The unofficial AFC Rushden & Diamonds messageboard

Dukes wrote:

diamond82 wrote:To be honest whilst I value the extra revenue that will be generated by accommodating more Luton fans I also would have thought that the logical thing to do would be to give them the end blocks of the North and South stands as we wouldn't be upsetting any of the current inhabitants! The fact that access is relatively easy to gain from the North Stand to the De Banke is also a concern but I guess it is no worse than away fans sitting in a modern bowl style stadium so the police should be on top of it.

The only reason that i can think of for the club not going for the horseshoe idea is that I presume that we will not need to bring in as many police to steward two stands of away fans instead of three. I stand on the De Banke but I can see where Dukes is coming fro m with regards to not being able to enjoy the game with his mates. Hopefully the club will consult supporters so that they can sit with their pals for this game. Yes the views from the North and South stands are similar but I presume that the Northstanders will be moved up to the vacant far end of the South Stand next to the Airwair. Having watched games from each of the different stands i would have to say that if I were to purchase a seat I would rather be in the end of the ground towards the De Banke.

Overall though the club obviously needs the money so it appears that upsetting some of the season ticket holders is a neccesssary evil. I'm sure they wouldn't do it unless they had to and I have no doubt that people like Dukes support is valued especially considering the gates we have been getting over the past couple of years.

Thanks for your understanding mate

End of the day, its done now. You can't change it. However much you try

Instead of moaning about it on the internet, its best to just get behind our team for which is probably the most important 8 games for our club in the past 3-4 years! Show the support for the team, and out-sing those stuck up their own ass Luton pricks in your seats!

I can fully understand the annoyance of the North Standers, it's a dreadful shame our club has done this for such a small price. It works out at less than £12 a seat for the Luton fans (no doubt before VAT has been deducted), so the actual revenue to our club is not that great. Perhaps we ought to offer them the Airwair and DeBanke terrace instead and all us Diamonds fans can go in the North and South Stands?

I'm sure everyone at the club regretted having to make this move, but it's obviously important to maximise revenue to help tide us over the summer months. Unpopular moves like this have had to be made before - the Airwair move, the relocation of those in blocks C1 and C2 of the North Stand, and the midseason move of those in C5 of the South Stand - and all are a legacy of the falling attendances.

Had we seen a significant rise in the attendance in the past few home games I'm sure it might have been looked at differently, but although the small increases are a positive sign, it looks like the real surge in fans is going to be for a single game at best during the regular season.

Talk of "£40k" has been mentioned, but does anyone know if this is anything other than a minimum guarantee from Luton to allow these changes, with every prospect of more if they sell out these areas ?

Those who remember the games with Luton in the league seasons will recall that Luton fans are determined enough to get hold of tickets for the game, whereever they end up in the ground. This move will thus also reduce the number of their fans who desperately want to attend the game, but can't get tickets for the away areas - and who will then try to get tickets for the home areas - although I still think the club has a major challenge preventing significant numbers gaining admission to the PDB.

This move will free up more capacity than just giving the Luton fans C5 and C2, as shown at http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Buyin ... 28,00.html

It's good to see fellow fans have sympathy with those who are having to make this sacrifice for such an important game - let's just hope the result and / or the final outcome of the season make it worthwhile !

Formic wrote:I'm sure everyone at the club regretted having to make this move, but it's obviously important to maximise revenue to help tide us over the summer months. Unpopular moves like this have had to be made before - the Airwair move, the relocation of those in blocks C1 and C2 of the North Stand, and the midseason move of those in C5 of the South Stand - and all are a legacy of the falling attendances.

Not just a legacy of the falling attendances as the football and results were crap as well Those changes also contributed to it by annoying and disrupting people who left and never came back. I hope that doesn't happen and it's a tight call IMO.

This was always going to be a tricky call.

I've been a season ticket holder in the North Stand for 13 seasons. I would have preferred to remain in my usual seat for the Luton game but I understand and fully respect the Club's decision and the reasons for it.
I have already exchanged mine and my wife's tickets and organised our 5 friends that sit with us to get their tickets next to us in the South Stand (Matt is very helpful in the ticket office).

I wonder what the plan will be if we play Luton in the play-off semi-final - probably a similar arrangement.

I can understand the strength of feeling but we need to look at the bigger picture.

Just rang Matt in the ticket office, it's Amazing how calm one can be having slept on it. We have been moved to near the tunnel third row down. Not quite in line with the half way line but hey ho.
I will forgive the club if we win at Wembley. ;)

Agree completely with Pigman, absolute no brainer if you ask me. Just give them the Airwair and expect a lot of Luton fans in the home end, or give them both stands and make money?

It'll be strange hearing some noise coming from the North Stand, can't remember the last time I heard anything coming from there ;).

OsanoIsKing wrote:
It'll be strange hearing some noise coming from the North Stand, can't remember the last time I heard anything coming from there ;).

Plenty of noise when they're leaving and they flip the plastic seats up. ;)

Formic wrote:I'm sure everyone at the club regretted having to make this move, but it's obviously important to maximise revenue to help tide us over the summer months. Unpopular moves like this have had to be made before - the Airwair move, the relocation of those in blocks C1 and C2 of the North Stand, and the midseason move of those in C5 of the South Stand - and all are a legacy of the falling attendances.

Had we seen a significant rise in the attendance in the past few home games I'm sure it might have been looked at differently, but although the small increases are a positive sign, it looks like the real surge in fans is going to be for a single game at best during the regular season.

Talk of "£40k" has been mentioned, but does anyone know if this is anything other than a minimum guarantee from Luton to allow these changes, with every prospect of more if they sell out these areas ?

Those who remember the games with Luton in the league seasons will recall that Luton fans are determined enough to get hold of tickets for the game, whereever they end up in the ground. This move will thus also reduce the number of their fans who desperately want to attend the game, but can't get tickets for the away areas - and who will then try to get tickets for the home areas - although I still think the club has a major challenge preventing significant numbers gaining admission to the PDB.

This move will free up more capacity than just giving the Luton fans C5 and C2, as shown at http://www.thediamondsfc.com/page/Buyin ... 28,00.html

It's good to see fellow fans have sympathy with those who are having to make this sacrifice for such an important game - let's just hope the result and / or the final outcome of the season make it worthwhile !

Ah, the voice of reason as per usual! ;)

I'd heard that we get the £40k regardless of what Luton sell, be it more or less than that. Bear in mind that under 8s get in for free, and that under 16s only pay £5, so I'm sure the takings wouldn't have been more than the £40k if the tickets were sold in the usual manner.

For those moaning about us losing home advantage for the game, if you're that concerned about the atmosphere then get yourselves in the De Banke for the game and help contribute to it in a positive way.