2015 Membership Discussion

[Perth Red]

Surely if you have a Leagues club operating 7 days a week with thousands of people passing through the doors it would make sense to have some form of retail and membership outlet as part of it? Even if it was just the barmaid taking the cash?

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Are you lot thick?

Football club offices are generally not open for business on Saturday or Sunday. They run 9-5 weekdays in almost all cases, some open Saturdays if you're lucky.

CBA is open Saturday and Sunday now.

Why not footy clubs?

Good thing for you - with me being thick and all - my Bulldogs membership forms came in the mail today. I could be sitting near you. And they offer pet memberships. What a hide!

Edit - called the Doggies. Ring the number 02 9789 8000 on the form says refer to website. Website says for help ring the number. Ring the number again to be told same and chose option 1, to be told too busy, go back to website, or ring back.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Surely if you have a Leagues club operating 7 days a week with thousands of people passing through the doors it would make sense to have some form of retail and membership outlet as part of it? Even if it was just the barmaid taking the cash?

You would think the six weeks leading in to the season, the clubs would have email/website, phone and desk all ready and willing to take memberships of any sort.

The NRL probably need to centralise it all.

They probably need to price ALL the options and make them uniform across the board.

I've said for years, everything from sponsorships, merchandise, website/info/social media, match day entertainment, food and beverage operations, season tickets, memberships should all be centralised and let the clubs worry about the business of running the football team.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

Just so anyone who wants to -

Sharks online memberships: www.sharks.com.au/membership (really here https://nrl.ticketek.com.au/SharksIntegration/Home.aspx )

Doggies online memberships: http://membership.thebulldogs.com.au

 

[Timmah]

Do

It

Online.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

I give it to the Doggies, their email reply was pretty quick.

Might give them a second chance with that kind of customer service.

 

[dimitri]

I give it to the Doggies, their email reply was pretty quick.

Might give them a second chance with that kind of customer service.

Bulldogs also had a live chat feature on their site

 

[unforgiven]

Do

It

Online.

I've found its easier to get what you want when you ring up and speak with an actual person.

 

[txta2]

Sharks have never been setup for surprise walk up memberships. That's a disgrace what the concierge did.Good to see the new CEO is doing a tops job:roll:

 

[The Voice of Reason!]

Are you lot thick?

Football club offices are generally not open for business on Saturday or Sunday. They run 9-5 weekdays in almost all cases, some open Saturdays if you're lucky.

Are you? In this day and age when the NRL, a business now worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is looking to significantly increase membership and community engagement, we have the backwards looking, 20th century view of "let's only open business hours, weekdays".

Come on.

We (rugby league) can do better than this.

 

[Perth Red]

Sharks have never been setup for surprise walk up memberships. That's a disgrace what the concierge did.Good to see the new CEO is doing a tops job:roll:

With three jobs I'm surprised he has time for much. Still saving sharks some $'s I suppose.

 

[carcharias]

Are you? In this day and age when the NRL, a business now worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is looking to significantly increase membership and community engagement, we have the backwards looking, 20th century view of "let's only open business hours, weekdays".

Come on.

We (rugby league) can do better than this.

It is open - online .
Someone tried to use the argument that CBA is open weekends therefore so should the sharks.
For a club that gets about 11k members is opening on a weekend needed?
Besides - they are open - online.
If online is too hard to work out - there is the telephone.
Call the club on a Monday morning- they'd probably still have tix left.
Do they sell grand final tickets on a Sunday?

 

[The Voice of Reason!]

Fair enough. Cronulla a clearly killing it when it comes to crowds and memberships. I withdraw my suggestion. No room for improvement.

 

[carcharias]

They have now had 4 fan forums plus numerous shopping centre visits with
Membership booths open.
Plus - you can get a membership online 24/7.
They have also had players making cold calls to members about renewing
So it's not like they have just opened normal business hours with no other time frame to buy in.
Did I mention they sell them online as well?

 

[The Voice of Reason!]

I'm being a bit sarcastic, I guess. Yes, the things you've mentioned are all good. I just think that sometimes in rugby league we have a way of going "These are the things we are doing. Like it or lump it." I'm of the view that if we can find an extra way to engage with potential fans... do it!

You are right. It isn't like Cronulla isn't doing anything. But every team can always do more.

 

[carcharias]

They have also had I think two fan days at the ground
Plus
They are having the official fan day this weekend

On Sunday

 

[papabear]

does anyone else giggle when the sharks have "fan days".

 

[Timmah]

Are you? In this day and age when the NRL, a business now worth hundreds of millions of dollars, is looking to significantly increase membership and community engagement, we have the backwards looking, 20th century view of "let's only open business hours, weekdays".

Come on.

We (rugby league) can do better than this.

Given that club staff at all clubs generally put in plenty of overtime on top of their day-to-day, Mon-Fri 9-5 responsibilities, I think we can forgive them for not opening their doors for the 3 or 4 people that might come in on a weekend over the course of a whole year... :roll:

 

[Timmah]

I'm being a bit sarcastic, I guess. Yes, the things you've mentioned are all good. I just think that sometimes in rugby league we have a way of going "These are the things we are doing. Like it or lump it." I'm of the view that if we can find an extra way to engage with potential fans... do it!

You are right. It isn't like Cronulla isn't doing anything. But every team can always do more.

That bizarre logic suggests employing (and training) umpteen amounts of people and ultimately trading around the clock, all for the potentially non-existent proposition of someone rocking up wanting to sign up for a season ticket in person.

From a business perspective alone, the money spent on wages for that would far outweigh the money that would be made from in-person transactions.

 

[carcharias]

does anyone else giggle when the sharks have "fan days".

The kids have a ball. They get to meet all the players and get involved in activities and games.
Get a few photo's taken
Parents have a beer if they want.
Dads get to perv on the mermaids.

It's a good day.

Luckily Sharks fans aren't the geniused looking plebs who show up to training and call radio stations for a cry about ref decisions.