If cardiff city get to the premiership on saturday.................

[Gleision]

Cardiff city are 90 mins away from premiership football this weekend,the so called £90million pound game.Does anyone think this could have a negative impact on the attendances at the cardiff city stadium for the Cardiff Blues next season?
The likes of man utd arsenal liverpool chelsea etc coming to cardiff every other week will surely capture the imagination of the locals as regards to the Blues entertaining connacht ulster etc.(no disrespect to them teams).With attendances already poor for the first season at the new stadium this could be another hammer blow.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Can't see why it would, to be honest.
If you're a blues fan, you're not going to suddenly start going to bluebirds games instead, just because they're doing better

 

[Gleision]

Can't see why it would, to be honest.
If you're a blues fan, you're not going to suddenly start going to bluebirds games instead, just because they're doing better

I was thinking more of the floating fans being lost from the blues rather than the die hards.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

I dont think that this will be case. For me the Blues should have looked at redeveloping the Arms Park first!

 

[Gleision]

If the cardiff blues board had spent some money after winning the edf cup and reaching the last 4 in the heineken cup the could have marched on a lot in my opinion.The crowds were filling the arms park and huge crowds at the millenium for the heineken cup games.Unfortunatley they havent kicked on.

 

[An Tarbh]

well given that finances are stretched for most people you could easily see them opting for the Cardiff City season ticket over the Cardiff Blues, it wouldn't surprise me at all if attendances are even down on this year's figure which let's face it were pretty paltry. I accept that the stadium is further out from Cardiff City Centre but that can't be the only factor and if it is then it's up to the club to improve the access to the ground from the city centre.

 

[Gleision]

The access to the ground is fine there are trains from cardiff central station and buses from the city centre too.That argument holds no strength with me.

 

[An Tarbh]

well I'm only looking for the reason, obviously as an outsider I'm not up to speed with how things are on the ground, if that's not the reason than what is, is it pricing, is it scheduling, what is it cause given the talent of the squad there should be more interest than there currently is, even during the internationals.

 

[TRF_Cymro]

The access to the ground is fine there are trains from cardiff central station and buses from the city centre too.That argument holds no strength with me.

You say that but its the truth. When I was down as a student down in Cardiff a trip from my halls was easy to the Arms Park and that was for many of the students who went to watch games. The same would be for shoppers and people who went out on the lash. The Arms Park was in the centre where most people would be, go shopping / booze etc before going to the game. People are not always keen to use the transport because its always packed.

I reckon it has had an effect moving. I dont think the atmosphere is the same either.

 

[Bluemoon]

In the short term it probably won't affect the attendances. Those who support the Blues will not stop to watch the football. They may go to a few of Cardiff City's games however (even I may do and Im not really into football) because of the obvious draw of the premiership football.

In the long term it may have an effect. Its common knowledge that Wales have a problem with promoting the rugby in schools and I'd especially say this in Cardiff. Kids in the play ground are playing football and with a successful team in the premier league its only going to raise the profile of football. The game is in a few primary and high schools, but only aimed at the traditional areas of Cardiff - and even then I'd take a guess at declining numbers. Kids are going to be pestering mum to see chopra vs rooney. Not to mention with Cardiff City's extra revenue, the marketing budget is going to massively outweigh Cardiff Blues. So long-term, I suppose it is a threat.

In saying all of that, Cardiff Blues attendance (even with the stadium move) has actually risen on average in the past 3 years, averaging higher than all the Welsh regions (they have been giving away some freebies I agree though). Also, when the team is successful, e.g. semi final of the HC, we can pull in the big crowds. The rugby fan base is there. For me, Cardiff City's promotion means that the Marketing team has to direct resources into the correct places to access the rugby fans - and Im not sure they're good enough to do it. The fan base is there, its just being smart to tapping into it and continue the trend of raising attendances.

Lets look at Leicester aswell. Over the years they've had a relatively popular football team and the rugby team has continued to be an elite club in Europe, so it can work.

We simply don't have the money to develop the arms park and I think, in time, people will be fine with the idea. After all, Cardiff City do not play in the city centre and do just fine.

 

[Gleision]

You say that but its the truth. When I was down as a student down in Cardiff a trip from my halls was easy to the Arms Park and that was for many of the students who went to watch games. The same would be for shoppers and people who went out on the lash. The Arms Park was in the centre where most people would be, go shopping / booze etc before going to the game. People are not always keen to use the transport because its always packed.

I reckon it has had an effect moving. I dont think the atmosphere is the same either.

You are correct it was easier for fans when the rugby was being played in the centre of the city,but its still a weak argument in my opinion.The trains are never "packed" going to the ninian park stop,which then in turn is a 5 min walk to the ground,also youve got the option of a train to Grangetown as well.These stations are the first stops!!!!Ive never caught a bus out but i would imagine they are pretty busy,but the best option is defintley the train.

The atmosphere is poor granted but Blues supporters are some of the quietest supporters around.Even at the Arms park i always thought the atmosphere was often dead even for some of the bigger games.All supporters need to make the atmosphere better by getting behind the team.There can still be a good atmosphere in a half empty ground,just as the ospreys supporeters managed against Glasgow last week.

 

[Gleision]

In the short term it probably won't affect the attendances. Those who support the Blues will not stop to watch the football. They may go to a few of Cardiff City's games however (even I may do and Im not really into football) because of the obvious draw of the premiership football.

In the long term it may have an effect. Its common knowledge that Wales have a problem with promoting the rugby in schools and I'd especially say this in Cardiff. Kids in the play ground are playing football and with a successful team in the premier league its only going to raise the profile of football. The game is in a few primary and high schools, but only aimed at the traditional areas of Cardiff - and even then I'd take a guess at declining numbers. Kids are going to be pestering mum to see chopra vs rooney. Not to mention with Cardiff City's extra revenue, the marketing budget is going to massively outweigh Cardiff Blues. So long-term, I suppose it is a threat.

In saying all of that, Cardiff Blues attendance (even with the stadium move) has actually risen on average in the past 3 years, averaging higher than all the Welsh regions (they have been giving away some freebies I agree though). Also, when the team is successful, e.g. semi final of the HC, we can pull in the big crowds. The rugby fan base is there. For me, Cardiff City's promotion means that the Marketing team has to direct resources into the correct places to access the rugby fans - and Im not sure they're good enough to do it. The fan base is there, its just being smart to tapping into it and continue the trend of raising attendances.

Lets look at Leicester aswell. Over the years they've had a relatively popular football team and the rugby team has continued to be an elite club in Europe, so it can work.

We simply don't have the money to develop the arms park and I think, in time, people will be fine with the idea. After all, Cardiff City do not play in the city centre and do just fine.

You are correct the gates were rising season on season,and the Blues had a couple of decent seasons apart from this season,but they could still end up with a trophy this weekend and that will be a good springboard for the players and fans to build on for next season.

 

[Bluemoon]

Oh and just a quick note on the atmosphere at the stadium. Like Gleision said Cardiff are historically the quietest of all the crowds in Wales.

Without sounding to much like an alcoholic - the fact that no one has had a beer or two before getting to the stadium and that all the noisy lot are spread out across the massive stadium - there is no collective making any noise. When we went to London Wasps, the 1000 fans made more noise than any blues game all season. Probably down to one or two beers and the hardcore noisy fans were grouped together.

Also, the sort of crowd we attract is largely a family one as well becuase the Blues are aiming at families to spend their money at the stadium. I'm fed up of them using the typical entertainment venue marketing strategy and this is why I think future attendance's probably will be weaker than they could be. Then again I am no expert and I suppose time will tell.