Hey guys. I was wondering if you could help me out with a little project I'm working on. It's a comparison graph between the 2010/2011 and 2011/2012 membership numbers of each club in the A-League. If someone can post last season sale numbers to the closest number and what you're currently on - I'll keep the OP updated.

I also will post when I'm done.

2010/2011 Season -

Melbourne Heart: 6,500
Melbourne Victory:
Sydney FC:
Gold Coast United:
Wellington Phoenix:
Perth Glory:
North Queensland Fury:
Adelaide United:
Central Coast Mariners:
Newcastle Jets: 4,000
Brisbane Roar:

2011/2012 Season -

Melbourne Heart: 1,867 (Target - 7,500)
Melbourne Victory: 7,049 (Target - 15,000)
Sydney FC:
Gold Coast United:
Wellington Phoenix:
Perth Glory: 4,500
North Queensland Fury:
Adelaide United: 5,000(Target - 10,000*)
Central Coast Mariners:
Newcastle Jets: 4,863 (Target - 10,000)
Brisbane Roar:

All stats are as of 3.30pm 23/7/11

Edited by melbhearthammer: 23/7/2011 03:54:24 PM

MV had a counter on their website last season and it reached 18.5k

Where did you get the current figure?

The Newcastle Jets thread. I think every club should have a membership counter like Newcastles, really generates interest and keeps fans in the loop on how they are going - especially people like me who have some kind of fucked up obsession with membership numbers lol.

Going by what a united official told me Adelaide membership was around 5,000 and Perth Glory's was around 4,500

I think Adelaide United would love 10,000 season ticket holders but realistically they'll be hoping for 7,500, which should see more attendance figures closer to capacity.

What was your number for last year?

I think the 5,000 was last year.

Roar had about 4000 last year and already have 6500 odd this year

Roar should be looking to sign up 10,000 minimum for this season with the hope of having 15,000 within a few seasons. Ambitious, yes, but definitely achievable in a city Brisbane's size.

Still, 6,500 signed up two and a half months before the season kicks off is a very positive sign.

Where did you get that info from scouse?

Roars Ceo has stated they have sold more than last year (i think the figure was 150%) and was budgeting in for a 200% increase (but hoping more). If last season was 4, you would have them now around 6 and aiming for a minimum of 8.

Can't think of anything worse then having a membership tally for A-League clubs. That kind of pathetic dick measuring belongs in the AFL.

Thread title should be amended aswell.

In no way are A-League supporters members. Members have a vote and say in club elections. We don't. A more apt description would be 'season ticket holders'.

AUFC are rectifying that this season.

Season ticket holders/Members same thing.

i dont think afl fans actually vote FB

Where did you get the Perth info from? Even my 'unofficial' sources struggle to get a figure beyond "not much but we have a long way to go before the season".

mv had like 7 k in four weeks

We will have separate season ticket and membership packages available this season.

No it's not actually.

And AFL club members do have the rights to vote (except at some clubs like the Swans etc. that are fully owned by the AFL). Although not all members chose to excercise that right.

That's right. But not only that, club members like in the AFL are also given information such as the yearly financial statements of the club. Board members are voted in by the members in elections and are answerable to the members. Any member can run for election to the board. If changes are proposed to a club constitution, then it has to be discussed and voted on at an AGM which is open to all members.

It's very different to the A League. We get a seasons ticket and a reserved seat if you want one, and maybe a scarf. But we have no direct say in how the club is run.

i wish the clubs can be independant from the ffa ! seriously they own our names we couldnt do jack shit up until this year when we finally could neogatiate our own kit suppliers

Are you sure about this figure? I believe Heart had around 5,500 last year, not 6,500.

still not a bad figure for heart to have last season . but i know quiet a few mv fans getting heart memberships to help u guys out :" joffa

I fairly sure 6500 was the figure the club mentioned as being acheived last season.

joff werent u a heart member last season ? i remember u saying u bought it to help the club and also get access to the derby games without buying a ticket

Yep, I bought a membership for last season.

u re-upping for this year joff or ..?

I haven't decided, I have got my Victory memberships sorted already, i guess I'll wait and see how the Heart go with their membership sales before I decide.

Got that from the United official that I talk to last week. Said Perth Glory season ticket holders were slightly lower than Adelaide last years so if we had only 5,000 last year then glory would be within the 4500-5000 range.

Surely clubs like us could strive to get to 10,000 surely this is possible.

I think its a good idea because its give a key indication of where the club is going to most important people of all, the fans.

however still don't get the tally with Port Adelaide having around 35,000 members yet probably half attend games but whose to say they don't have non-ticketing memberships.

