Yesterday's attendance - some facts and figures

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was the smallest by some distance for a Football League fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. The previous lowest figure was 17,686 for a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a Tuesday evening in February 2010.

The crowd against Fulham was the smallest for a Cardiff City home league game since May 2008, when 14,469 turned out at Ninian Park to watch the Bluebirds beat Barnsley 3-0 a fortnight before the FA Cup final.

Yesterday's attendance was Cardiff's lowest on the opening weekend of a Football League season since way back in August 1999, when 10,193 saw the Bluebirds draw 1-1 with Millwall in the old Second Division, or League One as it is now known.

Before the current season, Cardiff City had had home fixtures on the opening weekends of six other Football League campaigns since 1999. The attendances for the relevant matches were: 17,403 (v Wycombe Wanderers in 2001), 18,840 (v Stoke City in 2007), 19,749 (v Southampton in 2008), 22,264 (v Scunthorpe United in 2009), 20,573 (v Sheffield United in 2010) and 21,127 (v Huddersfield Town in 2012).

The last time Cardiff had a smaller attendance than yesterday's for their first home league game of a season was a decade ago in August 2005. On that occasion, 15,231 turned out on a Tuesday evening to see the Bluebirds beat Leeds United 2-1 at Ninian Park.

Only Brentford and Rotherham United have so far attracted smaller crowds than Cardiff City on the opening weekend of the 2015/16 Championship campaign (Preston North End are playing Middlesbrough at lunchtime today).

Well TLG is showing us we might have to rethink the red and beermat, going back to blue is costing the club some serious support.

[the other bob wilson]

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was the smallest by some distance for a Football League fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. The previous lowest figure was 17,686 for a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a Tuesday evening in February 2010.

The crowd against Fulham was the smallest for a Cardiff City home league game since May 2008, when 14,469 turned out at Ninian Park to watch the Bluebirds beat Barnsley 3-0 a fortnight before the FA Cup final.

Yesterday's attendance was Cardiff's lowest on the opening weekend of a Football League season since way back in August 1999, when 10,193 saw the Bluebirds draw 1-1 with Millwall in the old Second Division, or League One as it is now known.

Before the current season, Cardiff City had had home fixtures on the opening weekends of six other Football League campaigns since 1999. The attendances for the relevant matches were: 17,403 (v Wycombe Wanderers in 2001), 18,840 (v Stoke City in 2007), 19,749 (v Southampton in 2008), 22,264 (v Scunthorpe United in 2009), 20,573 (v Sheffield United in 2010) and 21,127 (v Huddersfield Town in 2012).

The last time Cardiff had a smaller attendance than yesterday's for their first home league game of a season was a decade ago in August 2005. On that occasion, 15,231 turned out on a Tuesday evening to see the Bluebirds beat Leeds United 2-1 at Ninian Park.

You've only got to look at what has happened at the club down the years to realise that City have never been able to maintain crowds of 20,000 plus when results start to dip a little - add that to a the way the club has been turned into a laughing stock over the past few seasons and it's little surprise that even some of those who swore they'd be back when we returned to wearing blue have had enough.

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was the smallest by some distance for a Football League fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. The previous lowest figure was 17,686 for a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a Tuesday evening in February 2010.

The crowd against Fulham was the smallest for a Cardiff City home league game since May 2008, when 14,469 turned out at Ninian Park to watch the Bluebirds beat Barnsley 3-0 a fortnight before the FA Cup final.

Yesterday's attendance was Cardiff's lowest on the opening weekend of a Football League season since way back in August 1999, when 10,193 saw the Bluebirds draw 1-1 with Millwall in the old Second Division, or League One as it is now known.

Before the current season, Cardiff City had had home fixtures on the opening weekends of six other Football League campaigns since 1999. The attendances for the relevant matches were: 17,403 (v Wycombe Wanderers in 2001), 18,840 (v Stoke City in 2007), 19,749 (v Southampton in 2008), 22,264 (v Scunthorpe United in 2009), 20,573 (v Sheffield United in 2010) and 21,127 (v Huddersfield Town in 2012).

The last time Cardiff had a smaller attendance than yesterday's for their first home league game of a season was a decade ago in August 2005. On that occasion, 15,231 turned out on a Tuesday evening to see the Bluebirds beat Leeds United 2-1 at Ninian Park.

Only Brentford and Rotherham United have so far attracted smaller crowds than Cardiff City on the opening weekend of the 2015/16 Championship campaign (Preston North End are playing Middlesbrough at lunchtime today).

