A new record low gate was set on Tuesday night for the 1-1 draw against Crystal Palace at the Ricoh Arena.
The number of tickets sold (City’s way of counting the attendance rather than the number of people in the ground) recorded a figure of 12,054, the lowest since City moved to the Ricoh Arena in August 2005 and the lowest home attendance since 2004.
We can all think of reasons why the crowd was so small – school night, Champions League on tv etc, but one major reason now being over-looked by the club is that over the years, the club has failed to adequately look after its supporters aged between 18-59.
Many City supporters of long standing, have packed up going, seemingly fed up of being treated as cash cows who blindly turn up week in week out in the hope that City can go on a winning streak and get out of what is a very poor division.
However, the club, rather than trying to win back those who have stopped backing the club after years of support, seem now more intent on chasing the day-trippers market.
Now, there is nothing wrong with trying to fill empty seats of which there are always plenty at the Ricoh Arena, something which has brought its own set of problems to the club and supporters.
In fact, City supporter Pat Abel’s “Ticket For Schools” programme and the bringing in of community groups are a good thing, even if some of those on these discounted tickets don’t know the stadium rules and moan when they get a cursory ticking off from a steward for thinking they are entitled to drink alcohol or having a cigarette in view of the pitch, something which might leave a regular supporter or season ticket holder with a banning order.
But they should not be in place of trying to win back those who are staying away for one reason or another, as unlike them, we can see very little evidence that those who come to games on discounted tickets via such programmes are coming back in numbers when discounts are not available such as the game last night.
If anything, all these discounted tickets have done is create a culture whereby people now only go to the Ricoh Arena if there are cheap tickets available.
Alongside season ticket and match ticket revenue, the money from these day-trippers is fine but Coventry City would be far better looking after its match going support on an on-going basis and ensuring that they keep the faith for as long as possible.