How do Doggies attract more members

[tigerhutch]

Howdy just saw this article and wondering what else can Central Districts do to increase membership ?
Does anyone have any figures on numbers in 1999 ?

Here is part of the article:

Central District, premier for seven of the past nine seasons, has 2500 members which disappoints general manager Kris Grant, who had hoped numbers would be on the increase given the success being fed to fans.

Grant spoke for most of the nine clubs when he said it was a shame former players did not continue their memberships.

"The players get honourary membership while playing," Grant said. "For many we even find them jobs. When they finish playing you would think they would like to keep their ties and give something back to the club.

"It is a problem for most clubs. Some former players stay members but most don't. Even if it was 500 former players, that is a lot of money for clubs. Membership at the Bulldogs is $55 for the footy and licensed clubs and that equates to $27,500 if 500 former players renewed their memberships."

[UK Fan]

It is a problem.

Has to be a way dogs can utilise the GF celebrations nights. The clubs gets 5000 people minimum back for those nights. And yet our membership has not increased since the first flag.

I know it is something Tim Clements the marketing manager is looking at very closely.

[HeartBeatsTrue]

Nothing promotes the club to prospective members more than success on the field, so the 2500 is probably the maximum the dogs can hope for, which is still a very good figure.

[JK]

Past player memberships would be a problem at all clubs, I know it has been at ours where several years ago we had about a dozen memberships under that category for a season ... It's something that has always staggered me.

[Dirko]

How many ex players do you see at Norwood games Spermy ?

I know at Glenelg you'd always see a heap.

[JK]

How many ex players do you see at Norwood games Spermy ?

I know at Glenelg you'd always see a heap.

Usually I only see Macca around the Hill area throughout the year mate .. A few years back you used to see the likes of Sponge and Harvs.

I think there's older players that probably hit the Grandstands, but players of the last say 25 years I rarely see ... Certainly not like a recent(ish) trip to the Bay where I saw plenty of ex Glenelg thugs .. I mean players

[tigerhutch]

I guess since doggies are quit good financially they dont need to market too hard about memberships. Do most of their income come from Grand Central ?

[Sojourner]

Do what the NRL clubs do, charge $40 for the membership then give out $45 free drinks cards to members at Christmas time. Gives members a reason to go to the club and spend possibly more money than the membership fee.

[PhilH]

Central Membership Numbers (according to SANFL records)

1999 - 1150
2000 - 1362
2001 - 1936
2002 - 2403
2003 - 2371
2004 - 2380
2005 - 2732
2006 - 2940
2007 - 2305
2008 - 2299

[SnappyTom]

It is a problem.

Has to be a way dogs can utilise the GF celebrations nights. The clubs gets 5000 people minimum back for those nights. And yet our membership has not increased since the first flag.

I know it is something Tim Clements the marketing manager is looking at very closely.

Based on the fiasco of 2008, can the club afford to burn members when we have GF after-parties!
I would have thought MEMBERSHIP of MY club would have given ME some benefit over JOE PUBLIC to attend MY club, but not so.
There were a number disappointed with the events surrounding 2008...

I don't care to keep hearing the reasons why (and there are many), but MEMBERS deserve some benefits surrounding THEIR club; especially as we're the faithful that deserve the spoils of Grand Final success...

I find PhilH's stats amazing - the only conclusion from those membership numbers is that we need Huntley Armstrong back!
Sheesh, did I just say that!

ST...

[Spideroncall]

It is a problem.

Has to be a way dogs can utilise the GF celebrations nights. The clubs gets 5000 people minimum back for those nights. And yet our membership has not increased since the first flag.

I know it is something Tim Clements the marketing manager is looking at very closely.

Based on the fiasco of 2008, can the club afford to burn members when we have GF after-parties!
I would have thought MEMBERSHIP of MY club would have given ME some benefit over JOE PUBLIC to attend MY club, but not so.
There were a number disappointed with the events surrounding 2008...

