LebaneseForces said:
Woops LOL...
This is what sh*ts me about Sydneysiders... There is NO reason why this game or the Bulldogs V Rabbitohs game or any game like that shouldn't draw 40K+, we need to start changing the culture and make the footy a MUST go to experience... But How?
Ok i did a heap of research into this. So bear with me as i spill it out. This is also in reply to the post about how melbournes had some success.
Upgraded Stadiums
Both English soccer and AFL realised that with modern stadiums they could attract a bigger crowd. AFL put $30m into building Telstra Dome for this reason and have some 4 teams playing home games there. They have the MCG. Swans and Brisbane have quality stadiums.
League hasnt done this yet. Newcastle has but Campbelltown, Leichardt, Manly, Kogarah, Cronulla havent. Ie, Melbournes Olympic Park is very run down and so struggles to get big crowds. Look what happened to Melbourne Victory, took games to the Dome and got an avg of 30,000. Also many of these reach capacity so an increase in crowds is limited by capacity constraints Manly cant increase their avg crowd by much as they have no more room.
Memberships
Secondly and most importantly. Memberships! The total amount of memberships for AFL teams last yaer was 519,000. Collingwood had total memberships of 39,000 and avg 63,000 crowd.
Our best team, Brisbane has only 8,944 members. Every team needs to get members. Since they have a season membership its easy for them to go to the match. Every AFL club has more members than any NRL team. Members are involved with the team, through events and the members website increasing fan loyalty.
AFL teams go on membership drives with a goal of getting 30,000 members (for example), they advertise. Sydney Swans have shoppa dockets for a 3 match superpass. If they cant afford season tickets, they can get a supporters pack where they can get a ticket to one game, hat, newsletters amd website membership where they can be offered tickets latter on to more matches (its easier to get repeat business then attract a first time purchaser). Ads like, buy a jersey and get a ticket to a match.
Even if they fork out $70 for a supporters pack with only one ticket, they will be entitled to receiving emails and newsletters with offers and will most likely go to another match.
Benefits of increased membership:
-increased revenue
-increased crowds
-increased sponsorships from a larger fan base
-stronger fan loyalty even in periods of losses
Games should be advertised
Every Premier league soccer side has on the first page of their website a massive ad for the next home game with a link to buy tickets.
Souths now advertise in both the local paper and in the daily telegraph each week to get people to their next game. Their crowds have gone up heaps.
Think outside of the box, like what souths did with the Bulldogs match and ticket to the Easter Show.
Special Event Rounds
AFL does this very well. Heritage round with
every team in a set retro jersey. Rivalry round, where every team plays a side that they have had a strong rivalry with, ie, Bulldogs v Roosters (generally comes from times when they have versed each other in GF). Derby week, where each team plays against their neighbour.
These are some things i have looked into but really the most important thing is the memberships.
...
... Geez i just don't know whether to Dog them out LOL and seat in my season ticket seat:sarcasm:
