Town MD Ian Milne says the club are carrying out a review of ticketing with season ticket numbers and overall attendances having fallen this season.

The Blues lost around 1,000 season ticket holders in the summer, while Saturday’s crowd of 15,042 was the lowest for a league game since the 14,953 recorded at the Blackburn match in December 2013.

Both games will have actually been watched by fewer fans with season ticket holders counted in the attendance figure regardless of whether they are at a match.

“At the moment we’re looking at the whole ticketing fabric as a separate project,” Milne told Saturday’s Life’s a Pitch on BBC Radio Suffolk.

While he accepts Town’s performances have certainly had an impact, he says other factors have also played their part, including pricing with tickets at Portman Road among the division’s most expensive.

“There are other forces that we’ve discussed where people are distracted with other types of sport, where they can see our game about half an hour afterwards and get a replay of the highlights,” Milne added.

“There are various things where we compete with. There are issues on pricing we need to look at and we’re having a thorough review on that.

“That’s where my side of the field can improve things. But I fully appreciate it’s what happens on the pitch that’s the important thing.”

He added: “There are things we can improve on, not just to do with the attractive football or lack of attractive football, and that’s what we’re looking at. And certainly those under 20 or 23 we’re looking at to see how we can improve things for them.”

He says the issue of ticketing will come up in his monthly review with owner Marcus Evans.

“We have a review with him every month where we got through the facts and figures, the attendances, ticketing,” the MD continued.

“And [part of] that conversation will be that attendances will fall off if the football is not attractive, so this is a good time before the transfer window for me and Mark Andrews, the [financial director] here, to talk to Marcus to say, ‘This is where we are, this is where we’re going’.”

He added: “Certainly Marcus is not stupid, he knows what’s going on and we reinforce the message.”

Milne says Town’s up and down season has been frustrating for everyone at Portman Road: “Mick and Marcus are frustrated with the consistency, as Mick has said.

“The players want to improve, we know they give 100 per cent on the field and we’re going into a very busy period of the season, so the pressure is on them and on us to improve and I hope fans will bear with us while we go through these difficult times.”

Regarding January business with a striker to replace Daryl Murphy top of the wish-list, Milne added: “Marcus and Mick have said they’re going to look again when the transfer window opens in January, and that’s what they’ll do.”

Photo: Action Images

trncbluearmy added 18:57 - Dec 13 Meekreech Budgie or thick which one is it?
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Portman51 added 19:21 - Dec 13 I suspect the club could offer free admission and the crowds would still be poor, as the team selections and tactics make the games pretty much unwatchable. Many who renewed season tickets have once again been disappointed and are finally voting with their feet, while it seems unlikely that more than a handful of people are prepared to pay £30+ at the gate. I just wish the club would have the balls to publish the true attendance figures. 11,000 - 12,000 would be my guess for recent games. As the height of the current regime's ambition seems to be survival in the Championship by grinding out the occasional result, this won't be changing any time soon.

3

braveblue added 19:22 - Dec 13 Sorry mate. Don't believe a word
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Carberry added 19:24 - Dec 13 He's looking at the whole 'ticketing fabric' is he? What utter marketing b#llsh#t. WHERE'S EVANS?
4

WestSussexBlue added 19:29 - Dec 13 Ticketing Fabric???? Jeez.... The football is shoite to watch and listen too. That's why many of us will return when it's entertaining.
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NSL added 19:38 - Dec 13 There is so much management speak in this it could be David Brent talking!!! 'Looking at the whole ticketing fabric' WTF does that mean?? Why can't someone from the club just speak in plain words?? Such as the product is poor and the ticket prices are too high so we are going to reduce them. I am actually feeling so mugged off by this institution I am starting to despise it.

2

Michael11 added 19:42 - Dec 13 Oh shut up you massive bore!
0

Seasider added 19:50 - Dec 13 Looks as though the penny has at last dropped,and they are showing concern.About time. Should also realise that main reason is McCarthy. As well as prices, could bring back ticket selling over the phone,and drop matchday surcharge
2

cooper442 added 20:24 - Dec 13 The belted earl has spoken .
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FromIpswichToPhoenix added 20:35 - Dec 13 I have a crazy theory on this, hear me out. It couldn't have anything to do with the fact WE'RE PLAYING LIKE SH*T. It hardly needs a review board does it? A review? Really? A blind man could tell you the problem. If you get a bad meal at a restaurant, do you go back? No? How can they expect fans to keep coming when the meal they keep serving is tale and bland? Supply and demand. It ain't rocket science.

3

bluearmy4life added 20:35 - Dec 13 À monthly review??? God help us! We need reviewing each week not each month!
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yorksblue added 20:46 - Dec 13 How much to watch blues in Div 1 next season?
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 20:55 - Dec 13 Shouldn't take too long to do the analysis section of this report: poor entertainment and too expensive. Now let's move on to "Recommendations."
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heathen66 added 21:08 - Dec 13 What ??? You have a review every month and this is the first time you have thought about this ??? So what did you discuss in the previous meetings ??? Attendances have been dropping since MM took over and 4 years on you have just thought...Oh I wonder why that is...I think we need a review ???
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Penguinblue added 01:51 - Dec 14 It should be the quickest review of all time. Reduce ticket prices, Credit the long suffering season ticket holders. Get rid of the inept man responsible - the person who treats fans with contempt, produces the worst football imaginable, indulges his favorite proper blokes - and runs the place like a kindergarten with his pathetic childish nicknames, McCarthy OUT
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flyingdutchman added 03:55 - Dec 14 you have taken the piss far to long
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colonel added 15:56 - Dec 14 The worrying bit is ...... “Marcus and Mick have said they're going to look again when the transfer window opens in January, and that's what they'll do.” What, he might still be here in Jan?!! Too 'kin late you pillocks
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