How do we change the 'cultural' make up of football crowds?

[aj2k77]

A lot of this discussion seems to focus on one particular ethnic group only.  With the recent influx of people from Eastern Europe to the area, why not try and attract some of them?  I know it may be a bit of a generalisation, but they tend to come from countries where football is a national sport and having been to international games featuring the likes of Poland and other countries from that region, they always create a good atmosphere at games. 

Don't think the Polish would be impressed with no beer in the stands and being badgered to sit down all the time.

[dave.woodhall]

I think Bobby's got a point though when he says that the main thing to get people in is a winning football team.  I think Villa as a set of fans react very strongly to perceived effort from the board and the club as a whole, which is why we averaged 40K under O'Neill, and now have lost thousands off the gates.  When you have people who consider themselves staunch Villa fans not bothering to regularly attend, it's going to be next to impossible to get locals along who don't really give a stuff in the first place.

At last!

And in response to Dave, I have said umpteen times on here its good to get as many in as we can, I just think that it doesn't sit comfortable with me if we start only encouraging certain sections of our society and the whole society.

As John Lennon once said, "there is only one race, the human race".

Nobody's said we should only encourage certain sections of the community. Most of us say that we should include everyone, and take note of what it is that will encourage them to attend. Except you, for some reason.

That nots true Dave, others have mentioned the enthnic mix of Aston, ala Paulwalsomethingoranother, being 80% asain. Also creating alcohol free and halal products zones is very specific.

We are going around in circles because we don't want to admit my initial and continual response is correct, forget where we are going to find 10,000 fans from to fill the empty seats until we have a competitive team. Also, we are not the only club that suffers from this situation in the UK.

Anyone who says "I'm right and you're all wrong" is being a bit daft. You have proved yourself correct in no way except the ability to string together a handful of seemingly random, semi-intelligible sentences touching on such bizarre beliefs as football supporters don't have to attend matches therefore marketing is a waste of time and we only try to get one sector of the population into the ground.

Villa have had many initiatives that aren't targeted predominantly at the local Asian community. For example they subsidise buses from areas such as Solihull and Bromsgrove and go out into schools away from the immediate area. This is hardly targeting Asians, given the ethnic make-up of these areas. 

[Legion]

The Tickets for Schools initiative is excellent and is now further afield than the immediate vicinity.

[VillaBobby]

I mean that football fans usually choose to watch football matches and its not forced or created. Football is a culture within our culture and has taken generation upon generation to develop. I don't believe that can be instilled into people but has to come from time and experience.

Aston Villa are not exclusive in this which should say something.

I also think the club should be doing more to get fans they have lost back and again I will state, that will only come with an improvement on the pitch.

People shouldn't be encouraged to attend Villa Park because they either want to or they don't. I wouldn't apply for any sales &  marketing jobs if I wer you. And who is the 'us' in 'our culture'?

I don't need to apply for any jobs as I run my own successful company, but thank you for the thought.

I had assumed from your username that you were a copper, which would have explained a lot.

Best in the world etc.

What does that insinuation refer too?

I'm not arguing with someone who can't spell 'to'.

So you were being antagonistic?

Why some on here use this as a vessel to vent frustrations & try to gang up on others posters because they disagree with opinion is strange & stinks of frustration.

[VillaBobby]

I think Bobby's got a point though when he says that the main thing to get people in is a winning football team.  I think Villa as a set of fans react very strongly to perceived effort from the board and the club as a whole, which is why we averaged 40K under O'Neill, and now have lost thousands off the gates.  When you have people who consider themselves staunch Villa fans not bothering to regularly attend, it's going to be next to impossible to get locals along who don't really give a stuff in the first place.

At last!

And in response to Dave, I have said umpteen times on here its good to get as many in as we can, I just think that it doesn't sit comfortable with me if we start only encouraging certain sections of our society and the whole society.

As John Lennon once said, "there is only one race, the human race".

Nobody's said we should only encourage certain sections of the community. Most of us say that we should include everyone, and take note of what it is that will encourage them to attend. Except you, for some reason.

That nots true Dave, others have mentioned the enthnic mix of Aston, ala Paulwalsomethingoranother, being 80% asain. Also creating alcohol free and halal products zones is very specific.

We are going around in circles because we don't want to admit my initial and continual response is correct, forget where we are going to find 10,000 fans from to fill the empty seats until we have a competitive team. Also, we are not the only club that suffers from this situation in the UK.

