How Hornets fare in BBC survey (From Watford Observer)

What transport levy? first i've heard of that. I can use my ticket as a pass on public transport?

Survey was obviously completed before the new catering company moved in, never been robbed in public before I purchased 2 teas and a couple of Mars bars the other week. The hike would have paid for me to bring the kids.

Now arrive fully loaded with chocolate and crisps purchased on route, their loss.

No Wheels wrote:
What transport levy? first i've heard of that. I can use my ticket as a pass on public transport?

Think you have to support Brighton first!!!

I can only make a few home games a season, now I know why. Ridiculous prices, especially when you have children. When I lived in Watford my pocket money was enough for near enough every home game, that was a while ago now I admit but still stupid prices, and they wonder why attendance is falling?!

And WFC wonders why it cannot fill the ground - this goes some way to explain it. Mind you if we get into the Premiership shouldn't be a problem - just that the traditional supporters won't be able to afford it and all the rich "Johnny come latelys" will step in to take them all over so as to be able to go to the 5 or 6 games when they want to see the "Top Premiership clubs". Never realised we were so expensive. Joint most expensive with Brighton (if you take away their builit in £2 travel concession).

with players getting paid stupid wages, someone has to contribute!

£26 for an adult match-day ticket is ridiculous. Keep watching attendances drop as people feel the effects of austerity and decide they can't got to football matches.

Reduce the cheapest adult ticket from 26 to 22, see the attendances rise again, if need be, increase the price of upper rous tickets.

To be fair to Watford it has been spending the last few years trying to reduce costs including those of player wages. Although that might not be happening anymore under the new ownership.

Also to be fair to teams outside the Prem they get far far far far less money from TV rights etc and rely far more on ticket sales than Prem teams.

Some of the other comments are interesting, of course Watford are in a pretty unique situation but on the one hand you have fans calling for success which does have a cost implication (althought it can be done relatively on the cheap) and on the other hand fans saying tickets are too expensive. On the whole you cant really have success without a price being attached to it

Always thought my Senior Early Bird Season Ticket would turn out to be a bargain. Now I know!

How's about if the club try to contact the fans who have stayed away the last few seasons? They must have details of fans that had season tickets from 2006 onwards or fans that paid on the day? Try and get them back by offering a discounted rest of season ticket and reimburse this seasons season ticket holders the same discount off next seasons ticket? Then re price the day rate for next season to attract the occasional supporter who has time or the attraction to go?
Just a thought WFC.... By the way do you need a finance/marketing manager that has a passion for filling the Vic? If so contact me.... I'm your man!

Tea was £1.10 pre new caterers, now £1.40. £1.40 is cheapest in championship.

Ticket prices often subsidised, this Saturday for example £10 Adult.

So when you mean average out the concessions, special offers, family days etc, our average match day ticket is £22, plus season tickets brings this down under £20.

I don't think £22 entry to Watford is over priced.

Family enclosure tickets are even more aggressively priced.

No one forces anyone to buy food and drink in the ground, so that's a personal choice.

Football can be expensive day out, especially away games, however Watford is fair and reasonable in my opinion

What we need is a new ground (ala Brighton) and increase our support and revenue, Brighton have gone from 6,000 season ticket holders with average gate of 8,000 TO 22,000 Season tickets and average gate 25,000 with 5,000 on waiting list.

A new ground for Watford near Junc 5 M1 30,000 seater, transport, shops, casino, cinema, hotel etc etc .... IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME - FIELD OF DREAMS !

The Vic is depressing !!!!

Holly68 wrote:
Tea was £1.10 pre new caterers, now £1.40. £1.40 is cheapest in championship.

Ticket prices often subsidised, this Saturday for example £10 Adult.

So when you mean average out the concessions, special offers, family days etc, our average match day ticket is £22, plus season tickets brings this down under £20.

I don't think £22 entry to Watford is over priced.

Family enclosure tickets are even more aggressively priced.

No one forces anyone to buy food and drink in the ground, so that's a personal choice.

Football can be expensive day out, especially away games, however Watford is fair and reasonable in my opinion

What we need is a new ground (ala Brighton) and increase our support and revenue, Brighton have gone from 6,000 season ticket holders with average gate of 8,000 TO 22,000 Season tickets and average gate 25,000 with 5,000 on waiting list.

A new ground for Watford near Junc 5 M1 30,000 seater, transport, shops, casino, cinema, hotel etc etc .... IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME - FIELD OF DREAMS !

The Vic is depressing !!!!

DONT WASTE ANYMORE MONEY DOING UP THE VIC, BUILD A NEW GROUND PLEASE MR POZZO !

