4000 empty seats at griffin Park today..........................

[MrFrost]

That's because that's what was sent to the ticket office. The stand holds 1700 and we didn't come close to filling it.

The Brentford stand holds 1800 and we have almost sold it out

[RedJ]

Crewe didn't release more tickets, we just didn't come close to selling out.

But when I bought my ticket on Friday they said there was 90-something left, and on the day they made 630-something available on the day...

Doesn't matter anyway.

90 something of the initial allocation.

[hoolahoop]

 

[normal rules]

We let 4000 Leeds fans in. No problem with that.

Difference is, we were never going to fill the stadium against Leeds. Brentford have shown already this season, when there is a big game they will fill the stadium (Chelsea in the cup).

If it is a winner takes all on the final day, they will have fans clambering for tickets the same way we are. What is our average away following this season? Probably 7-800? (I am guessing), yet you suddenly want Brentford to give us up to 5,000 tickets because they had empty seats on Saturday.

I would hope that if it is winner takes all, the Football League Show would have the decency to step out of the championship and feature a League One game as the main game. That way, those not going, will get a live stream on the internet.

Have Rovers not thought about doing a live feed at the Keepmoat? Lots of clubs do it.

At what point have i demanded 5000 tickets? Rovers would never take that. 1800 simply is not enough. I would expect if the allocation allowed then there would be 2500 rovers supporters there. A block or two of the adjacent stand is all that would be needed.
Mark my words, there will be empty seats there and rovers supporters will be rightly complaining about it afterwards. Not that it will change anything.

[hoolahoop]

Look fella , I'll lay my cards on the table. There are many fighting for tickets and financing this away weekend generally that probably won't be supporting the club the week before and that worries me .
Seems to me that in excess of 2000 supporters are wanting to pay a lot to see this game whilst stating in another thread that they can't afford the game at home the week before where the club truly needs your money and your support.
Please remember that trhe Brentford game could be made far less relevant if we lose the week before.
This thread doesn't support the argument on other threads that quite simply we can't get bigger attendances at home for financial reasons.
on one hand we're fighting for tickets and long expensive, away trips to the ''smoke'' whilst on the other hand saying that we can't afford games in our own stadium.........IT DOESN'T TALLY. 

[IDM]

normal rules, each club allocates a certain percentage to away fans, there is no mandate to offer more.  Brentford has a small stadium compared to others.

Hoola, Brentford for many, will be a "novelty" in that many will have never gone before, never mind it could be a title decider.  We can go to the KM 23+ times a season, it's not about supporting our club financially, it's about the event.  Folks are hoping that Brentford away is going to be a great "event" - potentially an "I was there" moment for many years to come.

[IDM]

Also Hoola, folks who want to go to Brentford need to buy tickets before we know the Notts Co result and the promotion situation after that game.

I got my Crewe ticket before the Carlisle result.  Now, I went to the Carlisle game too but had I missed it to save my money for Crewe, which if results had been different could have been our promotion decider, would I have been wrong?

If we end up in the play offs, is it wrong to sacrifice attending the home semi to save money for attendance - perhaps with extra family - at the final?

I get where you are coming from in respect of supporting the team at home, and the financial benefits, but folks can't afford every game.

Choosing which game to attend selectively, if that means away and not at home, does tally IMHO.

[hoolahoop]

normal rules, each club allocates a certain percentage to away fans, there is no mandate to offer more.  Brentford has a small stadium compared to others.

Hoola, Brentford for many, will be a "novelty" in that many will have never gone before, never mind it could be a title decider.  We can go to the KM 23+ times a season, it's not about supporting our club financially, it's about the event.  Folks are hoping that Brentford away is going to be a great "event" - potentially an "I was there" moment for many years to come.

I realise that many think this could be the big one again but not unless the lads are sung home first in the last home game of the season where it could well be make or break before Brentford.......it';s that tight.
I just hope that we can get as many as possible into the KM to give those going to Brentford a day to remember for all the right reasons.

[IDM]

I'll be at the KM on Saturday, hoping to see a win which could see us promoted.  I would have gone to Brentford too but I can't.  I just hope it is a celebratory party for those who go, where the result won't matter.

[RoversGirl1991]

Is it me or is there an awful lot of bitchiness going on here. At the end of the day we all want the lads to do well and I'm sure we'll all be supporting them for the last two games of the season whether we're actually there or listening nervously on the radio/Rovers Player!

[1879Rovers]

We let 4000 Leeds fans in. No problem with that.

Difference is, we were never going to fill the stadium against Leeds. Brentford have shown already this season, when there is a big game they will fill the stadium (Chelsea in the cup).

If it is a winner takes all on the final day, they will have fans clambering for tickets the same way we are. What is our average away following this season? Probably 7-800? (I am guessing), yet you suddenly want Brentford to give us up to 5,000 tickets because they had empty seats on Saturday.

I would hope that if it is winner takes all, the Football League Show would have the decency to step out of the championship and feature a League One game as the main game. That way, those not going, will get a live stream on the internet.

Have Rovers not thought about doing a live feed at the Keepmoat? Lots of clubs do it.

At what point have i demanded 5000 tickets? Rovers would never take that. 1800 simply is not enough. I would expect if the allocation allowed then there would be 2500 rovers supporters there. A block or two of the adjacent stand is all that would be needed.
Mark my words, there will be empty seats there and rovers supporters will be rightly complaining about it afterwards. Not that it will change anything.

I think if you read what I have written it says giving us up to 5,000 tickets, nowhere does it mention 'demanding'.

We will see regarding the crowd. They had just over 12,000 there for Chelsea. If they can win promotion against us I believe there will be close to that again but the point is, like all clubs there are a lot of floating fans, those that jump on the bandwagon at the final stages. They will have a lot of people want to attend this game, the same way we will suddenly find a couple of thousand more for the Notts County game, so they are never going to give us anymore tickets.

I remember having to go in an almost empty home stand against Boston when we won the fourth division. The home end was half empty and we had fans clambering for tickets, but we were never going to get any more.

[hoolahoop]

Is it me or is there an awful lot of bitchiness going on here. At the end of the day we all want the lads to do well and I'm sure we'll all be supporting them for the last two games of the season whether we're actually there or listening nervously on the radio/Rovers Player!

I don't think so but pleased to see you might got the County tickets.   

[RoversGirl1991]

I can't get to Brentford so Notts County'll be my last game of the season, and I know its gonna be a good 'un 

[Dagenham Rover]

Its not just about giving us  xxxx number of tickets,  its as well as the percentages that they have to give it also depends on segregation, it may not be possible to give extra tickets.
Was it last season we were all whinging about walls being built on the concourse  in the East stand to accomadate extra away fans
Even if other stands could be segregated at the drop of a hat perhaps they are planning  a quid a kid or fetch a mate for a fiver to fill the place if it goes to the wire

Get chuffing real people

[normal rules]

Idm, I am more than aware of how away allocations work, which is why I am suggesting that a possible extension to it is made. It will not happen of course so maybe I wasted my time with this thread. Nevertheless it has caused a discussion of sorts.

To the poster who talks of the Boston game. I live in the town and am well connected to some of the key personnel in the club including John Blackwell. Most rovers fans will not be aware that Boston sought special clearance to allow an extra few hundred in the town end terrace due to the demand. If I remember right it should only hold 1900. 2200 rovers fans were allowed in there that day so it goes to show that clubs can make compromises when needed.

[Dagenham Rover]

You sure there was no brown envelopes involved   

[IDM]

I guess if Brentford were in mid table with nowt to play for then they may well have considered offering more space to us for this fixture due to the demand.

As it is, the situation before the final Saturday won't be clear until the preceding Tuesday, so that may be too late?

[Ealing Bee]

Brentford fan in peace.

From reading this thread, there are a few misconceptions out there.

BFC capacity is just under 12k. The away end holds 1800 - i.e. just over 15% of places (normal FL minimum is 10%?).

I'm pretty sure that due to stadium design, esp access, the club isn't allowed (by Police, Council etc) to place away fans in a section of either of the adjacent stands, even if they wanted to.

Some specific points.

'IDM': "I guess if Brentford were in mid table with nowt to play for then they may well have considered offering more space to us for this fixture due to the demand"
The only way we can accommodate more than 1800 away fans is if we give the visiting team the whole of another stand. That is something which simply won't happen, even for a game where we're expecting our normal 5-6k crowd, since it would mean shifting Season Ticket holders, Family section, Disabled, Directors, Media etc. (Also problems of segregated access to/from stadium)

And in any case, if automatic promotion is still in the balance going into this game, then I guarantee it will be a sell-out, so the club couldn't help Donny with extra tickets even if the ground layout permitted.

