Sta£e of the Nation - County Cricket Finances

Perhaps, more important than population size is that the number of middle aged or older men in the Devon and Somerset is higher than in Sussex. It gives Somerset a slight advantage.

Not convinced by either your facts, analysis and certainly not your
anectodil evidence Sf. First you suggest Taunton Deane population Is 529k. Wrong, it is around 110k. Look at the Census figures not Wiki. Second, Somerset CC population is around 530k. The figure you choose to quote includes the contiguous Bristol population with split, more local localities to Gloucestershire. And sorry, I think it stretches credibility for you to suggest the highly populated conurbation of Bournemouth and Poole, in Dorset yes, is part of the Somerset membership catchment area, when it is much closer in both travel and historical terms to Southampton and Hampshire

In my observation members are generally those who watch cricket regularly. Ease of access is clearly very important in this, so one key should be population within,say 30 and 60 minutes of the main ground. Please study the facts, but I think you will find Sussex has higher numbers to draw on than Somerset on both these measures.

My point about location is reflected in analysis of where Somerset members live. I asked a Somerset member friend about this, and he quoted figures from their 2010 accounts, showing 33% of their members living in their Taunton area, 11% in neighbouring Bridgwater and Coastal, 7% in mid Somerset, and 5% in Weston super mare. So 56% in the heart of Somerset. There is then 11% in South Somerset and Dorset, but he assures me the vast majority of those are contiguous to the Somerset border, and not the higher numbers of the Dorset population closer to Hampshire. Then we have Devon and Cornwall at 22%, but again I am advised the majority of these are from East Devon and Exeter, within an hour of Taunton by car, and not the more populated areas of Devon, being Torbay and Plymouth much longer in time from Taunton. Finally Bath and Wiltshire 5%, and Bristol and North Somerset 6%, again with many closer to Bristol and Gloucestershire. So SF I think the outlying higher population figures you quote are largely irrevelant, but please provide solid evidence, and not anecdotal evidence to prove me wrong. Also don't forget that Sussex has many members beyond its borders who live in Surrey, London, west Kent.

So sf I strongly dispute your claim that Somerset's much higher membership numbers are due to population. I believe you introduced this theme as a distraction to the central point I made in my original post, which was that Somerset's membership income had increased from £452k in 2007 to £850k in 2016, whilst Sussex membership income had declined from £409k in 2007 to £348k in 2015(2016 not yet available). That is the key point, why has one county, with no trophies in the period, massively increased its membership, and thus extra income, whereas Sussex membership income has declined?

By golly sf, why not just admit you were wrong. My figures are from the Census, and the Somerset published accounts .Those of us, like you, who live in Sussex know where the centres of population in Sussex are. Your point about the catchment area being the sea is a complete red herring, what is relevant is how many live within the area.

Zac was CEO of Sussex for four years, if he was as good as you think, why did membership decline under his stewardship?

fred,

Now you are confusing me. Are you saying that the Wiki figures are wrong? And if so, why did you base your original Devon population
as the same as the Wiki given population? I am basing mine on the ceremonial county not the non-metropolitan county as, I presume,
you are with Devon. There appear to be inconsistencies with your own population figures offered.

hhs,

... generally distance, travel time, density of population and ability to service the needs of users are the main characteristics.

Of course, a major part of the Sussex catchment area consists of the sea. It runs along its southern border. You may use geometric shapes
to govern your viewpoint but I use common sense. I walk down to the beach which is 500 yards from my property; put my foot in the water;
and know that to the south of my home, there is no cricket catchment area unlike Surrey and every other 1st class county that has no sea border,
who can nip Membership away from other counties south of its own border. Unfortunately, for Sussex, the English channel is not a county and therefore
has no potential cricketing catchment area.

Ok SF, no point in continuing debating with you. My last post on this topic. You will always find a distraction, as a spin doctor would. You completely ignore the central points about why Somerset has done so much better than Sussex in terms of membership income. I believe your neutrality on this is negated because you enjoyed access to Zac. So be it.

Bm,

NEVER!! 

youtu.be/taGgntNWFSE

fred,

We agree on most points just the primary source of the county population figures. As for Zac Toumazi, while the best CEO Sussex have had (Gus Mackay only stayed 2 years), I have never gained preferential treatment - no abundance of cake - just an occasional slice. That’s for journos like Bruce Talbot.

Hhs,

People, physical sheeple, I shall report you to the aquatic police for not treating Jasper Fish as a cricketer.