Source: Bournemouth_Echo
Mitchell: Cherries entertainment a match for the best
EDDIE Mitchell believes paying to watch Cherries is money well spent and also claims Eddie Howe's troops are providing Premier League entertainment.[LNB] Mitchell has admitted his disappointment at low attendances for Cherries' opening three home league games but has also moved to justify ticket prices.[LNB] A crowd of 5,501 for their last encounter with Dagenham & Redbridge showed a 13 per cent decrease in home supporters from the previous game against Notts County.[LNB] And ahead of back-to-back Dean Court clashes against Carlisle and Exeter City, chairman Mitchell has issued another rallying call to the club's floating fans.[LNB] A top-priced ticket in the centre of the Main Stand costs £25 for an adult, while a seat in the popular Steve Fletcher Stand is £18.[LNB] Mitchell told the Daily Echo: It's a darn sight cheaper than the Premier League and our football is as entertaining.[LNB] It's cut and thrust and a good day out. You won't find it anywhere else around here and I think it is money well spent.[LNB] People need to support their local team and what better way to spend their Saturday afternoon than to bring the kids here to enjoy the football.[LNB] We need the fans to sustain this level of football and the players are certainly doing their bit on the pitch.[LNB] Our attendances so far are probably a reflection of the sign of the times but we've got to live through those times and do our best.[LNB] Compared with some of the other clubs in this division, we're not doing too badly. But if we want to compete with the bigger clubs, we've got to get a few more supporters here and won't give up until we've got them.[LNB] Although Cherries are actively trying to boost attendances by launching various initiatives, Mitchell said the prospect of price cuts or Friday night football were not on the agenda.[LNB] Evening games are great once in a while but I don't think Fridays would make a lot of difference to the attendances, said Mitchell, in response to the suggestion from the Daily Echo. Personally, I think we would be worse off.[LNB] I know a lot of people play locally on a Saturday but I think you would lose some of the families. People make more of a day of it on a Saturday than they would on a Friday, especially with the winter coming up.[LNB] In terms of costs, we've got to consider the season ticket holders. We can't go slashing prices and leaving them high and dry. I don't think that would be the answer anyway.[LNB] The football has been great and it's not as if we're losing 6-0 every week. We're playing good football so there is no reason to slash prices. We need to reach the non-hardcore fans.[LNB]