'Normal Rules': "1800 simply is not enough. I would expect if the allocation allowed then there would be 2500 rovers supporters there. A block or two of the adjacent stand is all that would be needed.
Mark my words, there will be empty seats there and rovers supporters will be rightly complaining about it afterwards. Not that it will change anything"
1800 is all Chelsea got. As for "a block or two of adjacent stand etc", I have already explained why the club is not allowed to do that. But in any case, I guarantee that even if the game is not a complete sell out, those adjacent sections in question will still be filled by home fans, since the last sections to sell out at GP are invariably those adajacent to the Ealing Road (home) end i.e. at the far end from the Away Stand.

'Mr. Frost': "Sounds like hundreds of Portsmouth fans managed to get in the home end at Brentford yesterday, so maybe their ticketing policies aren't as strict as they make out."
I was in the home (Ealing Road terrace) end, and if there were any Pompey fans in there (which I seriously doubt), then they certainly kept their mouths shut, as this video demonstrates!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKJcRRTNGoY

As for the other two home stands, there may have been a few dotted around in "civvies", having got tickets either through living locally, or having Brentford mates who do. Beyond that, it looks like there may have been a cluster (25?) who got into the New Road stand and tried to 'kick off', but that was likely down to inadequate policing/stewarding, as was the fact that a couple of hundred were able to get onto the pitch after the final whistle from the away end.

Now I don't expect for one minute that Donny fans will behave anything like that Pompey mob (understatement!). But having had a bad, potentially disastrous, experience with visiting fans on Saturday, the club/police really cannot afford to be less than rigourous in their ticketing and security arrangements for your visit.

Anyhow, with a bit of luck in the meantime, maybe our game will be to decide which of us finishes as Champions, and which finishes 2nd? That way, we'll have a guaranteed sell-out, with lots of passion, no huge disappointment on either side and we can all be best friends in the Championship next season.

Awww.   

[philsky]

Brentford fan in peace.

From reading this thread, there are a few misconceptions out there.

BFC capacity is just under 12k. The away end holds 1800 - i.e. just over 15% of places (normal FL minimum is 10%?).

I'm pretty sure that due to stadium design, esp access, the club isn't allowed (by Police, Council etc) to place away fans in a section of either of the adjacent stands, even if they wanted to.

Some specific points.

'IDM': "I guess if Brentford were in mid table with nowt to play for then they may well have considered offering more space to us for this fixture due to the demand"
The only way we can accommodate more than 1800 away fans is if we give the visiting team the whole of another stand. That is something which simply won't happen, even for a game where we're expecting our normal 5-6k crowd, since it would mean shifting Season Ticket holders, Family section, Disabled, Directors, Media etc. (Also problems of segregated access to/from stadium)

And in any case, if automatic promotion is still in the balance going into this game, then I guarantee it will be a sell-out, so the club couldn't help Donny with extra tickets even if the ground layout permitted.

'Normal Rules': "1800 simply is not enough. I would expect if the allocation allowed then there would be 2500 rovers supporters there. A block or two of the adjacent stand is all that would be needed.
Mark my words, there will be empty seats there and rovers supporters will be rightly complaining about it afterwards. Not that it will change anything"
1800 is all Chelsea got. As for "a block or two of adjacent stand etc", I have already explained why the club is not allowed to do that. But in any case, I guarantee that even if the game is not a complete sell out, those adjacent sections in question will still be filled by home fans, since the last sections to sell out at GP are invariably those adajacent to the Ealing Road (home) end i.e. at the far end from the Away Stand.

'Mr. Frost': "Sounds like hundreds of Portsmouth fans managed to get in the home end at Brentford yesterday, so maybe their ticketing policies aren't as strict as they make out."
I was in the home (Ealing Road terrace) end, and if there were any Pompey fans in there (which I seriously doubt), then they certainly kept their mouths shut, as this video demonstrates!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKJcRRTNGoY

As for the other two home stands, there may have been a few dotted around in "civvies", having got tickets either through living locally, or having Brentford mates who do. Beyond that, it looks like there may have been a cluster (25?) who got into the New Road stand and tried to 'kick off', but that was likely down to inadequate policing/stewarding, as was the fact that a couple of hundred were able to get onto the pitch after the final whistle from the away end.

Now I don't expect for one minute that Donny fans will behave anything like that Pompey mob (understatement!). But having had a bad, potentially disastrous, experience with visiting fans on Saturday, the club/police really cannot afford to be less than rigourous in their ticketing and security arrangements for your visit.

Anyhow, with a bit of luck in the meantime, maybe our game will be to decide which of us finishes as Champions, and which finishes 2nd? That way, we'll have a guaranteed sell-out, with lots of passion, no huge disappointment on either side and we can all be best friends in the Championship next season.

