Lost Members, I don't get it

[GVGjr]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Look there can be a multitude of reasons why folks do not continue their membership. There was a significant gap in mine when circumstances took my life too far away to attend matches. I remained a passionate supporter, and eventually re signed simply to support the club even though 2 games a season was about all I could manage for a few years. These days I am close enough [only about 150km away] to be a regular attendee.
Have you noticed how many senior cits there are amoung our supporter group at matches? Their 'drop off rate' could be part of the problem too.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

6000 is definitely a lot of people, but considering our current sales, it's great to see that we clearly have a lot of new members (who will hopefully continue to buy memberships..)

There are a lot of people who have a tradition of signing up before the first game they go to- not such a good idea if you want a social club, reserved seat type of membership, but there's certainly a lot who do this (not 6000, but I'm sure our numbers will go up over the round 1 period).

[ledge]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Round 1 could be a problem this year because if its sold out those wanting to buy membership i imagine wont be going, round 2 or 3 could be bigger in membership.

[AndrewP6]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

How true, my 6 year old son now has a new hero named Barry.

As does my 3 and a half y/o nephew... seeing the back page of the Hun the other day, he jumped up, fist-pumped the air, and said "Big Bazza"!!!!

[The Adelaide Connection]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

There's always mitigating circumstances why some people don’t renew, for example we had an English guy come over for a year on secondment last year, I sold him on supporting the Bulldogs because of the link between England and the Bulldogs (colours, British Bulldogs, Footscray’s link with English working class immigrants) and even convinced him to buy a membership. He’s now returned home, and while he loved watching us play, he isn’t going to keep paying for a membership he can’t use. But I agree some people just drop off for no reason, and given how this season is shaping up I can’t understand why.

As a side note, with the volume of English people moving to Australia I’m surprised the club doesn’t try to make more of the link between them and the Bulldogs, could be another way to entice more supporters.

The Central District Bulldogs has a particularly large contingent of British supporters, which probably also owes to a huge number of them originally settling in the new suburb of Elizabeth in the 60's (?). But I am sure the romance of the British Bulldog helped seal the deal.

By the way, Greystache = Best forum name/avatar ever.

[chef]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

As does my 3 and a half y/o nephew... seeing the back page of the Hun the other day, he jumped up, fist-pumped the air, and said "Big Bazza"!!!!

That's who my son is now when he plays in the backyard

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Have you noticed how many senior cits there are amoung our supporter group at matches? Their 'drop off rate' could be part of the problem too.

That's quite funny.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Yes, apparently that is true. We have one of the lowest churn rates of all the clubs. 6,000 sounds a lot for us though and it's a shame some people who can afford it don't maintain their memberships.
It's a lot easier now to become a member especially with all the payment options.

IIRC, it's 6000 who didn't renew this year, but something like 8000 last year and similar figures the year before, yet our overall membership figures stay relatively similar.

It makes me wonder if these are the same 6000/8000 people, and they are just joining up every other year, or if they are not the same people and we just have a big uptake every year to make up for the lost members.

If this is the case, then my hypothesis of a sleeping giant is on the mark, as there are potentially 15,000 - 20,000 people out there who have been recent members (ie. forked out money to support the club) that aren't currently, to add to our 30,000 or so from this year. That's potentially a 50,000 base membership, which is pretty massive, and this is before factoring in any growth.

ps. is there a case for the club taking lower net profits on individual memberships to inflate numbers? We'll get the same overall profit but have a healthier membership figure -- I know it's artificial in some ways but wouldn't we rather have a lot of members even if it doesn't mean a lot more in the way of profits?

[Greystache]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

The Central District Bulldogs has a particularly large contingent of British supporters, which probably also owes to a huge number of them originally settling in the new suburb of Elizabeth in the 60's (?). But I am sure the romance of the British Bulldog helped seal the deal.

By the way, Greystache = Best forum name/avatar ever.

Thanks mate, gotta love ripping off a Simpsons episode!

I didn't realise that about Central Districts, interesting. I just think there's an opportunity there for us, I lived over in London for a few years and the English are really into their sport, and given in Melbourne there's not much scope for their two favourite codes (Rugby Union and Soccer) they tend to be drawn to AFL footy and often become very passionate. Maybe the club has considered it before and deemed it not worthwhile.

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Nah stinking Hawks. We've since reached a compromise. She gets kids, I keep my membership, kids get junior Dogs memberships. Win/win. Except for the bank account, but it's a price I'm willing to pay.

She thinks the kids will be Hawks, but as I go to as many Dogs games as I can and she doesn't go at all, the reality is the chance of that is zero.

Ahh! sounds like a great compromise dfa4pm

[LostDoggy]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Try watching a NAB Cup win with a Bulldog tragic 6yo who doesn't know the difference between NAB Cup and the real thing. All he knows is Barry got the medal and the Bulldogs won the trophy.

His elation was similar to that any one of us will feel when we win the real thing.



Watching the Bulldogs with kids >>>>>>> watching the Bulldogs without kids.

Find something else to sacrifice, besides, the easiest way to get new members is to breed our own.

Great ideas Sockeye - don't get me wrong, I think it's wonderful that our newest bulldogs (young 'uns) now have a new hero/cult-figure/star to cheer and emulate

[ledge]

Re: Lost Members, I don't get it

Thanks mate, gotta love ripping off a Simpsons episode!

I didn't realise that about Central Districts, interesting. I just think there's an opportunity there for us, I lived over in London for a few years and the English are really into their sport, and given in Melbourne there's not much scope for their two favourite codes (Rugby Union and Soccer) they tend to be drawn to AFL footy and often become very passionate. Maybe the club has considered it before and deemed it not worthwhile.

I remember going to see a Centrals game when Cowboy Neale was coach and I happen to be wearing a Southampton top, the crowd started singing the Liverpool song, thats how english the crowd was.

Some of my relations came out in the 90s and they first settled in Elizabeth too but I believe most have moved on to new suburbs around the beaches now and the Aboriginals have moved in on Elizabeth.