I don't care to keep hearing the reasons why (and there are many), but MEMBERS deserve some benefits surrounding THEIR club; especially as we're the faithful that deserve the spoils of Grand Final success...

I find PhilH's stats amazing - the only conclusion from those membership numbers is that we need Huntley Armstrong back!
Sheesh, did I just say that!

ST...

SnappyTom do you know what I'll get for my money if I join centrals?

[purch]

Central Membership Numbers (according to SANFL records)

1999 - 1150
2000 - 1362
2001 - 1936
2002 - 2403
2003 - 2371
2004 - 2380
2005 - 2732
2006 - 2940
2007 - 2305
2008 - 2299

Just look at that bandwagon from '99 to '02
Interesting to note that the 2 'peaks' in Central's membership, namely 2002 and 2006, were when they lost the GF (I mean years where the numbers are higher than the years immediately prior and after).

So I'd like to see another 'peak' this year

[Dogwatcher]

It's called complacency.

What are the figures for other clubs, it would be interesting to see a comparison.

[doggies4eva]

As a long standing member I can say that you get a newsletter about 3 or 4 times a season, some goodies each year when you pay up (a badge, stickers, wall calendar/poster, key ring etc), a nice glossy annual report and access to the club.

While the revenue raised may seem like a lot of money, it is not significant compared to the revenue raised through Grand Central and through sponsorship.

If I were to give the club advice I would say do this: Make membership fees minimal, work the mailing list to attract more people to events at GC where they will part with money and to promote sponsors who will more easily part with bigger bikkies (notwithstand the GFC - thats Global Financial Crisis not Glenelg Footall Club). I think that this supports the track that they have been going down as the investment that has been pumped into GC over the past few years now makes this one of the better venues in the local area. The trick is to fill it to capacity every night not just GF night.

[SnappyTom]

...
If I were to give the club advice I would say do this: Make membership fees minimal, work the mailing list to attract more people to events at GC where they will part with money and to promote sponsors who will more easily part with bigger bikkies (notwithstand the GFC - thats Global Financial Crisis not Glenelg Footall Club). I think that this supports the track that they have been going down as the investment that has been pumped into GC over the past few years now makes this one of the better venues in the local area. The trick is to fill it to capacity every night not just GF night.

Dead right...



ST...

[SnappyTom]

SnappyTom do you know what I'll get for my money if I join centrals?

I'm a sponsor, Spider - and am satified muchly with what I get for that.
I think doggies4eva is pretty much on the dot with what your 55 bucks will get you.

ST...

[JK]

Central Membership Numbers (according to SANFL records)

1999 - 1150
2000 - 1362
2001 - 1936
2002 - 2403
2003 - 2371
2004 - 2380
2005 - 2732
2006 - 2940
2007 - 2305
2008 - 2299

Just look at that bandwagon from '99 to '02
Interesting to note that the 2 'peaks' in Central's membership, namely 2002 and 2006, were when they lost the GF (I mean years where the numbers are higher than the years immediately prior and after).

So I'd like to see another 'peak' this year

I reckon you'll find that most clubs membership numbers swell when presented with hope/expectancy, for the Dogs that hope generally revolves around the likelihood of another premiership.

In this decade at Norwood, that "hope" revolved around Macca's appointment as coach when membership was around 2500+ .. It's steadily declined since, although we've done reasonably well to hit the 2k mark again this year (who would have thought a SANFL club would refer to 2,000 members as doing "reasonably well", how the times have changed)

That list for the premier club in SA goes to show either a) just how hard a gig it is for club's to maintain or improve member numbers or b) how much priority they place in increasing the numbers.

[doggies4eva]

When you consider we have doubled our membership over the last 10 years I suppose that would have to be considered a good result

[MightyEagles]

I know that at the Eagles that the players have paid for memberships out of their own pockets this year, has Central done this at all, if not, they should think about doing so. If the fans hear that the players have paid for a membership, it could bring some fans to buy one.

[doggies4eva]

I think that past players should get membership at a nominal cost particularly if they have provided significant service to the club.