Nothing to do with "laughing stock" or the colour of shirts, it's just straight-up glory hunting.

[The Lone Gunman]

Maybe not personally but this board was action-packed with martyrs in the recent past. You can't have missed it.

Of the many people I know personally who boycotted the club during the re-brand, I'd say about 50% have been to the occasional game since it was reversed, but only one or possibly two have bought season tickets again.

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

Maybe not personally but this board was action-packed with martyrs in the recent past. You can't have missed it.

Personally, I know plenty of people stopped going when the club was initially re-branded and plenty more who stopped during the first season in red. Some said they would consider returning to watch games if the blue kit was restored, but not a single one ever said they would simply return to supporting the club as before. After all, the divisions caused by Tan and his re-brand were always about a whole lot more than just the kit colour.

Ok but I'm not convinced attendances would suddenly spike if Tan left the club. What, in your opinion, would it take to get attendances as high as you seem to think they should be?

[the other bob wilson]

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was the smallest by some distance for a Football League fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. The previous lowest figure was 17,686 for a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a Tuesday evening in February 2010.

The crowd against Fulham was the smallest for a Cardiff City home league game since May 2008, when 14,469 turned out at Ninian Park to watch the Bluebirds beat Barnsley 3-0 a fortnight before the FA Cup final.

Yesterday's attendance was Cardiff's lowest on the opening weekend of a Football League season since way back in August 1999, when 10,193 saw the Bluebirds draw 1-1 with Millwall in the old Second Division, or League One as it is now known.

Before the current season, Cardiff City had had home fixtures on the opening weekends of six other Football League campaigns since 1999. The attendances for the relevant matches were: 17,403 (v Wycombe Wanderers in 2001), 18,840 (v Stoke City in 2007), 19,749 (v Southampton in 2008), 22,264 (v Scunthorpe United in 2009), 20,573 (v Sheffield United in 2010) and 21,127 (v Huddersfield Town in 2012).

The last time Cardiff had a smaller attendance than yesterday's for their first home league game of a season was a decade ago in August 2005. On that occasion, 15,231 turned out on a Tuesday evening to see the Bluebirds beat Leeds United 2-1 at Ninian Park.

Only Brentford and Rotherham United have so far attracted smaller crowds than Cardiff City on the opening weekend of the 2015/16 Championship campaign (Preston North End are playing Middlesbrough at lunchtime today).

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was 3,628 down on the smallest crowd of the 2014/15 season (19,057 v Blackburn Rovers on a Tuesday evening in February 2015), 5,694 down on last season's average of 21,123 and 7,086 down on the equivalent fixture against Fulham in January 2015, when the official figure was given as 22,515.

I thought I said that - supporters rightly thinking that their club has become a laughing stock doesn't help either, nor does alienating hard core support, who had stuck with the club through the bad times in the past, with pointless and ill thought out changes of kit.

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was the smallest by some distance for a Football League fixture at the Cardiff City Stadium. The previous lowest figure was 17,686 for a 2-0 victory over Peterborough United on a Tuesday evening in February 2010.

The crowd against Fulham was the smallest for a Cardiff City home league game since May 2008, when 14,469 turned out at Ninian Park to watch the Bluebirds beat Barnsley 3-0 a fortnight before the FA Cup final.

Yesterday's attendance was Cardiff's lowest on the opening weekend of a Football League season since way back in August 1999, when 10,193 saw the Bluebirds draw 1-1 with Millwall in the old Second Division, or League One as it is now known.

Before the current season, Cardiff City had had home fixtures on the opening weekends of six other Football League campaigns since 1999. The attendances for the relevant matches were: 17,403 (v Wycombe Wanderers in 2001), 18,840 (v Stoke City in 2007), 19,749 (v Southampton in 2008), 22,264 (v Scunthorpe United in 2009), 20,573 (v Sheffield United in 2010) and 21,127 (v Huddersfield Town in 2012).

The last time Cardiff had a smaller attendance than yesterday's for their first home league game of a season was a decade ago in August 2005. On that occasion, 15,231 turned out on a Tuesday evening to see the Bluebirds beat Leeds United 2-1 at Ninian Park.

Only Brentford and Rotherham United have so far attracted smaller crowds than Cardiff City on the opening weekend of the 2015/16 Championship campaign (Preston North End are playing Middlesbrough at lunchtime today).