MK DONS, BRIGHTON, ROTHERHAM, COLCHESTER etc etc have done it, even QPR are looking for new ground, WATFORD NEED TO LOOK TO NEXT 100'years, DON'T PAPER OVER THE CRACKS AT THE VIC

Holly68 wrote:
Tea was £1.10 pre new caterers, now £1.40. £1.40 is cheapest in championship.

Ticket prices often subsidised, this Saturday for example £10 Adult.

So when you mean average out the concessions, special offers, family days etc, our average match day ticket is £22, plus season tickets brings this down under £20.

I don't think £22 entry to Watford is over priced.

Family enclosure tickets are even more aggressively priced.

No one forces anyone to buy food and drink in the ground, so that's a personal choice.

Football can be expensive day out, especially away games, however Watford is fair and reasonable in my opinion

What we need is a new ground (ala Brighton) and increase our support and revenue, Brighton have gone from 6,000 season ticket holders with average gate of 8,000 TO 22,000 Season tickets and average gate 25,000 with 5,000 on waiting list.

A new ground for Watford near Junc 5 M1 30,000 seater, transport, shops, casino, cinema, hotel etc etc .... IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME - FIELD OF DREAMS !

The Vic is depressing !!!!

It might be depressing in its current state, however at least it is not identicle to every other new stadium. It has history and memories for many and I for one would not be in favour of moving unless we had a sell out every week and we had exhausted all other possibilities.

Another decent stand on the east fill the corners and understand it was always possible to put another level on the Rous, why the need to move other than generate money from the land.

D.unstable wrote:

Holly68 wrote:
Tea was £1.10 pre new caterers, now £1.40. £1.40 is cheapest in championship.

Ticket prices often subsidised, this Saturday for example £10 Adult.

So when you mean average out the concessions, special offers, family days etc, our average match day ticket is £22, plus season tickets brings this down under £20.

I don't think £22 entry to Watford is over priced.

Family enclosure tickets are even more aggressively priced.

No one forces anyone to buy food and drink in the ground, so that's a personal choice.

Football can be expensive day out, especially away games, however Watford is fair and reasonable in my opinion

What we need is a new ground (ala Brighton) and increase our support and revenue, Brighton have gone from 6,000 season ticket holders with average gate of 8,000 TO 22,000 Season tickets and average gate 25,000 with 5,000 on waiting list.

A new ground for Watford near Junc 5 M1 30,000 seater, transport, shops, casino, cinema, hotel etc etc .... IF YOU BUILD IT HE WILL COME - FIELD OF DREAMS !

The Vic is depressing !!!!

It might be depressing in its current state, however at least it is not identicle to every other new stadium. It has history and memories for many and I for one would not be in favour of moving unless we had a sell out every week and we had exhausted all other possibilities.

Another decent stand on the east fill the corners and understand it was always possible to put another level on the Rous, why the need to move other than generate money from the land.

Yes it has history and I grew up through the seventies and eighties good times, but we now need to move on, and attract tomorrows fans, Arsenal moved despite the history of highbury

I love the Vic and all the history attached to it - we have seen so many genuinely great footballing moments there. But, I think I agree that the emotional attachment to the Vic has to come second if we really do want to compete at the top (Which I think it's clear the Pozzos do).
The precedent is clear new ground leads to large increase in attendance in most instances. So, whilst I love the Vic and will be sorry to see it go, I do believe it's inevitable. I understand Pozzos are indeed undertaking a feasability study right now.

a1derek wrote:
I love the Vic and all the history attached to it - we have seen so many genuinely great footballing moments there. But, I think I agree that the emotional attachment to the Vic has to come second if we really do want to compete at the top (Which I think it's clear the Pozzos do).
The precedent is clear new ground leads to large increase in attendance in most instances. So, whilst I love the Vic and will be sorry to see it go, I do believe it's inevitable. I understand Pozzos are indeed undertaking a feasability study right now.

Agreed. If we don't move I fear for our future, my son stopped going for two reasons, bad football (Aidy) and poor facilities. If we moved he would come back with his mates !

Can anyone tell me what the Pozzo's have done at Udinese's and Granada's grounds? That may prove an indicator as to what they intend to do with us.
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Also, if we stay at the Vic and build a new stand, making the capacity 23/24,000, we'd only fill it occasionaly(even in Prem) . History supports this theory. A new ground MAY entice some new people, but that may only be for the short term. I am sure that the new health campus/rail link will influence whatever the decision is.
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In the short and medium term, people will return if we are 1)winning, 2)playing good football and 3)offering cheaper kids tickets making it more affordable for families.

Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the Pozzo's have done at Udinese's and Granada's grounds? That may prove an indicator as to what they intend to do with us.
-
Also, if we stay at the Vic and build a new stand, making the capacity 23/24,000, we'd only fill it occasionaly(even in Prem) . History supports this theory. A new ground MAY entice some new people, but that may only be for the short term. I am sure that the new health campus/rail link will influence whatever the decision is.
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In the short and medium term, people will return if we are 1)winning, 2)playing good football and 3)offering cheaper kids tickets making it more affordable for families.

Plans for Udinese Stadium to start in 2013

http://www.udine20.i
t/udine-nuovo-stadio
-friuli-il-video-che
-mostra-il-friuli-de
l-futuro/

The Pozzo's aren't out to fleece the fans and considering we are almost a London club, they could not be much cheaper in comparison. People do not start supporting clubs because they offer cheap tickets, some will automatically follow parents or friends but overall it is sustained success on the pitch that will pull them in. This IS the approach the Pozzo's are taking but they still have to pitch their product and a football club isn't cheap to run.
For many money is tighter now than ever and following football is a drain but you can't blame the club for hikes in the cost of living due to greedy energy/utility/publi
c transport bosses
etc. To survive WFC still have to target those that can afford what is basically a luxury item, once promoted there will be much bigger revenue streams to help keep it affordable for the faithful.

Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the Pozzo's have done at Udinese's and Granada's grounds? That may prove an indicator as to what they intend to do with us.
-
Also, if we stay at the Vic and build a new stand, making the capacity 23/24,000, we'd only fill it occasionaly(even in Prem) . History supports this theory. A new ground MAY entice some new people, but that may only be for the short term. I am sure that the new health campus/rail link will influence whatever the decision is.
-
In the short and medium term, people will return if we are 1)winning, 2)playing good football and 3)offering cheaper kids tickets making it more affordable for families.

There are lots of instances where moves to new stadiums (stadia??) have resulted in large increases in attendances. Arsenal, Derby (look how their gates have remained constantly high since moving to Pride Park), Plymouth, Hull, Brighton, Reading, Huddersfield even.
The precedent is pretty clear in my opinion. We won't fill 23k at the Vic but we may well do that and maybe a bit more in a new stadium. At least we do now appear to have the resources to make this happen.

Only 2 Ross Jenkins wrote:
Can anyone tell me what the Pozzo's have done at Udinese's and Granada's grounds? That may prove an indicator as to what they intend to do with us.
-
Also, if we stay at the Vic and build a new stand, making the capacity 23/24,000, we'd only fill it occasionaly(even in Prem) . History supports this theory. A new ground MAY entice some new people, but that may only be for the short term. I am sure that the new health campus/rail link will influence whatever the decision is.
-
In the short and medium term, people will return if we are 1)winning, 2)playing good football and 3)offering cheaper kids tickets making it more affordable for families.

Forget what history supports, you make your own history. Now more than ever fans are attracted to success and the M25 makes us far more accessible than those earlier times. And do not forget media influence, if you want form then plenty of Pozzo's imports will light up the premiership as they have in Serie A.

I don't think we should move the ground, success stories yes, also failures, anyone remember chanting about empty seats at the Ricoh arena?! Success on the pitch makes for good attendance, a new stand, cosmetic improvements and 3rd rous tier and we will have 25 to 30 thosand seats. Reduce the price for poor people like me! If we get promoted it will be 35 to 40 quid a seat!

No problem with a new stadium if it was in Watford, but how far away would we be prepared to put up with? Garston? Hemel? Berkhampstead?

We don't need a new stadium yet folks because 1. We can't fill our current one 2. We haven't got £60Million 3. It takes about 5 years of planning and building to achieve 4. We have to be a stable Prem League side to warrant it!
A new East Stand and some tarting up hear and there with a capacity of 22,000 is our limits!

Matty, even with added tiers it's about 26k max which would not be anywhere enough for the top six PL club in Giampolo Pozzo's dreams....
.... And dreams they are but I wouldn't rule them out, he has fried big fish before.

New stands, New stadium! Apart from bring a brat on Saturday we are scrapping 12k

New stands, New stadium! Apart from bring a brat on Saturday we are scrapping 12k

Gotta do something about the ground, it's a disgrace. Maybe a move wouldn't be such a bad idea. So long as those evil giants Tesco don't get their hands on the old site. I hate Tesco they want to take over the world.

Bottom line is that you don't lose the history of the club just by moving. It would be an exciting chapter. I'd be sad to say goodbye to the Vic but I'll get my head round anything if it's progressive.

