Sunderland FC is having a successful season on the pitch, but attendances at the Stadium of Light remain disappointing. They are a matter of concern for chairman Niall Quinn, both because he thinks the team performs better in front of a big crowd and because they could affect the playing budget. He thinks that attendances are being affected by fans who might otherwise be in the ground watching illegal transmissions in pubs which costs them les
Sunderland FC is having a successful season on the pitch, but attendances at the Stadium of Light remain disappointing. They are a matter of concern for chairman Niall Quinn, both because he thinks the team performs better in front of a big crowd and because they could affect the playing budget. He thinks that attendances are being affected by fans who might otherwise be in the ground watching illegal transmissions in pubs which costs them less and they can also enjoy a few drinks.
Quinn commented, ‘Most of the clubs above us in the table command higher gates. The financial climate makes it difficult for supporters, but we need to make every effort to lift our average crowd back up to 40,000-43,000 or even better.’ Nissan notwithstanding, Sunderland is not the most prosperous local economy and many fans may be being affected by the economy’s problems.
In general gate money has become less significant for clubs unless they have very big sold out grounds like Manchester United. At Bolton Wanderers, a not dissimilar club, gate money accounts for 10 per cent of total income. Nevertheless, the additional revenue generated by 5,000 – 7,000 more paying fans could be crucial at the margin for a club like Sunderland.