Have our home crowds been disappointing?

[TheBirchgrovePub]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

You can decide whatÂ’s relevant.

I think it’s interesting that the two biggest crowds so far this season (by a distance) came for games that were live on TV on a Tuesday night (in mid-December, no less) and on a Saturday lunchtime.

To me, that demonstrates people can and will turn out in large numbers if they consider the game to be attractive enough regardless of any alleged barriers to doing so.

Cost of living is a factor along with the fact that games at the CCS are fairly sterile these days and not much to write home about so not really worthy of a £26-£32 ticket really.

Would love to see the home tickets sold figures that doesn’t include season tickets + away fans each game. It can’t be many.

I don’t think it’s Cardiff thing really, it is probably quite a common scenario everywhere atm, especially if it has been rubbish on the pitch for years for a certain team. It takes a lot to get people back once they fall out of the habit of spending £30 on a ticket and a further £20 on a mixture of travel/food/drink.

The fans that are not season ticket regulars but are fans that buy match to match is getting smaller by the season but with the rise of fire sticks, Tuesday night games on the red button and plenty of Saturday games moved to 12.30 it’s not a massive surprise unfortunately. Feels like we’re past the point of no return for me (and not just talking about Cardiff).

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

I thought this was interesting (but you can be the judge of that…):

On Tuesday 11th March 2025, City played Luton at the CCS. We’d been beaten by Aston Villa (FA Cup), Burnley and Sunderland in the previous three games and were sitting 21st in the Championship, two places above Luton.

The crowd that night was 16,641, which was almost identical to the attendance for the Wycombe game on Tuesday evening (16,663).

The final average for City’s Championship home crowds last season was 19,344. The average for our League One home games this season is currently sitting at 19,376 - again, almost identical.

The biggest league crowd we had last season was 26,536 for the 3-0 victory over Swansea. The biggest league crowd we’ve had this season was 27,280 for the 0-2 defeat to Lincoln.

I’m pretty sure last season’s average included more away fans than this season’s, although I’ve been impressed with the away followings at the CCS for League One matches. Some have been much bigger than I expected at this level.

Although I think the current average should rise a little by the end of the season, it seems the appetite in South Wales for watching a team playing good football while challenging for the title in League One has been broadly similar to that for watching a team playing poor football while struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.

[NYCBlue]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

I thought this was interesting (but you can be the judge of that…):

On Tuesday 11th March 2025, City played Luton at the CCS. We’d been beaten by Aston Villa (FA Cup), Burnley and Sunderland in the previous three games and were sitting 21st in the Championship, two places above Luton.

The crowd that night was 16,641, which was almost identical to the attendance for the Wycombe game on Tuesday evening (16,663).

The final average for City’s Championship home crowds last season was 19,344. The average for our League One home games this season is currently sitting at 19,376 - again, almost identical.

The biggest league crowd we had last season was 26,536 for the 3-0 victory over Swansea. The biggest league crowd we’ve had this season was 27,280 for the 0-2 defeat to Lincoln.

I’m pretty sure last season’s average included more away fans than this season’s, although I’ve been impressed with the away followings at the CCS for League One matches. Some have been much bigger than I expected at this level.

Although I think the current average should rise a little by the end of the season, it seems the appetite in South Wales for watching a team playing good football while challenging for the title in League One has been broadly similar to that for watching a team playing poor football while struggling at the wrong end of the Championship.

How many season ticket holders did we have last season?

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

How many season ticket holders did we have last season?

No idea, sorry. I don’t know how many we’ve got this season either. I googled it a while ago but couldn’t find any definitive answers.

[NYCBlue]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

No idea, sorry. I don’t know how many we’ve got this season either. I googled it a while ago but couldn’t find any definitive answers.

No problem. Anyway, have you made a decision as to whether or not our home crowds have been disappointing?

[The Lone Gunman]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

No problem. Anyway, have you made a decision as to whether or not our home crowds have been disappointing?

In the first post of this thread back on 20/02/2026, I wrote: "While (our) crowds are not terrible by any means, I think they’ve been disappointing considering the quality of the football the team has been producing and the fact that we’re top of the table on a long unbeaten run, not to mention the popularity of the manager and the local youngsters."

I haven't changed my mind a month down the line.

If I'd have suggested at the start of the season that City would spend much of the season at the top of the table but would nevertheless be getting smaller crowds than Bolton and Bradford, who'd be below us, I can imagine what the reaction would have been.

[JamesWales]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

I think we've discussed it here and elsewhere but is there any clear data on the impact of the 12.30 kick offs on crowds? They definitely impact my attendance and anecdotally many several others, though I think most put up with it and of course some prefer it.

Hard to judge it all especially as Sky will typically (but not always) select some of the bigger games to be on the TV, which are obviously more appealing all round - Lincoln game for example. But still, I wonder if there's any clear impact?

[ToTaL ITK]

Re: Have our home crowds been disappointing?

I wouldn't say disappointing but it's been cold weather and not much to look at...come the warmer weather and there should e a few tarts wearing heels and a short dress (and i'm talking about the blokes)