Post by QPR Report on Jan 28, 2009 8:20:18 GMT
Telegraph - Andrew Baker and John Ley
Premier League crowds to hit 200 million
Somewhere in England on Tuesday night, an unwitting football fan will become the 200 millionth to pass through the turnstiles at a Premier League game.
He or she will be at Portsmouth, Tottenham, Sunderland or West Bromwich Albion. He or she might be a supporter of any of these teams, or a visiting fan of Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke City or Manchester United. He or she might be a Kuwaiti or Abu Dhabian on a shopping trip.
The fact is that the Premier League, their sponsors, Barclays, and their wily public-relations operatives have tried any number of ways to attempt to identify the 200 millionth attendee, but with creditable honesty have concluded that it is not possible.
When similar milestones occur at certain theme parks, members of staff are deployed at the entrances to select suitably photogenic and/or disadvantaged customers to be rewarded with lifetime passes and posing opportunities with sweaty animal-suited employees.
The Premier League have recognised that it is impossible to select the correct customer with four separate sets of turnstiles in operation and the media hovering to expose any set-up.
But they can confidently predict that the unwitting statistical stand-out will be attending one of Tuesday night's matches. Before Tuesday night's four games, the aggregate figure for the Premier League was 199,977,163 and so with only 22,837 required to break the 200 million mark, the milestone will be passed, barring a mass outbreak of plague or apathy.
Since the Premier League began, in 1992, attendances have risen steadily. In the last season of the old First Division, 462 games were watched by 9,989,160 fans. The inaugural season of the Premier League saw that figure drop slightly, to 9,759,809 – shock, presumably – but in 11 of the subsequent 15 campaigns, the figures have increased, even though since the 1995-1996 season there have been fewer games (380).
The 100 million barrier was broken during the 2001-02 season, while last season's total of 13,708,875 was the highest in Premier League history and the best figures for the top division since the 1972-73 season.
But the competition has some way to go to match the post-war record of 17,914,467, set 60 years ago in an era when flat caps and roll-your-own cigarettes were compulsory and good behaviour was enforced by soft-natured police horses.
Whether the numbers will continue to increase remains to be seen; last season's average per game was 36,076 while the average so far this season is slightly lower, at 35,406.
Increased ground capacities and new stadiums have aided the improvement and with clubs such as Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool all planning new, more capacious arenas the figures are set to rise. Attendances may also be boosted by the eventual saturation of the pay-TV market.
The record attendance in the Premier League – and the highest attendance at an all-seat club ground – was in March 2007, when Manchester United attracted 76,098 for their 4-1 win over Blackburn.
The record low, by stark contrast, was set at Wimbledon, then playing at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park, in January 1993, when just 3,039 saw them lose 3-1 to Everton.
One factor which could halt the impressive records is the credit crunch and the growing belief within the game that admission prices are too high. In a recent survey of fans, 30 per cent claimed they would not be renewing their season tickets for next season.
Flashback to 1992...
The Premier League started in August 1992, with 22 clubs including Norwich, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon, Sheffield United, Coventry, Ipswich, Leeds, Southampton, Oldham and Crystal Palace
Alan Shearer was the most expensive player signing for Blackburn from Southampton for a British record of £3.4m.
BSkyB began their grip on TV football with a five-year, £305m deal.
The average Premier League ticket cost between £7 and £16.
Manchester United won the first title, the club’s first for 26 years.
Chelsea’s Ian Porterfield was the only manager sacked during the season. Glenn Hoddle took over.
Nottingham Forest finished bottom and Brian Clough retired after 18 years in charge.
Ryan Giggs won the PFA Young Player of the Year award – and Arsenal’s latest starlet, Jack Wilshere, was born.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/4348942/Premier-League-crowds-to-hit-200-million.html
Premier League crowds to hit 200 million
Somewhere in England on Tuesday night, an unwitting football fan will become the 200 millionth to pass through the turnstiles at a Premier League game.
He or she will be at Portsmouth, Tottenham, Sunderland or West Bromwich Albion. He or she might be a supporter of any of these teams, or a visiting fan of Aston Villa, Fulham, Stoke City or Manchester United. He or she might be a Kuwaiti or Abu Dhabian on a shopping trip.
The fact is that the Premier League, their sponsors, Barclays, and their wily public-relations operatives have tried any number of ways to attempt to identify the 200 millionth attendee, but with creditable honesty have concluded that it is not possible.
When similar milestones occur at certain theme parks, members of staff are deployed at the entrances to select suitably photogenic and/or disadvantaged customers to be rewarded with lifetime passes and posing opportunities with sweaty animal-suited employees.
The Premier League have recognised that it is impossible to select the correct customer with four separate sets of turnstiles in operation and the media hovering to expose any set-up.
But they can confidently predict that the unwitting statistical stand-out will be attending one of Tuesday night's matches. Before Tuesday night's four games, the aggregate figure for the Premier League was 199,977,163 and so with only 22,837 required to break the 200 million mark, the milestone will be passed, barring a mass outbreak of plague or apathy.
Since the Premier League began, in 1992, attendances have risen steadily. In the last season of the old First Division, 462 games were watched by 9,989,160 fans. The inaugural season of the Premier League saw that figure drop slightly, to 9,759,809 – shock, presumably – but in 11 of the subsequent 15 campaigns, the figures have increased, even though since the 1995-1996 season there have been fewer games (380).
The 100 million barrier was broken during the 2001-02 season, while last season's total of 13,708,875 was the highest in Premier League history and the best figures for the top division since the 1972-73 season.
But the competition has some way to go to match the post-war record of 17,914,467, set 60 years ago in an era when flat caps and roll-your-own cigarettes were compulsory and good behaviour was enforced by soft-natured police horses.
Whether the numbers will continue to increase remains to be seen; last season's average per game was 36,076 while the average so far this season is slightly lower, at 35,406.
Increased ground capacities and new stadiums have aided the improvement and with clubs such as Tottenham, Everton and Liverpool all planning new, more capacious arenas the figures are set to rise. Attendances may also be boosted by the eventual saturation of the pay-TV market.
The record attendance in the Premier League – and the highest attendance at an all-seat club ground – was in March 2007, when Manchester United attracted 76,098 for their 4-1 win over Blackburn.
The record low, by stark contrast, was set at Wimbledon, then playing at Crystal Palace's Selhurst Park, in January 1993, when just 3,039 saw them lose 3-1 to Everton.
One factor which could halt the impressive records is the credit crunch and the growing belief within the game that admission prices are too high. In a recent survey of fans, 30 per cent claimed they would not be renewing their season tickets for next season.
Flashback to 1992...
The Premier League started in August 1992, with 22 clubs including Norwich, QPR, Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon, Sheffield United, Coventry, Ipswich, Leeds, Southampton, Oldham and Crystal Palace
Alan Shearer was the most expensive player signing for Blackburn from Southampton for a British record of £3.4m.
BSkyB began their grip on TV football with a five-year, £305m deal.
The average Premier League ticket cost between £7 and £16.
Manchester United won the first title, the club’s first for 26 years.
Chelsea’s Ian Porterfield was the only manager sacked during the season. Glenn Hoddle took over.
Nottingham Forest finished bottom and Brian Clough retired after 18 years in charge.
Ryan Giggs won the PFA Young Player of the Year award – and Arsenal’s latest starlet, Jack Wilshere, was born.
www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/4348942/Premier-League-crowds-to-hit-200-million.html