Membership Prices

[Wardy]

I sent a complaint to Myles regarding my membership (i.e continual different stories, still no membership) and Anthony, The Marketing Manager, called me and had a chat to me regarding it and was pretty professional and open.

As long as he comes through with the agreed resolution in the timeframe promised, I will be reasonably happy.

I just hope the Swans have really learnt from the mess they created this year. They lost 5500 members this year and they may go into next year without a finals appearance to help them out, could be disaster if they get it wrong..again.

Indeed - hope they come through for you - if they dont - then let em have it - write to David Syngall at (I think he's with Fairfax) he will put the wind up them!!

[howler]

will be interesting to see what the prices are next yr

[connolly]

will be interesting to see what the prices are next yr

Hopefully discounted family packages. The economic situation for many people next year will be dreadful. The AFL has to expect falling revenues. The issue is will the crowds be down even further? The club is facing a nightmare scenario next season. Team rebuilding, some heavy defeats and not much on field joy, the diversion of the lunatic western sydney frolic (with Sheeds popping up FFS) and a full blown economic depression. And we have an administration that publicly admitted it didn't have a clue. The NBL is going under, the NSL is really vulnerable and the arrogance of the AFL is the last thing we need. Next season will be as testing for the club as the early nineties.

[DST]

will be interesting to see what the prices are next yr

One would suggest that they have taken the hit this year by restructuring the packages and they will now remain relatively stable for the short term taking into account economic factors and CPI.

I beleive it was the right time to restruture the packages with the new stand coming on-line and they needed to provide more GA walk-up space to try and get casual watchers to more games, along with offering the best seats at a more premium price.

But they should have increased the prices in stepped stages over a couple of year periods as a result of the restructure, to soften the blow.

Going forward they should now have far more options to provide different packages to maximise take up rates of different types of members from die hards who want the best seats to casuals interested in attending 4 or 5 games and can get a ticket easily.

DST

[SwansFan1972]

One would suggest that they have taken the hit this year by restructuring the packages and they will now remain relatively stable for the short term taking into account economic factors and CPI.

I beleive it was the right time to restruture the packages with the new stand coming on-line and they needed to provide more GA walk-up space to try and get casual watchers to more games, along with offering the best seats at a more premium price.

But they should have increased the prices in stepped stages over a couple of year periods as a result of the restructure, to soften the blow.

Going forward they should now have far more options to provide different packages to maximise take up rates of different types of members from die hards who want the best seats to casuals interested in attending 4 or 5 games and can get a ticket easily.

DST

5500 former members would disagree regarding the timing, but probably agree they should have stepped existing members up in price more gently. Regrettably, that horse has well and truly bolted.

The reason memberships are so important is that they provide an early, fixed and easily calculated revenue stream at the start of the season. Relying on walk ups is captive to too many variables. Locked in memberships shield the club's revenues from a drop off in the event the season turns pear shaped (which hasn't been an issue in previous years, but there is some risk this year, and probably more risk next year that it could happen). If the season is done and dusted before the last few home games, there will be hardly any walk ups.

No matter which way you look at it, the club shot itself in the foot big time last year, and there is little chance of turning it around in a hurry.

[AnnieH]

Hopefully discounted family packages. The economic situation for many people next year will be dreadful. The AFL has to expect falling revenues. The issue is will the crowds be down even further? The club is facing a nightmare scenario next season. Team rebuilding, some heavy defeats and not much on field joy, the diversion of the lunatic western sydney frolic (with Sheeds popping up FFS) and a full blown economic depression. And we have an administration that publicly admitted it didn't have a clue. The NBL is going under, the NSL is really vulnerable and the arrogance of the AFL is the last thing we need. Next season will be as testing for the club as the early nineties.

How so?
They're asking $1 BILLION for the next TV rights.
Good luck getting it.

[Damien]

On the eve of ROUND 8...I GET MY MEMBERSHIP hahaha.

Oh dear, it's pretty disgraceful that I renewed in December 08 and waited until now, but I'm just happy to have it.

[Wardy]

On the eve of ROUND 8...I GET MY MEMBERSHIP hahaha.

Oh dear, it's pretty disgraceful that I renewed in December 08 and waited until now, but I'm just happy to have it.

Blimey thats bad eh? well at least you have it now - hold onto it for dear life!!!

[ScottH]

On the eve of ROUND 8...I GET MY MEMBERSHIP hahaha.

Oh dear, it's pretty disgraceful that I renewed in December 08 and waited until now, but I'm just happy to have it.

Don't worry Damien, you haven't missed much in the last 7 weeks.

[Bob Neil]

Rights to (later) finals for members won't be needed for a while. Why not be a fickle Sydneysider like me and pay $20/game, go when the sun shines (except night games) and sit where you like (nearly).

[shaun..]

Rights to (later) finals for members won't be needed for a while. Why not be a fickle Sydneysider like me and pay $20/game, go when the sun shines (except night games) and sit where you like (nearly).

That's what I've been forced to do and I've found it cheaper that way (the 4 game superpass was an absolute bargain!). Pity though, I was really excited about getting membership for the first time last season

[connolly]

How so?
They're asking $1 BILLION for the next TV rights.
Good luck getting it.

Vlad got lucky last time with Kerry Packer on his death bed forcing the price up. We can all hope that Murdoch is confined to the cot and a similar scenario plays out. Apart from that the crazy gang will have to negotiate media rights in the middle of the worst downturn in advertising revenues in history. The emporer will be starkers.

[pinkemu]

Rights to (later) finals for members won't be needed for a while. Why not be a fickle Sydneysider like me and pay $20/game, go when the sun shines (except night games) and sit where you like (nearly).

As long as you get there early, those cheap seats sell out early and then you're left with the $45 rip offs

[goswannie14]

That's what I've been forced to do and I've found it cheaper that way (the 4 game superpass was an absolute bargain!). Pity though, I was really excited about getting membership for the first time last season

We got supporter memberships because there are no concession memberships for our form of concession, then we pay concession to get into each game, much cheaper that way.

[DST]

Vlad got lucky last time with Kerry Packer on his death bed forcing the price up. We can all hope that Murdoch is confined to the cot and a similar scenario plays out. Apart from that the crazy gang will have to negotiate media rights in the middle of the worst downturn in advertising revenues in history. The emporer will be starkers.

Different landscape this time around:

* We now have FTA Digital multi channelling which allows 7 & 10 to bid for the whole package, show it live into non AFL states and flog replays to death during the week

* Next rights will have a dedicated Monday night slot with the extra game to woo Foxtel into laying more on the table for an exclusive night of football

* The AFL are already talking about selling each TV slot in isolation or as combo's which could mean all three FTA stations end up with something and Foxtel with their prized Monday night slot

* The TV networks are looking to diverge into more active on-line content all the time. Why not package the rights with the on-line rights and flog the successful and growing Dream Team game into the mix so that a network will pay above to have an active element to their coverage?

All of this will mean that the AFL will get close to the $1 billion mark next time around even with maybe an economy still yet to fully recover.

DST