by CountryRoyal » 02 May 2017 16:49
by Royal_jimmy » 02 May 2017 18:39
handbags_harrisRoyal_jimmy We've always given teams 2,100 tickets for the playoffs and I cannot see it changing this time around
See above. Wolves were given 4k. Wigan would also have been given 4k had their support shown sufficient demand. Burnley didn't get given it despite requesting because we'd sold tickets in the other half, ditto Cardiff for Burnley.
The club will base their decision on both historical evidence and current demand, and the evidence as far as I'm concerned is clear - this season we have averaged between 2k and 3k STH's not showing PER GAME for whatever reason. While the playoffs obviously engender optimism and excitement, the fact remains there is a relatively high level of antipathy within the supporter base despite the comfortable top 6 finish. We only offered half to Burnley in 09 when supporter apathy at this level was at an all-time Madejski Stadium era high, and even in 2011 when optimism was arguably at its highest since 2008 we comfortably failed to sell out. Average reported attendance this season is consistent with previous playoff campaigns, however actual attendance is lower, and this will undoubtedly have a bearing on the club's decision.
What I expect the club to do is offer the usual half South Stand allocation, assess the demand from home support and make a decision on the remaining half of the South Stand once the opposition club has inevitably requested it. I stand to be corrected, but my gut feeling is if we don't offer the away club 4k, I don't believe we'll sell out.
by handbags_harris » 03 May 2017 12:42
Royal_jimmy With our big day tripper and glory hunting fan base we will fill it easily as long as we don't get spanked in the first leg. Even still, why should the club give the opposition club an advantage of a bigger away support in a massive game for the sake of 40 or 50 grand in match day revenue
by Silver Fox » 03 May 2017 12:47
by muirinho » 03 May 2017 13:02
Silver Fox I'd suggest that the club attempting to sell home south stand tickets for the Wigan game means they're hoping our fans will be interested in getting involved in the playoffs
by LWJ » 03 May 2017 14:13
by RG30 » 03 May 2017 14:17
by Vision » 03 May 2017 14:45
handbags_harrisRoyal_jimmy With our big day tripper and glory hunting fan base we will fill it easily as long as we don't get spanked in the first leg. Even still, why should the club give the opposition club an advantage of a bigger away support in a massive game for the sake of 40 or 50 grand in match day revenue
Even though the evidence suggests otherwise? Particularly since the first PL period? Had this been 12-18 years ago (post Elm Park, pre-PL) I'd have agreed, but since 2008 we have had 203 matches at this level in league, cup and playoffs at the Madejski and managed just 13 x 23k+ attendances (and only one of those was 24k+, West Ham in Dec 2011). 10 of those 13 x matches, the opposition support had the whole of the South Stand. Only for Birmingham in 2009 (last day), Palace in 2012 (last home match) and Burnley in 2014 (last day) was the home support allocated half of the South Stand. The demand simply hasn't been there. And if you want to go further back, even the Tranmere playoff home leg in 1995 was 1800 under capacity.
What the club do is obviously open to conjecture, but based on the historical attendance and demand evidence that is easily retrievable, coupled with the decisions the club has taken in the past my hunch, as I stated yesterday, is that they will supply half of the South Stand to the opposition, assess demand, and make a decision from there. They'll want to fill the stadium because the club, quite frankly, is a business. Put yourself in the club's shoes - easy for you to say "screw £35k's worth of income" in a one-off game, but that's a month's wages for a squad player even after accounting for VAT. Why would the club turn that down in a one-off match when the outcome of a playoff match is far from certain regardless of how many away supporters there are?
by Nameless » 03 May 2017 15:19
by genome » 03 May 2017 18:59
by tmesis » 03 May 2017 22:09
handbags_harrisRoyal_jimmy With our big day tripper and glory hunting fan base we will fill it easily as long as we don't get spanked in the first leg. Even still, why should the club give the opposition club an advantage of a bigger away support in a massive game for the sake of 40 or 50 grand in match day revenue
Even though the evidence suggests otherwise? Particularly since the first PL period? Had this been 12-18 years ago (post Elm Park, pre-PL) I'd have agreed, but since 2008 we have had 203 matches at this level in league, cup and playoffs at the Madejski and managed just 13 x 23k+ attendances (and only one of those was 24k+, West Ham in Dec 2011). 10 of those 13 x matches, the opposition support had the whole of the South Stand. Only for Birmingham in 2009 (last day), Palace in 2012 (last home match) and Burnley in 2014 (last day) was the home support allocated half of the South Stand.