Anyone who says "I'm right and you're all wrong" is being a bit daft. You have proved yourself correct in no way except the ability to string together a handful of seemingly random, semi-intelligible sentences touching on such bizarre beliefs as football supporters don't have to attend matches therefore marketing is a waste of time and we only try to get one sector of the population into the ground.

Villa have had many initiatives that aren't targeted predominantly at the local Asian community. For example they subsidise buses from areas such as Solihull and Bromsgrove and go out into schools away from the immediate area. This is hardly targeting Asians, given the ethnic make-up of these areas. 

Admit it Dave, you wont feel any less of a man, I was right, the only way to swell crowds is by having a competitive team.

Statistics back this up.

There is no statistical fact to back up your claims that local initiative's work.

[Archbishop Herbert Cockthrottle]

I think there is plenty wrong with Halal food, in particular the method of slaughter. Doesn't taste any different to me, either.

But we are on about balancing the Cultural diversity of our football fans, so this may be a way to do that. Not a fan of the  slaughtering process myself but then the people who eat Halal food are not fond of the way we slaughter our animals either.

Why worry about animal rights when we can get a few more Muslims through the turnstiles?

Maybe we should just make the ground completely meat free.
I'm sure that even the more flesh dependent of you could manage to give it a miss for 90 minutes of your life.

[German James]

Why this obsession with catering? I don't think anyone's going to go to a football match because of the refreshments on offer! If people need more than a local connection to support a club, the only way to encourage them is to play good football and win things... Over to you, players and staff.

[Risso]

Halal food should be avoided in the ground at all costs, as it should be in the country as a whole.  There should be no place for this disgusting, cruel and barbaric practice.

[KevinGage]

So we're agreed:

-£200 million+ spent on the team

-Jerk chicken and halal meat available at the ground

-Urdu and Polski versions of H&V

Deliver all that, and we might see an upturn in attendances?

[VillaBobby]

So we're agreed:

-£200 million+ spent on the team

-Jerk chicken and halal meat available at the ground

-Urdu and Polski versions of H&V

Deliver all that, and we might see an upturn in attendances?

YES, YES!! Have you read the previous 19 pages?

Or just point number one would be a start.

[dave.woodhall]

Admit it Dave, you wont feel any less of a man, I was right, the only way to swell crowds is by having a competitive team.

Statistics back this up.

There is no statistical fact to back up your claims that local initiative's work.

What happens if I don't admit something which is patently wrong - do you threaten to stamp your feet?

[VillaBobby]

Admit it Dave, you wont feel any less of a man, I was right, the only way to swell crowds is by having a competitive team.

Statistics back this up.

There is no statistical fact to back up your claims that local initiative's work.

What happens if I don't admit something which is patently wrong - do you threaten to stamp your feet?

What part is wrong Dave?

[dave.woodhall]

Admit it Dave, you wont feel any less of a man, I was right, the only way to swell crowds is by having a competitive team.

Statistics back this up.

There is no statistical fact to back up your claims that local initiative's work.

What happens if I don't admit something which is patently wrong - do you threaten to stamp your feet?

What part is wrong Dave?

The words. Saying "I'm correct" doesn't make what you say right, when it clearly isn't. 

[Concrete John]

For me, the key is really a two fold approach:-
1.  Give them a reason to want go
2.  Remove any barriers to stop  them going

Villabobby's argument is the former, while things like community programmes are the latter.

Your average Asian non-Villa fan will not start attending matches because we change catering, but then he also might not go to see a winning and entertaining team if his particular needs are not catered for. 

[VillaBobby]

Admit it Dave, you wont feel any less of a man, I was right, the only way to swell crowds is by having a competitive team.

Statistics back this up.

There is no statistical fact to back up your claims that local initiative's work.

What happens if I don't admit something which is patently wrong - do you threaten to stamp your feet?

What part is wrong Dave?

The words. Saying "I'm correct" doesn't make what you say right, when it clearly isn't. 

2012/13 season average is    : 33,383 (Paul Lambert)
2011/12 season average was: 33,873 (Alex McLeish)
2010/11 season average was: 37,193 (Gerard Houllier)
2009/10 season average was: 38,573 (Martin O`Neill)
2008/09 season average was: 39,811 (Martin O`Neill)
2007/08 season average was: 40,029 (Martin O`Neill)
2006/07 season average was: 36,214 (David O`Leary)

I see a trend here linked to performance.