' BBC SPORT::CARDIFF FANS-WHY ARE THEY STAYING AWAY? '

Published this afternoon:
Sian Branson speaks for the fans

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/34650363

Cardiff City: Why have crowds dwindled despite steady results?

By Dafydd Pritchard
BBC Wales Sport


30/10/2015

Controversy has been a constant at Cardiff City in recent years but, this season, it seems to be apathy which reigns.
After a turbulent few campaigns of rebrands and relegation, the Bluebirds have stabilised on the pitch and currently sit eighth in the Championship table.

Despite a steady start to this term, however, Cardiff City Stadium crowds are dwindling. Only 13,371 watched Cardiff beat Middlesbrough in October, the lowest league attendance at the ground since it opened in 2009.

That was no one-off. Instead, it was symptomatic of a malaise which had seen the previous three games attract gates of 13,980, 13,763 and 13,715. Cardiff had an average crowd of 21,123 last season, while the figure was 27,429 when they were in the Premier League for the 2013-14 campaign. So why, with the team enjoying on-field consistency, are the fans staying away?

'Fair-weather fans'

A large part of supporters' disillusionment can be traced back to the controversial change to a red kit in 2012.
Although Cardiff returned to their traditional blue shirts in January, some fans have boycotted the club since the initial rebrand while others followed suit later.

Cardiff City marked their return to blue with a 1-0 win against Fulham in January 2015
"The red kit had a delayed reaction," says Ben James, a blogger who runs the 'View From The Ninian' podcast.
"Most fans were happy to put up with it as long as success was coming with it but, as soon as that started fading away, most fans lost interest. "Most fans would admit, even when we were in Ninian Park, we've always had floating fans. Fans have always been a bit fair-weather. "When the price freeze [on season tickets] went, a lot of fans took the decision alongside the terrible football and the overriding anger towards [owner] Vincent Tan over the red kit. "It culminated in a perfect storm of two or three seasons which meant a lot of fans turned away from it."
Slade sure of fans' return

If a residual disdain for the rebrand may be difficult to remedy, Cardiff will at least feel they can lure fans back with success. Having lost only once at home this season, promotion remains a realistic aim, with the hope of strengthening in the January transfer window.

Asked about the falling attendances in September, manager Russell Slade was upbeat. "Fans want to see a winning team," he said. "Of course you want more and more numbers to come and watch your team and I'm sure in time, if we continue to progress, they will be there.

Cardiff's FA Cup win against Colchester in January was watched by 4,194 at Cardiff City Stadium
"I think we're playing a decent brand of football. I'm sure they'll come back if we can maintain it."
Cardiff have the third best home record in the Championship this season, but have scored only eight goals in their seven games. As James argues, the lack of entertainment on the pitch has compounded the disenchantment originally caused by off-field issues. For other supporters, the problem lies with the diminishing atmosphere in the stands.
'It's like a school trip to the library'

Cardiff City Stadium was expanded to a capacity of 33,280 in 2014 but, as attendances dropped towards the end of last season, the Bluebirds decided to close the new section for this campaign, reducing the capacity to 27,978.
It was hoped the move would help condense the atmosphere, but some fans claim overly zealous staff at the stadium are spoiling their match-day experience.

As part of the Bluebirds Unite group, Sian Branson played a prominent role in the campaign for Cardiff to return to their blue kit. "It's almost like a school trip to the library. You're constantly being monitored and told what you can and can't do," she says. "That's not down to Vincent Tan," she added. "He and his representatives seem interested in what we have to say.
"The people involved in the day-to-day running don't seem to get it". "The stewards need better training. They're constantly telling people to sit down."Even a Severnside derby against Bristol City failed to rekindle the passion.
A crowd of 15,287 watched a dour 0-0 draw, in stark contrast to the 25,586 present when the teams last met at Cardiff City Stadium in 2013. "We really don't understand why they can't let Cardiff City fans express themselves," adds Branson.
"Even people who've renewed their season tickets don't want to go down there and be treated the way fans are being treated. It's stifling. "I work in Bristol and Bristol City fans at work were asking me 'What's happened to Cardiff City? The atmosphere's gone'.

The BBC has asked Cardiff City if they would like to respond to Branson's comments.

‘on field consistency‘

A delayed reaction is a very good quite, the success papered over the cracks and when a promotion year and Premiership went it's all come crashing down like the perfect Storm that's also been quoted. We can do this to death but the shoots of recovery will take a long time to start growing, and they won't do that until certain things are improved. Even then, it will take some time.

Its because we are not f*cking winning all the time.

Because its about as exciting as a trip to B&Q

Prices and play style.

Or maybe its just because Cardiff aint a big Championship club but more on a par fan wise with Burnley rather than Derby

A lot of fans have waited until now to get their revenge on Tan. Now there is no lure of a price freeze or Premiership football, many fans have taken this opportunity not to attend.
This is the first time in ages that Tan needs the fans. To lose 10000 fans in 2 seasons for that Bristol derby says it all.
I can't see it changing either....not for a long time if we stay in this league and Tan stays.

A lot of fans have waited until now to get their revenge on Tan. Now there is no lure of a price freeze or Premiership football, many fans have taken this opportunity not to attend.
This is the first time in ages that Tan needs the fans. To lose 10000 fans in 2 seasons for that Bristol derby says it all.
I can't see it changing either....not for a long time if we stay in this league and Tan stays.