Yesterday's official attendance of 15,429 was 3,628 down on the smallest crowd of the 2014/15 season (19,057 v Blackburn Rovers on a Tuesday evening in February 2015), 5,694 down on last season's average of 21,123 and 7,086 down on the equivalent fixture against Fulham in January 2015, when the official figure was given as 22,515.

We'll probably get lower crowds over the next few months as well, but yesterday's gate was still a few thousand up on what I would have predicted in May - I wasn't too upset by it under the circumstances.

Fair enough but I think people put too much stock in the minutiae of the club being the cause of attendance drops when in reality it's a simple matter of glory hunting.

[goslow]

So the good people of cardiff have gone back to supporting their first loves,man utd and liverpool.

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

So the good people of cardiff have gone back to supporting their first loves,man utd and liverpool.

And the Wales rugby team.

[The Lone Gunman]

Ok but I'm not convinced attendances would suddenly spike if Tan left the club. What, in your opinion, would it take to get attendances as high as you seem to think they should be?

Success on the field is obviously the only thing that will improve attendances.

[Father Dougal]

Here's a prediction- if we start playing great football and winning I think crowds will go up. If we are not doing well then I think crowds may go down.

It really is as simple as that- and was always the case regardless of the colour we played in. Surely there is nobody who thinks otherwise? So what's the debate here?

[Jimmy Jimmy]

You are the figures man - so perhaps you could have just posted - "attendances are down as some people no longer go"

Come on back TLG - it's just as you'd like it - crap football, a clueless manager, a team that will struggle against the weakest of opponents - there's plenty to moan and groan about for you here

[alfie sherwood]

That was before what was easily the least interesting season that the newer breed of City fans gained over the past decade or so will have had to endure before now. It's simple really, you serve up crap football that sees the team win at home in the league just three times so far this year and you are bound to see gates drop - especially when there is no transfer business to get people enthusiastic again during the summer break.

One of the main reasons previously devoted supporters (who boycotted) have failed to return is probably the length of time the rebrand reversal took. Two and a half years is a long time to be away, a long time for the connection to sever, a long time to find other things to do on a Saturday.

[The Lone Gunman]

Here's a prediction- if we start playing great football and winning I think crowds will go up. If we are not doing well then I think crowds may go down.

I wasn't aware there was a debate. Personally, I just find it interesting that attendances have now seemingly dipped to the lowest point in a decade. So much for Emperor Tan's 'vision', huh?

[Colonel Cærdiffi]

Here's a prediction- if we start playing great football and winning I think crowds will go up. If we are not doing well then I think crowds may go down.

It really is as simple as that- and was always the case regardless of the colour we played in. Surely there is nobody who thinks otherwise? So what's the debate here?

Maybe if you could convince this "significant number of previously committed supporters" that you know to stop being so fickle instead.

[Ring_Peace]

Hey TLG. http://youtu.be/kjJ1bsnxxhs

[Heathccfc]

Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

I find it sad that many fans have packed it in, the impact of TAN will live long into the history of CCFC, with success I'm sure that many will join/re-join the fan base, these things happen in cycles, the club pre Hammam had always been very up and down with support, those perpetuating 1,000's returning when back in blue have to look at themselves and ask themselves why did they spout such nonsense, a big crowd here and there in the past, doesn't make CCFC a big club, for the population of the area its a minnow of a club, when in the 3/4th division cycle it'll be back to under 10k when serving up shite, the championship should see it average out at about 15k but if Slade is permitted to trot out shite after shite every week then it'll not be long before a few k drop off from the 15K, of course TLG is fishing with this thread but, if the same aggression was shown to TAN at the beginning of the re-brand was shown to TAN as it is to TLG, perhaps this mess would have been nipped in the bud a little sooner, I'm a little surprised how easy it has been, to forget the match day buzz, I have been back for the odd game and enjoyed it, football is competing for peoples spare cash on the W/E, many have discovered other ways to enjoy and spend their spare cash on other things and also realised that they have families who would like to see some of the spare cash, unless a return to the premier league happens pretty soon my guess is that, it will take 20 years before the damage done by TAN and the acceptance of HIM by fans of the club is repaired, not buying a pastie and a pint in the stadium was not a big enough rejection of him IMO, the threat of closure unless blah blah blah I have heard too many times and that is just from Borley!!, he's a mile from me, he's doing OK, I very much want the team to win, listened to the game yesterday but the cycle of trudging to the stadium on a Saturday has been broken, any spare cash is set aside for my next easy jet ticket, the cycle will come back I'm sure at some point but at this time, i just don't see when.

