Top aiming for top ten finish

[Tielemans63]

I'm with Scousey & Webbo on this one. If we increased the capacity to 40k and then upped our average gate to 35/36k then an increase of around 10-12%* would be an incredible achievement and just about within the realms of reality. I just can't ever envisage us averaging 40k or more so talk of 50k - 60k stadiums sounds like madness to me. It's an expensive way to play on front of a half empty stadium.

Also, we've been back for all of ONE season - we're all hoping the club kick on now but there's no guarantee we will do and even then a lot of the best-run clubs still hit a glass ceiling so imho talk of building a 50k stadium just doesn't make sense. Ambition is all well and good but you have to be realistic.

As I say, that's just my opinion.

*based on an average of 32k which could drop significantly anyway after the initial excitement of being back in the prem has dissipated.

[Raw Dykes]

I think the pros of expanding the stadium outweigh the cons. If we had an extra 10k seats, that would mean a significant income increase for capacity crowds. Of course, it will always look a bit bad when we end up back in the Football League again playing to even more empty seats. However, all the extra ticket sales we make with a bigger stadium in the PL would help to ensure we stay in the top flight.

[The Doctor]

so why do people keep going on about there being no other good teams around us?

it's even stupider than what i suggested if you think people who don't like footy so don't have a team to follow are suddenly going to start supporting and going to games in a different city just because we just about stayed up for one season.

Because when it comes to the young kids in local schools and further afield into the county, premier league trumps league one or poverty clubs like forest. By being in the prem the young kids going for glory clubs start to flock back. For the immediate future we could fit another 5k but by staying in the prem then there's a massive potential market

[biggs]

I'm glad we're not making the decision on stadium capacity. The powers that be will do all the necessary research into expected new sales. If capacity is low, they'll likely do what we do here in Vancouver at the 60,000 BC Place and cover the top tier. When sales are at 24,000, the atmosphere is still great and the stands appear full.

 

Like some have said, the atmosphere is decided by the fans. Sing or sit on your hands. Other teams have managed with 40,000 plus seats and just maybe the King Power lads have a little more insight than we do on what's ahead for LCFC.

[ScouseFox]

Because when it comes to the young kids in local schools and further afield into the county, premier league trumps league one or poverty clubs like forest. By being in the prem the young kids going for glory clubs start to flock back. For the immediate future we could fit another 5k but by staying in the prem then there's a massive potential market

 

why would they choose us over villa? if they want half local, premier league football and easy tickets for they'd all have been aston villa fans for years. the theory is fu cking stupid. 

[tylesta]

Surely it would be in everybody's interests extending. Surely getting kids as young as possible down to support the club is the best way forward something we will struggle to do at the moment

[shailen]

Every club has that loyal core of hardcore supporters who will continue to turn up regardless of what division the club is in. Then you have what I call "the cyclical fans" who take a passive interest, and only turn up when the team is doing well. We are not going to take fans away from any other local club with a decent fanbase, unless we become a big club. In fact, the only ones we can target are local people who support United/chelsea/Arsenal and want to jump on the bandwagon to see PL football. 

[AKCJ]

True. If the owners want to spend their money on expanding the stadium then good luck to them. I just think some people are getting a bit carried away with our potential. I wouldn't support Coventry or Forest if the shoe was on the other foot. We've always been bigger than Northampton Town and yet they still have their fanbase. 42,000 seems bit overly ambitious to me. 

 

You're missing the point.

 

No, you wouldn't go support Coventry, but that's because you already support Leicester City.

 

There are millions of football fans in the UK who have no particular allegiance with one club and that's the market we'll look to tap into rather than taking fans off other teams.

 

There isn't a Premier League club for 40 miles west, a good 100 miles north, nobody to the east and around 80 miles south. There is vast potential and it'll always be just potential unless we do something about it.

 

Being steady isn't the way forward. Taking baby steps will only see us overtaken. We need to continue to force our way ahead of the pack in terms of East Midlands football.

[ScouseFox]

You're missing the point.

 

No, you wouldn't go support Coventry, but that's because you already support Leicester City.

 

There are millions of football fans in the UK who have no particular allegiance with one club and that's the market we'll look to tap into rather than taking fans off other teams.