No problem then we cut cloth to suite championship!

a few people I know have told me the reason they don't go as it's not value for money they said the football we play is dire to watch they said they would rather just spend the money in a pub and watch sky sports

Fair weather fans like Sian is one of the problems finding convenient martyr "reasons" against going.

We have always been shit, since when was success a prerequisite ?

One Word, SLADE.

At least she is getting across in the important media outlets the frustration and disengagement Cardiff fans presently have. Well done to her I say

1/ The after effects of the re brand
2/ The constant spin the club constantly use.
3/ The way the fans are treated. The away fans are treated like royalty but us home fans get threatened with ejection from the ground if we even dare to look at the away fans.
4/ Slade and his brand of football is damn boring to watch.

At home. Local derby.Goals - nil
Attempts on goal in entire 90+ minutes - nil
An overly defensive minded coach who hasn't got a clue about how or when to change things when they're clearly not working.

(I'd use manager, but the only thing I saw him manage to do on Sky was stick his finger up his nose).

If the football is good and fans can see We're heading back in the right direction of course they're gonna come back

a few people I know have told me the reason they don't go as it's not value for money they said the football we play is dire to watch they said they would rather just spend the money in a pub and watch sky sports

Exactly.
Very little passion or desire to fight for the shirt shown by management or the players.

At home. Local derby.Goals - nil
Attempts on goal in entire 90+ minutes - nil
An overly defensive minded coach who hasn't got a clue about how or when to change things when they're clearly not working.

(I'd use manager, but the only thing I saw him manage to do on Sky was stick his finger up his nose).

think slades got inside People's heads with quotes like ´were going through a transitional period´ its all a load of bollocks all matters on strong mentalitys and belief in the team

At home. Local derby.Goals - nil
Attempts on goal in entire 90+ minutes - nil
An overly defensive minded coach who hasn't got a clue about how or when to change things when they're clearly not working.

(I'd use manager, but the only thing I saw him manage to do on Sky was stick his finger up his nose).

think slades got inside People's heads with quotes like ´were going through a transitional period´ its all a load of bollocks all matters on strong mentalitys and belief in the team

Sian Branson speaks for the fans

not reading

I love it when other people think they can speak for me

I love it when other people think they can speak for me

No Sian is mainly speaking for herself but she is correct in what she says. But no matter if you like her or not she has a way of getting her statements out to an effect no one else can. She makes those listen in the media so for that I'm glad. And for me the way our own fans are treated is a disgrace. The club have gone all out to destroy our atmosphere and they have done it. It's about time it's being told as it is. 116 is a joke now Stewards acting like the gestapo as per orders from above. And they like to pick on fans that won't say boo to a goose as well. I have seen myself Stewards threatening some fans with ejection if they even look at the away fans. It's pathetic so well done to Sian. In fact she needs to tell the whole truth about the bullying by the Club.

Dire football with absolutely no fire and passion being displayed by either the players or the so called manager, our fans are no longer appreciated as fans, there is absolutely no atmosphere and nothing coming from the field to inspire anyone to sing , over zealous stewards who kill any atmosphere or attempts to create one.
If all this carries on home attendances will be ten thousand. Then this Club will be forced into action but it will be too little, too late for thousands of us.

I,ve stopped going.Season ticket holder for 10 years plus.Done all the long midweek away games etc.

Aint enjoyed it at all in the new stadium,but stuck with it although when Slade turned up,that was it. Watched the Bristol game but hearing the pathetic drummer,turned the sound off.Just dont find modern football enjoyable,so would rather go to the pub.

I still go, though its the first time in about 20 years i havent renewed my season ticket.
I am so lucky that i watched City through the late 80's, and 90's.
Every game was an occasion. The football was often dire but it was about the laughs, music and clothes for me. And spending days with your mates. It all seems stale and diluted these days.

As far as i can gather Sian Branson is an attention seeker who has no interest in football just looks for reasons to knock the club and excuses not to go.

Oh and she doesn't speak for me

not much for the club to do based on this then..............sack slade, replace most of the team, sack stewards, reduce prices, get rid of tan, play a great brand of football, change atmosphere etc......

Truth is, if we were top of league after xmas, we' get 25k with season ticket deals. We have had our worst two seasons in the last 12 years and people have voted with their feet. All about results at end of day - people are just looking for excuses.

Tan could change us back to red and give Slade the job for life - if we went back up, do you seriously think we will only have 14k

As far as i can gather Sian Branson is an attention seeker who has no interest in football just looks for reasons to knock the club and excuses not to go.

Oh and she doesn't speak for me

She doesn't say she is speaking for you Chief. No she doesn't go very much but she knows how to get her points across in a way we don't. And yes I share her gripes

Changing back to blue was in hope that the crowds would return, that hasn't happened so what would you say if VT's mother says to change it back red?

Changing back to blue was in hope that the crowds would return, that hasn't happened so what would you say if VT's mother says to change it back red?

That won't happen and we all know that Tans mum was a front for return to blue.

Crowds will return if football on display is attractive to watch or if the club are in top 6/7 in Feb/March.

The club needs to review its pricing policy for next season as well. If we did a Bradford and charged 200 quid for adults, 100 quid OAPs and students and 50 quid for kids then we would sell 18-20,000 season tickets.