The 8 though the gate

[Tommy2holes]

I seem to remember a long time ago that there was some kind of initiative to get 8k through the gate regularly.

Think this was the figure that would be needed for the club to break even financially and be stable.

I'm wondering if such a figure exists now.

It's difficult to gauge, especially with child tickets and OAP and concessions etc.

If roots hall can be improved then their must be an average attendance or level of gate receipts that would see the club on a even footing ie not losing money.

We will probably average around 6.5k this season. Through in a more positive season and a better and renovated away end, it's likely that 8k could be achievable.

 

[CanveyCastle]

I would prefer the slogan "Four through the Door" as far as new signings go.

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

I seem to remember a long time ago that there was some kind of initiative to get 8k through the gate regularly.

Think this was the figure that would be needed for the club to break even financially and be stable.

I'm wondering if such a figure exists now.

It's difficult to gauge, especially with child tickets and OAP and concessions etc.

If roots hall can be improved then their must be an average attendance or level of gate receipts that would see the club on a even footing ie not losing money.

We will probably average around 6.5k this season. Through in a more positive season and a better and renovated away end, it's likely that 8k could be achievable.

A lot easier to achieve with half decent away support which is sadly inconspicuous in this league.

 

[KAB]

It was always said that the break even figure was 8,500 and that seems to have been a constant figure throughout the years and completely independent of any other factors.

 

[CanveyCastle]

It was always said that the break even figure was 8,500 and that seems to have been a constant figure throughout the years and completely independent of any other factors.

That figure was mentioned when we had a person leeching off of us.

 

[thenobster]

eight through the gate... Colchester's record crowd?
one hand and two fingers when counting?

 

[Tommy2holes]

It was always said that the break even figure was 8,500 and that seems to have been a constant figure throughout the years and completely independent of any other factors.

More than achievable with the right side, ground renovation and promotion

 

[Spaceman Spiff]

To be honest, the figure is cobblers.

Breaking even of course means earning enough revenue to cover your costs. While the biggest cost is likely salaries (playing and non-playing) and the biggest income stream is currently matchday ticket sales, there are lots of things you can do to increase revenue or cut costs beyond these two lines in the accounts that make the 8,500 meaningless. Both costs and revenue can vary wildly, so inasmuch as there's ever a break even figure solely sought from ticket sales, 8,500 now might be 8,300 next month if a player or two leaves or 9,000 or 7,000 or 7,002... you get the idea.

The biggest two culprits for our lack of solvency in recent years are:

1. Ron paying himself a fat salary, in effect, to cover 'rent and management fees' for Roots Hall - which the club owned anyway before he moved it to one of his other group companies; and
2. Ron's total abject failure to invest in the non-matchday revenue streams, at all, ever. No conference / meeting / wedding / social facilities to speak of, very little investment in the fixed assets or effort to use them to generate revenue outside match days.

The 'break even' figure, aside from being bollocks, was always all about pressurising the fans to turn up more often and fill Ron's pockets.

 

[Tommy2holes]

To be honest, the figure is cobblers.

Breaking even of course means earning enough revenue to cover your costs. While the biggest cost is likely salaries (playing and non-playing) and the biggest income stream is currently matchday ticket sales, there are lots of things you can do to increase revenue or cut costs beyond these two lines in the accounts that make the 8,500 meaningless. Both costs and revenue can vary wildly, so inasmuch as there's ever a break even figure solely sought from ticket sales, 8,500 now might be 8,300 next month if a player or two leaves or 9,000 or 7,000 or 7,002... you get the idea.

The biggest two culprits for our lack of solvency in recent years are:

1. Ron paying himself a fat salary, in effect, to cover 'rent and management fees' for Roots Hall - which the club owned anyway before he moved it to one of his other group companies; and
2. Ron's total abject failure to invest in the non-matchday revenue streams, at all, ever. No conference / meeting / wedding / social facilities to speak of, very little investment in the fixed assets or effort to use them to generate revenue outside match days.

The 'break even' figure, aside from being bollocks, was always all about pressurising the fans to turn up more often and fill Ron's pockets.

I don't disagree with any of that but there will always be a set amount of fans ie 5000 adults, and 3500 concessions with 10-25% buying a programme, pint or pie etc..

You are bang on about matchday and non matchday revenue.

Beer tents and live music would be excellent as would corporate areas in a newly refurbished/built roots hall..

 

[manor15]

Barnet on Boxing Day was 7,909, which included a home sell-out and, while Barnet didn’t bring tonnes of fans, not many teams at this level will bring a lot more.

I’d be pretty surprised if we could surpass 8k without investment and works to get the sign off on more capacity.

