Although with the caveat that Brighton have been completely shiit for most of their history bar the last 10 years.
Of course they are going to attract a new fanbase, its natural, new stadium, big investment, successful period. Compare that to the previous, a few seasons in the old Division 1, an FA cup Final, an old poor dilapidated stadium, relegation to L2, the threat of extinction and playing at an Athletics stadium with a 6k capacity. We'd be exactly the same. There's some right snobbery at times on here towards teams that are doing well with new investment, there seems to be an attitude that there has to be a set pecking order and anyone goes above us who shouldn't is getting flack. I'd like to think the majority of opposing fans were absolutely terrific with us when we were in the PL, for the most part and very complimentary, imagine them saying or look here's the other 8k plastic fans Barnsley have attracted that were no where to be seen last season while they were getting promotion.
Can’t imagine they will bring more than 1500 or so that’s all that went to Oxford last night and this tie is much further away and best part of a 500mile round trip.
I agree especially about crowds going up. Take ourselves as an example. Thousands of new houses being built to keep up with demand. Each house have approx 4 people shall we say. The kids in the house grow up find a partner and they start a family. There is no reason why in 20 years time if we had the capacity for it that we could average 20k without top flight football as a low estimate.
But in the early 80s, we were getting 14k gates in the third and second tier. Barnsley has pretty much doubled in size. All the 2 up / 2 down terraces have been complimented by new build developments; 3 and 4 bed houses, and bigger. All the kids from the terrace houses have got a partner and had a family. We now average 10k. It's not about growing the town at all, it's about growing the product.
I helped with a collection for them when they were trying to leave the Goldstone ground (and could have fallen out of the league altogether.) Fast forward a few years - “…we really should be beating teams like Barnsley”. I should’ve asked for it all back.