BTW, talking of filling the ground: if you're a season ticket holder and you can't go this Sat you need to let the club know so others can get your seat. No gaps allowed.

buckler wrote:
New stands, New stadium! Apart from bring a brat on Saturday we are scrapping 12k

Buckler, it's proven if you move to new state of art ground more people come, brats et all

Today's brats are tomorrow's Bucks.

One day the mewling infants you'll hear on Sat will be sitting in the 40k capacity "Happy Eggs Arena" (probably in Bricket Wood). Their voices will have broken by then and every seat will be filled. There'll be a stand named after GT as well as a statue of Zola. And Neil Price will be head of catering, keeping the costs down. Dream a little.

The main problem with our current position is a) transport links through the busy town centre and b) parking.

If the Vic capacity was increased in any way and we had regular attendances of 25k plus it would be a problem without these 2 points being addressed.

If somehow we did live the dream, consistently in the top half of the prem and playing in Europe, then ok I will be up for a move to Bricket Wood and the purpose built 60k Happy Egg Dome.

Surely the way to go is build the East stand. Its pure madness and not realistic of a new ground. Much money has been spent at the Vic, on 3 sides there is excellent unrestricted views.We still have scope to infill the corners if needed at a later point, plus there is still space under the upper rous which was never seated. The pozzo family have put there money in so far and a new ground will be way down there list obviously.There are far more important ways to spend money on.

DuffmanWFC wrote:
We don't need a new stadium yet folks because 1. We can't fill our current one 2. We haven't got £60Million 3. It takes about 5 years of planning and building to achieve 4. We have to be a stable Prem League side to warrant it!
A new East Stand and some tarting up hear and there with a capacity of 22,000 is our limits!

That last point about having to be a stable Premiership team to warrant a new stadium is just bonkers. If that were the case why is it only Arsenal and Man City the only teams that have moved to a new stadium whilst actually in the Premiership (and even Man City is a bit dubious here). Reading, Wigan, Stoke, Southampton and all the other 30 or so new stadiums across the country have been built for teams in the lower leagues.

A good debate. Seems there are 2 camps - those that think we don't need more than 25,000 seats and those that do. Agree that the facilities make a difference.
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How about a new stadium, starting at 25,000 with option to extend to 30/35,000 IF it warrants it?
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Shorter term, we are going to need that 4th side at the Vic if we go up. (17,000 capacity in the prem would be a lost opportunity and a real embarrassment). Didn't Fulham do a temporary stand about 10 years ago behind the goal?

No Wheels wrote:
What transport levy? first i've heard of that. I can use my ticket as a pass on public transport?

When I was 14 I could get in for 1s or 5p admittedly to stand on the Vic Rd terraces and used to park my bike opposite for 6d or 2p. Adults prices were 2s or 10p and it was as cheap to go there as to the cinema. Mind you the players were fighting for £20 per week wages then!
Now the cinema is cheaper and usually gives guaranteed entertainment.

Bush Hornet wrote:
Today's brats are tomorrow's Bucks.

One day the mewling infants you'll hear on Sat will be sitting in the 40k capacity "Happy Eggs Arena" (probably in Bricket Wood). Their voices will have broken by then and every seat will be filled. There'll be a stand named after GT as well as a statue of Zola. And Neil Price will be head of catering, keeping the costs down. Dream a little.

Not really! The kids that come tom are not bucks . Most only come for the quid game and have no interest any way. Even know of non watford fans just coming for something to do! Kids fine but these days do nothing for the club.

holtonian wrote:
Surely the way to go is build the East stand. Its pure madness and not realistic of a new ground. Much money has been spent at the Vic, on 3 sides there is excellent unrestricted views.We still have scope to infill the corners if needed at a later point, plus there is still space under the upper rous which was never seated. The pozzo family have put there money in so far and a new ground will be way down there list obviously.There are far more important ways to spend money on.

that is spot on in my book, what a way to waste money, we do not need a new ground as with sensible planning ours
would be more than adaquete.
Personally the new stadia lack any atmosphere and are straight of the conveyor belt.

I think the main issue with building a new stand/improving the rest of the ground is going to be the planning side of things. Increased traffic, terrible parking allocations and the lack of public transport (although this will be slightly alleviated by the Met Line extension) will all be obstacles to overcome.

Something does need to be done ASAP as if we did get promoted in the next few years that East Stand (as someone correctly said) is a major embarrassment and will be a huge opportunity lost in terms of revenue streams.

Oooh, a lovely gleaming new ground, with easy access to the motorway and acres of empty shiny plastic seats. Then we could be just as good as Derby, Leicester, Boro, Cardiff, Hull, Millwall, Bolton.....yawn yawn. While we're at it, why not let's move to Barnet and share with the egg-chasers?