Awww.   

Would be the ideal conclusion to a fantastic day. Hopefully.

But can we have another 500 tickets please !  :-)

[IDM]

Hi Ealing Bee, thank you for posting.

For me, I don't think you should have to give up more tickets.  This could be a title decider, so why should you.

[Ealing Bee]

Hi Ealing Bee, thank you for posting.

For me, I don't think you should have to give up more tickets.  This could be a title decider, so why should you.

Ta for that.

Anyhow, thinking about it, with the ground only holding 10k home fans, and our home crowds averaging over 5k this season, then a full house equates to our normal home support x 2.

Whereas, by allocating 1800 to Donny, I suspect that is already nearly 3 x times your normal away support, so I'd say you're not doing that badly by us.

Beyond that, I would urge anyone who has never been to GP before, to take the opportunity to visit us in the next couple of seasons (ideally in the Championship!).

It's one of the last "old school", traditional grounds remaining in English football, with terracing for both home and away fans, and (uniquely) a pub on all four corners - as we never tire of reminding people!

After then, we're due to move to a new all-seater ground in a couple of seasons time, which although bigger and better all round for Bees fans, may not be much of an improvement for visiting fans, since I suspect the allocation will be 10% (1500 to 2000), and you'll be stuck in seats in a corner somewhere, rather than behind the goals with a choice of standing or sitting.

(And no four pubs, either  )

[IDM]

Away support has varied - we had over 1000 at Crewe on Saturday, and the same or so at Coventry, with over 2K at local rivals Scunthorpe recently.

Given the demand for this game coming up, I reckon we could shift 2,500-3,000 tickets. 

[Ealing Bee]

Away support has varied - we had over 1000 at Crewe on Saturday, and the same or so at Coventry, with over 2K at local rivals Scunthorpe recently.

So (demand for this game aside) 1,800 isn't bad, really.

Given the demand for this game coming up, I reckon we could shift 2,500-3,000 tickets.

And if the circumstances were reversed, I've no doubt BFC would take the same to KM, if not rather more.

[IDM]

Had this game been mid-season, 1800 would have been more than enough.

Our away end holds about 3,300.  Had the fixture on 27 April been at our ground, you may well have sold out too.

[MrFrost]

Away support has varied - we had over 1000 at Crewe on Saturday, and the same or so at Coventry, with over 2K at local rivals Scunthorpe recently.

So (demand for this game aside) 1,800 isn't bad, really.

Given the demand for this game coming up, I reckon we could shift 2,500-3,000 tickets.

And if the circumstances were reversed, I've no doubt BFC would take the same to KM, if not rather more.

We'd shift 4k plus for this easily if tickets were there. I personally know someone who has just bought 8 tickets between 2 people for Brentfords home end, so it can be done if your desperate enough to go.

[normal rules]

Wonder how many Chelsea supporters were at GP but not behind the goal?

Ealing Bee - thanks for your input. I hope for the sake of your club coffers that the game is a sell out.

There will be Rovers Supporters in the home areas - of that i have no doubt.

[ravenrover]

OK Ealing Bee answer the most important question whats the policy regarding Away Fans drinking at any of the 4 pubs at the ground? Is there a "safe" away watering hole.

[normal rules]

they are all ok i am led to believe.

[Ealing Bee]

OK Ealing Bee answer the most important question whats the policy regarding Away Fans drinking at any of the 4 pubs at the ground? Is there a "safe" away watering hole.

I normally drink in "The Griffin" (next to away end) and so long as there's room(!) and no obvious troublemakers, away fans are always most welcome. For instance, when Millwall came a couple of years ago, they had loads crammed in there right from opening time, but no aggro whatever.

Royal Oak on the other corner of away end operates pretty much the same policy  (though Leeds brought a right bunch of thugs in the same month as Millwall, causing so much trouble the Landlady had to close it on police advice  )

Princess Royal (home end) is OK - I don't often go in, but you always see fans in away colours in/around on match days.

As for New Inn (home end), haven't been there for years, but that's basically cos I don't much like it (Courage pub, lousy beer). I don't think they mind visiting fans. (It's also the HQ of the West London Celtic Supporters Club btw, if that appeals/appals).

And despite several conversions into flats etc in recent years, there are still plenty of other proper London neighbourhood boozers in the vicinity, if you fancy a crawl. My advice: if you want a decent drink, choose 'Fullers' pubs, though you Northerners should probably bring your own froth for the top of your pint 

[IDM]

Do you have gravy at your chippys?  And WTF is a saveloy?