Crunch?

That (Being business minded) gives security to the players and fans. I'm also hoping that many local businesses who know me will be able to join me and support the team as well." - New Basingstoke Bison Owner Harry Robinson.

Why does an exciting sport that sells out 30 arenas, with an average capacity of 20,000, in the USA fail to attract more than 10,000 people a week in this country?

I've witnessed over a hundred MK Lightning games, all as exciting as the next. A glutton for the goal-fest, I've enjoyed every one. There's just as much of the violence as in the equivalent across the pond to please the masses, and there's the hospitality and fan accountability factor to appease higher class crowds.

Basingstoke Bison, a top division team, regularly got 2,000 fans in the door but a decade ago. They now struggle to get half that, which is resulting in them slowly go bust, a fate which has felled many a club already. They've got a new owner with local business links, so they've got a chance to reverse their fate, but the worrying thing is those dwindling figures.

The most expensive ticket is less than fifteen pounds, so it's no necessarily price that's fending off the punters, and if there's one thing that "Sociology of Sport" lessons have taught me, it's that Sport is pretty much immune to the Credit Crunch (Proven in the Great Depression - and I'm not talking about Henmania).

It's not that they're all going to the football either. Basingstoke FC fail to get more than 500 through the gate on a saturday at the Camrose, and besides, the dwindling attendance applies to Sunday Fixtures just as vociferously.

Let's hope it begins to turn around, results certainly are since coach Ryan Aldridge left under acrimonious circumstances but two weeks ago, slagging of the club and players. I might be going to see the Bison next weekend. Maybe you could too?