' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 6:37 am
Cardiff City should throw the doors open to the next generation of supporters for free - Scott Johnson
26/09-15
By Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson argues it makes sense to reach out to the next generation of supporters, especially when you currently have swathes of empty seats
At present, everyone has their own opinion as to why attendances at the Cardiff City Stadium are so poor. Russell Slade, ugly football and steep ticket prices have all been mooted as possible explanations, but in my opinion, I think the situation is primarily due to the legacy of the rebrand and the end of the price freeze.
Plenty of possible solutions have been suggested too, ranging from the sensible to the slightly bonkers. Everyone wants their ground to be rocking on a match day like it is at Selhurst Park and I’m sure it would prove a draw for some stay away fans, but Crystal Palace supporters created that environment from scratch. A football club can facilitate that sort of movement, but it’s up to fans to create and cultivate the atmosphere.
It was not supposed to be like this. The return to blue was supposed to be a quick fix and make everything harmonious and united, like it used to be. Unfortunately, promotion or finding a way to clone a team of Fabios aside, there are no quick fixes, only incremental steps.
Read more: How Anthony Pilkington put Republic of Ireland dreams on hold to secure his Cardiff City future
It took a lot of work behind the scenes, over a number of years for the Welsh national side to become an overnight success and their ascent is something that Cardiff should be seeking to emulate.
In many respects, Cardiff have a lot going for them. A brand new stadium, an impressive squad and a kit (finally) worth buying. The manager may be unpopular, but the truth is that he hasn’t done a lot wrong since being appointed. He inherited an unenviable task and has kept the team competitive, while also keeping his cool amid excessive criticism.
The club appear to be operating in a more sensible manner and are trying their best to build bridges, but it will take a long time for the trust of the masses to return. But the fact remains, Cardiff are playing in front of attendances of around 13,000 in a stadium that has room for 20,000 more.
So why not throw the doors open to the next generation of supporters with free tickets for kids, anywhere in the ground?
Cardiff have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. Last season, the club offered free tickets to schools for the final game of the season, a game which I attended with my family. I have taken my kids plenty of times in the past, but for all of us to attend together was a treat as ordinarily it would prove too expensive.
Cardiff currently price tickets for juniors fairly competitively and also offer a £699 family season ticket. But Birmingham City offer free season tickets for under-11s, while Blackburn allow under-eights free access in their family stand. Derby are advertising free under-12 tickets, MK Dons too, while QPR admit free under-eights if accompanied by a full-paying adult.
Football has an aging demographic, so it makes sense to reach out to the next generation of supporters, especially when you currently have swathes of empty seats.
In Turkey, the domestic league has experienced significant problems with violence and match fixing in recent years. Rather than make teams play fixtures behind closed doors, they have introduced an initiative where teams instead allow only women and children to attend specified fixtures. It may seem like a pretty tame punishment, but it has proved to be a roaring success and these games are always packed out.
Read more: The most iconic Cardiff City pictures ever! 20 pictures that tell the story of the Bluebirds' history
The other function of these particular fixtures is that it generates great PR for a league that is in desperate need of some positive coverage. Cardiff do not have the same need for some kind words, but the name of the club has certainly been dragged through the mud in recent years. Packing the place out with kids would certainly generate national attention and make them the envy of the Football League.
Cardiff have already created a demand for one of their products this year, whether by accident or design, by making their third kit only available to sponsors. Ordinarily, you would not expect this striped ensemble to generate much interest, but by making it something of a collectors item, it will make some people crave it.
It is human nature to want what you can’t have. If people start missing out due to high demand, as is currently the case with Welsh international fixtures, they won’t make the same mistake twice and will ensure they book in advance in future.
With a brand new stand currently covered over, surely it would be better to circulate tickets among schools in Cardiff and the surrounding areas in order to pack it out? There may be no short-term monetary gain, but even if a small percentage of those that attend become fans as a result, the exercise would make business sense as well as common sense.
26/09-15
By Scott Johnson
Scott Johnson argues it makes sense to reach out to the next generation of supporters, especially when you currently have swathes of empty seats
At present, everyone has their own opinion as to why attendances at the Cardiff City Stadium are so poor. Russell Slade, ugly football and steep ticket prices have all been mooted as possible explanations, but in my opinion, I think the situation is primarily due to the legacy of the rebrand and the end of the price freeze.
Plenty of possible solutions have been suggested too, ranging from the sensible to the slightly bonkers. Everyone wants their ground to be rocking on a match day like it is at Selhurst Park and I’m sure it would prove a draw for some stay away fans, but Crystal Palace supporters created that environment from scratch. A football club can facilitate that sort of movement, but it’s up to fans to create and cultivate the atmosphere.
It was not supposed to be like this. The return to blue was supposed to be a quick fix and make everything harmonious and united, like it used to be. Unfortunately, promotion or finding a way to clone a team of Fabios aside, there are no quick fixes, only incremental steps.
Read more: How Anthony Pilkington put Republic of Ireland dreams on hold to secure his Cardiff City future
It took a lot of work behind the scenes, over a number of years for the Welsh national side to become an overnight success and their ascent is something that Cardiff should be seeking to emulate.
In many respects, Cardiff have a lot going for them. A brand new stadium, an impressive squad and a kit (finally) worth buying. The manager may be unpopular, but the truth is that he hasn’t done a lot wrong since being appointed. He inherited an unenviable task and has kept the team competitive, while also keeping his cool amid excessive criticism.
The club appear to be operating in a more sensible manner and are trying their best to build bridges, but it will take a long time for the trust of the masses to return. But the fact remains, Cardiff are playing in front of attendances of around 13,000 in a stadium that has room for 20,000 more.