The demand simply hasn't been there. And if you want to go further back, even the Tranmere playoff home leg in 1995 was 1800 under capacity.
by secks » 04 May 2017 10:03
genome http://www.readingfc.co.uk/news/article/2016-17/play-off-tickets-on-sale-sunday-7th-may-3703826.aspx
South stand will be available to home fans.
by Forbury Lion » 04 May 2017 13:47
Isn't there a rule that you have to offer away fans tickets at the same price as home fans?Winchester Royal £20s plenty should only be used if our opponent reciprocates.
by handbags_harris » 05 May 2017 12:55
tmesishandbags_harrisRoyal_jimmy With our big day tripper and glory hunting fan base we will fill it easily as long as we don't get spanked in the first leg. Even still, why should the club give the opposition club an advantage of a bigger away support in a massive game for the sake of 40 or 50 grand in match day revenue
Even though the evidence suggests otherwise? Particularly since the first PL period? Had this been 12-18 years ago (post Elm Park, pre-PL) I'd have agreed, but since 2008 we have had 203 matches at this level in league, cup and playoffs at the Madejski and managed just 13 x 23k+ attendances (and only one of those was 24k+, West Ham in Dec 2011). 10 of those 13 x matches, the opposition support had the whole of the South Stand. Only for Birmingham in 2009 (last day), Palace in 2012 (last home match) and Burnley in 2014 (last day) was the home support allocated half of the South Stand.
Home support had half of the south stand for the entire 2nd half of the 2005/6 season, IIRC. A play-off game will sell out, barring a bad defeat in the 1st leg.The demand simply hasn't been there. And if you want to go further back, even the Tranmere playoff home leg in 1995 was 1800 under capacity.
That's the Tranmere semi-final where Reading fans were given half of the away end, I take it, due to a low take-up of tickets from Tranmere fans?
by Forbury Lion » 10 May 2017 11:36
Some of the best atmosphere's experienced at the Madjeski have been at games where the away end has been packed with away fans - it's not a coincidence.Elm Park Kidhandbags_harris Attendances in the Playoffs at the Madejski:-
2001 - Wigan - 22,034 - half of South Stand given to opposition (pre-structural segregation) - average attendance 12.6k
2003 - Wolves - 24,060 - whole of South Stand given to opposition - average attendance 16k
2009 - Burnley - 19,909 - half of South Stand given to opposition - average attendance 19.9k
2011 - Cardiff - 21,485 - half of South Stand given to opposition - average attendance 17.7k
Given the three occasions we've only given half the South Stand to the opposition has led to between 2k and 4k empty seats, and the attendances so far this season averaging 17.5k, I'm not sure the demand will be there for us to justify opening the "home" section of the South Stand and so I'd be surprised if the whole of the South Stand didn't to go to the opposition as all three clubs will undoubtedly fill it.
Do you not think this will be one occasion where the owners may consider the impact of double the number of away fans on the match atmosphere? Is the advantage to the away team really worth the few quid we'd get in gate receipts?
by John Smith » 12 May 2017 12:28
Forbury Lion Some of the best atmosphere's experienced at the Madjeski have been at games where the away end has been packed with away fans - it's not a coincidence.
A stand half full of empty seats isn't going to be inspiring anyone, including our own fans.
by Forbury Lion » 12 May 2017 13:02
Same again would be great, although I'd book the acrobatic pitch invader for half time entertainment instead of during play and no unnecessary pitch invasion at the end.John SmithForbury Lion Some of the best atmosphere's experienced at the Madjeski have been at games where the away end has been packed with away fans - it's not a coincidence.
A stand half full of empty seats isn't going to be inspiring anyone, including our own fans.
For me, the best of recent times was Bradford in the Quarter Final replay. Electric that night in Y26
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