Next Stop 5,000

[JTW]

We got a lot of funny looks when we said we wanted to double home crowds to over 4,000 at the start of the season, but thanks the the collective efforts of every single Shrimps fan who has got involved we’ve managed to do just that. I can’t recall a football club doing what we’ve all done together over the last 12 months and, for all the challenges along the way (and there have been plenty!), it’s been an incredible journey so far.

We’re a long way from being done though, and we have to kick on and aim even higher to truly be competitive and sustainable at L1 level. That’s why we need to strive for at least 5,000 next season. There are 175,000 people in ‘our’ area, if we can collectively get just another 1% of them engaged with what we’re doing then we’ll smash the 5,000 target.

So, if you’ve got mates, family, colleagues or just know people who would enjoy being part of Morecambe FC, whether they’re in Garstang, Shap, Grange, Sedbergh or anywhere else, please tell them about this:
https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2022/a ... ecambe-fc/

This is about Morecambe Football Club fulfilling its potential, it’s about bringing the whole community together and it’s about achieving more than was thought possible. The more people who can share in that across the whole of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria area the better.

[marky No.1]

Nice one James, if we can keep our L1 status starting at Cambridge today, we will need a new North Stand

[JTW]

Nice one James, if we can keep our L1 status starting at Cambridge today, we will need a new North Stand

First let’s fill the stadium and properly establish ourselves at this level, then we can plan the next phase!

[marky No.1]

Nice one James, if we can keep our L1 status starting at Cambridge today, we will need a new North Stand

First let’s fill the stadium and properly establish ourselves at this level, then we can plan the next phase!

Indeed, there were probably only 20 seats available yesterday in the main stand for Pompey, but from the camera position looking in, there will be 200 empty seats, frustrating for those who can't stand

Keep up the good work

[Keith]

Indeed, there were probably only 20 seats available yesterday in the main stand for Pompey, but from the camera position looking in, there will be 200 empty seats, frustrating for those who can't stand

I wonder if we could put a couple of giant flags over the 'restricted view' seats that are never used? That would look better. Even get a company to make & provide their own giant flag and pay for the *HUGE* advert?

[BerlinWaller]

Brilliant effort by the Board which has brought this football club up off its knees. It is amazing seeing over 4k at games and the noise the young fans make is unreal. Morecambe is a proper football town now.

[Gone_Shrimping]

We got a lot of funny looks when we said we wanted to double home crowds to over 4,000 at the start of the season, but thanks the the collective efforts of every single Shrimps fan who has got involved we’ve managed to do just that. I can’t recall a football club doing what we’ve all done together over the last 12 months and, for all the challenges along the way (and there have been plenty!), it’s been an incredible journey so far.

We’re a long way from being done though, and we have to kick on and aim even higher to truly be competitive and sustainable at L1 level. That’s why we need to strive for at least 5,000 next season. There are 175,000 people in ‘our’ area, if we can collectively get just another 1% of them engaged with what we’re doing then we’ll smash the 5,000 target.

So, if you’ve got mates, family, colleagues or just know people who would enjoy being part of Morecambe FC, whether they’re in Garstang, Shap, Grange, Sedbergh or anywhere else, please tell them about this:
https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2022/a ... ecambe-fc/

This is about Morecambe Football Club fulfilling its potential, it’s about bringing the whole community together and it’s about achieving more than was thought possible. The more people who can share in that across the whole of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria area the better.

James , if we achieve 5,000 season ticket holders there will have to be an enlargement of the away end so that it has the same capacity as the home end. Also the open side will need enlarging if 5,000 season ticket holders are going to be accommodated. Are there any realistic plans along these lines for the Summer ?

[Martin]

We got a lot of funny looks when we said we wanted to double home crowds to over 4,000 at the start of the season, but thanks the the collective efforts of every single Shrimps fan who has got involved we’ve managed to do just that. I can’t recall a football club doing what we’ve all done together over the last 12 months and, for all the challenges along the way (and there have been plenty!), it’s been an incredible journey so far.

We’re a long way from being done though, and we have to kick on and aim even higher to truly be competitive and sustainable at L1 level. That’s why we need to strive for at least 5,000 next season. There are 175,000 people in ‘our’ area, if we can collectively get just another 1% of them engaged with what we’re doing then we’ll smash the 5,000 target.