So why not throw the doors open to the next generation of supporters with free tickets for kids, anywhere in the ground?
Cardiff have absolutely nothing to lose and everything to gain. Last season, the club offered free tickets to schools for the final game of the season, a game which I attended with my family. I have taken my kids plenty of times in the past, but for all of us to attend together was a treat as ordinarily it would prove too expensive.
Cardiff currently price tickets for juniors fairly competitively and also offer a £699 family season ticket. But Birmingham City offer free season tickets for under-11s, while Blackburn allow under-eights free access in their family stand. Derby are advertising free under-12 tickets, MK Dons too, while QPR admit free under-eights if accompanied by a full-paying adult.
Football has an aging demographic, so it makes sense to reach out to the next generation of supporters, especially when you currently have swathes of empty seats.
In Turkey, the domestic league has experienced significant problems with violence and match fixing in recent years. Rather than make teams play fixtures behind closed doors, they have introduced an initiative where teams instead allow only women and children to attend specified fixtures. It may seem like a pretty tame punishment, but it has proved to be a roaring success and these games are always packed out.
Read more: The most iconic Cardiff City pictures ever! 20 pictures that tell the story of the Bluebirds' history
The other function of these particular fixtures is that it generates great PR for a league that is in desperate need of some positive coverage. Cardiff do not have the same need for some kind words, but the name of the club has certainly been dragged through the mud in recent years. Packing the place out with kids would certainly generate national attention and make them the envy of the Football League.
Cardiff have already created a demand for one of their products this year, whether by accident or design, by making their third kit only available to sponsors. Ordinarily, you would not expect this striped ensemble to generate much interest, but by making it something of a collectors item, it will make some people crave it.
It is human nature to want what you can’t have. If people start missing out due to high demand, as is currently the case with Welsh international fixtures, they won’t make the same mistake twice and will ensure they book in advance in future.
With a brand new stand currently covered over, surely it would be better to circulate tickets among schools in Cardiff and the surrounding areas in order to pack it out? There may be no short-term monetary gain, but even if a small percentage of those that attend become fans as a result, the exercise would make business sense as well as common sense.
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:30 am
A good article and just basic common sense, couldn't agree more with this but these ideas need to come to fruition and in big numbers. Maybe it's to late this year but next year CCFC should follow the lead of the Welsh FA and offer kids season tickets for as little as £4.50 a match. I bought my stepson one, had it been expensive I wouldn't have done so. It works and as pointed out we have a lot in our favour and must focus on the positives 
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:32 am
I still maintain the Rick Wrights £1 a match for kids brought a generation of fans to the club from the 80's
I should know I was one of them!
I should know I was one of them!
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:33 am
Great idea
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 7:40 am
cardiffblue74 wrote:I still maintain the Rick Wrights £1 a match for kids brought a generation of fans to the club from the 80's
I should know I was one of them!
This was one of the best idea ever.
However hearing a bunch of school kids sing "here we go here we go" made me laugh more than get the passion going.
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 8:05 am
Spot on!
Kids for a quid gets them in the door and hopefully they get hooked on the experience. Revenue through kit sales and refreshments will soon start to come in.
Kids for a quid gets them in the door and hopefully they get hooked on the experience. Revenue through kit sales and refreshments will soon start to come in.
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 11:54 am
Stringfellow wrote:A good article and just basic common sense, couldn't agree more with this but these ideas need to come to fruition and in big numbers. Maybe it's to late this year but next year CCFC should follow the lead of the Welsh FA and offer kids season tickets for as little as £4.50 a match. I bought my stepson one, had it been expensive I wouldn't have done so. It works and as pointed out we have a lot in our favour and must focus on the positives
Agreed. Bringing in the kids is the way forwards, but loyalty to the club and team also has to be rewarded. Season tickets have got to be affordable to reach out to the regular loyal fans and to attract new fans. Kids for a quid on a match by match basis is a really sensible idea, but it has got to be in tandem with cheaper and affordable season tickets to promote loyalty for the future. The club would no doubt be better off over the course of the season by filling up the empty seats, attracting a new fan base and generating revenues in the club shop, and bars etc.
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 1:20 pm
Probably needed, but makes the atmosphere even worse IMO.
It's transition time with the old fans bored and leaving in their droves, we probably do need to be replaced with more happy clappy fans and stupid goal music and drums and cardboard clappers...........
It's transition time with the old fans bored and leaving in their droves, we probably do need to be replaced with more happy clappy fans and stupid goal music and drums and cardboard clappers...........
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 5:28 pm
Think Scott Johnson follows our forum. I said in the Ken Choo Interview thread last Thursday that we should be targeting schools with Free Tickets to build on our Fan Base. Anyway let's hope they listen.
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sat Sep 26, 2015 10:11 pm
Stringfellow wrote:A good article and just basic common sense, couldn't agree more with this but these ideas need to come to fruition and in big numbers. Maybe it's to late this year but next year CCFC should follow the lead of the Welsh FA and offer kids season tickets for as little as £4.50 a match. I bought my stepson one, had it been expensive I wouldn't have done so. It works and as pointed out we have a lot in our favour and must focus on the positives
You do realise a kids season ticket in family stand works out at £3 a game don't you?
I don't agree with giving away free tickets for anyone, takes the piss out of people who have paid up front to be at games
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sun Sep 27, 2015 10:33 am
£17 for my 8 yr old girl yesterday in grandstand. Bit steep I think
Re: ' CARDIFF CITY SHOULD OPEN TO THE NEXT GENERATION '
Sun Sep 27, 2015 3:51 pm
Scott Johnson who is this guy, is this the one that wanted fans to protest while he sat in a bar away from the ground a few season ago 