'Whither Rugby? 05/06 - Falcons Flounder
By BrianC
July 17 2006
It has been a tough season for Newcastle Falcons. In the relegation fray for much of it, their previously very healthy growth has now come to a grinding halt. Last season saw gates only one percent up on 04/05.
| Season | Average Att. | Position (Out of) |
Final ZP Position | Percentage Growth |
| 97-98 | 5023 | 8th(11) | 1st(12) | |
| 98-99 | 3647 | 10th(10) | 8th(14) | -27.4% |
| 99-00 | 3287 | 9th(11) | 9th(12) | -9.9% |
| 00-01 | 4233 | 10th(12) | 6th(12) | 28.8% |
| 01-02 | 5470 | 10th(12) | 6th(12) | 29.2% |
| 02-03 | 5858 | 9th(12) | 10th(12) | 7.1% |
| 03-04 | 7571 | 7th(12) | 9th(12) | 29.2% |
| 04-05 | 7952 | 10th(12) | 7th(12) | 5.0% |
| 05-06 | 8030 | 11th(12) | 7th(12) | 1.0% |
So how is it that a club which has managed to more than double its gates in the first half of this decade has come to stagnate so? The two main reasons that I can think of that have certainly had an effect are ticket pricing and Johnny Wilkinson. Some would also argue that market saturation is a factor. Indifferent performances on field must also have played a part.
In Newcastle's ticket price increases and subsequent crowd patterns I can see a direct parallel to that which has happened at London Irish in recent seasons.
- Having seen spectacular growth in previous seasons (29.3% in 03/04) Newcastle hiked their prices substantially at the start of the 04/05 season. That season still saw growth, albeit a lower 5% over 03/04. Despite the fact that there was little or no price increase for the following season there has been no growth.
- In the case of London Irish the pattern was very similar. It started a season earlier. They had also seen spectacular growth in previous seasons (43.2% in 02/03). Their substantial price increases were at the start of the 03/04 season. That season still saw growth albeit a lower 7.4% over 02/03. Despite the fact that there were little or no price increases for the following season there was no growth.
In both cases it seems that the impact of such steep price increases on crowd numbers takes at least a couple of years to work their way though. In a clubs scramble to balance the books such steep increases, whilst appearing necessary at the time, may in fact be counter productive. There is of course the fact that having initially attracted such crowds and then asked them to pay substantially more you should at least put on something attractive for them to watch. In the case of Newcastle last season and LI the ones before that, it just didn't happen.
The simple fact is that in the two seasons since the substantial price hikes The Falcons have gone from being the 7th best supported club in the country with a record of strong growth to the second least (11th) supported club with little forward momentum. This is the lowest position they have ever been in. With the demise of Leeds and the return of Harlequins to the Premiership next season they may even drop to the bottom spot.
| Variation '97-'06 | 160% | 5th(13) |
| Crowd Growth Absolute | 3007 | 9th(13) |
| Average Growth | 7.9% |
One final mention should be made when looking at Newcastle crowd numbers, the impact of Johnny Wilkinson. I have written about his impact before so won't dwell on it. Suffice it to say that Kingston Park has seen two capacity crowds this season. The games against London Irish and Leicester. This was the first time London Irish had ever played to a capacity crowd at this venue. Did the new style of London Irish play attract the crowds? Or was it that this match was Johnny's first start after a long absence through injury?