Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

[Ghost Dog]

Lantern and Sedat, the business 'dragons' of woof had some interesting comments today regarding taking a more business oriented approach to club decision making.

There seem to be a few entrepreneurial types on here. I seem to recall having cert IV in small business myself ( from the Ivy league of the south eastern suburbs, Homesglen TAFE. ). So business types, what are your big ideas?

Let me start this.

I happened to be having a yarn with a bloke in a pub who's partner helps run the MCC. He was very fat, wore a lot of bling and was a real estate agent in Sydney. In short he seemed quite qualified.
His view, for example, was that we should dump Mission as a sponsor immediately and find a more 'upmarket' sponsor, as they look ' cheap'. Anyone agree? Personally, I like their wraps but can see the logic.

One other idea or comment business wise. I was told by a Bulldogs staff member that the reason we can't hold VFL games at Whitten oval is because it is an open ground. This is great for community events but is a problem as you need a gated oval to collect takings. Anyone can comment on this? It seems nuts to have a ground so close to the city and not be using it for VFL games.

[Sockeye Salmon]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Lantern and Sedat, the business 'dragons' of woof had some interesting comments today regarding taking a more business oriented approach to club decision making.

There seem to be a few entrepreneurial types on here. I seem to recall having cert IV in small business myself ( from the Ivy league of the south eastern suburbs, Homesglen TAFE. ). So business types, what are your big ideas?

Let me start this.

I happened to be having a yarn with a bloke in a pub who's partner helps run the MCC. He was very fat, wore a lot of bling and was a real estate agent in Sydney. In short he seemed quite qualified.
His view, for example, was that we should dump Mission as a sponsor immediately and find a more 'upmarket' sponsor, as they look ' cheap'. Anyone agree? Personally, I like their wraps but can see the logic.

One other idea or comment business wise. I was told by a Bulldogs staff member that the reason we can't hold VFL games at Whitten oval is because it is an open ground. This is great for community events but is a problem as you need a gated oval to collect takings. Anyone can comment on this? It seems nuts to have a ground so close to the city and not be using it for VFL games.

I went to a VFL game there a few weeks back.

Victoria Park doesn't have a fence either

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

I went to a VFL game there a few weeks back.

Victoria Park doesn't have a fence either

So they plan to hold regular games at Whitten oval? or it was just a one off thing?
Re the gate thing, that's what I was told, by a member of staff.

[jeemak]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

I'm glad last night's earthquake didn't reach the lofty heights on the Richter Scale that your post reached on the Self-deprecation Scale mate!

Thread has some merit, though I'll immediately state that I'm not sure your friend from the MCC quite understands the logistics behind dumping a major sponsor, when in our situation. Not knowing the context of your discussion with him it's hard to say a lot more on his proposal, other than it sounds as if his point of view comes from somebody used to working with an established premium brand, rather than one like ours.

The MCC is in a position where numerous suppliers are lining up to get its business and practically speaking, as far as stadium contracts are concerned in this country it has more pull than Coles and Woolworths do over their vendors when they tender their business.

In an environment where both international and local businesses are becoming exremely frugal with their advertising and sponsorship dollars, our football club will not be in a position to expose itself to a lack of sponsorship in the manner suggested.

With respect to VFL games, I prefer to have Williamstown play football at Williamstown, where they belong. That club's culture is as rich as ours, and it shouldn't be diluted any further than it has been to this point.


So, what do I think needs to be done? I'll draw from your first point and the position suggested by the man from the MCC. Ultimately, we should consider being in a situation where we put our club brand out to tender for sponsorship interest as an end goal. To do this, we need to completely accept the desperate nature of our current situation, where three consecutive preliminary finals has resulted in some overall growth in membership, counterbalanced by a recent dip in membership. A dip in membership in a market where every other team seems to be increasing in membership should ring panic bells for the club's administration, its members and supporters. Realising we're in a dire situation immediately, will be beneficial to our future cause.

My limited marketing experience and education tells me we are a club struggling with its positioning, and a club that is not managing the external noise and interference very well. On the spot I'm not prepared to post anymore, and even though I've given our situation much thought to this point, this week's occurences have set me back a little in my thinking.

[chef]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Lantern and Sedat, the business 'dragons' of woof had some interesting comments today regarding taking a more business oriented approach to club decision making.

There seem to be a few entrepreneurial types on here. I seem to recall having cert IV in small business myself ( from the Ivy league of the south eastern suburbs, Homesglen TAFE. ). So business types, what are your big ideas?

Let me start this.

I happened to be having a yarn with a bloke in a pub who's partner helps run the MCC. He was very fat, wore a lot of bling and was a real estate agent in Sydney. In short he seemed quite qualified.
His view, for example, was that we should dump Mission as a sponsor immediately and find a more 'upmarket' sponsor, as they look ' cheap'. Anyone agree? Personally, I like their wraps but can see the logic.