So, if you’ve got mates, family, colleagues or just know people who would enjoy being part of Morecambe FC, whether they’re in Garstang, Shap, Grange, Sedbergh or anywhere else, please tell them about this:
https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2022/a ... ecambe-fc/

This is about Morecambe Football Club fulfilling its potential, it’s about bringing the whole community together and it’s about achieving more than was thought possible. The more people who can share in that across the whole of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria area the better.

James , if we achieve 5,000 season ticket holders there will have to be an enlargement of the away end so that it has the same capacity as the home end. Also the open side will need enlarging if 5,000 season ticket holders are going to be accommodated. Are there any realistic plans along these lines for the Summer ?

I don't think James is talking about achieving 5000 season ticket holders; just increasing the number of ticket holders to bring the average attendance to over 5000 (including away supporters etc.). If we achieved that number of season ticket holders we'd not just need to enlarge areas but completely rebuild the ground.

[redrobo]

Indeed, there were probably only 20 seats available yesterday in the main stand for Pompey, but from the camera position looking in, there will be 200 empty seats, frustrating for those who can't stand

I wonder if we could put a couple of giant flags over the 'restricted view' seats that are never used? That would look better. Even get a company to make & provide their own giant flag and pay for the *HUGE* advert?

Brilliant suggestion Keith.

I'd like to see a giant club badge on the giant flags to make up for the loss of lettering on the stand seats that we see at other clubs.

It would give the stand a superb look and identify who we are ....

Is this a project that the Trust could get involved in...even utilizing their own logo...

[Cisco Kid]

I have seen with dismay so many matches this season where Season Ticket Holders (STH) have simply not turned up and large numbers of seats have remained empty, which could have been sold. From where I stand it looks as though our support is poor in the seated area where the reality is that there is a demand for those empty seats. I understand that it is difficult to resell a seat if you dont know whether the STH is going to turn up, but why not sell the restricted view seats on the proviso that if there are empty seats after kick off they could move to them?

Why not create a system where the STH could inform the club they were notaatending so they could resell and maybe split the resale with the STH?

[Redalert1970]

We must stay in league 1 to average 5,000 next year

That would not happen in league 2

[JTW]

We got a lot of funny looks when we said we wanted to double home crowds to over 4,000 at the start of the season, but thanks the the collective efforts of every single Shrimps fan who has got involved we’ve managed to do just that. I can’t recall a football club doing what we’ve all done together over the last 12 months and, for all the challenges along the way (and there have been plenty!), it’s been an incredible journey so far.

We’re a long way from being done though, and we have to kick on and aim even higher to truly be competitive and sustainable at L1 level. That’s why we need to strive for at least 5,000 next season. There are 175,000 people in ‘our’ area, if we can collectively get just another 1% of them engaged with what we’re doing then we’ll smash the 5,000 target.

So, if you’ve got mates, family, colleagues or just know people who would enjoy being part of Morecambe FC, whether they’re in Garstang, Shap, Grange, Sedbergh or anywhere else, please tell them about this:
https://www.morecambefc.com/news/2022/a ... ecambe-fc/

This is about Morecambe Football Club fulfilling its potential, it’s about bringing the whole community together and it’s about achieving more than was thought possible. The more people who can share in that across the whole of the North Lancashire and South Cumbria area the better.

James , if we achieve 5,000 season ticket holders there will have to be an enlargement of the away end so that it has the same capacity as the home end. Also the open side will need enlarging if 5,000 season ticket holders are going to be accommodated. Are there any realistic plans along these lines for the Summer ?

I don't think James is talking about achieving 5000 season ticket holders; just increasing the number of ticket holders to bring the average attendance to over 5000 (including away supporters etc.). If we achieved that number of season ticket holders we'd not just need to enlarge areas but completely rebuild the ground.

Correct, let’s get the average attendance to 5,000 first, and then we can think about what’s needed. It wasn’t long ago that an average of 3,000 seemed like the moon, so one step at a time!

[JTW]

I have seen with dismay so many matches this season where Season Ticket Holders (STH) have simply not turned up and large numbers of seats have remained empty, which could have been sold. From where I stand it looks as though our support is poor in the seated area where the reality is that there is a demand for those empty seats. I understand that it is difficult to resell a seat if you dont know whether the STH is going to turn up, but why not sell the restricted view seats on the proviso that if there are empty seats after kick off they could move to them?

Why not create a system where the STH could inform the club they were notaatending so they could resell and maybe split the resale with the STH?

