Attendances

[W12_Ranger]

Why's that? We're no closer to Fulham, Brentford and Chelsea than we've been before. Granted Fulham and Chelsea's success in recent years has no doubt lost us potential younger fans, but saying that how much have the club actually done on the local level to address the issue (like Fulham have with all their local advertising) especially the last two years when in the prem?



I'm sure that's a factor.

Pop concerts, theatre etc isn't as regular an expense as supporting your local football club.

Perhaps the German model is the way forward...

Because immigration would have forced any remaining local support out, even those traditional suburban areas like Northolt have seen locals forced out further. How often do you really see groups of teenagers 14-16 years at Rangers anymore? They all live too far away now, spread too far out and football costs too much.

[californiahoop]

All great points, in now live in Bucks, but brought up on loftus Rd

[vespa]

Because immigration would have forced any remaining local support out, even those traditional suburban areas like Northolt have seen locals forced out further. How often do you really see groups of teenagers 14-16 years at Rangers anymore? They all live too far away now, spread too far out and football costs too much.

I wasnt aware the suburbs of West had been filled with immigrants too.

[stainrodisalegend]

Because immigration would have forced any remaining local support out, even those traditional suburban areas like Northolt have seen locals forced out further. How often do you really see groups of teenagers 14-16 years at Rangers anymore? They all live too far away now, spread too far out and football costs too much.

Not sure they have been "forced out". Probably made a bit more money and want to live somewhere with more space. No reason why immigrants cant become fans. Just in recent years if you were new to the area and didn't have previous loyalty it wd prob make more sense to support a prem club.

[vespa]

No reason why they cant become fans ,but they predominantly dont ,thats the problem ( and that was the point i was making in the other thread ,that you commented on )

[loneranger]

Not sure they have been "forced out". Probably made a bit more money and want to live somewhere with more space. No reason why immigrants cant become fans. Just in recent years if you were new to the area and didn't have previous loyalty it wd prob make more sense to support a prem club.

I didn't hang around where I spent most of my childhood and escaped up the A40 when we got swamped by Somalians.

[superhoop67]

Not sure they have been "forced out". Probably made a bit more money and want to live somewhere with more space. No reason why immigrants cant become fans. Just in recent years if you were new to the area and didn't have previous loyalty it wd prob make more sense to support a prem club.

the new immigrants will only go ,if the social will pay them

[bushcelt1]

the new immigrants will only go ,if the social will pay them

i honestly reckon thats spot on. we won't increase our fanbase in any great way with any new arrivals. years ago the main immigrants were irish/west indian-two cultures that were a major fabric in the QPR way-you only need to look around to see that.those days have gone as far as hands on support from london living arrivals-more interested in the bling of a chelsea top. the false housing prices set by a succession of goverments created opportunities for a lot of people to move out of area's at the right time-making some serious dough on what are very small living area's. the rest got out because they felt they had to. a lot of my pals still live centre and love it and those families will always go. u rss.

[Stanley]

the new immigrants will only go ,if the social will pay them

i honestly reckon thats spot on. we won't increase our fanbase in any great way with any new arrivals. years ago the main immigrants were irish/west indian-two cultures that were a major fabric in the QPR way-you only need to look around to see that.those days have gone as far as hands on support from london living arrivals-more interested in the bling of a chelsea top. the false housing prices set by a succession of goverments created opportunities for a lot of people to move out of area's at the right time-making some serious dough on what are very small living area's. the rest got out because they felt they had to. a lot of my pals still live centre and love it and those families will always go. u rss.

I think these two posts pretty much sum up the problem, and the only cure for it would be a sustained period (i.e a whole generation) in the top-flight.

[NW_Hoopz]

I'm not so sure. The last 2 seasons we've been in the prem we weren't even selling out our 18,000 capacity for some games. We've lost 10k of hardcore support since the mid-70s when in the old 1st division. I don't think they were much lower prior to that in the 2nd division but it was before my time so cant say for sure. Gregory building the SAR stand obviously made a big difference.

High ticket prices combined with the recession didn't help.

how many would come if the price was more realistic, a lot of people priorities is to pay the bills

what is a realistic price ? football clubs compare there prices to pop concerts and theatre in London now ,which usually start at £30

Add to that travel, beer tokens, food, and it costs a small fortune and if you are going every home game and some away games you need to be on a good squeeze to keep that up and have a normal life going on too. Not many teenagers / youngsters going to have that much disposable income

[W12_Ranger]

I think these two posts pretty much sum up the problem, and the only cure for it would be a sustained period (i.e a whole generation) in the top-flight.

Sometimes it seems a section of our fan base do not understand that our club is based in the centre of a multicultural melting pot that actually works against us. It's not like we are a big northern town with a proud industrial heritage which has fallen on hard times whereby the football team unites the community. Our club is based in the centre of a fragmented society which stagnates our development and progression. Some fans on here get ridiculously excited about a potential 40,000 capacity sell-out stadium where I would be grateful to hang on to what we have. We are part of a group of clubs only found in London with a diminishing local support such as Millwall, Charlton... The likes of Arsenal Tottenham Chelsea and West Ham derive their support from outside of London in the Home Counties but unfortunately we are part of a band of medium sized clubs who struggle to expand their fan base and most probably always will.

[johnnyboy]

When we used to average 25,000 crowds in the 70's

Do what?? Unlike us, you have NEVER averaged 25,000 crowds....EVER. 1976 - 23,850 seems to be your best - according to THIS at least. Pathetic. Your highest attendance?.....35,353. Ours?.....49,335 - 'ave it mugs.

[vespa]

Do what?? Unlike us, you have NEVER averaged 25,000 crowds....EVER. 1976 - 23,850 seems to be your best - according to THIS at least. Pathetic. Your highest attendance?.....35,353. Ours?.....49,335 - 'ave it mugs.

yeah yeah ,6000 real Fulham and the rest rugby fart lighters and tourists , so yawn off Tarquin

[Ginger Ninja]

When we used to average 25,000 crowds in the 70's it does make you wonder how/where we've lost an average of 10,000 hardcore support...

Is it mainly due to fans like the OP who have moved out of the area?...Or which other factors?...

Seating could be a factor there. You can easily pack the ground more with terracing.

[blueboy]

well,my family moved away from the area in the late 70's(and quite a few other families too)i started going to LR in the early 80's and our attendances were pretty poor,average's around 12k(can remember quite a few sub 10k attendances)but that was the same for every club in the land.Can recall following QPR to the likes of Villa Park mid 80's with an attendance 14k,Stamford Bridge 19k,Highbury around 25k,Carrow Rd 14k,Spurs 19k etc etc and look at these clubs average gate's now.The other London clubs have had the same thing happen to their support over the past 30 years too.Yes,our core support may live further away,but average attendances across all divisions have been going up over the past few years.A better comparison is with the 80's and early 90's.There has been a big increase in the amount of women,children/families going to football then back in that dark period which included Hysel,Hillsborough and Bradford.The increase in attendances can be put down to higher season ticket uptake(caused by the surge in Popularity against reduced capacities resulting from the Taylor Report)i never had a season ticket for over 20 years,its only the past 5-6 seasons i have got one.
As for costs in travel,using my Oyster i find it quite cheap.I live out in Zone 5,and not going through zone 1 makes a big difference.Plus,if you work in London anyway,you have already paid for your travel(as i do)