 

There isn't a Premier League club for 40 miles west, a good 100 miles north, nobody to the east and around 80 miles south. There is vast potential and it'll always be just potential unless we do something about it.

 

Being steady isn't the way forward. Taking baby steps will only see us overtaken. We need to continue to force our way ahead of the pack in terms of East Midlands football.

 

come off it mate, there is no chance that "millions of people" in the uk love football enough to want to buy a season ticket or numerous match tickets for a club but haven't done so yet. 

 

posts like this almost make it sound like we're the first team to ever be in the premier league or something. if we plan to pick up glory hunters then we're about 50 years behind the times, all the glory hunters are off supporting teams who are actually good. nobody will be coming from 100 miles north to watch leicester ****ing city just because we've spent 1 year in the premier league and plan to add a few empty seats to our stadium. 

 

 

ambition and potential are great things, but some of you need to get your head out the clouds. ludicrous suggestions. 

[AKCJ]

come off it mate, there is no chance that "millions of people" in the uk love football enough to want to buy a season ticket or numerous match tickets for a club but haven't done so yet. 

 

posts like this almost make it sound like we're the first team to ever be in the premier league or something. if we plan to pick up glory hunters then we're about 50 years behind the times, all the glory hunters are off supporting teams who are actually good. nobody will be coming from 100 miles north to watch leicester ****ing city just because we've spent 1 year in the premier league and plan to add a few empty seats to our stadium. 

 

 

ambition and potential are great things, but some of you need to get your head out the clouds. ludicrous suggestions. 

 

 

I'm sorry that my use of hyperbole flew straight over your head.

 

We're talking about adding 10k new seats, not millions. We've already got a shortage for season tickets and I don't think we've been in a position where you can buy two tickets sat together all season. Plus, because of the demand for away tickets in the Premier League, we'd end up expanding the away end.

 

We've clearly got the potential to expand. You don't have to try come across as "sensible" when it's just plain ****ing obvious.

[ScouseFox]

I'm sorry that my use of hyperbole flew straight over your head.

 

We're talking about adding 10k new seats, not millions. We've already got a shortage for season tickets and I don't think we've been in a position where you can buy two tickets sat together all season. Plus, because of the demand for away tickets in the Premier League, we'd end up expanding the away end.

 

We've clearly got the potential to expand. You don't have to try come across as "sensible" when it's just plain ****ing obvious.

 

as i've said in the thread we'd fill an extra 4 or 5k for the next two years. then everyone who wanted to see premier league football would have seen it, and those who just came for premier league football won't want to watch us if we go down. then what? 

 

i'm yet to see a suggestion other than "close half the ground" for when these dickheads get bored and fvck back off the pub for the united games instead. 

 

i'll turn it around for you all. how many west brom fans live on your road? cos you can get tickets there easily. they're one of the few consistent premier league clubs from the midlands over the past 5 years. they're in a neighbouring city to us. is half of leicester going down the brom on a saturday because they just bloody love premier league football? or are they in fact watching chelsea on tv still? 

 

 

a very, very, minisculely tiny amount of people will be tempted to suddenly become leicester city fans based on a season or two of bottom half premier league football and a half decent chance to get a ticket. that is the bottom line. live in a dream world if you all want but deep down you know that's true. like nobody on here has become an aston villa fan in the past decade. because it's a crazy suggestion. 

[Guest ttfn]

like nobody on here has become an aston villa fan in the past decade. because it's a crazy suggestion.

Except Leicesterpool

[Stadt]

Except Leicesterpool

[ScouseFox]

Except Leicesterpool

 

well im out the thread 

[AKCJ]

as i've said in the thread we'd fill an extra 4 or 5k for the next two years. then everyone who wanted to see premier league football would have seen it, and those who just came for premier league football won't want to watch us if we go down. then what? 

 

i'm yet to see a suggestion other than "close half the ground" for when these dickheads get bored and fvck back off the pub for the united games instead. 

 

i'll turn it around for you all. how many west brom fans live on your road? cos you can get tickets there easily. they're one of the few consistent premier league clubs from the midlands over the past 5 years. they're in a neighbouring city to us. is half of leicester going down the brom on a saturday because they just bloody love premier league football? or are they in fact watching chelsea on tv still? 

