Dual Membership anyone?

[goswannie14]

I don't understand this. The AFL membership only seems to apply to games at the MCG and Etihad. Unless I am missing something I don't see how this would help a Sydney based supporter.

My understanding is that iit applies to all AFL venues. But I am not 100% sure about that.

[Rabid Mongrel]

My understanding is that iit applies to all AFL venues. But I am not 100% sure about that.

It appears that for 2011 the AFL membership entitlements include entry to all of your clubs home games at any venue. Although I'm not sure where the seating would be for Swans members at home games. My guess would be the general admission section in the Victor Trumper Concourse and the general admission section in the NW corner of ANZ. It does say that a club may require you to reserve a seat at an additional cost.

It also says that the remainder of the 40 games are at either Etihad or the MCG.

I don't think it is going to work out for Swans supporters that want access to home games for Giants matches unless they change the rules. For example there is no allowance for Lions supporters to access Suns home games, Crows supporters to access Power home games etc.

There is a one off joining fee of $360 with an annual fee of $270.

I would probably have to surrender my platinum seats in the Brewongle or else pay an additional fee. Lets conservatively say they allow me to retain my reserved seat for a fee of $20 per game or $220 per season. That makes the annual cost $490. I would also be able to gain entry to all Swans away games in melbourne and an additional 24 home and away games in Melbourne.

However, I would still have to buy a Giants membership. Lets say a platinum package for 8 home games at Homebush may cost $350.

This is my cost/benefit:

Swans platinum reserved $473
Giants Platinum reserved $350
Total Annual Cost $823
Entitlement - 19 home games in Sydney
Other benefits are members packs from both clubs, plus a greater financial contribution to each club.

AFL membership $270
Swans reserved seat $220
Giants platinum reserved $350
Total Cost $840
Entitlement 19 home sydney games 4-5 swans away games 4-5 giants away games 19-21 home and away games in melbourne.
There are also other entitlements like access to finals and in the future possibly access to GFs.
There is also the additional cost of the joining fee which if averaged over 5 years is $72 pa.

There would only be 3 weeks when there wasn't a game in Sydney during the year so I wouldn't get the full benefit of the AFL membership. Plus I would rather be more closely associated with each club.

So all-in-all the AFL membership is a nice idea but I don't think it would work out.

If however they change the rules in 2012 to allow entry into Giants home games for Sydney supporters under the AFL membership then it would be a no-brainer.

You would get:
Entry into 19 home games in Sydney and 21 home and away games in melbourne $270
Swans reserved seat add-on $220
Total Cost $490

However, this doesn't seem likely.

[mountainsofpain]

It gobsmacks me.
I just don't get it.

Let me give you one example of why someone may do it.

I am a long-time supporter/member of a Melbourne based club. However, as I live in Sydney, I am also a member of the Swans (and have been for a long time), because I see it as essential to supporting the game in a non-AFL state.

I would hope that there are lateral thinking Swans supporters in existence who see taking out a Giants membership (in addition to their Swans one) as a way of supporting the great game of Australian Football in the west of the city.

[Cheer Squad]

I am a long-time supporter/member of a Melbourne based club. However, as I live in Sydney, I am also a member of the Swans (and have been for a long time), because I see it as essential to supporting the game in a non-AFL state.

I wonder how many Swans members are in your situation. There would probably be quite a considerable number, given the number of interstate ex-pats who live in Sydney.

With the arrival of the Giants, there's now a choice for these members as to which Sydney-based club to follow. I'd be willing to bet the Swans lose quite a few of them to the Giants because of it.

No wonder the club is nervous.

[Rabid Mongrel]

I wonder how many Swans members are in your situation. There would probably be quite a considerable number, given the number of interstate ex-pats who live in Sydney.

With the arrival of the Giants, there's now a choice for these members as to which Sydney-based club to follow. I'd be willing to bet the Swans lose quite a few of them to the Giants because of it.

No wonder the club is nervous.

Competition is good in any market.

The Swans will now have to be really on their game.

I phoned Swans Membership today with a simple question which was:

"Should I purchase an AFL Silver Membership with the Swans as my nominated side, how much would it cost to add on a reserved seat in the Brewongle platinum seating area?"

I was told I needed to call AFL Membership directly, which I did. They assured me that I needed to deal with the Swans on that issue and needed to specifically ask "How much to upgrade an AFL Silver Membership to reserved seating package?".

