10,000 and marching

[Godz Illa]

Would be interesting to know how many members are paid up for all 12 home games.

I imagine the other teams are.

Nope. Souths have a 3 game package available... the Roosters have a 4 game package... "I imagine" most clubs have something similar

 

[TruSaint]

Still such a small fry sport isn't it...such a great game, yet so poorly promoted and run.

You make a great point, and we cant use population as an excuse. Comparing our memberships to the NFL, EPL may be silly, but comparing us to AFL, smaller city base , is it disappointing. Yet is such a better spectacle than aerial ping pong.

 

[64 Dragon]

That's not what the people in Melbourne think. It all depends on the sport we were brought up with. If we were as keen on our better spectacle how come our crowds are much smaller?

 

[hardbaby]

I think league is very disappointing in terms of membership numbers and patronage to games. Every time I see a Dragons game that isn't sold out I am disappointed. Not sure what the solution is. I do think having all 3 grades would provide better value for money.

 

[hardbaby]

Yet is such a better spectacle than aerial ping pong.

You think it is a better spectacle because you love league. But one of the things that drives supporters to watch AFL is that it is so much better if you are there. League is played on a small field and you have to pass the ball backwards. So the tv cameras can capture the plays unfolding. But in AFL, the clever stuff that opens up space is often 80 metres in front of the play. You don't appreciate it on tv and even the replays can't catch it all. League is made for tv. AFL isn't. That is definitely a factor in why AFL gets big crowds and does so in all parts of Australia, not just Melbourne. If you love AFL, you need to be at the game, not watching it at home.

 

[64 Dragon]

We definitely don't promote our game enogh. And I do agree it is badly run, even with the new Commission. Fancy appointing a new CEO who knows absolutely nothing about League. He will probably be a "yes man" for John Grant.

 

[R&WTILLIDIE]

I think too many teams that no one cares about has caused the spread of the football playing talent around and lowered the quality of the game. Not to mention the hopeless refereeing, the salary cap being rorted, the death of traditional teams and too many games in a season.

All this is not helping raise the profile of the game.

 

[Godz Illa]

AFL is shit

 

[TruSaint]

Hardbaby you make some valid points.
But i agree with Gozd Illa

 

[hardbaby]

Hardbaby you make some valid points.
But i agree with Gozd Illa

I'm not a big AFL fan but I have seen three lives games and thoroughly enjoyed them. I have seen many tv games and it hasn't had the same impact. League is tailor made to enjoy sitting on the coach and not queuing for mid strength beers and over-priced pies. AFL isn't good to watch on the idiot box - you need to be there. So it is no surprise that the AFL crowds swamp our league crowds. But that doesn't make it a better game by any stretch of the imagination.

 

[TruSaint]

Thats why i said you have a good point. I cant disagree the dymanics visually are so different. As a matter of interest i have been to 2 AFL finals. Spectacles? Yes. But its doesnt compare to the game we love most. Go well.

 

[hardbaby]

Agreed. I think the best thing we could do to increase crowd numbers is to either have 3 grades like yesteryear or flick U20s to a different day and replace it with reserve grade. We need to add value. Who really cares about U20s? Only a handful of those guys will make a successful transition to first grade and as likely as not, it won't even be at the Dragons. If it is, it may not be for 2 years. But reserve grade is different because these are the guys who cover for injury and rep duties. The standard is much higher than U20s and the game is more meaningful. The average family pays a fair bit to see a game of league. We should give them two great games for the price of one. And reserve grade is a very high standard. There are a couple of teething issues (e.g. QLD Cup vs NSW Cup) but these are easily solved.

 

[Godz Illa]

Agreed. I think the best thing we could do to increase crowd numbers is to either have 3 grades like yesteryear or flick U20s to a different day and replace it with reserve grade. We need to add value. Who really cares about U20s? Only a handful of those guys will make a successful transition to first grade and as likely as not, it won't even be at the Dragons.

I care about U20's! Have a look at the team that played in the semis: Quinlan, Runciman, Green, Ryan, Stockwell, Phillips, Seru are all in the top squad next season. Now look at the Cutters round 26 team: only Vea, Cook, Wakeman in the top squad next season.

And reserve grade is a very high standard.

I'd disagree on this. I watched the "highlights" package most wednesdays on fox... the standard was not not very high

 

[hardbaby]

I was involved with the catering at North Sydney Oval for a number of years and watched lots of Reserve Grade games (the Bears are the Rabbits feeder club). There are some gun teams around and they play hard. And so they should. All the graded players that haven't been selected for first grade are involved. Beats the hell out of the hand bags at 5 paces that is the U20s.

Really looking forward to the Cutters this year. I suspect a fair few of the guys you have mentioned in the U20s will actually play their footy in the Cutters anyway. And there is a reason for that. It's better footy.

 

[silverex]

I think this thread started off as being about membership numbers but has ended up being a discussion about attendance at games. I'm not being critical, just saying.

Ideally we should be trying to get both more members and more people attending. If there are more members, naturally there will be more people attending games.

On the other hand, there could be an increase in attendance at games without there being an increase in membership.

So, why does anyone become a member and why do others attend games without being members?

Maybe there are not enough incentives to convince casual attendees to become members. Maybe there is too much other stuff to do in Sydney to stop people committing themselves to attend 6 or 12 games a year. Maybe league is not as attractive to people as much as we think it is.

Surely there must be some marketing gurus out there who can sort this out! I'm just glad it's not my responsibility.

 

[hardbaby]

I buy my membership knowing that I won't be able to attend many games. I live at the top of WA and make it to about 4 games per year. My membership is purely about supporting the club financially since I can't contribute as much as I would like through tickets, food and booze. I buy merchandise for a similar reason. That's one of the tricky things about marketing to Dragons supporters. Large numbers of supporters are spread to all corners of Australia and beyond. All the more reason for them to become members in my mind.