One other idea or comment business wise. I was told by a Bulldogs staff member that the reason we can't hold VFL games at Whitten oval is because it is an open ground. This is great for community events but is a problem as you need a gated oval to collect takings. Anyone can comment on this? It seems nuts to have a ground so close to the city and not be using it for VFL games.

Problem is these companies won't want to sponsor us(the smallest membership outside the new franchises, not a glamour side, plus our crowd sizes and lack of prime time free to air games). Beggars can't be choosers, we should be thankful for what we can get.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Problem is these companies won't want to sponsor us(the smallest membership outside the new franchises, not a glamour side, plus our crowd sizes and lack of prime time free to air games). Beggars can't be choosers, we should be thankful for what we can get.

Yes Yes but this is the entrepreneurial thread. And we must not only learn to spell that word without a spell checker, but begin to think in that way. Not beggars. A red white and blue start up with enormous potential. In some way, the risk of being our sponsor also may bring about opportunities, especially for a company that wants to establish itself in the west. Personally, I like Mission, but it's ok to debate and try to think a bit bigger.

[Maddog37]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

It is a little bit chicken and egg GD. If we are succesful and Mission is on the jumper of a premiership team it will look alot sexier all of a sudden. On field success is the be all and end all.

[always right]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Can't say I've ever associated the Mission brand with "cheap". Long may they support us I say.

[Twodogs]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Yes Yes but this is the entrepreneurial thread. And we must not only learn to spell that word without a spell checker, but begin to think in that way. Not beggars. A red white and blue start up with enormous potential. In some way, the risk of being our sponsor also may bring about opportunities, especially for a company that wants to establish itself in the west. Personally, I like Mission, but it's ok to debate and try to think a bit bigger.

As far as competitive advantages go to me this is our biggest plus. Our colours, red white and blue, are the most famous and prestigious combination on the face of the planet and I think we could be using them a lot better.

Many, many organisations-from companys to nations-use R, W & B as their corportate branding. I think we could use our colours to our advantage a lot better than we do. Even something as simple as using the internet to establish an online presence in countrys like America and the UK seems to me like something worth doing.


All aboard the red white and blue express!

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Right. and The move to the hoops was a good one I think.

"Anything worth doing has got moments of discomfort or even pain. And the pleasure so grossly outweighs everything else that you don't even notice."

[Mantis]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

One other idea or comment business wise. I was told by a Bulldogs staff member that the reason we can't hold VFL games at Whitten oval is because it is an open ground. This is great for community events but is a problem as you need a gated oval to collect takings. Anyone can comment on this? It seems nuts to have a ground so close to the city and not be using it for VFL games.

If or when we have a VFL team this might become important, but as of right now our players play for Williamstown who last time I just checked had just spent a truckload of $$'s upgrading their own ground... One would think they would want to see a return on their investment.

[Ghost Dog]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

If or when we have a VFL team this might become important, but as of right now our players play for Williamstown who last time I just checked had just spent a truckload of $$'s upgrading their own ground... One would think they would want to see a return on their investment.

Ok fair point. So is the ground being utilized enough in your view? if not, what other sorts of events could be held there?

[Twodogs]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Ok fair point. So is the ground being utilized enough in your view? if not, what other sorts of events could be held there?

The footy club doesnt own the ground. As far as I know officially it's a community asset owned by the City of Maribyrnong, the same as any other park or garden in the municipality. We have use of it for training purposes but any money making schemes would have to be OKd by council and I dont know that relations between council and the footy club are not at an all time high at the moment.

However to say it's not enclosed is wrong. It still has a fence around it and access is impossib le if the door to the Pound is locked. It just doesnt have gates or turnstiles the way it used to.


That's my reading of the situation. I'm happy to be corrected by anyone who has a better understanding.

[Bornadog]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

Ok fair point. So is the ground being utilized enough in your view? if not, what other sorts of events could be held there?

Have you been out to the ground at all?

Following on from the redevelopment of the ground the buildings are being used as follows:

* elite training centre - say no more

* 8 Old Grandstands - Now renovated and rental income received from Victoria UNi and Other tenants - estimated income $1 million. Plus Bulldogs Shop and Cafe

* Multi purpose sports centre consisting of four full size basketball courts - used 7 days per week, estimated $1 million in income.

* Day care centre - also earning dollars.

I think Whitten Oval is earning its keep.

[EasternWest]

Re: Bulldog entrepreneurial brainstorms

However to say it's not enclosed is wrong. It still has a fence around it and access is impossible if the door to the Pound is locked. It just doesnt have gates or turnstiles the way it used to.

Is that true? A friend of mine is a football romantic and he recently organisd a pushbike tour to all the old VFL grounds, including WO. As far as I can recall, we just rode our bikes right up to the oval, no fences or gates in sight, straight off Barkly St.