Attendance yesterday

I'd say West ham brought around 2000

I think that's pretty good for a friendly. It's only West Ham.

MrOneLung said:

I see attendance was 8678. How does that compare to previous years games? Did West Ham bring many?

That's impressive for a pre-season friendly...opposition aside, the playing squad activity must be awakening interest...

doronron said:

think that's terrible that we can only get that few to a friendly against a prem league team

It's a meaningless pre-season friendly, 4,500 to 5,000 would have been a good turnout...8,678 indicates something positive is happening

Brendan_O_Connell said:

I would have been there yesterday had I not been sunning myself in warmer climes.

I'm sure it's the same with many others as well.

Exactly, there is a window of opportunity at this time of the year when families can get away for a holiday before the season starts

3,000 people were stuck outside because of the new electronic entry. So it was probably around 11,000.

I thought it weren't too bad , considering it was a bit part team the other side of the tunnel.

Would have probably gone to Chievo, unfortunately I have very little interest in friendlies at any level, it's like playing poker for no money.

Should be a decent turnout against QPR, but if we lose a few early on I can see gates being exceptionally low this season unfortunately.

Indeed, friendlies have changed in the last ten years or so. It used to be that you saw a first team with a few subs towards the end. Now it's often eleven subs at half time and youth and trialists all over the pitch.

The FA Cup has become a 'reserve' outing too in many instances.

Football is no longer a cheap day out so unless it is a proper first team playing a game that both sides really want to win it can come as no surprise that the attendances are modest compared to league games.

I, also, think the club missed a trick by making it the 'Family Day' or, at least announcing it, so late. Had I known earlier I would have brought my son up but by the time they announced it we'd made other plans. The family days are fun but watching us being taken apart by a West Ham reserve side held no appeal for me at all.

Hastingsaddick said:

Huskaris said:

Would have probably gone to Chievo, unfortunately I have very little interest in friendlies at any level, it's like playing poker for no money.

Should be a decent turnout against QPR, but if we lose a few early on I can see gates being exceptionally low this season unfortunately.

20,000+ for QPR?

Only with significant giveaways, I'd guess. If there are 10,000 home season tickets and comps and 3,400 aways (the maximum), that's a 6,600 home match sale - two or three times the average, and at higher matchday prices. That's almost unknown, apart from Football for a Fiver.

18,000 would be a good crowd - although if there are a lot of freebies (which I wouldn't expect) anything is possible.

Airman Brown said:

Hastingsaddick said:

Huskaris said:

Would have probably gone to Chievo, unfortunately I have very little interest in friendlies at any level, it's like playing poker for no money.

Should be a decent turnout against QPR, but if we lose a few early on I can see gates being exceptionally low this season unfortunately.

20,000+ for QPR?

Only with significant giveaways, I'd guess. If there are 10,000 home season tickets and comps and 3,400 aways (the maximum), that's a 6,600 home match sale - two or three times the average, and at higher matchday prices. That's almost unknown, apart from Football for a Fiver.

18,000 would be a good crowd - although if there are a lot of freebies (which I wouldn't expect) anything is possible.

And there will still be plenty of people on holiday (including ST holders) though they still get counted don't they, even if they are not there?

I wasn't expecting any more than 7,000 on Saturday, yes you can say it's prem opposition but I don't think anyone could truly get excited about playing West Ham.

Pity that season ticket holders were not allowed in as a freebie (or were they ?) .. that would have been a very good marketing ploy as well as a goodwill gesture .. how is the gate money split for these games .. anyone in 'the know' ?

Redhenry said:

Airman Brown said:

Hastingsaddick said:

Huskaris said:

Would have probably gone to Chievo, unfortunately I have very little interest in friendlies at any level, it's like playing poker for no money.

Should be a decent turnout against QPR, but if we lose a few early on I can see gates being exceptionally low this season unfortunately.

20,000+ for QPR?

Only with significant giveaways, I'd guess. If there are 10,000 home season tickets and comps and 3,400 aways (the maximum), that's a 6,600 home match sale - two or three times the average, and at higher matchday prices. That's almost unknown, apart from Football for a Fiver.

18,000 would be a good crowd - although if there are a lot of freebies (which I wouldn't expect) anything is possible.

I thought the freebies had been cut back by the new regime

Probably so, but there have been particular matches when this has been relaxed. I wouldn't expect QPR to be one of them.

Airman Brown said:

Lincsaddick said:

Pity that season ticket holders were not allowed in as a freebie (or were they ?) .. that would have been a very good marketing ploy as well as a goodwill gesture .. how is the gate money split for these games .. anyone in 'the know' ?

By agreement, which in turn impinges on giving comps to season-ticket holders. More importantly, the club would probably have made a loss on the game if it let season-ticket holders in for nothing - the net ticket revenue would only be about £50k-£55k from that gate (say roughly 4,500 @ £8.33, 3,500 at £4.16 and 500 comps) as it is. I should think costs were £15-20k, before any police bill.

Dont prem teams charge an appearance fee for friendlies these days as well?