 

 

a very, very, minisculely tiny amount of people will be tempted to suddenly become leicester city fans based on a season or two of bottom half premier league football and a half decent chance to get a ticket. that is the bottom line. live in a dream world if you all want but deep down you know that's true. like nobody on here has become an aston villa fan in the past decade. because it's a crazy suggestion. 

 

 

You're clearly not listening and not willing to take other people's points on board.

 

There are plenty more benefits to the club in expansion than there are in precaution.

With this television deal it's the perfect time to get on with it. Get a few seats put in and see where it takes us.

 

Who cares if we ultimately go down and there are 10k more seats left empty? Does it really matter? Do you really not see this as a risk worth taking? If not, why?

[ScouseFox]

You're clearly not listening and not willing to take other people's points on board.

 

There are plenty more benefits to the club in expansion than there are in precaution.

With this television deal it's the perfect time to get on with it. Get a few seats put in and see where it takes us.

 

Who cares if we ultimately go down and there are 10k more seats left empty? Does it really matter? Do you really not see this as a risk worth taking? If not, why?

 

i care because sitting in an empty stadium is depressing. empty seats are depressing. shit atmospheres are depressing. in the large part the last ten years of this football club was depressing. why go back there when we've got a stadium that is perfectly sized for where we are and where we will be heading as a club? 

 

i don't want to sit in a 42,000 seater stadium with 20k watching us play huddersfield in 4 years time. that's it basically. it may be beneficial for the club over time, but as i said in my original post in this thread, i'd rather enjoy my saturday afternoons than the club turn over an extra few thousand quid a month. 

[AKCJ]

i care because sitting in an empty stadium is depressing. empty seats are depressing. shit atmospheres are depressing. in the large part the last ten years of this football club was depressing. why go back there when we've got a stadium that is perfectly sized for where we are and where we will be heading as a club? 

 

i don't want to sit in a 42,000 seater stadium with 20k watching us play huddersfield in 4 years time. that's it basically. it may be beneficial for the club over time, but as i said in my original post in this thread, i'd rather enjoy my saturday afternoons than the club turn over an extra few thousand quid a month. 

 

 

But what's the difference between 20k waching in a 32k stadium than a 42k stadium?

 

You dismiss it but it's true, we'll just close the upper tiers.

 

 

Besides, thinking we'll go down is depressing. We're in a perfect opportunity to grow on and off the field. Lets embrace it.

[Babylon]

Fear of hooliganism has faded and Sky have made football glamourous again. There's no reason to believe the fanbase will continue to expand forever.

There is also nothing to suggest they can't continue to grow. The owners aren't planning on getting relegated, they obviously want more then that, if we continue to improve crowds will continue to grow. The right performance on the pitch and the right price could easily grow our fanbase over the same period again. Getting kids onboard early is key, hence the great deals the club give for young fans.

[Gerard]

A lot of people on here have got their ST and think it should be an exclusive club.

 

I was a ST holder under the MON days for about ten years. I then gave it up because I had to work on Saturdays and have only been sporadically over the last ten years. I wanted a ST last season and this and I can't get one.

 

It's ludicrous that the club shouldn't try to facilitate people who want to go, if people could just turn up and get in that would put a few thousand on the gate.

 

We could spend all our money on transfers and wages and still be relegated in five years and have nothing to show for it.

 

Lets invest in the stadium, build the 42,000 and who knows in three years down the line people might be saying it's still not big enough.

 

A big stadium and attendance gives us the perception of being a big club.

[Webbo]

There is also nothing to suggest they can't continue to grow. The owners aren't planning on getting relegated, they obviously want more then that, if we continue to improve crowds will continue to grow. The right performance on the pitch and the right price could easily grow our fanbase over the same period again. Getting kids onboard early is key, hence the great deals the club give for young fans.

I don't think anyone plans to be relegated, 3 teams go down every year though.

[Babylon]

I don't think anyone plans to be relegated, 3 teams go down every year though.

Thanks for pointing that out, the point is they are aiming high and aiming to grow. Stay up next season and the money will be there (and some). If that money pays for it then I see few drawbacks. Being worried about the potential of some closed sections of the ground if you got relegated, is not good enough reason to not try. Those extra seats gives you the potential to break out of the 20-30k attendance teams that are the ones invariably swapping positions between the top two leagues. More money, more pulling power. It could seriously give us the potential to actually establish yourselves properly in this league.

