Membership Prices

[goswannie14]

Just going off those quoted sections (haven't read the full article, so if that contradicts me, let me know), it does say "NSW codes", not "NSW clubs". That indicates that Union and League clubs are keeping prices low, not the Swans. Now, I know including the Swans when referring to the survey suggests that the Swans are included in this, but it does not explicitly state that. It could be meant as a comparison to the union and league clubs that are keeping prices down. It's quite poorly worded either way.

It also says "the majority" not "all".

[AussieAnge]

. Why does it cost $15 to park on a bit of scrappy ground outside the SCG, when parking 30m from the entrance gates at the MCG on GF day cost $8; why is the Record so expensive. What will it cost in 2009?

I think it's more liek $20+ to park on the scrappy bit of land on Driver Ave (I think it costs more if you have fewer people in the car). It is $15 to park at the Girls' school.

BTW you could always keep you your membership as a "supporter".

AA

[pinkemu]

It also says "the majority" not "all".

I did suggest the Swans were possibly the not so overwhelming club in the survey.

Just going off those quoted sections (haven't read the full article, so if that contradicts me, let me know), it does say "NSW codes", not "NSW clubs". That indicates that Union and League clubs are keeping prices low, not the Swans. Now, I know including the Swans when referring to the survey suggests that the Swans are included in this, but it does not explicitly state that. It could be meant as a comparison to the union and league clubs that are keeping prices down. It's quite poorly worded either way.

All true, very confusing in the detail, but the real point to be made is that other clubs of other codes based in Sydney are maybe a little more grounded on where the supporters stand financially.

No matter how much some on this thread will defend the decisions of the club to "Better Homes and Gardens" or "Backyard Blitz" it's Membership home, there are plenty who are mighty peed off. You can't deny it.

[Xie Shan]

Just got the members email from the club 10 mins ago.

It is the longest email they've ever sent explaining the why's and how's of the new pricing structure.

It also mentions the club will be posting a loss for the year ending Oct '08.

Does anyone else think this is a really bad sign? Smells like damage control to me...the length of the e-mail makes me think they hadn't prepared for this.

If the club are posting a loss this year, then we're in trouble. We can't afford a slide down the ladder now. Absolute madness that the AFL would be even thinking of introducing a second Sydney team in this environment.

[ugg]

A Heckler joins in.

C'mon, you Swans, how much for a little loyalty? - Heckler - Opinion

[Wardy]

for what they are charging for some seats you would have thought the club would provide heated cushions if they are "graded" as they say. Sure the view is better in some areas, but in the end its still only a hard plastic seat!

I agree there must have been an enourmous amount of complaints for the club to come back with the "well here are the facts - like it or lump it" and then they say they need us now more than ever oh well it remains to be seen what happens.

[Wardy]

It is with great sadness, that after 20 consecutive years of following the Swans as members, that we (4 adults, 1 concession) will be watching them on the box in season 2009. The reasons being numerous, but here are a few 1. Howard and Costello's 7 consecutive interest rate rises, have meant that mortgage payments increased by some $7,000 in that time, and although rates are coming down, that money has been "lost" and needs to be recovered somehow.

Well I blame Kevin Rudd because he's a Queenslander, he follows rugby league, and he is a prize nerd!!!!

[AussieAnge]

Does anyone else think this is a really bad sign? Smells like damage control to me...the length of the e-mail makes me think they hadn't prepared for this.

If the club are posting a loss this year, then we're in trouble. We can't afford a slide down the ladder now. Absolute madness that the AFL would be even thinking of introducing a second Sydney team in this environment.

I thought it was a bad sign. Sounds like they've had heaps of calls/complaints and they've put their heads together and come up with this missive. TBH I didn't read past the first paragraph.

Perhaps they should have more or larger focus groups and ditch the surveys as they rarely tell anyone anything.

[givekidsakick]

Swans Poll with loaded choice of questions

Just had a look at sydneyswans.com and the club has posted a poll in the following terms :
"Will you be part of the red and white family in 2009? Have you renewed your 2009 Sydney Swans membership yet?"
They then offer the following alternatives for you to choose from as your answers :
0 Yes definitely.
0 I'm just about to.
0 Not yet.

Colless & The Baron are still trying to colour the issue and not put a genuine set of alternative answers eg 0 NO!
Nor seek the views of the membership as to why people will not renew or what they actually feel about the issue. The poll is just another example of their bull@@@@ surveys.

[AnnieH]

A Heckler joins in.

C'mon, you Swans, how much for a little loyalty? - Heckler - Opinion

Will the real Paul Johnstone please stand up.

[Jude4eva]

Top article.

it says everything that i tried to say to the club.

No Loyalty to the people who came and supported in the hard and troubled times.

Also did some research into game day prices - if you buy it on game day from the ground you will be slugged an extra $10 on the ticket price. So make sure you buy your tickets in advance

[Legs Akimbo]

Just had a look at sydneyswans.com and the club has posted a poll in the following terms :
"Will you be part of the red and white family in 2009? Have you renewed your 2009 Sydney Swans membership yet?"
They then offer the following alternatives for you to choose from as your answers :
0 Yes definitely.
0 I'm just about to.
0 Not yet.

