The future of away fans

[Corky]

Anyone else think this could be under threat?

 

Of course away days are a huge part of football, we've all enjoyed them (some more than others) and away fans create a large part of the atmosphere. 

 

Let's look at how clubs might be viewing the future of fans, though. On a purely practical level, no (or fewer) away fans gives the clubs more tickets to home fans- at high demand clubs, this could reduce issues of supply. Then you've got the potential for more home fans to spend around the ground, in the club shop etc. which away fans are extremely unlikely to do.

 

You've then got the advantage of your own ground being full of your supporters with nothing for the away team. A chance to make it really hostile without a comeback, as it were.

 

Going further, it reduces logistical problems of thousands travelling on midweek nights for TV moved matches. Isn't the 6pm midweek slot being considered as a permanent move? I'm sure someone on here said it was.

 

I'm sure I'm overthinking it and we'll be back to football normality soon enough but I can't deny I think a lot has changed with fans being away and clubs may just look to cater for their own at home, maybe not forever but certainly in the short term.

 

Thoughts?

[davieG]

25 minutes ago, Corky said:

Anyone else think this could be under threat?

 

Of course away days are a huge part of football, we've all enjoyed them (some more than others) and away fans create a large part of the atmosphere. 

 

Let's look at how clubs might be viewing the future of fans, though. On a purely practical level, no (or fewer) away fans gives the clubs more tickets to home fans- at high demand clubs, this could reduce issues of supply. Then you've got the potential for more home fans to spend around the ground, in the club shop etc. which away fans are extremely unlikely to do.

 

You've then got the advantage of your own ground being full of your supporters with nothing for the away team. A chance to make it really hostile without a comeback, as it were.

 

Going further, it reduces logistical problems of thousands travelling on midweek nights for TV moved matches. Isn't the 6pm midweek slot being considered as a permanent move? I'm sure someone on here said it was.

 

I'm sure I'm overthinking it and we'll be back to football normality soon enough but I can't deny I think a lot has changed with fans being away and clubs may just look to cater for their own at home, maybe not forever but certainly in the short term.

 

Thoughts?

How do you determine who's a home fan?

What about tourists, some clubs appear to rely on them.

Away fans would find ways of getting in then  you'd risk there being trouble.

[Leicesterpool]

Nah never no risk, having only home fans in stadium would probably slighty dent atmopshere's. I mean no team to taught when we go one up! 

[Dan]

They could never get away with it. I've already seen videos from some of even this weeks games where some away fans have managed to get in. It's an inevitability. Say Leicester are at home to Liverpool - Liverpool fans are going to get their hands on some tickets, they aren't going to want to have Liverpool fans dotted all over the home end, much bigger chance of crowd trouble.

 

I was sceptical of things like this and I do think you'll get a couple of hangovers from the covid era (like maybe more TV slots) but I've seen enough of an appetite recently for things to get back to normal. They won't abolish away crowds. They're letting fans travel to Poland & Portugal for finals already so I think it'll get there.

[Finnaldo]

It would go over as well as the ESL, probably worse. Fans would react in kind. 

[Corky]

18 minutes ago, davieG said:

How do you determine who's a home fan?

What about tourists, some clubs appear to rely on them.

Away fans would find ways of getting in then  you'd risk there being trouble.

I meant more about away allocations, I know people will always sneak in or be given a ticket.

 

I'm sure it won't happen but I just wonder whether clubs will want to prioritise their home support for a while.

[Osavo]

I don't think so really. Clubs are mandated by the league to give a certain number of tickets to away fans (under normal circumstances) and I really cannot see that changing. As much as I hate describing it this way, I think away fans are important to the PL's product. Games are more watchable and enjoyable when there are away fans there, at least in my opinion, as it provides better balance and people enjoy seeing and hearing a bit of back and forth atmosphere. 

 

Also, for clubs revenue may increase due to higher shop sales, etc, but surely the local economy would be adversely effected by no away fans. Especially in the towns/cities where people are more likely to make a weekend trip out of an away game, the impact of no travelling support would be massive. I know the counter argument is that some home fans would do that but I don't think the spend per person would be as high. 

 

As some have mentioned, security is a big factor too. I just can't see it.

[Fox92]

No. The broadcasters bang on about fans creating the atmosphere and they know away fans are a large part of that.