What I will be interested in Adelaide United is can you be a member and have voting rights about how the club should be run yet not have a season ticket and not bothering to show up to games. Or is being a season ticket holder a pre-requisite?

10,000 memberships for all clubs should be the bare minimum. Maybe scratch Gold Coast..

I think the problem with the membership campaign is that it is starting too early.

When the news hits a lot of people about memberships they will be inclined to think "Well it isnt until October, I can wait"

Yet clubs are being forced to do their drive this early to avoid doing so during the peak of the AFL/NRL season and finals which they have already conceeded they cant compete against.

MV are already doing their regional road show.

I wonder if the clubs are going to turn it up late August/early September

Its to bad for Perth or Victory that the celtic matches wasnt locked out to members only, worked for toronto

Thats an excellent idea!

They should bring over a big team and say its free and exclusive to members only. If you buy a membership you get to go to the game (as well as get the season ticket and perks). If you dont buy a membership you miss out.

The club could say along the lines of "we are putting on a special treat for our members. Sign up by the 1st September and you will be invited to an exclusive event. First there will be a presentation by the owner. Then a word by the coach and captain. Then the players will break out and play an exhibition match against xxx as our way of thanking our loyal fan base."

The only issue would be the viability of it. The sponsors would have to write off most of the cost.

That would backfire big time

Nothing wrong with a club putting on a show for members. Think of it as a reward for members instead of a punishment for non members.

I think he meant regarding costs
How much would it cost to bring out a team vs how many memberships you can sell

Clubs are already getting good results. Right now they have as clear air as they are going to get until the last couple weeks before the start of the season.

NRL/AFL fans aren't in finals mode yet. They aren't forking out for quarter/semi/grand final tickets. Fans of clubs who are failing might forgo attending matches of the failing clubs and use the money to sign up for a well placed A-League membership.

I don't know the actual numbers but Roar Memberships are up 65% on last year already, and are apparently budgeted to be at a 100% increase (double).

At the Roar Fan Forum last week Eugenie Buckley actually said that although they've budged for double the memberships of last season, they're expecting it to be more and will be disappointed with anything less than triple.

The thing with Toronto is that they actually sell out their season tickets so it is near impossible to even get a matchday ticket unless you take your chances. Plus they have a huge season ticket waiting list which is something no A-league club has at the moment.

Unrealistic in the extreme. Melbourne (and possibly Adelaide) are exceptions to the rule. Most of Australia doesn't have a strong membership culture attached to sport.

Brisbane and Sydney in particular are strong in sales on matchday rather than memberships etc.

I agree, "season ticket holder" is the more apt term for the HAL clubs.

But, let's get the truth out there about AFL memberships.

I used to be a member of a AFL (and formerly VFL club) for 20+ years so I have deep knowledge of the rights of members.

It is totally FALSE to suggest all AFL members have a vote and say in club elections.

Only FULL ADULT members were able to vote:
a) in elections for Board Members; and
b) to call an extraordinary General Meeting.

Student & Concession Memberships get no voting rights and limited memberships (3-game, 5-game, interstate members, pet memberships) get no voting rights.

Based on figures published last year, Full Adult Memberships account for 30-50% of AFL clubs published "membership numbers".

Agree that this is the sort of "exclusivity" that HAL clubs should be aiming for. But, it will take time.

Apart from Tinkler bringing out Galaxy last year, as far as I know, HAL clubs have NOT been the ones organising the o/s touring teams' visits to Australia. All these visits are organised by independent event promoters, which is why they are priced at ridiculous levels.

They are priced the way they are because the visiting club's require all expenses to be covered on top of the match fee. Then you have to add the match-day costs on top of that.

Yes I know that but, as far as I'm concerned, if a promoter is charging $40 for Gen Admin Adult tickets for MVFC v Boca Juniors it means he/she doesn't understand his customers.

A crowd of 13k attended the Boca match and, unless there was a heap of sponsorship money, the promoter would have made a substantial loss.

So what you are saying is instead of selling 5 computers for $1000 and sending 5 back they should sell 10 computers for $550

Value for money has to come into the equation sooner or later. If you dont want to pay for it you dont get it. A simple philosophy in life that seems to apply to everything except for the A League.

Football doesn't work like that, though. The club pays rent whether 10 or 10k turn up.

Shameless self bump. Can anyone provide me with some more numbers? I'm away at the moment so it won't be done until after the weekend.

:bump:

Heart have 2000.

MV have 8800

8,917, actually.

Soon to be 8923