Are we going backwards?

[Perth Red]

I am getting quite worried that we seem to be going backwards both on and off the field.

Playing wise we don't seem to be improving as I though we might as players got more experience at this level. The idea that MES would be a graveyard for visitng teams hasn't materialised with teams seemingly inspired by the plush surroundings.

Our crowds are dropping dramatically which is probably the biggest worry from a sustainability point of view.

On the plus side we do seem to be attracting some good corporate partners and smaller sponsorships and it is good to see the merchandise, newsletters etc improving. Not to mention having a team to watch every other week and cheer along in a hig quality stadium is just the best, even if we don't win much!

What's others thoughts?

1st season growing pains or major concerns about our direction?

 

[Alehana]

this doesn't suprise me tbh, my brother in law worked at the force and was in charge of memberships, and their trend was large numbers to begin with, then a slow decline in numbers over next years (which is currently happening now) but will level off

also the fremantle dockers when they first came in, had terrible numbers, now look at them, so it will take time, careful planning, marketing, and on field performances, and as the quality improves so will the numbers.

 

[Nuke]

Personally, I'm not too concerned. We're not finished our first season in a 3rd rate Rugby League competition based in Sydney (bar us of course). The teams are suburban teams and have little support in Sydney, let alone over here in Perth. Once the Reds gain entry into the Queensland Cup, you'll notice an increase in crowds as the WA-based Queenslanders come out in support of their teams. Once the WA Reds gain entry into the NRL, you'll notice a dramatic increase again in crowds as every League supporter in Perth and surrouding areas will all of a sudden come out of the woodwork all together and more frequently.

Have patience people. Do what you can to spread the word, but don't panic.

Build it and they will come.

 

[hellteam]

Are the Reds considering entering a team in the QLD Cup? Would be a good move, much stronger competition then the Jim Beam Cup

 

[Perth Red]

2010 is the planned Q'land cup season. We will need to beef our side up considerably before we can contemplate that though.

 

[Smithtown]

Without doubt the Reds are going backwards - unfortunately more so off the field than on it.

The decision to play a 3rd tier competition at a first tier stadium must now be seen to be the crippling decision that it was. The targetted patrons (as always) seem to be the top end of town and the corporates, and they are the wrong targets for longevity and success.

To build this Club it would be wise to invest more time and effort in building a proper base and foundation, and that is with the mums, dads and kids of the WARL.

The Junior comp this year (apart from the odd incident) has been great - especially the younger grades from 7's to 11's. There are kids everywhere in these grades, with some Clubs - mostly Rockingham - having two teams in many grades. You have to build from the bottom.

These are the targets, and clearly Saturday night is not kiddie night - especially if you have a big Junior day on the Sunday and have been at Seniors all day Saturday.

Only now, once the horse has bolted, are kids passes being handed out for free to try and drag some punters in. In the early parts of the year there was no regard to the kids, and a ridiculous entry cost coupled with the unfriendly time is reason enough to bypass the Reds. Thankfully that has been reversed, but too little too late.

The solution is blindingly simple:

The Reds players themselves have to get in touch with every Clubs juniors. They have to be seen at the various suburban grounds as a team in their kit, preferably helping out with the kids training, and then training themselves at that ground.

Not every session of course, but at least twice a year at every Club on a thursday, handing out their posters and stickers etc... to the kids early, then having a ballwork session at the ground so the kids can see them do their thing.

Right now, no one knows who they are or what the Reds are about - and 12 training sessions in a whole year will be more PR than they could imagine. The kids have to walk away from that wanting to be a Red.

Then, the Reds have to play their games suburban at a family friendly time and venue. The obvious time is a Saturday afternoon after the first grade game (which does add to the senor day significantly). They have to be seen to be part of the whole WARL community - not divorced from it. There are some great suburban grounds that would accommodate both families and corporates - Lark Hill, North Beach or the Arena Joondalup spring to mind.

Rugby League is traditionally built around small suburban or country communities and districts. The Reds team and the game have to be taken to the people - not the other way around.

And lastly, those in charge need to realise that by apportioning blame at WARL Clubs supporters for low attendances is putting further distance between the Reds and the local league community. Poor decisions have been made, and ownership of those decisions needs to be taken (the latest being the short shrift to the 'Reds' Colts competition).

Pointing fingers at others after making these decisions leaves the finger pointers looking decidedly foolish.

 

[Perth Red]

Disagree about the stadium but totally agree about the jnrs and Reds players getting involved.

We HAVE to play out of MES to have any hope of building a decent fanbase and attracting corporate support. I for one wouldn't have attended 1/2 the games I've been to if it was held at a local park. How would you accomodate 1500 at Sth's or North Beach? We have got close to $200K in sponsors this year, how much do you think we would have playing at a park?

