Get the latest Hull City stories straight to your inbox with our new newsletter Subscribe Thank you for subscribing See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Hull City created an unwanted piece of KCOM Stadium history last night after just 14,071 supporters turned out to watch a new Championship season begin with a 3-1 defeat against Aston Villa.

The Tigers fell to a disappointing loss at the hands of former boss Steve Bruce and the backdrop of empty seats in front of the Sky Sports cameras was another cause for concern.

Not since 2002-03 and the final months of Boothfery Park have City recorded a smaller gate for the opening home game of a campaign, with the KCOM Stadium’s previous low coming for the 2003-04 curtain raiser when 14,675 were in attendance to watch a 4-1 win over Darlington in the fourth tier.

Last night’s figure, including an estimated 2,000 travelling fans, was the latest measure of disenchantment among City fans.

Twice last season – against Millwall and Barnsley – attendances fell below last night’s gate but the challenge of enticing lost supporters back to the KCOM Stadium promises to be tough this season.

City’s crowds have steadily fallen since the club’s controversial membership scheme was introduced in 2016.

Supporters were balloted in the spring to decide if concession tickets should be reintroduced but a poor turn-out in two different votes is yet to bring any changes to last season’s ticketing model.

City said in May that they would “liaise with the Football Supporters' Federation, with a view to understanding their factual insights in order to help us be able to move forward with making this decision in an informed manner.”

(Image: Russell Hart/Focus Images)

Attendance for Hull City’s opening home game of a season since moving to the KCOM Stadium

2018-19: 14,071 vs Aston Villa (Championship)

2017-18: 14,882 vs Burton Albion (Championship)

2016-17: 21,037 vs Leicester City (Premier League)

2015-16: 19,361 vs Huddersfield Town (Championship)

2014-15: 24,348 vs Stoke City (Premier League)

2013-14: 23,682 vs Norwich City (Premier League)

2012-13: 15,794 vs Brighton (Championship)

2011-12: 18,907 vs Blackpool (Championship)

2010-11: 21,478 vs Swansea City (Championship)

2009-10: 24,734 vs Tottenham (Premier League)

2008-09: 24,524 vs Fulham (Premier League)

2007-08: 16,633 vs Plymouth Argyle (Championship)

2006-07: 18,207 vs Barnsley (Championship)

2005-06: 22,201 vs QPR (Championship)

2004-05: 17,569 vs Bournemouth (League One)

2003-04: 14,675 vs Darlington (League Two)

Get the Hull Live app

It's completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and what’s on information. You can download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple's App Store, or get the Android version from Google Play.