Colless & The Baron are still trying to colour the issue and not put a genuine set of alternative answers eg 0 NO!
Nor seek the views of the membership as to why people will not renew or what they actually feel about the issue. The poll is just another example of their bull@@@@ surveys.

Makes you wonder why they bother. Surely it's not to use the information from the so called 'poll'. If it is, they are more @@@@@@ in the head than I realised, and I am starting to have some serious misgivings about management at the club.

[AnnieH]

Makes you wonder why they bother. Surely it's not to use the information from the so called 'poll'. If it is, they are more @@@@@@ in the head than I realised, and I am starting to have some serious misgivings about management at the club.

Management were just fantastic and spot on when we won the granny, eh???

Seriously people, it DOES cost an awful LOT OF MONEY to run a footy club.

Whoever wasn't expecting a price hike this year is incredibly naive. I've been a member for 12 years and EVERY year there has been a price rise.

I'll go out on a branch ... I agree with the club. If you want to sit in a good spot, you have to pay for the priviledge. I sit on the wing. I used to feel sorry for the people who sat on the same level as I in the Churchill (behind the goal posts) who paid the same price as me for their seat - it just wasn't fair.

[pinkemu]

Management were just fantastic and spot on when we won the granny, eh???

Seriously people, it DOES cost an awful LOT OF MONEY to run a footy club.

Whoever wasn't expecting a price hike this year is incredibly naive. I've been a member for 12 years and EVERY year there has been a price rise.

I'll go out on a branch ... I agree with the club. If you want to sit in a good spot, you have to pay for the priviledge. I sit on the wing. I used to feel sorry for the people who sat on the same level as I in the Churchill (behind the goal posts) who paid the same price as me for their seat - it just wasn't fair.

I think we already new you were on that branch.

You have be joking about bringing up the usual increase argument again. No I'm not naive.

I,ve never felt unhappiness to the people who sat next to me on the pocket/wing that were on a season ticket while I'm in Premiership Club.

Besides there have been plenty of seats available in our area for years for those who want the so called popular spot for watching footy to.

[SwansFan1972]

Management were just fantastic and spot on when we won the granny, eh???

Seriously people, it DOES cost an awful LOT OF MONEY to run a footy club.

Whoever wasn't expecting a price hike this year is incredibly naive. I've been a member for 12 years and EVERY year there has been a price rise.

I'll go out on a branch ... I agree with the club. If you want to sit in a good spot, you have to pay for the priviledge. I sit on the wing. I used to feel sorry for the people who sat on the same level as I in the Churchill (behind the goal posts) who paid the same price as me for their seat - it just wasn't fair.

Of course it costs a lot to run a football club, but pause for a minute and think about the likely impact of the changes. For each person who stays and accepts their increase (however modest or heavy it is), the upside for the club is relatively small. For each person who chucks it in (whether you think they are being reasonable or not), the impact is far more significant. The only thing that will moderate the effect of someone cancelling is if there is a sudden surge in new members to take their place. As I've mentioned before, where the club expects a raft of new members to come from is anyone's guess. There were no "barriers to entry" last year - memberships were available to anyone who wanted them, so what has changed this year to suddenly garner their interest?

The argument Annie proposes - that the seat price rises are critical to the club's bottom line - unfortunately falls in a heap very easily. One need only ask: "If the finances are so crucial, then how can the club justify dropping the price for anyone"?

The club would have been far smarter to get a modest rise out of all members, rather than implement the hotch potch of small decreases here, small increases there, and exorbitant rises elsewhere that they have done. Naturally, re-designating seating was always going to be difficult, but why didn't they simply drop the cost of stand seats which they deemed inferior (for example, Annie's objects of pity sitting in the Churchill)? They could have done that easily, created huge goodwill, potentially encouraged concourse members to upgrade, and slowly increased the prices of the concourse - if they felt that needed to happen. Under the current arrangements, will there be any members upgrading their package? Not a chance.

In any case, if the club's finances do start to turn sour, the AFL is always in the background to ensure the club stays afloat. The AFL would have little option but to assist (and there is a precedent with propping up ailing clubs in Melbourne). Ultimately, who cares where the money comes from - revenue or the AFL - so what. My concern for the club is that - as a revenue raising exercise - the membership restructure could send the club backwards and bring in less than in 08.

I'm still waiting on the email referred to by others in the thread (I shouldn't be surprised, delivery of the packages themselves was spread over a fortnight), but it seems the club is defending itself on the run, having underestimated the negative reaction they are obviously now getting. It is inconceivable that they did not expect a huge uproar, particularly from those asked to pay 80% more for their seats - but if they genuinely are surprised, then the business acumen amongst the club's leaders needs to be seriously questioned.

They've lost us and another family - $1160 from last year they will need to find elsewhere. That soaks up the additional revenue from quite a number of the "small price rise" brigade who renew, and the club will still need to find a new buyer for our seats - back row of the O'Reilly concourse, exposed to rain, and on the far side of the ground for people who enter and exit from Driver Avenue. Good luck to them I say!

We'll now be cashing in on the discount superpass, and watching on TV. No comparison to being there of course, but we're happy to ride out 2009 and see if the club comes to its senses in 2010. With a global crisis in full swing, unemployment up and discretionary spending down, we might all be able to get in for $20 a game by then - perhaps even with train and bus tickets thrown in - a la the SwansLink days!