For me the entance fee needs to be $10 and $3 for kids and they have to play on a Saturday afternoon and move the WARL games to a Sunday afternoon.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

Personally, I'm not too concerned. We're not finished our first season in a 3rd rate Rugby League competition based in Sydney (bar us of course). The teams are suburban teams and have little support in Sydney, let alone over here in Perth. Once the Reds gain entry into the Queensland Cup, you'll notice an increase in crowds as the WA-based Queenslanders come out in support of their teams. Once the WA Reds gain entry into the NRL, you'll notice a dramatic increase again in crowds as every League supporter in Perth and surrouding areas will all of a sudden come out of the woodwork all together and more frequently.

Have patience people. Do what you can to spread the word, but don't panic.

Build it and they will come.

I agree its a slow process and will not happen overnight. It doesnt help either that the 1000's of RL fans in Perth won't support the Reds or don't even know of their existance which is a fact!

 

[Lockyer4President!]

I agree its a slow process and will not happen overnight. It doesnt help either that the 1000's of RL fans in Perth won't support the Reds or don't even know of their existance which is a fact!

Why's that?

 

[Perth Red]

Probably because it is 3rd grade. personally I love RL and will watch a game of under 8's but not everyone is that comitted unfortunately. For most people they will only want to watch the top grade of a sport. The Perth Gold ARU team only got crowds of 1000 at MES as well. We are probably the best supported JB cup team so that tells you something about the general lack of interest in lower grade sport. When I went to Belrose they had about 40 people watching the game, & a 1/3rd of them were in reds gear!

The price does put people off as well I reckon. $15 is steep for amateur RL, even in a good stadium and the Saturday night in Winter isn't good for families. Games aren't finishing till gone 9.30pm and most parents aren't going to have little johnny out that late in 3degree weather.

 

[joondalup_giant]

i agree with smithtown, i think the suburban ground idea would be good, the only problem is poses is the inability to accomodate corporate sponsors.

what where the crowd figures like at the Perth Gold match's??

 

[Lockyer4President!]

You've got to stick with MES. The image of the team will be negatively affected if they move to a park and if that happens you can kiss goodbye to any corporate support.

 

[KalgoorlieRed]

Probably because it is 3rd grade. personally I love RL and will watch a game of under 8's but not everyone is that comitted unfortunately. For most people they will only want to watch the top grade of a sport. The Perth Gold ARU team only got crowds of 1000 at MES as well. We are probably the best supported JB cup team so that tells you something about the general lack of interest in lower grade sport. When I went to Belrose they had about 40 people watching the game, & a 1/3rd of them were in reds gear!

The price does put people off as well I reckon. $15 is steep for amateur RL, even in a good stadium and the Saturday night in Winter isn't good for families. Games aren't finishing till gone 9.30pm and most parents aren't going to have little johnny out that late in 3degree weather.

Why do you think they won't have Sunday afternoons? Night games are crap.

 

[joondalup_giant]

You've got to stick with MES. The image of the team will be negatively affected if they move to a park and if that happens you can kiss goodbye to any corporate support.

i dont know the full extent of the there financial situation but it seems as though there living beyond there means, it's like driving around in a brand new Ferrari, looks awsome but if your lossing money tryin 2 run it then whats the point???

 

[Lockyer4President!]

i dont know the full extent of the there financial situation but it seems as though there living beyond there means, it's like driving around in a brand new Ferrari, looks awsome but if your lossing money tryin 2 run it then whats the point???

They might be living beyond their means currently but they've only got to do it for a couple of years and they'll be in the NRL.

The NRL looks at corporate support for new teams very seriously, remember the scrutiny that the Titans underwent wrt backing and support from the GC business community. If the Reds aren't playing out of a reputable stadium then they won't get the corporate backing from the Perth business community and :. the NRL won't give them the go-ahead for a license.

They've just got to ride out this year and the next year, by then they'll be in the QLD Cup, there'll hopefully be a better awareness of them in WA and the WARL/ARL will have ironed out most of the problems they've had this season.

 

[Perth Red]

Totally agree Locky. If we wanted to stay a JBC team for the next 10 years then I would agree that a move to North Beach or somewhere would be a long term more sustainable proposition. As it is we aren't. We are trying to show that we are a NRL team in the making. To do that we need to be playing in the best ground, be attracting as many fans as we can and be building a strong corporate backing. MES is the only ground that will see us achieve those things.

Giant the Gold were getting around a 1000 for their games (and I think Force members got in cheap as well)

Hopefully the club will do a survey of the fans at some point to get feedback on prefered game times, admission prices etc.