(24-04-2023, 07:54 AM)Paul Wrote: Ditto (different teams though). The perception is that they see our level as near to parks football. If they actually came to a match they would in all liklihood enjoy it and return for more. It's persuading them to come in the first place when there's their 'big team' - usually PL, they follow that they can confidently discuss on Monday morning that's a problem. There's an impression that they'd be embarrassed to admit that they came to watch a game at our level. Despite Gloucester City being around since 1883, there's little tradition of following your home town club here (finger pointed at the dominance of Glaws and both the local and national media).
(24-04-2023, 03:25 AM)Mr.Magoo Wrote: I don't have many friends. I think that's understandable. But two of them, a Bristol City & Villa supporter who regularly attend matches but follow us on social media have been promising to turn up for a game for over a season when they can't get to one of their " bigger" teams games. They still haven't shown up. I'm not sure what the club can do to give them the extra push our way.
It's not all doom and gloom chaps - I am one who made the jump. I went to games at a PL club for some years, but got out of the habit and became more and more armchair. I missed going to football though so came to City games this year just after Christmas. I came up with a friend, PL supporter (different club) as a "see what it's like" sort of thing - he lasted 2 games and though he said enjoyed it, the excuses started rolling in. I'm sure he'll come again eventually but it's trying to get it into a regular thing that will be difficult. I've come up to every home game since, though annoyingly I am likely to miss the big one this weekend due to work.
I've tried to cajole a couple of other friends/colleagues into trying a game and usually just get "yeah I will one day" etc etc - people don't care for the standard. They'll show a bit of interest when they ask how your weekend is, "oh you went to the football? How was it?" then when you invite them to come along next week they suddenly can't find the time. You can only ask once or twice, any more and you just look desperate. Father-in-law asked about my recent visits to City and didn't really have a clue about the club (and he is local). He asked what level it was at, I told him, and instantly his eyes glazed over and he feigned interest from that point. It's just not appealing.
I don't think there's much the club can do apart from success - you can redevelop as much as you want, make it a good "matchday experience", make it cheap(er), get lucky and play on a day when the egg chasers or FGR/CT aren't playing, etc etc, but at the end of the day what matters is where the club is at.
Competing for people's attention is difficult, they have to WANT to come.
