What about this.

[CureTheSane]

I am by no means suggesting this as something that SHOULD be done, but it may be something that the club could give some thought to (well, they probably have in some way)

Looking at the Vic membership figures, with 1300 of last years 4400 yet to renew, and the season about to start, do you think it would be worthwhile looking at some sort of 'buy a membership every year for 10 years, get one year free' type thing.

OK, perhaps not a year free, but maybe some sort of reward for loyal membership.

I don't know of any other club that does that, but us passionate supporters would be very proud of something we could show for our loyalty....

[Gunn]

Many Melbourne members buy their membership ticket at the first game they attend in Melbourne.

I think the delay is normal.

With Melbourne having so few games I suspect many supporters think membership is not practicable. You only need a situation where you can't be sure if you can go every Saturday. You must think twice. If for some reason you have commitments on 2 or 3 of the allocated game days here it just isn't worth it ...unless you want to treat it as a donation.

[dimelb]

I think CTS has a point. This couple is treating the Geelong game as a donation, and we're paying for a game in Sydney when we'll be in town for that weekend. We're not complaining, that's the luck of the draw, but maybe there should be some way of rewarding loyalty.

[Bleed Red Blood]

There should be a reward for loyalty, if i remember correctly if you miss just one game then the membership is a waste, unless you're trying too donate to the club.

[robbieando]

Don't forget there are still 6 weeks until our first match down here.

[bloodboy]

I live in Melbourne and changed my membership to an AFL membership with Swans club support about 4 years ago. This works well if you go to a few extra games in Melbourne other than swans games and with the club support I know that money is still going to the club (at least I think...).

I think this is a good option if you live in Melbourne and want to support the bloodboys and occassionally go crazy and watch two other boring nobody teams play.

[Reggi]

Being A Swans Member with club support is the same as being a season ticket holder

[Rob-bloods]

Don't agree at all, you join because you support the club, you don't join...you are not a true supporter.

"Free steak knives will not a supporter make"!

[Gunn]

Originally posted by Rob-bloods
Don't agree at all, you join because you support the club, you don't join...you are not a true supporter.

"Free steak knives will not a supporter make"!

"True supporters" are in limited supply at every club. I suspect the Swans would be very happy to sell memberships to anyone with the money.

Many people (particularly families) with limited income and financial commitments don't have the luxury of paying for a membership when they may be unable to attend all the games. For Melbourne fans, missing a couple of the games means you are paying around $40 a game for those you do attend. Charity begins at home.

[CureTheSane]

Agree Gunn

Rob-Bloods, what you said, most likely sits well with most people here.
But what about the thousands of people out there who are toying with the idea of membership.

How about the person who is a member for a few years, then the Swans have a poor trot and then he is thinking whether he should renew.
I think that something like this might help create a culture of loyalty for the club.

Like I said, probably something they have at least thought about at some time, but since nobody from the club takes the time to post here, we may never know

[Damien]

Originally posted by Rob-bloods
Don't agree at all, you join because you support the club, you don't join...you are not a true supporter.

"Free steak knives will not a supporter make"!

I agree - no loyalty program will entice the fairweather fans to join if things aren't going the swans way.

A diehard fan will join no matter what, the rest will join if they think they will need tickets to see the Swans in the finals or just think they are going to enjoy the ride. I don't think anything will ever change that.

[anne]

I am surprised they have got as many Melbourne members as they have. Five games and one of them at Geelong where you have to pay $25 extra for a seat is a joke - why would most people bother to join? You can walk up to the 4 games in Melbourne, forget the Geelong game and be way ahead financially. We need 6 games in Melbourne with one in the first 3 or 4 rounds. That more than anything will increase membership. Only mugs like me still bother to join.(and pay the extra $75)

[jixygirl]

Originally posted by anne
I am surprised they have got as many Melbourne members as they have. Five games and one of them at Geelong where you have to pay $25 extra for a seat is a joke - why would most people bother to join? You can walk up to the 4 games in Melbourne, forget the Geelong game and be way ahead financially. We need 6 games in Melbourne with one in the first 3 or 4 rounds. That more than anything will increase membership. Only mugs like me still bother to join.(and pay the extra $75)

I agree that that's the only way that will get more members to renew, or at least the best way

[treespirit]

..killing off the apparently mandatory Optus game would also be a major bonus.

[Bart]

Re: What about this.

Originally posted by CureTheSane
I am by no means suggesting this as something that SHOULD be done, but it may be something that the club could give some thought to (well, they probably have in some way)

Looking at the Vic membership figures, with 1300 of last years 4400 yet to renew, and the season about to start, do you think it would be worthwhile looking at some sort of 'buy a membership every year for 10 years, get one year free' type thing.

OK, perhaps not a year free, but maybe some sort of reward for loyal membership.

I don't know of any other club that does that, but us passionate supporters would be very proud of something we could show for our loyalty....

CTS, a noble idea, but I think one that may not work due to the fact that you are really rewarding the diehards. You are in a sense giving them a free membership when they are the ones that would pay anyway.

How about the current member get member promotion. What about rewarding each member with 25% of his/her membership for each new member introduced, so that 4 members would mean you get in for free. Therefore the club has lost $250 for your season pass, but gained $1000 in new revenue.