Price cut proves a success at Lane (From Worcester News)
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Price cut proves a success at Lane
2:30pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Steve Carley
By Steve Carley, @stevecarleyWN
MONDAY was one of the coldest nights of the winter so far, yet it didn’t stop Worcester City recording their fifth largest crowd of the season.
The 1-1 draw against Histon was watched by 916 fans and totally vindicated the Blue Square Bet North club’s decision to slash their admission prices.
Knowing a mid-week match at the end of January was unlikely to attract the biggest of attendances, City cut £4 off adult and concession entry in the hope of swelling the numbers.
It was a bold move and a gamble but it is no exaggeration to suggest the gate would have been little more than around 600 under normal circumstances, as history has shown.
Even if the extra 300 did not bridge the revenue gap in gate receipts, the difference would surely have been more than compensated for on the bar and supporters’ trust selling real ale, possibly helped by a 30-minute kick-off delay.
Plenty of children got in for £1 and Worcester will be hoping they want to come back in the future.
It also generated a better atmosphere and, despite the result, made for a rousing finish to the match.
Such initiatives by City should be applauded.
They are trying to attract new fans and not afraid to experiment in order to achieve it.
No doubt people would have been ready to slate them had it back-fired, so it’s only right they are praised for a resounding success.
Comments(2)
Doogie 46
says...
4:54pm Thu 2 Feb 12
Over the many, many years I`ve been going to the Lane literally thousands of familiar faces (we all stood in the same spots week after week) have passed on and not been replaced.
The rugby club has certainly eaten into City`s fanbase, partly owing to the achieving of premiership status but also (often overlooked) because nearly all the local schools play rugby, a game previously the preserve of WRGS and the Kings School.
It`s certainly a better atmosphere to have a big crowd paying less per head than a sparse crowd paying more - as long as the books balance.
Hope the experiment can turn into a big success!
toofaraway says...
10:12am Thu 2 Feb 12
It also shows how well the Supporters trust and club are working together 'as a team'