Port Adelaide's Finances

[am Bays]

I have no real problem with the SANFL helping out the Power as they did yesterday. It is a considerable money spinner so it needs to be viable. however I think with the financial help teh SANFl should ahve a greater say in the business model and running of teh club. In that respesct I think the Port Power board should be changed to reflect that of the Crows -all but one is SANFL nominated and appointed.

Some serious changes need to to be made to the Power to make them more marketable. I was the recipiant of free tickets to last weeks game and seriously the whole creed crap is nauseating to anyone but a Port person. Look, with the Planet Teal, ticket give aways and appealing to the crowd they are trying but it still comes back to the what they have been not what they could be. How can the business grow when it it doesn't appeal to the broader football market (read undecided football goers) in SA??

[Hondo]

How many "undecided football goers" do you really reckon are left AM? You reckon it's a harder task to woo these neutrals v getting the disappeared Port faithful back?

If the solution was as simple as dropping the creed then they would do it. The big attendance drop off started the year before they started the creed campaign. I think it's far more complicated an issue than to creed or not to creed. It's live against the gate TV, it's the weather, it's AAMI Stadium, it's dissatisfaction with the coach/game plan, it's poor on field performances .... probably more.

If there's not 5000-10000 Port faithful (not undecided football fans) that have stopped going then I'm Mark Williams. 5000 more people at home games (back to a 27000 per game average) would make a huge difference to their bottom line. I'll stand corrected but I think their memberships are up this year? They just don't go to AAMI Stadium anymore.

When I was growing up it seemed like every second kid barracked for friggin Port Adelaide and I lived North East of the city! As far from Alberton as you could get almost. No attempt was being made by anyone at Alberton to have broader (non Port) appeal. They were what they were ... Port friggin Adelaide.

[Barto]

If the solution was as simple as dropping the creed then they would do it. The big attendance drop off started the year before they started the creed campaign. I think it's far more complicated an issue than to creed or not to creed. It's live against the gate TV, it's the weather, it's AAMI Stadium, it's dissatisfaction with the coach/game plan, it's poor on field performances .... probably more.

Probably a combination of everything, the fact remains that their crowds are getting worse. It's probably more to do with people just switching off going to live AFL games. Perhaps it's contrived rubbish like the Power Funk Squad.

I think it's why SANFL crowds have held reasonably steady over the past decade. You can get your footy fix without all the bullshit and not pay a premium price for it.

[Hondo]

The Crows' crowds are declining too and there's no creed problem at West Lakes. Luckily we had a larger starting base but often Crows games seem to be drifting down to 30-35000. Used to be packed every game in the early days. Surely there are some problems common to both Crows and Port.

As you say, this is in contrast to SANFL crowds that are steady or even increasing slightly?

[CUTTERMAN]

Hefty price for Joe Public to pay for the sake of getting crowd numbers up.

[CUTTERMAN]

I heard why the AFL refuse to put the same cash grants into Power as they have Vic based clubs. They "see" Vic based clubs as being membership based whereas they "see" Adel and Power as non membership based clubs and being run and backed by a licence holder. Splitting hairs in my mind, they have spin for every question.

[Psyber]

I heard why the AFL refuse to put the same cash grants into Power as they have Vic based clubs. They "see" Vic based clubs as being membership based whereas they "see" Adel and Power as non membership based clubs and being run and backed by a licence holder. Splitting hairs in my mind, they have spin for every question.

Imagine how the Power be doing if they had to rely on a membership base.

[Wedgie]

Interesting listening to the Power CEO as a guest speaker at the Central President lunch yesterday. Basically said the opposite of what Hondo said and blamed the things like the creed and the us versus them philosophy as the cause of all their troubles. He's working his hardest to stop this view and make the Power more attractive to the general football market (supporters of all SANFL clubs for eg) otherwise they have no chance and will just keep losing money. Live TV, Footy Park deals etc weren't even mentioned. Good to see he's on the ball but will it be too late? Has the damage been done?

[Psyber]

Interesting listening to the Power CEO as a guest speaker at the Central President lunch yesterday. Basically said the opposite of what Hondo said and blamed the things like the creed and the us versus them philosophy as the cause of all their troubles. He's working his hardest to stop this view and make the Power more attractive to the general football market (supporters of all SANFL clubs for eg) otherwise they have no chance and will just keep losing money. Live TV, Footy Park deals etc weren't even mentioned. Good to see he's on the ball but will it be too late? Has the damage been done?

They'd have to cut a lot of the old Port Adelaide links to broaden their appeal, including replace the coach and the rest of the old Port hierarchy in the administration.
I doubt they can bring themselves to do it, certainly not soon enough.

[Hondo]

Interesting listening to the Power CEO as a guest speaker at the Central President lunch yesterday. Basically said the opposite of what Hondo said and blamed the things like the creed and the us versus them philosophy as the cause of all their troubles. He's working his hardest to stop this view and make the Power more attractive to the general football market (supporters of all SANFL clubs for eg) otherwise they have no chance and will just keep losing money. Live TV, Footy Park deals etc weren't even mentioned. Good to see he's on the ball but will it be too late? Has the damage been done?

So Haysman "basically said" that his pet creed project is now the sole cause of all their troubles? Not a terrific public vote of confidence in himself or their current marketing campaigns.

