And another thing ........
Some of us have young families and have done our away travelling in the dim and distant but we are still up for the odd match and definitiely this! (You only have to look at the number of threads vs number about saturday to realise the depth of feeling on this).
Although Im not about to start carting my young son off on 6 hour slogs every other weekend (want to spend time with mum, etc) THIS IS PRECISLEY THE TYPE OF MATCH THAT I WOULD LOVE TO SHARE WITH HIM AT EWOOD! To see the look on his face at the crowd, the colour, the atmosphere under the floodlights and Im sure there's plenty more like me. I also wouldnt taking my Dad - a life long rovers fan who cant get to many now cos of his money situation - but Im not going to get the chance am I? 17000 season tickets + 8000 celts leaves 5000 only. Hardly the best way to cultivate new/occasional fans!
My first match at ewood was when I was 7ish - we beat Plymouth 5-2 during Div3 promotion year. Big crowd - down 2-0; comeback and win 5-2. MAD and I was hooked going mad under the floodlight on Riverside. The point is that most of get hooked by the big, bright, loud occasions (e.g. Celtic / Utd) not against Charlton or Southampton but the club dont give the opportunity. The problem now is that people think they wont/cant get a ticket so wont try!