This is the reason for the increase in U14 prices. They were so low this season that it was a no-brainer for many to buy them along with their adult tickets. We know now that just 30% of U14 ST holders have attended regularly, which is the main reason for the empty seats, even at the biggest games. You could call this a lack of foresight, but we’ve learned from it.

We’re not blind to the fact that this necessary increase in price will hit the families of the 30% who have attended regularly, which is which is why U14 ST holders next season will get an MFC bag and Terrace T-shirt, along with invites to special junior ST holder events. In addition the price per game for regular U14 attendees will still only be £2 for standing and £3 for sitting.

[JTW]

Indeed, there were probably only 20 seats available yesterday in the main stand for Pompey, but from the camera position looking in, there will be 200 empty seats, frustrating for those who can't stand

I wonder if we could put a couple of giant flags over the 'restricted view' seats that are never used? That would look better. Even get a company to make & provide their own giant flag and pay for the *HUGE* advert?

Brilliant suggestion Keith.

I'd like to see a giant club badge on the giant flags to make up for the loss of lettering on the stand seats that we see at other clubs.

It would give the stand a superb look and identify who we are ....

Is this a project that the Trust could get involved in...even utilizing their own logo...

Well worth us looking into, along with the other ideas in this thread, cheers!

[KenH]

I have seen with dismay so many matches this season where Season Ticket Holders (STH) have simply not turned up and large numbers of seats have remained empty, which could have been sold. From where I stand it looks as though our support is poor in the seated area where the reality is that there is a demand for those empty seats. I understand that it is difficult to resell a seat if you dont know whether the STH is going to turn up, but why not sell the restricted view seats on the proviso that if there are empty seats after kick off they could move to them?

Why not create a system where the STH could inform the club they were notaatending so they could resell and maybe split the resale with the STH?

Another issue is that the club no longer allow seated season ticket holders to "swap" for a standing ticket instead, i.e. when they want to stand with friends/family on an ad-hoc basis who are casual fans. I used to just go and ask Graham in the club shop to swap and he'd print a standing ticket, (and presumably cancel my seated ST for that game and make it available to re-sell).

Under the new regime since last Summer, I've tried a couple of times to do the same and have been told it's not allowed anymore (by different people), so I've ended up buying a standing ticket to stand with friends which has left my seat empty and unsellable!

So it's not all about the £20 child tickets.

[JTW]

I have seen with dismay so many matches this season where Season Ticket Holders (STH) have simply not turned up and large numbers of seats have remained empty, which could have been sold. From where I stand it looks as though our support is poor in the seated area where the reality is that there is a demand for those empty seats. I understand that it is difficult to resell a seat if you dont know whether the STH is going to turn up, but why not sell the restricted view seats on the proviso that if there are empty seats after kick off they could move to them?

Why not create a system where the STH could inform the club they were notaatending so they could resell and maybe split the resale with the STH?

Another issue is that the club no longer allow seated season ticket holders to "swap" for a standing ticket instead, i.e. when they want to stand with friends/family on an ad-hoc basis who are casual fans. I used to just go and ask Graham in the club shop to swap and he'd print a standing ticket, (and presumably cancel my seated ST for that game and make it available to re-sell).

Under the new regime since last Summer, I've tried a couple of times to do the same and have been told it's not allowed anymore (by different people), so I've ended up buying a standing ticket to stand with friends which has left my seat empty and unsellable!

So it's not all about the £20 child tickets.

Noted, they were just the single factor causing the biggest proportion of no-shows. We’re looking into the others too, but it’s not as easy to come up with quick fixes as it was when we had lower attendances generally.

Not the worst problem to have.

[Redalert1970]

To be honest guys it all depends what league we are in next season

Sunderland at home or Sutton at home
Portsmouth at home or Harrogate at home

Nothing against the smaller clubs but teams like Sunderland, Portsmouth and Sheffield wed etc will always be a bigger attraction

[Wild Bill]

Not really sure we can grow attendances more without expanding the stadium. With the reduced capacity of the away and seats lost to segregation and restricted view we can't have a capacity of more than 5500. We definitely need more seats and I would say most new fans would prefer to sit, particularly those with children or OAPs. My Dad started coming to a few games pre-covid but hasn't been all season due to limited seats and generally not wanting to be in an overcrowded place. Watching from the home end has also been a challenge this season. I am over six foot but getting a view is now tricky. The steps are narrow and not very high. Squeezing an extra few hundred in would make this worse and there's also limited space behind the goal and chaotic queuing etc.