Did he have a view on whether the Crows need to broaden their appeal to address their own declining attendances? I think 1 day after receiving $5m from the AFL and the SANFL the last thing he would publicly say is that live TV, the stadium deal or the stadium itself would also be factors. This is despite the fact that the AFL and Port want to leave AAMI stadium and you yourself said you would watch Power games if they were in the CBD. Besides, I wouldn't think the Power were as concerned about the stadium deal anynow now they have $4m from the SANFL!

FWIW, I didn't say the creed was the answer to their problems. I said it wasn't the sole cause of them which was what I was disagreeing with AM Bays about. It's pinning ALL the blame on the creed campaign that I don't agree with. Whenever I hear it I think if only it were that simple.

I don't think you misheard him and I don't think you are making anything up. I just find it hard to believe he said exactly what you say he said and it hasn't made headlines yet, ie "Creed campaign to blame - Port CEO". Yes, they've got to find new supporters but they've also got to get their existing ones back to their games. There's a balance to be found between broader appeal v losing traditional Port Adelaide people. That's what I am trying to say.

[Wedgie]

The creed wasn't his sole focus, but it was part of it, he said if they're any chance to survive and become profitable they've got to immediately work on getting other supporters and immediately stop the us versus them mentality some think they should have. They said this had been tried and failed.

[Hondo]

The creed wasn't his sole focus, but it was part of it, he said if they're any chance to survive and become profitable they've got to immediately work on getting other supporters and immediately stop the us versus them mentality some think they should have. They said this had been tried and failed.

Yes, us v them (not what I was talking about BTW) only works for Collingwood You've got to be the biggest fish in the pond to strut around as though you are the only team in the comp. So I agree with you (and him) there.

I haven't seen the creed as necessarially "us v them". To me, it's about recognising (or trying to) that Port have a heritage v the composite Crows created from scratch in 1991. Using that point of difference to offer new supporters an alternative to the Crows. Others see the creed as exactly the same as "us v them" because it references an era when the PAM had that philosophy in the SANFL.

[Hondo]

Note to Collingwood fans .... means the same as

[Footy Smart]

What should be more worrying is the fact that the supporters are getting frustrated by the style fo footy they are playing atm. People wont come if they arent entertained, teams who are struggling or have struggled have revereted back to playing attacking football and having a crack. Supporters dont mind going to watch their team try and win a game, but they wont pay to go see a team defend!!!! from speaking to a few port mates of mine and listening to 5AA after yesterdays game, it seems alot of ports supporters are unhappy with POrt not taking the game on playing to defensive!

[Wedgie]

The Port CEO wasn't concerns with that, he reckons they have a crack and people would enjoy the footy they play if they went. He was just intent on getting neutrals along to the relatively new club and ditching as much of the old Port Adelaide traditions/stigma as possible for their relatively young club if they're any chance of being worthwhile.

[Hondo]

Does he want to ditch the traditions in totality or the stigmas assocatied with them (but still retain them)? ie, was he launching the Adelaide Power?

The way you are putting it to us here is a fairly major change to the fabric of the club and his approach to date and I would imagine the Port faithful would be concerned at the Port traditions being ditched all of a sudden.

[Psyber]

There is no solution - whatever they do with their identity somebody will be unhappy.
From the outset it was clear that few but Port Adelaide supporters and associates would support a Port derived team.
I did because of my wife's links through her family and the fact that I was in Victoria and thus would support any SA team.

I'm just a little surprised at the low numbers now - I expected more people with fringe links would step up to associate with them in the "big league".
But perhaps they did and are dwindling away now that the high expectations are not being delivered..

[stan]

I have no real problem with the SANFL helping out the Power as they did yesterday. It is a considerable money spinner so it needs to be viable. however I think with the financial help teh SANFl should ahve a greater say in the business model and running of teh club. In that respesct I think the Port Power board should be changed to reflect that of the Crows -all but one is SANFL nominated and appointed.

Some serious changes need to to be made to the Power to make them more marketable. I was the recipiant of free tickets to last weeks game and seriously the whole creed crap is nauseating to anyone but a Port person. Look, with the Planet Teal, ticket give aways and appealing to the crowd they are trying but it still comes back to the what they have been not what they could be. How can the business grow when it it doesn't appeal to the broader football market (read undecided football goers) in SA??

Agree with what you have said, the business model needs to be looked at.

[Barto]

Here's one thing I find interesting about a club struggling for cash:

When Port travel, they take all of their match day staff. Not just head trainer, club doc, physio etc which is understandable, but they take every match day trainer.

As far as I'm aware, they're the only club that does this (not sure about the Crows, but they're not losing money either). When eastern seaboard clubs come to WA, they use local trainers/massage therapists etc. Freo do the same in Melbourne, they have staff based there when the team travels over east rather than pay for flights and accommodation for people that are basically replaceable.

So why are Port different? They could save several thousand right there just doing it the same way other clubs do.

[Booney]

Here's one thing I find interesting about a club struggling for cash:

When Port travel, they take all of their match day staff. Not just head trainer, club doc, physio etc which is understandable, but they take every match day trainer.

As far as I'm aware, they're the only club that does this (not sure about the Crows, but they're not losing money either). When eastern seaboard clubs come to WA, they use local trainers/massage therapists etc. Freo do the same in Melbourne, they have staff based there when the team travels over east rather than pay for flights and accommodation for people that are basically replaceable.

So why are Port different? They could save several thousand right there just doing it the same way other clubs do.

How so Barto? Where do you get this information from? For I know of at least one trainer / property steward who does not go to every game. I nfact he goes to 2 away games per year max.