the board by adding JF and GW since taking over. Laughable and insulting to the fans’ intelligence. At least with Bonser he didn’t try and hide the distain he had for you.
I agree with nearly all that , must admit we have decent pre match experience in the stadium suite , but yes everything else you say is bang on , but I just feel it could be self defeating .
Decent shout. And probably more powerful than 30 people standing on the car park singing “sack the board”.
I think it would need to be accompanied by a bit of clarity over what it is the people on the list want and what might make them renew. And that’s the tricky bit as these pages demonstrate that any kind of consensus amongst us lot is a right challenge.
For me it would be about the make up of the board (fan rep and diversity), and visibility of the road map from tenants to owner occupiers.
3 of us not renewing until we get real change.
I’ve completely had enough of the lies, bullshit and Bonser pension fund, Which we exist to pay as opposed to entertain. I feel completely taken for granted and this current board news a massive shake up in personnel, fresh thinking and ideas and supporter engagement
I shall be renewing my three tickets as usual. I am very disappointed by our play and position especially after the first few signings last Summer when it looked like we were having a real go but Walsall FC is in my blood and I will go until I am unable to do so because of infirmity or death.
If people decide not to renew after this season and the last decade of poor performances I can understand that view and they will get no criticism from me. It is an individual or family decision but you just never know in football. Next season we might just get it right…
The club has pushed its fans to the brink, a cost of living crisis looming, entertainment value, pre, during and post match is shite. All valid reasons in their own right for not bothering to attend, all at once….the perfect storm.
The club can not be expected to predict a cost of living crisis, but it can do something about the other things.
Reminds me of gray rhino theory:
“The Gray Rhino is a metaphor for the threats that we can see and acknowledge yet do nothing about: the two ton thing that should be hard to ignore, but from which we look away even though it’s in our interest to get away before it charges.”
This section probably sums up the board to a tee:
What is the psychology behind the gray rhino?
Why does a person, who sees a gray rhino charging at them, prefer to ignore it?
Humans are vulnerable to many cognitive biases that get in the way of us acting. We are prone to denial because our brains are trying to protect us from information that is overwhelming and allows us time to absorb it slowly. We also are prone to taking mental shortcuts that are supposed to make decisions easier but often lead us in the wrong direction.
Some of the key biases are:
Optimism Bias. The tendency to embrace information that we want to hear, while ignore bad news.
Confirmation Bias. The failure to take seriously information that does not confirm our existing views.
Group think. The habit of agreeing with other group members, especially those with similar views and backgrounds.
Solution Aversion. Resistance to acknowledging a problem because we don’t like the steps needed to fix it.
Agree. The priorities at the moment should be sorting out what’s on the pitch to get people to want to keep coming back and the match day experience being improved to get people there spending money before the game and at half time and wanting to come back.
There’s been talk of the SLO being given a project to get a membership scheme up and running. Sod that. Leave the supporters club to ISSA who are doing a far better job on that front already and concentrate the club on getting the basics right within the ground re the match day. Their priorities are all wrong, trying to run before they can walk.