Sorry if this sounds negative. It's not but I think the ground does need some immediate investment and I think as a long term investment it will be worth it whatever division we play in.

[marky No.1]

Not really sure we can grow attendances more without expanding the stadium. With the reduced capacity of the away and seats lost to segregation and restricted view we can't have a capacity of more than 5500. We definitely need more seats and I would say most new fans would prefer to sit, particularly those with children or OAPs. My Dad started coming to a few games pre-covid but hasn't been all season due to limited seats and generally not wanting to be in an overcrowded place. Watching from the home end has also been a challenge this season. I am over six foot but getting a view is now tricky. The steps are narrow and not very high. Squeezing an extra few hundred in would make this worse and there's also limited space behind the goal and chaotic queuing etc.

Sorry if this sounds negative. It's not but I think the ground does need some immediate investment and I think as a long term investment it will be worth it whatever division we play in.

Nice one James, if we can keep our L1 status starting at Cambridge today, we will need a new North Stand

First let’s fill the stadium and properly establish ourselves at this level, then we can plan the next phase!

[Andy D]

something like this going from the community block all the way down doing away with Kiosk and Toilets with a split turnstiles on the corner of the home end with Toilets etc around there instead.

something like 6 deep by 150 wide = 900 seated capacity

[Old Man Kensey]

Like the idea of covered seating down that side. What is the current standing capacity for that side? If it's more than 900 that would actually reduce the overall capacity of the ground.

Can't help thinking though that the place should of been built right in the first place.

[redrobo]

Like the idea of covered seating down that side. What is the current standing capacity for that side? If it's more than 900 that would actually reduce the overall capacity of the ground.

Can't help thinking though that the place should of been built right in the first place.

There is a major problem in that the Community Block would stop any development from going completely down the Berlin Wall. Partially no problem but it would have to stop long before it came close to the Community Block due to the restricted viewing any stand would have thanks to the idiotic positioning of the Block in the first place.

Just another example of the design of that side affecting future development. Surley when it was designed the Architects realized this or was PMcG so hell bent on having the Block irrespective of its future problem in any future expansion plan.

Will never happen but knock the thing down and start again.....sorry Mr Fury....

[Old Man Kensey]

Like the idea of covered seating down that side. What is the current standing capacity for that side? If it's more than 900 that would actually reduce the overall capacity of the ground.

Can't help thinking though that the place should of been built right in the first place.

There is a major problem in that the Community Block would stop any development from going completely down the Berlin Wall. Partially no problem but it would have to stop long before it came close to the Community Block due to the restricted viewing any stand would have thanks to the idiotic positioning of the Block in the first place.

Just another example of the design of that side affecting future development. Surley when it was designed the Architects realized this or was PMcG so hell bent on having the Block irrespective of its future problem in any future expansion plan.

Will never happen but knock the thing down and start again.....sorry Mr Fury....

It is frustrating. The cover behind the home end doesn't look like it will be completed this season, I take it that the lampost is causing the issue?

[BerlinWaller]

I hate the thought of putting seats on The Berlin Wall. I prefer it as a terrace but wouldn't object to a roof being put up.

[Wild Bill]

Not really sure we can grow attendances more without expanding the stadium. With the reduced capacity of the away and seats lost to segregation and restricted view we can't have a capacity of more than 5500. We definitely need more seats and I would say most new fans would prefer to sit, particularly those with children or OAPs. My Dad started coming to a few games pre-covid but hasn't been all season due to limited seats and generally not wanting to be in an overcrowded place. Watching from the home end has also been a challenge this season. I am over six foot but getting a view is now tricky. The steps are narrow and not very high. Squeezing an extra few hundred in would make this worse and there's also limited space behind the goal and chaotic queuing etc.

Sorry if this sounds negative. It's not but I think the ground does need some immediate investment and I think as a long term investment it will be worth it whatever division we play in.

Nice one James, if we can keep our L1 status starting at Cambridge today, we will need a new North Stand

First let’s fill the stadium and properly establish ourselves at this level, then we can plan the next phase!

My point is the current ground already has its limitations. It feels pretty full now the home areas with 3000+ and isn't like a modern all seater that was designed to cope with capacity crowds.

More seats are a must for me. We have limited options though. Maybe we could look to put a second tier over the Berlin Wall. This wouldn't be cheap and you have space issues with Tyson owning the community block and land behind the terrace. Another option is to have something in the corners or even look to sell the current away blocks to home fans and add some away seating at the front of the away terrace or bolt some on half the Berlin Wall?