Brighton news: Opinion - Fan writer on transport problems at Amex Stadium
Attendance at Amex Stadium is a hot topic. There were at least 2,000 season ticket seats that went unsold on exchange for the Newcastle game. Looking around the stadium, there were many thousands more empty seats.
Those who do show up are leaving early in increasing numbers. The ground is now often half empty by the time the final whistle blows. Even Fabian Hurzeler spoke about it following the 3-2 win over West Ham. On that occasion, those who left early missed Albion goals in the 89th and 93rd minutes.
Brighton are still in the race for European football next season - so why are so many season ticket-holders staying away or leaving early?
The answer lies in transport. The Amex relies on public transport. For Saturday games, the train service tends to be good. But on a Sunday or midweek, it turns into carnage.
This is obviously an issue when TV demands butcher the fixture list. Many people are evidently deciding the chaos is not worth the bother.
I live 12 miles from Amex Stadium. I have made it home from watching England at Wembley this season - 88 miles away - faster than getting back from some Albion games.
Roadworks currently taking place on the A27 just before Falmer are admittedly not helping. Some fans reported getting on a Park & Ride bus in Portslade at 1pm and only making it into their seat at 2.37pm on Sunday. A 7.7 mile journey taking 97 minutes and meaning they missed the opening half hour of the game.
Yet even when the A27 is fully open again, the problems with public transport will remain. It feels at times like the club are unaware of quite how bad it can be.
Maybe if Hurzeler and the Albion decision-makers who seem perplexed by the early leavers and no-shows tried the time-consuming and arduous journey themselves after a home game, they would better understand why people find it off-putting enough to dictate whether they attend games or not.
Find more from Scott McCarthy at We Are Brighton, external
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