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

I don't disagree with any of that but there will always be a set amount of fans ie 5000 adults, and 3500 concessions with 10-25% buying a programme, pint or pie etc..

You are bang on about matchday and non matchday revenue.

Beer tents and live music would be excellent as would corporate areas in a newly refurbished/built roots hall..

Justin Rees told me that we currently make 26p per fan on income other than the ticket price inside Roots Hall. The lowest in the league.

 

[CanveyCastle]

Justin Rees told me that we currently make 26p per fan on income other than the ticket price inside Roots Hall. The lowest in the league.

Steve Kavanagh told me years ago the average spend was just under £1.

I wonder how many succulent, delicious looking burgers we sell every match.

Still no Bovril.

 

[Shr1mperBlue]

When we were at Barnet last weekend, we arrived couple of hours before the game. Went into the home supporters bar / Starbucks in the office building looking stand that housed the gym etc. was warm, welcoming with a good choice of drinks and food. Think I spent £25 on two chicken burger and chips, bottle of coke and a water. If we had facilities like that in the future we’d always get our lunch at Roots Hall. I’d even be able to encourage the missus to come down before a game for some food and a glass of wine. There’s lots of money to be made from giving some services other than watching a football game.

 

[annie1954]

When we were at Barnet last weekend, we arrived couple of hours before the game. Went into the home supporters bar / Starbucks in the office building looking stand that housed the gym etc. was warm, welcoming with a good choice of drinks and food. Think I spent £25 on two chicken burger and chips, bottle of coke and a water. If we had facilities like that in the future we’d always get our lunch at Roots Hall. I’d even be able to encourage the missus to come down before a game for some food and a glass of wine. There’s lots of money to be made from giving some services other than watching a football game.

 

[annie1954]

The club must be losing a great deal of money especially now with the limited amount allowed in the bars ( 80 ) I think , I guess that needs sorting ASAP

 

[kentblues]

A lot easier to achieve with half decent away support which is sadly inconspicuous in this league.

Quite..6700 with 69 away yesterday- with even modest away support we are in the 7ks in the NL

 

[londonblue]

When we were at Barnet last weekend, we arrived couple of hours before the game. Went into the home supporters bar / Starbucks in the office building looking stand that housed the gym etc. was warm, welcoming with a good choice of drinks and food. Think I spent £25 on two chicken burger and chips, bottle of coke and a water. If we had facilities like that in the future we’d always get our lunch at Roots Hall. I’d even be able to encourage the missus to come down before a game for some food and a glass of wine. There’s lots of money to be made from giving some services other than watching a football game.

That's exactly the issue. And (dare I say it) I dont see us ever having that at Roots Hall, even after a rebuild. My reasoning is that, at Barnet, there is a lot of room to roam around outside the ground. Even if we redevelop RH I don't see how we can do that, which means, for example, the West stand will stay cut off from the rest of the ground and facilities, meaning a big reduction in potential revenue. You could duplicate those facilities for the West, but that would double the costs for the same revenue, and I'm not sure there's even the space.

I would hope someone with more imagination than me will look into this and come up with a solution.

 

[Hawkwell Blue]

I know the consortium are keen on a fanzone type arrangement in the car part. However they are also mindful of supporting the local community such as the Railway, Spread Eagle, Blue Boar and the chippie etc. So a tricky balancing act.

 

[londonblue]

I know the consortium are keen on a fanzone type arrangement in the car part. However they are also mindful of supporting the local community such as the Railway, Spread Eagle, Blue Boar and the chippie etc. So a tricky balancing act.

A fanzone is a great idea, and will hopefully make money for the club. But again the problem is the West stand as you'll have about a 15-20 minute walk to get to Shakespeare Drive and your seat. This isn't a moan on behalf of the West, it's more to point out the amount if potential revenue that will be missed.

Compare that to, say Barnet, where It'd be about 2-3 around the perimeter.

 

[Leigh_Seasider]

A fanzone is a great idea, and will hopefully make money for the club. But again the problem is the West stand as you'll have about a 15-20 minute walk to get to Shakespeare Drive and your seat. This isn't a moan on behalf of the West, it's more to point out the amount if potential revenue that will be missed.

Compare that to, say Barnet, where It'd be about 2-3 around the perimeter.

I have to agree, the fact you can’t walk right the way round the back of the West stand is a pain and maybe something that’ll be looked at. Whatever they do in the main car park would have to be decent for me to allow time to make the long trip round, I enter the West via Shakespeare Drive having come from Westcliff direction. I’d also probably browse in the club shop if it was easier to get there.