Hibs are the latest club to slash the ticket allocation of both Glasgow clubs. Sunday’s match at Easter Road against Celtic showed just how daft that decision was.
Huge Empty spaces were visible amongst the travelling Celtic supporters, spaces that would have certainly been filled had the Edinburgh club gave Celtic a much more favourable allocation, making themselves a few bob in the process.
Remember ahead of the pre-season friendly against Celtic just over a month ago, the Ayr Utd director came out and explained via a video posted on YouTube that his club was selling additional tickets to Celtic supporters in order to maximise the capacity.
He pointed out that the additional revenue would be worth about £50k to Scott Brown and allow the former Celtic captain to recruit another decent player as they begin their dream of returning to the top tier of Scottish football for the first time since the late 1970s.
Hibernian’s Edinburgh rivals Hearts and a few other top flight clubs have also adopted the same strategy and it’s bewildering to say the least. Especially when money is so scarce in Scottish football.
It doesn’t do the image of our game any good either when these games are broadcast on satellite television and huge empty spaces are visible in the stands, spaces that would otherwise be occupied if it weren’t for the bad business sense adopted by these clubs.
The reason is apparently because of ‘bad behaviour’ and ‘inappropriate’ chanting, but that’s just an excuse. Maybe in the case of our rivals theRangers, but as for us, it’s total nonsense.
of course theRangers are in fact partially to blame for this situation as they of course decided to slash the Glasgow derby allocation all for having the ‘advantage’ of more home supporters.
Other clubs have decided to follow suit, but it’s not a plan that benefits them. Unlike our Glasgow rivals these other clubs won’t fill the void left by these empty seats and are losing money as a result.
Results on the park aren’t any different either so they are shooting themselves in the foot and starving themselves of income. Income that these clubs are in serious need of in times of uncertainty, especially in our financial landscape. It’s sheer madness.
The longer term consequences are also worth mentioning as supporters clubs and their members make other plans and get out of the habit of away day trips that Scottish football is doing their best to shut down.
I’ll tell you what, the way things are going, we’re going to regret Livingston going down.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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If you do your research you will know that cutting away allocation by 2000 doesn’t cost the club money..to cater for another 2000 away fans the police costs and stewarding g cost and damage cost outways the income of £50000 for ticket sales
Celtic give a paltry 600 or 700 tickets to away fans for their home games, yet demand 3,000-4,000 for away games! Hearts give priority to season ticket holders over away fans, which is their right to do so. That said, Hearts lowest home crowds last season were against both Celtic and Rangers. That’s because many supporters don’t attend to listen to the sectarian bile BOTH sets of supporters sing.
Hearts fan lecturing anyone on sectarian chanting is astonishing.
Strange how you focused on that point only. Maybe I touched a nerve. Any balanced comments on the rest of my post?