Non league football attendances are also down about 20%. It's happening everywhere to be honest.

We're down by nearly 50% though in what is meant to be an exciting new era for the club. Times are hard I understand that, but to drop off how we have this year is shocking

There needs to be a massive push on season tickets next year, we need to go all out.

you've got it wrong
our attendance has improved from 13 to 14
(see match discussion)

I really can't put my finger on the poor attendances at the new ground. I personally think the attendances at the Willows could have been better given our potential catchment area.

I think that one reason could be down to the fact that we have two very high-profile football clubs in the area, and local people are spending their money on tickets to the game and/or going to the pub to watch them instead of giving Rugby League a chance.

The Marketing dept at SR really need to get their fingers out in preperation for next season. The price of a match day ticket needs to be lowered for starters...

We need to start somewhere and the fans we had are staying away, we have lost about 2,000 in the off season.

I've been watching Salford for quite some time and I don't feel the same about the club/team at present.

The new board have a lot of repairing to do.

The stadium isn't welcoming, the stewards are on a hiding to nothing, the seats not standing on the side was a huge mistake.

It feels as if any thing that could be done to annoy fans was done.

We need to find some way of making it feel like our home, get the old fans to return before we can even think about new people becoming loyal fans.

To be fair after the will they won't they pre season, the understandably late release of season tickets and pretty much inevitable on field batterings did we expect 10,000 to be flocking to watch the club this year?
Think the only chance we have of getting any decent improvement to numbers this year is a cup run (highly unlikely with Warrington next up) or if Noble can somehow pull a miracle out of the bag and we have a tilt at 8th.

The Doc needs all his business acumen and some serious marketing before the season has ended to promote 2014 season tickets, special early bird offers and incentives.

A real big marquee signing to help the club promote things next year would also be a help though I hope we don't throw too much to make it Morley and him get crocked.

It would be interesting to know the difference in the numbers of PAYING spectators.
I think it'll show there has been a drop off but last years numbers were swelled by all the free tickets,so the takings may not be down by the same amount.
In order to go forward we need to work out how many people are prepared to pay to see the games

Overpriced admission + late season ticket sales = low crowds.

All of the above!

It's only an exciting new era to us diehards, because we've lived & breathed the club through it's downs & downs over the past few years.

the alternative view is this :-
despite a concerted effort by the previous management to disenfranchise our fan base, sell all the players - no pre season sales - signings - marketing - huge negative publicity from local rags - we still have 2,000 + fans .

2,000 fans despite amaturish ticketing , yo-yoing K/O times Friday eve's - Saturday Afternoons - Saturday evenings - Sunday afternoons - no cash turnstiles - a parking policy positively dissuading people from attending on the spure of the moment and a team leaking 30+ points per game .

the Positive future :-
A steady stream of new signings & extended contracts for our future stars
A steadily improving team winning more & losing by closer margins
Announcing a rational pricing policy ( making terracing much more affordable , and more family packages encouraging kids to attend )
target Catalan Home fixture for a linked event with Salford - Trafford NHS ( see us event ) like the Heinz sponsored matches at wigan
announce New 2014 Kit & new kit supplier in July - August
Announce New season ticket deals in July & August on the back of premier signings
Get illuminated REDS signage Facing the Bridge
lavish press & targeted mailouts to the databse
Bring back cash entry for general admission areas ( East - South Stand )
take back ticketing arrangements from Ticketwaste & the SCS
do deal with Peel to take out temp shopspace in Lowry Outlet & TC to sell tickets & merchandise

By the time the link road & Bridge is sorted Mid 2014 - improve access & shuttle buses

any of the above should improve our attendances , but the lower entry prices for Terracing & cash on the day parking - entry are crucial .

Correct.
Why should we have to pay more to see a top quality side being built.
Let someone else ,like the Doctor, pay for us to enjoy the ride.
The plan is for this club to be self sufficient and that means realistic admission prices and no free tickets.

Peel no longer own the Trafford Centre, it's INTU or something like that.

The idea is still good.

The Angel idea Trish had (or stole) was a good one rewarding kids for achievement.

We need to sit down with the Stadium Company and resolve some of the issues.

Do you see £22 (pay on the day price) to stand on a shallow terrace with a poor view as good value? Even Sale only charge £17.

No it's not, so pay a bit extra and sit in the West Stand.
Excellent view and far cheaper than when Sale play.

That's the sort of attitude that'll get 'em pouring in.

