Alternative Reasoning Behind Poor Attendances

We all know that The Seasiders have seen a sharp decrease in attendances this season, and we all know the main reason for this is the ridiculously high percentage increase on individual tickets.

The home attendances have been consistently poor throughout this season – roughly 6750 on a Saturday and 6400 on a Tuesday night. I’ve compared the home attendances of games against Bristol City and Sheffield United in 2007 and 2008: on average 7600 last season (United was a Tuesday night game as well) compared to the 6750 this season – with both on a Saturday. Almost a thousand down!

But there must be some alternative reasons why ‘Pool fans aren’t attending games?

Personally, I would point to the poor home form of the team as the main alternative reason for the lack of home fans at matches this campaign, whilst others would blame the credit crunch, or not enough ticket incentive pressure from the club. In truth, it’s probably a mixture of all these things.

But I’ll focus on the team today. Quite apt that I do, after the performance on Sunday. (I shouldn’t plan what to write about in the next weeks’ articles in future!)

Blackpool have picked up just nine points from a possible 27 on offer at Bloomfield Road so far – is that not a part of the reason why, despite our brilliant away form, supporters are staying away? For the record, 11 points have been picked up on the road from a possible 21.

Is it the home tactics that are proving the problem when it comes to pulling back the punters? It is no secret that we try to play counter attacking football, just like our away style, as opposed to the ‘up-and-at-’em’ style we’re perhaps accustom to. This has, in recent times, seen the team bossed out of games, and literally passed out of the match. Take Ipswich and Preston as prime examples for that. Does this show an air of arrogance from within the management structure, that there is a belief that we can pick teams off at will?

On the other hand, it could be argued that we just simply bottle it when we go ahead in home games. When I looked at the stats, I was very surprised that this isn’t strictly true; ‘Pool have only dropped four points from winning positions so far. The culture of sitting deeper and deeper when in control of a game has however made home fans jittery ever since we were promoted to The Championship.

Without wanting to run the risk of sounding controversial – are we boring at Bloomfield Road? 10 goals in nine games isn’t great – especially when you consider three were scored in one game! Away from home the shackles seem to be let loose and the team play with freedom and not fear.

Would you, as a casual fan, pay up to £30 to watch a team who are completely the opposite to that which plays away the following week? Probably not, you’d go to Wolves on Saturday instead, and pay that little bit extra for nice surroundings and a full day out… surely?