FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

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edison
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FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by edison » Thu May 16, 2019 12:43 pm

Magic of the cup, or an inconvenience now?

From PA: This year's FA Cup will have the lowest average attendance for the competition in the last decade.

Manchester City and Watford meet in Saturday's final, which is set to be played in front of a sell-out crowd at Wembley.

Even if that is the case, though, the average crowd in this year's tournament will be below 12,000 for the first time this decade.

edison
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by edison » Thu May 16, 2019 12:46 pm

"The figure is not necessarily a reflection of interest levels in the competition, as early upsets and the simple luck of the draw both play their part."

Suppose Newport going further than, say, Liverpool, would see averages drop, but still.

JTClaret
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by JTClaret » Thu May 16, 2019 12:51 pm

Can't be surprised.

The magic of the FA Cup was the little clubs beating the big clubs.
But often nowadays the little clubs play the reserves or youth team of the big clubs, which doesn't quite have the same ring to it.

I do wonder if those that get upset at the crowds going down are the same people that get upset at so-called 'plastic fans' that only turn up for big games or when the team is doing well.

ClaretTony
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by ClaretTony » Thu May 16, 2019 12:57 pm

The FA Cup will only decline more in future years. Replays scrapped now from 5th round and that round next season will be played in midweek.

Imagine say Carlisle getting to the 5th round and drawing Brighton away, then having to play it on a Tuesday night.

edison
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by edison » Thu May 16, 2019 1:02 pm

1971/72 - The fourth qualifying round tie between Alvechurch and Oxford City became the longest FA Cup tie ever, lasting a total of eleven hours before Alvechurch won the fifth replay

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by ClaretTony » Thu May 16, 2019 1:03 pm

edison wrote:1971/72 - The fourth qualifying round tie between Alvechurch and Oxford City became the longest FA Cup tie ever, lasting a total of eleven hours before Alvechurch won the fifth replay
One more game than our tie against Chelsea in the 50s

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by jrgbfc » Thu May 16, 2019 5:19 pm

The stupid lunchtime kick offs in the 3rd round can't have helped.

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by Clarets4me » Thu May 16, 2019 6:10 pm

There is talk that from 2021-22 season, all the FA Cup coverage will be split between BBC and ITV, with all games being available on free-to-air TV ..which will be a good move. I read this week that the FA are contemplating this, because of the larger than expected deal they got for overseas coverage over the next few saesons ...
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claretfern
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by claretfern » Thu May 16, 2019 6:35 pm

Lost all it's charm years ago. They'll be playing 6th round ties at Wembley before long.
Never used to miss Cup Final day when I was younger. Now (unless Burnley are in it ) I couldn't give a monkey's.
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cricketfieldclarets
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by cricketfieldclarets » Thu May 16, 2019 7:51 pm

ClaretTony wrote:The FA Cup will only decline more in future years. Replays scrapped now from 5th round and that round next season will be played in midweek.

Imagine say Carlisle getting to the 5th round and drawing Brighton away, then having to play it on a Tuesday night.
Im sure if theyre in the 5th round with a premier league away game theyl take a real following. As would we have in that boat.

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by ClaretTony » Thu May 16, 2019 10:24 pm

cricketfieldclarets wrote:Im sure if theyre in the 5th round with a premier league away game theyl take a real following. As would we have in that boat.
I think you've missed the point

tim_noone
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by tim_noone » Thu May 16, 2019 10:59 pm

ClaretTony wrote:I think you've missed the point
#me to....what was it??

Wile E Coyote
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by Wile E Coyote » Fri May 17, 2019 12:15 am

BBC can prattle on endlessly about the nostalgia of the cup, the magic of the cup, but in reality it is a massively diluted affair in comparison to its heyday.wembley holds no significance, the big teams choose lesser sides to compete, it is a shadow of its former self.

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by RammyClaret61 » Fri May 17, 2019 2:53 am

Lost it’s appeal years ago. It just an inconvenience these days.

Here in Australia SBS win the tv rights to the FA Cup. They then decided not to show any games except the final.

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by Vegas Claret » Fri May 17, 2019 5:08 am

The FA Cup is superb for lower league teams, I used to love it - being drawn at home to Man City, Liverpool etc. The league cup getting drawn against the likes of Luton, Norwich and Nottingham Forest etc, I feel a bit guilty that I think 3 points is more valuable to us !

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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by cricketfieldclarets » Fri May 17, 2019 11:06 am

ClaretTony wrote:I think you've missed the point
I dont think there was one.

Quickenthetempo
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Re: FA Cup attendances lowest in a decade

Post by Quickenthetempo » Fri May 17, 2019 11:13 am

In truth football isn't a sport anymore, so unless the FA put far more prize money into it. It will always be less important.

Take the play off final, the only selling point will be to get viewers is 'The games worth 170 million to the winner'. Nothing about the winner playing top division football against the big teams.

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