Queries on Supporter Clubs/Activities within your Team

[Hellsy]

Hi Everyone,

A few of us are trying to compare other sporting clubs in regard to what they offer the average fan in regard to memberships, after match functions and player appearances etc etc etc

We also intend to compare the findings with Soccer, Union and League clubs.

It would be most appreciated if you have the time if you could answer a few of the questions as listed below and provide some helpful links to websites where we can get the information from also. (Its just that there are always things that happen that aren't always listed on the websites, things that are kind of impromptu or for certain members only... thats where the inside info from you guys would be really appreciated!!!)

Once done we are more than happy to share the findings amoungst all of you to do with as you please.

Main things we are interested in is:
* Does your club have after match functions where you can meet the players? If yes, how often and where?
* Do you have functions or open training sessions that are local to the ground/s your team plays at?
* Are these sessions held at a time that is considered suitable for all fans to attend?
* Does your club have any other functions throughout the year that fans can interact with players? (Not including the fan day that is usually held before each season begins)
* Does your club offer anything out of the ordinary to their fans? (Like open forums with players etc.)
* Does your club have members clubs for fans? (e.g. Parramatta have the Blue and Gold Army, Saints have the Red V club etc)
* What does the membership package include?
* How much do your varying memberships cost?
* Is there any other information that you feel may be relevant we could use?

Please list what club you support unless it is blatently obvious by your signature!!

We thankyou for your time in looking and for answering some or all of the queries above.

Cheers to one and all

 

[CyberKev]

I'll do what I can here.

I should preface my comments by stating that I am a long-term Hawthorn member, but I rarely attend games in the flesh these days since having left Victoria in 2002.

Does your club have after match functions where you can meet the players? If yes, how often and where?

Yes, the club holds eleven aftermatch functions for supporters throughout the season and these are mixed across states to correspond with key games. In 2007 the club will hold 4 of these functions in Tasmania; 2 in Victoria; 2 in Adelaide; and 1 in each of Brisbane, Sydney & Perth. The Tas and VIC functions will correspond with Hawthorn home games and the others with "interstate" games so as to cater for the club's out of Victoria supporter groups.

* Do you have functions or open training sessions that are local to the ground/s your team plays at?

Hawthorn regularly holds open training sessions at Waverley that supporters can attend and has ran traditional Thursday night BBQs that supporters can partake in.

The club also intends to run four open training sessions on a Saturday during 2007.

* Are these sessions held at a time that is considered suitable for all fans to attend?

Some are held at broadly suitable times, although most sessions run during the day when most fans would be at school or work.

* Does your club have any other functions throughout the year that fans can interact with players? (Not including the fan day that is usually held before each season begins)

Hawthorn holds several interaction sessions a year, such as:

- Christmas with the Hawks;
- A regular AFL community camp in Tasmania;
- A gala dinner season launch;
- A member's clinic in April;
- A dinner auction in June;
- A member's clinic in July; 7
- A Tribute lunch in September.

Hawthorn will usually also hold a supporter function in Canberra to correspond with draft camp week.

* Does your club offer anything out of the ordinary to their fans? (Like open forums with players etc.)

Not that I know of, outside of the Hawks Tribute lunch where members mingle freely with past and present players.

* Does your club have members clubs for fans? (e.g. Parramatta have the Blue and Gold Army, Saints have the Red V club etc)

The club has specific groups set up for kids and for women, but nothing official (that I know of) along the lines mentioned above.

* What does the membership package include?

Standard memberships come with supporter scarves and the usual tivialities such as: pens, fixture drink coasters, stickers, keyrings, etc.

Reserved seating memberships also come with Hawthorn cushions.

Higher priced memberships, such as the 'Kennedy Club' option, gives access to the Lindsay Hassett MCG rooms on match day, as well as access to an exclusive forum held by the team coach during the season.

* How much do your varying memberships cost?

It would probably be easier just to refer you to the official club website for the prices of the various packages.

http://hawthornfc.com.au/default.asp?pg=insidetheclub&spg=membership

 

[Twizzle]

we very much appreciate any help here

 

[Hellsy]

We certainly do!!!

Thanks heaps for the answers, and any other help that can be given :thumb

 

[Twizzle]

Richmond I'll also be a Wests Tigers member by the end of next week but assuming you've got plenty of answers from WT supporters on here already.

Main things we are interested in is:
* Does your club have after match functions where you can meet the players? If yes, how often and where?

Not exactly. They bring 3 players back to the social club after games (Not always players who were active on the day) to do interviews. They do one set of interviews inside the club upstairs for those of us with premium memberships, then another set downstairs for the plebs. On interstate trips there is usually a venue hired to host the aftermatch function for any supporters who made the trek (SCG functions are held in the grandstand).

* Do you have functions or open training sessions that are local to the ground/s your team plays at?

They usually do 1 or 2 fan training nights per year at Punt Road. Except in exceptional circumstances, standard training is always 'open' for anyone to watch

* Are these sessions held at a time that is considered suitable for all fans to attend?

No, I rarely attend training due to work. The fan sessions start @ 3 in the afternoon and most of the players duties are over by the time i could make it @ 6

* Does your club have any other functions throughout the year that fans can interact with players? (Not including the fan day that is usually held before each season begins)

No

* Does your club offer anything out of the ordinary to their fans? (Like open forums with players etc.)

No

* Does your club have members clubs for fans? (e.g. Parramatta have the Blue and Gold Army, Saints have the Red V club etc)

Well all AFL clubs have Official Cheer Squads. At Richmond you have to be a football club member to join it (I sign up every year to support them, even though only sit with them on interstate trips $11 bucks a year isn't that much)

* What does the membership package include?

Membership Card, Hat and I believe a towel (Ala the Pitsburgh Steelers in the '70s) in the standard pack. I also get a key ring due to holding a 'premium' (Guarenteed GF ticket should we make it) membership package. Plus depending on membership level, you get access to various bars in the 'G and TD - Some of the higher membership packages have access to bars where the food/beverages/grog is free

* How much do your varying memberships cost?
An adult ticket will cost anywhere between $150 & $1300 depending on level of membership (Basic/Premium), whether you have a reserved seat or not and there are also some packages which are defacto sponsorship packages.