Cheapening the product, as was the case under the Oyston's, has a long term effect. There is always the next generation that will be seen as those to target with cheap tickets, but they are also the generation that demand success. It takes finance to do that and books need to balance, albeit an owner understands that they will be required to invest substantially into a football club.
It is important that the club and the town regenerate together, and as one. More job opportunities for local people mean more chance they will be able to afford a season ticket. More jobs in the area mean more people move to the town and the population grows. More school children mean more target audience. Its a long project that in reality will never end, amd nor should it. I for one would love to see the day that Blackpool Football Club host a 30k crowd. It may seem a lifetime away, but it's possible
I'm not saying to cheapen the product, although there can be a sweetspot in a poor town, its about being as affordable as possible too, but to fill the stadium with as many lapsed fans, new fans etc.
Some will need a kick to attend or attend again. The occasional offer you can't refuse will do that.
Sadler did one when he first took over, ST holders could bring x amount of new fans or whatever it was.
A cheap friendly against good opposition, anything like that that can fill the stadium with people who haven't been in a while or before will help in the short term.
As for the long term project, thats great but a while off, but still vital.
In the here and now we have had a large section of the ground empty.
Logistics aside if that could be filled with fans it's only a benefit.
I'd like to see what crowd we could get in a decent game for a cheap price, it would give an idea of how much price can affect things, what sort of size fanbase we have to tap into etc.
It's about getting people hooked and short term enticing them through the door. Success will do that but not guaranteed, a cheap deal will too. The big games are all previous purchase history only and new fans may miss out and the big games are when you should grow as that's the ones most likely to lure new casual fans in and hook them.
You can have a leaflet campaign and volunteers knocking on doors, many ways to try and get more fans coming. New fan special deal so almost nothing to lose....