I'm coming to this a day earlier than usual, as I normally start my analysis on midnight Sunday, before a Saturday game, but as it's selling so well I thought I'd do a report now, as there's a fair bit to unpick. I've been doing a count for about ten days now, but thanks to
@Thecurraghofkildare for doing a daily count and reporting on here.
So, my figures agree with The Curragh's and I have us at 8,477 home sales (excluding boxes) first thing this morning. To give some context that is 1,700 higher than any game, at this stage, this season. North Stand at 96% sold, East Stand at 91% sold and SSU at 91% sold are all higher than any game this season the day before match day. Of the 25 individual seating blocks 19 of them are currently 90%+ sold, with only the wings of SSL, wings of East Stand, and the fence end block of SSU below 90% sold.
What does this all mean? To state the obvious, it will sell out, it's just a matter of when. If the club don't make any more seats available, then we have 9,554 available. From this point on the LEAST that we have sold this season is 1,300 and the most is over 2,000. So a worst case scenario is that we need an extra 200/250 seats. But I suspect we'll need more. The club can, as The Curragh stated a week or so ago, make 190 extra front row seats available, and I expect they will do this. They can also make available about 300/350 extra seats in the North Stand, by moving the segregation and opening up half of Block 26, next to the away fans. This would be subject to TVP/H&S approval, but I'd be surprised if the club haven't already considered this, as they have the same ability to analyse the sales that I do. It begs the question why haven't they already announced this, or have the authorities knocked it back? These are really good seats, so they should be on sale now, not left to those who turn up at the last minute, in my opinion.
Interesting few days ahead I think............
