SCG Crowds... what's the answer?

[Mike_B]

Originally posted by desredandwhite
I seemed to remember some 12:40pm starts in 97/98... we were still getting decent crowds then!

Yeah, that was when people couldn't drive their cars to the game, so they hopped on the bandwagon to get there instead

[Angelic Upstart]

I think there's a link between the poor membership numbers and falling crowds. If you are a member ie season ticket holder, you're much more likely to go to all the games, not to mention the closer connection you feel for the club if you're a member.

But this year the Swans membership fell a massive 25%. We now have the second lowest membership of all clubs, ahead of only Melbourne. Last year I think our membership was 7th or 8th highest.

Either the Swans management doesn't put enough priority on membership - a mistake in my opinion - or its membership strategy is all wrong. It really needs to fix it up in time for next season.

[Charlie]

What does a Sydney based membership cost?

Is this part of the problem???

[Damien]

Originally posted by Angelic Upstart
I think there's a link between the poor membership numbers and falling crowds. If you are a member ie season ticket holder, you're much more likely to go to all the games, not to mention the closer connection you feel for the club if you're a member.

But this year the Swans membership fell a massive 25%. We now have the second lowest membership of all clubs, ahead of only Melbourne. Last year I think our membership was 7th or 8th highest.

Either the Swans management doesn't put enough priority on membership - a mistake in my opinion - or its membership strategy is all wrong. It really needs to fix it up in time for next season.

I probably put membership dropping down to price and the fact that our chances were talked down by everyone including Roos. That Rebuilding word often equals losing to the fairweather friends among us.

Not that Sydney as a city historically minds supporting a loser

[Damien]

Originally posted by Charlie
What does a Sydney based membership cost?

Is this part of the problem???

I am Upper brewongle and B Block at TS (What is that stand called? lol) for $317 a year.

[paralowiepower]

I would love to see some Friday night football played at the SCG, nothing better than sitting home with a few mates and beer back in Adelaide watching a game at the SCG with a good crowd and plenty of away support from a Vic club. The atmosphere was electric. But is it just me or the days of the big travelling away support going to games gone?

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Originally posted by janpa
I think the SCG is in the heart of the Rugby and that may be part of the problem this year.

I like you cannot understand why when the team is playing a great game of footy for all to watch.

Because Sydney operates completely differently to Melbourne. In Sydney there is so much competition for your weekend "entertainment" time and money. The NRL is back big time. People are definitely talking more about it this season than they have in years (sickening, I know).

The rugger (DIFFERENT TO RUGBY LEAGUE, YOU CLUELESS VICS!!!!) has really stepped up its act. The Waratahs, who supporter base generally comes from the Eastern Suburbs and North Shore, has taken away some of our more transient attendees. If it is not the Waratahs it has been the Wallabies. We got a so-so crowd against the Bullies while/because the rugger test drew 63000.

The way of counteracting this is to develop several strategies. However the Swans cannot do this alone.

The AFL MUST step in with a decent marketing campaign that WILL get people talking about the game. That costs money, but the end effect is crucial to what we should try and acheive as a sport, marketing the AFL brandname.

Whether that means more advertising from the Swans in the Terror or better TV ads (those Adam Goodes balloon ones are so pathetic!), I don't know. I guess, given the club's parlace financial state, spending more money on TV ads would not be considered as prudent spending.

I, like many others, do fear about the bandwagon not coming back. (The irony, the irony,maybe we should lure Plugger out of retirement? )

The crowds issue IS definitely something that needs to be addressed, fast. Even if as the papers stated, our crowds in general are up on last year.

JF

[JF_Bay22_SCG]

Friday night footy in Sydney

Originally posted by paralowiepower
I would love to see some Friday night football played at the SCG, nothing better than sitting home with a few mates and beer back in Adelaide watching a game at the SCG with a good crowd and plenty of away support from a Vic club. The atmosphere was electric. But is it just me or the days of the big travelling away support going to games gone?

I'm afraid so Shane. With just so many away matches these days even the supporters of the Melbourne clubs cannot afford to travel in the numbers they used to. For the Melbourne-based sides, the trip to Sydney meant everyone would go up for a deborturous weekend for their supporters. But in these days of set-seating etc etc, there are simply so much more obstacles to going to a game of footy interstate. Especially when there are games in Adelaide (x2), Brisbane, Perth (x2) and even Tassie or Canberra to go to.

Friday night is a crap night for footy in Sydney. People have to come from work and bring a change of clothes to go to the footy. More often than not, people are at after-work drinkies, and don't want to leave.

The traffic in the Moore Park area is so bad it is often far far quicker to walk from Central than to take the bus. Not only does one have the peak-hour rush to content wish, but the airport traffic. Even in 1996 people would be taking until 1/4 time to actually be able to get into the ground. Hassle, stress, bother, that to the average supporter simply isn't worth it.

Friday nights at the SCG are a big thumbs down as far as I'm concerned. (Lugging flagpoles to work is also totally uncool as well)

JF

PS:- A Swans home match on a Friday night also would mean no live coverage to most of Sydney...meaning AFL would have one less match to infiltrate Sydney homes.

[robbieando]

The biggest problem re Starting times is that there is no perfect time. Start games at 7.40pm on a Friday and the workers won't be able to get there on time. 2pm Saturday or Sunday mean the Melbourne based fans won't be able to get LIVE Free to air coverage. 1pm Sunday effect the Sydney fans because they want to go to church or sleep in.

Of the lot I say 6 Saturday Night matches, 3 Sunday 1pm matches and if we can work a fair deal out with Ch10 about getting the match shown LIVE into Melbourne how about 1 2pm Saturday Match and of course the 7pm ANZAC Day match.

Also I feel the AFL HAS to take over control of promoting the code up here.

There is no easy fix, but we have to start somewhere

[Bart]

Re: Friday night footy in Sydney

Originally posted by JF_Bay22_SCG
PS:- A Swans home match on a Friday night also would mean no live coverage to most of Sydney...meaning AFL would have one less match to infiltrate Sydney homes.

Could this be the problem ? Does the strategy to allow the Swans on free to air as often as possible backfire on crowds? You'd have to think so.

Could we argue for compensation from the TV $ from the AFL?

BTW agree with the comments on the novelty worn off. Also membership prices haven't risen in 3 seasons. It is pretty good value.

The real answer lies in team performance. This market as we all know loves a winner.

[scurrilous]

What's the answer? Fold 3 Melbourne clubs, and bring the swans home

[Craig]

It is obvious that the reason SA gets bigger crowds is that the only matches played there are 'blockbusters' against teams that draw big crowds. Add the fact that Sat night is more popular then Sunday lunchtime and you get your reason.

For me transport to SA is an absolute joke. I have to catch two trains and a bus just to get home, it takes well over an hour and I only live a few kn from the city.

I have been down to Melbourne for a few matches and it's great. Two huge stadiums walking distance to the city, plenty of transport etc etc.

[BAM_BAM]

Originally posted by scurrilous
What's the answer? Fold 3 Melbourne clubs, and bring the swans home

Please pull the sword from my heart. As much as I love Melbourne, I don't want to move there

[scurrilous]

Originally posted by BAM_BAM
Please pull the sword from my heart. As much as I love Melbourne, I don't want to move there

Aaaaah. Someone mature enough to understand my quips, prods, and ravings of jest. So refreshing