[shailen]

It's simple really. Not many people on here are suggesting that we shouldn't increase the capacity but that the timing of it may be too soon. We need to become a fully established club before we can meet the demand in the long term. When the odds are in our favour to not be relegated, only then can we sell 42k every week. It's not even going to be close in the Championship.

 

Oh and before people tell me, we can get relegated every year, I know that. But with every passing year in the PL, the chances to get relegated will dimish. Our squad will improve and we will be able to attract better players. The increased revenue could be used to facilitate a better scouting network; a better youth system and training facilities. I'm looking at it from a business point of view; I don't want us to be left with unnecessary debt for facilities we cannot use. If we expand and are relegated we will be at just over half capacity. 

[Guest ttfn]

Thanks for pointing that out, the point is they are aiming high and aiming to grow. Stay up next season and the money will be there (and some). If that money pays for it then I see few drawbacks. Being worried about the potential of some closed sections of the ground if you got relegated, is not good enough reason to not try. Those extra seats gives you the potential to break out of the 20-30k attendance teams that are the ones invariably swapping positions between the top two leagues. More money, more pulling power. It could seriously give us the potential to actually establish yourselves properly in this league.

The additional profit that we'd generate from having another 8k seats is minimal in the scheme of things. Even generously assuming £25 clear profit per seat per game (not even considering the fact that there would be an upfront cost) would give us another £4m profit per year - Newcastle earned £7 million more than us just for being on tele more often last year.

Match day revenue is virtually irrelevant in the scheme of things. Obviously every little helps but with another even bigger TV deal on the horizon the potential financial benefits of this are trifling

[ScouseFox]

The additional profit that we'd generate from having another 8k seats is minimal in the scheme of things. Even generously assuming £25 clear profit per seat per game (not even considering the fact that there would be an upfront cost) would give us another £4m profit per year - Newcastle earned £7 million more than us just for being on tele more often last year.

Match day revenue is virtually irrelevant in the scheme of things. Obviously every little helps but with another even bigger TV deal on the horizon the potential financial benefits of this are trifling

don't tell them that man the extra revenue and pulling power of an extra 5k empty seats is gonna assure us champions league glory in a few years 10000%

[Vlad the Fox]

A lot of people on here have got their ST and think it should be an exclusive club.

I was a ST holder under the MON days for about ten years. I then gave it up because I had to work on Saturdays and have only been sporadically over the last ten years. I wanted a ST last season and this and I can't get one.

It's ludicrous that the club shouldn't try to facilitate people who want to go, if people could just turn up and get in that would put a few thousand on the gate.

We could spend all our money on transfers and wages and still be relegated in five years and have nothing to show for it.

Lets invest in the stadium, build the 42,000 and who knows in three years down the line people might be saying it's still not big enough.

A big stadium and attendance gives us the perception of being a big club.

Through the late 70s and 80s I was a member and my parents never had any trouble getting tickets for matches. I've now had season ticket since about 90, my other half used to have one until the kids came along and she gave hers up. As the kids have got older we've brought them to more and more matches. This was until last season when they managed about two games, my six and four year old often in tears because my other half can't get tickets to join me, this year she decided that she would get season tickets, not a chance.

As a kid football and Leicester was my life, I lived for Saturday's, weekdays dominated with thoughts of the past and upcoming games, it was the ability to go to all the games that forged my devotion and I have had fantastic days supporting City, I want that for my kids yet I can't give it to them.

I stood with 8000 at filbert street and dreamed of success and bigger crowds, when we started to fill Filbert Street under O'Neill and then moved as Filbert Street couldn't be expanded and we couldn't meet demand I was ecstatic, the club was moving in a direction beyond my wildest dreams. I now look at where the owners are trying to get us to and feel like I did all those years ago. Yes things went wrong on the pitch pretty quickly and we found ourselves down in div 3 but the stadium raised our stock. We attracted the better players, would mandaric have fancied us without the new stadium? Maybe, maybe not. What about the current owners? Most likely not. However when we bounced back everything was in place to progress and expand. If we, as the owners want, are to break into the top half and then further everything needs to be in place otherwise we'll stall, we'll struggle to hold onto players, managers and eventually stagnate. We might get relegated, but If so everything is in place, we may not however, and this is a long term plan for sustained success, we should embrace it.