Michael Stewart found himself banging his head against a brick wall as he discussed with Kris Boyd the rising attendances at Scottish football over the last couple of seasons.
Since season 2013/14 Aberdeen and Hearts have enjoyed a rise in attendances with that pattern repeated at a number of clubs.
Celtic’s attendances were dropping under Ronny Deila but since the moment Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club the Ticket Office has been under siege.
Explaining the trends to Kris Boyd and Chic Young proved challenging for Stewart with his studio colleagues believing that everything in the Scottish game revolves around a club from Ibrox.
@mstewart_23 first season back for Rangers and every club apart from Motherwell ave attendances are up,so best search stats mate
— billy white (@billyw27) November 13, 2017
Best listen to what’s actually being said before commenting, cause I never suggested otherwise. Perhaps look at the previous seasons and you’ll see a trend! Attendances up are not solely down to 1 team being in the league ‘mate’ https://t.co/irSTE4GSaP
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) November 13, 2017
Here’s a crazy thought perhaps a club’s attendance has more to do with their own club rather than another club….. https://t.co/8s5WcaGONb
— Michael Stewart (@mstewart_23) November 13, 2017
Worth pointing out that Motherwell’s attendances are up significantly this season, and every home league attendance (home fans only) has seen a marked increase vs specific opposition with the exception of one, vs Rangers, which was pretty much level to what it was during 16/17.
— Alan Burrows (@Alan_Burrows) November 13, 2017
After being presented with statistics Boyd and Young refused to reconsider their thoughts leaving Stewart to despair.
“The more important thing is at each individual club has their crowds gone up or gone down?” he asked. “I’m telling you, you’re relating this all to bigger clubs coming back into the league.
“Of course you want to get bigger clubs into the top flight but that is not the sole reason for attendances increasing. They were increasing when Hearts were out the top flight, when Hibs were out the top flight when Rangers were out the top flight.
“The average attendances of the individual clubs were increasing. Not the overall attendance that is inflated by these clubs coming back in.”
Challenged again Stewart said: “I give up, I give up cos they clearly don’t understand. The attendances have gone through the roof Boydy? I’m telling you before they were there the attendances were increasing, am I speaking a difference language here? He’s just given you the numbers.”
CLICK HERE to listen to Stewart reasoning with Boyd at 47 minutes