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