Crowe to walk away from Souths?

[Coxy]

I heard on the news this morning about Russell's video message to Souths fans that the money is drying up and fans need to start buying memberships and merchandise etc to keep the club alive.

http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,865 ... 14,00.html

Seriously, first Holmes a Court walks away, and now Rusty looks like he's going to follow. George Piggins had to go, but he was right when he said they'd just lose interest in their toy when it suited them and the club would be up shit creek.

Unless they can find another generous benefactor, they're gone.

And, I might add, Manly isn't any safer. If Max Delmege walks away they're fucked too.

I have a real problem with clubs being propped up by single rich beneficiaries. We've already seen what happened to the Brisbane Bullets in the NBL when Eddy Groves' evil empire went bust.

 

[Flutterby]

I don't think Rusty is going to walk away - have seen part of the message. He says he will always be a Souths boy and will always support Souths. But he quite rightly points out that 1 person can't be responsible for propping up the club forever. At some point the fans/supporters are actually going to have to put their hand in their pocket (or money where their mouths are) and contribute (ie become members / season ticket holders) if the club is to be viable long-term. Basically if they want their club they are going to have to put in.

And on another note, why doesn't Bruno send us a Christmas video message - ripped off again.

 

[Coxy]

Would you WANT Bruno's ugly head in your email?

 

[Flutterby]

At least I'd feel like he even knew the fans existed.

 

[Coxy]

He does. They appear in a line in the financial report.

Exploitation of Loyal Brisbane Public = $6789584

 

[dukey]

Crowe has spent shedloads getting Souths back on their feet. He's well within his rights to expect the club to be able to stand on its own now. Of course, our friends at News Corp think his wallet is bottomless and that he's a total grinch for wanting to stop pouring money into Redfern.

 

[Smithdom]

Look at all the free promotion the Rabbitohs have received for their membership campaign. Souths are very eager to grow their fanbase and membership - compare their attitude to the Broncos. [icon_thumbs_do

Bruno Cullen is so far behind the times it is scary. Considering how obsessed he is with the financials of the joint you would think he would prefer to grow the guaranteed income stream memberships generate. We make more money then anyone in the competition but you never see any sign of that money being used to promote memberships.

It doesn't even take money to push memberships - have a listen to Melbourne radio in the AFL off-season and hear all AFL players and employees promote the merits of membership to their club. Whenever I hear Shane Richardson on the radio he is always pushing memberships. I've heard Broncos like Hodges and Henjak on the radio in recent weeks, they never promote memberships. Our club is so lazy it's embarrassing.

God forbid the NRL put a second team in Brisbane. The chumps running the Broncos would be murdered by any other progressive administration.

 

[Coxy]

God forbid the NRL put a second team in Brisbane. The chumps running the Broncos would be murdered by any other progressive administration.

Provided they have said progressive administration. Remember the Crushers? LOLZ, absolute incompetence.

I agree the Broncos don't spruik the value of membership, but in reality "membership" of the Broncos is simply a season ticket.

For many clubs in Sydney and AFL clubs in Melbourne, membership is actual membership of the football club which, after a certain period of membership gives you rights to vote on important issues at board meetings. (One of the Broncos' fan representatives at that forum didn't know this was the case, which was a bit embarrassing).

The Broncos are a public company and as such the only way to get that kind of membership would be to buy shares.

However, you're right, the club doesn't advertise season tickets at all well, and it doesn't provide enough incentive for renewing members. As we've debated before, there should be more reward for loyalty - that is in terms of cheaper ticket prices, or whatever. Instead we get hit with price hikes annually.

 

[Flutterby]

I think that is what's driving their attitude Smithdom - basically they don't have to do anything to promote memberships. We have the highest number of season memberships and the highest home games attendances in the league and I believe they continue to grow every year. So they really don't see the need to have to push it a great deal. A second team in Brisbane will be the only thing that will force their hand (or maybe the Titans being increasingly successful).

 

[Coxy]

The Broncos set themselves a target of doubling their season membership numbers when the Titans were announced to be joining the competition. They achieved that. I think there's 15000 up from 7500 or something.

 

[Flutterby]

Just one of the benefits of being a one-team town club.

 

[Steve]

Good on Crowe. Being a member of your club is entrenched in the AFL culture. It should be embedded in rugby league. The best way to help your club is to buy a membership. I know we get jack all for our Broncos membership but hey I love the club, I'm a sucker and makes me feel good knowing I'm contributing in the most helpful way.

Of course the Souths fan base is different to the Broncos and a lot of their supporters might find it tough to become members - and that's alright too. But if you're in the financial position to help I think you should. It's your club for gods sake.

 

[Coxy]

Souths' cheapest season ticket membership is $210 for adults. Considering the Broncos' cheapest adult membership is $170...that's a bit steep!

 

[Flutterby]

Are you sure, cause on the tele this morning they were saying you could become a member of Souths for only $90 a year.

And it's not just about the money you as a member put in to buying your membership (cause let's be honest, that's really a pittance of a club's income), but if the club can go to sponsors and say they have 10,000 members - that's 10,000 people we guarantee you can target directly as opposed to this other club that can only guarantee you 7,000 people - it's a more attractive proposition for attracting businesses (and their money) to your club.

 

[Coxy]

You can become a non-ticketed member for $90.

 

[Flutterby]

ooohhhh, that explains it then. I think their ticket prices are a bit high then - especially when you consider the socio-economic status of most of their fan base and also that they actually have other clubs in Sydney to compete with.

 

[Coxy]

Yep, and that's the problem with going to ANZ Stadium. Tickets do cost more at that stadium. So for the benefits of the cash incentives the club gets, they sacrifice the crowd numbers because their fan base can't afford it. Silly really.

 

[Flutterby]

Oh well, I suppose they have done their figures and have worked out it is better financially for them at this stage to have the lower crowd numbers and take the kickback from the Stadium.