I call the Swans back and spoke with another person and asked the specific question as advised by the AFL.

The Swans person didn't know the answer, put me on hold for about 10 minutes and came back with "You'll have to call back in mid January".

At this point I was considering how useful the tits are on my pet bull.

Bring on true competition and lets see how this level of service works out for them.

[Jewels]

Competition is good in any market.

The Swans will now have to be really on their game.

I phoned Swans Membership today with a simple question which was:

"Should I purchase an AFL Silver Membership with the Swans as my nominated side, how much would it cost to add on a reserved seat in the Brewongle platinum seating area?"

I was told I needed to call AFL Membership directly, which I did. They assured me that I needed to deal with the Swans on that issue and needed to specifically ask "How much to upgrade an AFL Silver Membership to reserved seating package?".

I call the Swans back and spoke with another person and asked the specific question as advised by the AFL.

The Swans person didn't know the answer, put me on hold for about 10 minutes and came back with "You'll have to call back in mid January".

At this point I was considering how useful the tits are on my pet bull.

Bring on true competition and lets see how this level of service works out for them.

Gotta say this is really unusual Rabs, the membership department (particularly since the debacle a few years back) are usually right on their game and are absolute whizzes at solving most problems.
I have a unique problem with my daughters membership this year and the young guy that I spoke to was wonderful. Went through the different options available to me and was very polite and helpful with my questions (some of which were really dumb).
Maybe try emailing them your query so they can find out and your not hanging on the other end of the phone.

[Big Al]

Competition is good in any market.

The Swans will now have to be really on their game.

I phoned Swans Membership today with a simple question which was:

"Should I purchase an AFL Silver Membership with the Swans as my nominated side, how much would it cost to add on a reserved seat in the Brewongle platinum seating area?"

I was told I needed to call AFL Membership directly, which I did. They assured me that I needed to deal with the Swans on that issue and needed to specifically ask "How much to upgrade an AFL Silver Membership to reserved seating package?".

I call the Swans back and spoke with another person and asked the specific question as advised by the AFL.

The Swans person didn't know the answer, put me on hold for about 10 minutes and came back with "You'll have to call back in mid January".

At this point I was considering how useful the tits are on my pet bull.

Bring on true competition and lets see how this level of service works out for them.

Sounds like Larissa had the day off.

[Cheer Squad]

Competition is good in any market.

The Swans will now have to be really on their game.

I certainly agree with your points about the effects of competition.

I've been a member of the Swans for quite a long time now, and like most people in Sydney, the only problem I've ever had was a couple of years ago when they mishandled changes to the membership fee structure.

I can't help but think that pressure from the AFL-backed Giants is going to expose the somewhat fragile nature of the Swans membership base in Sydney.

[AnnieH]

Sounds like Larissa had the day off.

During membership renewals???
I think not.

[Rabid Mongrel]

I just wanted to let everyone know that I emailed the Swans last night and Larissa called me today with answers to my questions.

I think the Swans need to change all of their membership contact details to [email protected] .

For those interested the AFL Silver Membership entitles you to sit in the red zone. To add on a platinum season reserved seat would cost $206. For existing members you can retain the same seat that you had last season.

The only drawbacks are:
(1) the Swans receive a far lower financial contribution from your membership
(2) the Swans recognise you as a member but don't give you full member privelages when it comes to things like member recognition milestone rewards etc.

So if you don't include the joining fee (which is a hefty $370) then you get your same seat for $476 as opposed to $473.

You also get free entry into an additional 19 games in Melbourne and free tickets to home finals of the Swans in the first 2 weeks of the finals.

You also get an opportunity to apply for GF tickets if the Swans make it although there are no guarantees.

A big thanks to Larissa for being so helpful.

And for the record there are only about 20 people with Silver AFL membership and seat upgrade packages and approx 200 Silver AFL Members with Sydney nominated as their side.

Cheers.

[Jesse Richards]

Jesse, I hate to be the one to tell you, but you are posting on a Swans Fan Site. That does make you at Least a borderline Tragic.......AND you are posting in the offseason......now honestly, I ask you, (put in every cliche you can think of), not a Tragic?

Ok, Primmy, I'll accept being a Swans Tragic, as opposed to a Football Tragic.