When we were in trouble,the Save Our Salford campaign had people prepared to donate big amounts to help preserve our club,some donating a part of their life's savings.
A small increase in ticket prices would help us getting into trouble in the first place.

INCREASE? Our prices must be among the highest there are. £20 plus £2 booking fee to stand at one end of the ground. Does anyone have comparison figures? Is this one of the reasons that away fans aren't turning up? (I know the real problem is a lack of home fans, but away fans are looking at £50 to attend SCS before programme and refreshments)

I doubt we'll ever get the crowds required really, stadiums location is the big deal for most it's the same excuses and I don't blame 'em to be honest. Also throw in the shambolic last few seasons and Salfordians general attitude towards the club/sport....I fear even with the good Dr we really are fighting a losing battle.

It's more of an economic problem in my view. It isn't just your average paying supporters, I heard the hospitality is on it's ar$e as well. Maybe those missing people this year are economising and are giving themselves an excuse after the problems over the winter and the current weakness and position of the team. Also I wonder if some supporters have either spent or allocated their budgets somewhere else thinking the club were not going to continue in Superleague?

Let's hope the club can sign 2-3 star players from somewhere to generate some interest for 2014. Also maybe the club and stadium management company need to sit down and review ticket, concession and hospitality prices to make it more affordable and offer much better value for money. I think what they have to consider is the rugby pound in our area is poles apart from your Premier League football pound at United and City.



Thats no excuse. If that was true then Brian Snape's generosity would have been wasted back in the late 60's. We just need some time to build some new momentum.

most clubs are struggling

but the way away fans are treated when going to salford is very very poor

Salford are unique in having Utd and city right on the doorstep. The prices should reflect this. I don't think Salford can just afford to 'fall in line' with other clubs prices, as always seems to be the argument when the prices go up. The local community will pay £20 + to watch Cas/Wakey etc. Will the people of Salford do the same? How long will it take to get people in Salford to consider RL as their number one sport? However, there are a good number of people priced out of football who we could target. We just need to make it attractive for them to attend. As mentioned above hopefully we will go all out on season tickets/marketing for the start of next season. £15 standing £20 seats should be the top price we are looking at to build a fanbase, with kids at a maximum of £5 rather than the current £10/£12. The family tickets are good value to be fair but a lot of older kids would rather go with their mates than their parents.

I've said it before there are certain communities in Salford and it's surrounding areas that we should target with sensibly prices family tickets. People not only new to the area but possibly to the country would I'd suggest feel much more part of that area/community if they identified with the local sports team.

I don't know what the price of a ticket to United or City is for a lad and Dad but you'd think if there is a chance of attracting even a small proportion of those that find the price to much then surely it is worth investigating?

The costing of tickets in todays climate is paramount when you think of the plethora of other counter attractions right on our door step. One of Salfords selling points to the RFL & SL is also our great undoing being as close as we are to Manchester and it's attractions.

You never know we might unearth some naturally talented, athletic kids to introduce to RL who would be a benefit to the club, community and area.

Having being a season ticket holder in previous years i have only been to 1 home game this season against London. I feel since moving to barton there is non atmosfere like at the willows and us fans do not seem to get treated as well as we did by the stewards and the club as when we at the willows. I feel we were shafted last year when players were allowed to leave during the season and closed season unlike bradford.

I've not read all of the posts but Middleman's post was superb, loads of great ideas! Personally I feel the main issue is the pricing of both the tickets (IMO should be no more than £15 adults, £8 juniors, with a family ticket being £35) & the fact you can't just pay on the door (the queues at the ticket office just before a game are awful). I also feel the Dr is right, build a good, strong team & they will come, that might be optimistic but it's a good starting point if we can attract some quality players. As for ST holders I feel the junior tickets are great value including free away tickets but I also think there should be a discount available to adult ST holders for away games, this doesn't affect the home gates obviously but it may attract new ST holders.

Sorry should have thought of this previous but an issue at the ground is that people can queue at the wrong side/stand/kiosk for a while and then get turned away - don't see the point when they walk in a different turnstile and walk to the area they first tried to get in.

Do hope that Securitas get to run the security and what have you at the stadium as I come into contact with them on a very regular basis as they work at Brussels Charleroi Airport and where my better half works at Brussels Midi Gare and I've never met any of them who are anything but polite, friendly and well informed. OK they might not be all like that over here but Christ the Stasi/KGB and brown shirts were more welcoming than the current mob.