I-Follow & City:The Future or The end of the Away Day?

Did he say anything else of interest

 

Oh come on there’s a big difference between admin / handling fees and the full value of a ticket.

 

Sorry, but that's utter bollocks.
Obviously football is much better with fans in stadia. But the fact that 3000 people are buying iFollow subscriptions for nearly every away game proves that its anything but pointless.
I've missed going to VP, but I've absolutely loved being able to watch every away game live and, clearly, so have many others. And I'd love to be able to continue to do so - providing revenue for clubs where I'd otherwise only be listening on the radio. It won't stop me attending any away games that I wish to go to, because that's a completely different experience.
If football without live attendance is 'pointless' how come we're all still so engaged in discussion on this site?

 

Do you actually believe that? I've actually got no idea how you'd reply to someone with that mindset.

 

We shall see!!

 

It depends what context you are taking his comments. I agree that ifollow in some ways is the future to add another dimension to watching football. But for me personally if TV was the only way to watch football then I wouldn't bother as it bores me rigid. Football without fans in the stadiums is pointless, otherwise its just a glorified training session.

 

I think that, many years ago the away team did receive a percentage of the gate takings - maybe 10% but not sure. This was one of the main gripes by the "big" teams that they (EG Man Utd/Arsenal etc) had to give the small teams (EG Burnley/Stoke etc) some of the revenue received from spectators coming to see the "big" club. It helped at the time to level up the playing field so that the smaller clubs had a bit more money to play with. This subsequently got changed and the home team keeps all gate receipts from League matches.

 

Before 1983 all Football League gate receipts were shared, with 20% going to the away team and a further percentage levied (I think 5%) which was then split between all 92 clubs.

That was changed under pressure from the biggest clubs who threatened to form a breakaway if they didn't get to keep receipts from their home games. Of course that just delayed the inevitable until 1992 and the Premier League.

 

Exactly. Not the best, but it's been a worthwhile second best to keep us all involved. And as you rightly point out, there have been more people on Bantam Talk than I can remember.

 

I really don't understand the point you're trying to make.
My post was self explanatory. Football with fans is obviously much better. But even without it's still interesting enough to keep 3000 City fans watching away games and to keep this forum going strong. Ergo, football without fans isn't 'pointless'.

 

It's had enough momentum for this season because we've all missed it. Season on season that interest would decline until the majority of clubs just pack up and fold.

There's no interest whatsoever in football without fans, nor first class sport in general. That's abundantly clear and the overriding point from the last 12 months.

 

It’s an idea but say we play Coventry away, we’re not selling out the away end unless it’s a promotion party and so no iFollow tickets go on sale. Forest Green, maybe. A way will be found because when the likes of City are selling £25-30k worth of iFollow passes per away game, they won’t want to give up half a million a year in extra revenue.

 

I’ve watched every City game on ifollow because I’m a fan but can I say I’ve enjoyed the experience, definitely not.
I simply haven’t bothered with any other sport on TV where usually I’d be an interested neutral for big PL games / cup games and Champions league.

 

You are too focused on the income that clubs are getting for this season. It won’t continue like that next season as normality resumes.
My guess is that the ifollow service may continue but the ratio of how the proceeds are shared will be biased towards the home club.

 

If ifollow was to continue with the same T&C’s as this season then you could see away clubs limiting sales of match day tickets to 500 so as to maximise profits from ifollow passes.

 

If I am focussing on the income this season, you can get every chairman in the league is.

 

But this is not a normal season, they’ve relaxed the broadcasting restrictions and allowed away teams to take a lions share of profits.
Like I say, there may be some compromise but I doubt it will involve every 3pm Saturday game being made available and even if they were, the home club would want the biggest share.
So the benefits to Bradford City of fans staying home and watching ifollow will be minimal.