[The Lone Gunman]

That's a weird conclusion. Tan's 'vision' came to an abrupt end last season and you're still using it as a rod to beat the club with regarding yesterdays attendance.

I think that's a very tough ask under the circumstances. I'm guessing the attitudes of such people have changed markedly in recent years. I reckon that, like me and and you, the majority of them have now got better things to do with their leisure time and disposable income than to squander it on supporting a bunch of mediocre and vastly overpaid professional footballers.

[The Bennett Brother]

That was before what was easily the least interesting season that the newer breed of City fans gained over the past decade or so will have had to endure before now. It's simple really, you serve up crap football that sees the team win at home in the league just three times so far this year and you are bound to see gates drop - especially when there is no transfer business to get people enthusiastic again during the summer break.

You've only got to look at what has happened at the club down the years to realise that City have never been able to maintain crowds of 20,000 plus when results start to dip a little - add that to a the way the club has been turned into a laughing stock over the past few seasons and it's little surprise that even some of those who swore they'd be back when we returned to wearing blue have had enough.

agree alfie. I quit once the rebrand was announced. ST money returned. ST went back to 1982. I haven't been back and won't be. I was actually at stamofrd bridge yesterday as a neutral. . quite amazing the way the fortunes of cardiff/swansea have worked out. one put fans on their board, stopped mega millioanire take overs and look where they are. cardiff, just wanted it all and sold their soul

[Cyclops]

Pompey (in Div 2) attracted 16,948 yesterday.

Just saying

[bluethrough]

It seems we have apparently lost thousands of fans due to VT and there was 75000 at the rugby and the football has been poor . Having said all that I think that over 15000 seems not a bad turnout .

[poc]

Oh dear, how sad, never mind.

I find it sad that many fans have packed it in, the impact of TAN will live long into the history of CCFC, with success I'm sure that many will join/re-join the fan base, these things happen in cycles, the club pre Hammam had always been very up and down with support, those perpetuating 1,000's returning when back in blue have to look at themselves and ask themselves why did they spout such nonsense, a big crowd here and there in the past, doesn't make CCFC a big club, for the population of the area its a minnow of a club, when in the 3/4th division cycle it'll be back to under 10k when serving up shite, the championship should see it average out at about 15k but if Slade is permitted to trot out shite after shite every week then it'll not be long before a few k drop off from the 15K, of course TLG is fishing with this thread but, if the same aggression was shown to TAN at the beginning of the re-brand was shown to TAN as it is to TLG, perhaps this mess would have been nipped in the bud a little sooner, I'm a little surprised how easy it has been, to forget the match day buzz, I have been back for the odd game and enjoyed it, football is competing for peoples spare cash on the W/E, many have discovered other ways to enjoy and spend their spare cash on other things and also realised that they have families who would like to see some of the spare cash, unless a return to the premier league happens pretty soon my guess is that, it will take 20 years before the damage done by TAN and the acceptance of HIM by fans of the club is repaired, not buying a pastie and a pint in the stadium was not a big enough rejection of him IMO, the threat of closure unless blah blah blah I have heard too many times and that is just from Borley!!, he's a mile from me, he's doing OK, I very much want the team to win, listened to the game yesterday but the cycle of trudging to the stadium on a Saturday has been broken, any spare cash is set aside for my next easy jet ticket, the cycle will come back I'm sure at some point but at this time, i just don't see when.

i have to be fair the shite was at least a better type of shite yesterday

[surge]

A club needs two things to bring in the crowds: optimism that the team will win and a real connection between club and supporters.

Those two elements have gradually been growing since the FA cup final (perhaps before), rebrand maximised optimism for success while connection plummeted, the end result of the rebrand has been promise of leaner times and the club starting to think maybe a connection is important. 8 months of "blue is okay actually" hasn't done enough to boost us to the 18,000+ that would have been there without the rebrand years and it hasn't done enough to boost us to the 20,000+ that would have been there if the expectation of success had continued.

That the blue shirt sold more in its first day than any other shows the importance of blue, that the attendance has dropped showed (if there was any further proof needed) that Tan's rebrand was all short termism.

[ragbone]

Ah well at least someone is happy.

Thats what we need togetherness and happiness.

[Cardiff Irish]

Some Football fans are as fickle as a fourteen year old female in love.

We start winning they will come, we start losing people wont, simples as.