Securing a larger fanbase

[islandersfootball]

This has to be the big long term goal for the club. What ways could we get more fans coming in?

 

I know it won't help with a club 5 miles down the road playing Championship football next season, but I'm sure they are lots of ways in which we can get the gates rising.

 

Our "catchment area" is Castle Point and Basildon, so most of the work would have to be done there.

 

Obviously word of mouth is the big key, but not always the most easiest.

 

Views?

[Ribbit]

We need to do a hell of a lot of promotion. We need to tell people we exist and show them where we are.

[Matt H]

Starting tomorrow at 11:30am outside the Paddocks.

[Ribbit]

After hearing last night that our gate prices are too high and that 'lowering them to £10 or £9 would increase the attendances to what we want' (though I beleieve we'd be lucky to get another fifty on our current gate doing that), I've spent the last half hour looking through the other Conference teams websites for their entrance fees.

 

From most expensive to cheapest, here's the 'table', if you will:

 

1. York City - £13.00-£16.00

2. Kidderminster Harriers - £13.00-£16.00

3. Halifax Town – £13.00

 

4. Aldershot - £12.00-£15.00

5. Woking – £12.00-£15.00

6. Cambridge United - £12.00-£15.00

7. Burton Albion - £12.00-£14.00

8. Accrington Stanley - £12.00

9. Gravesend & Northfleet- £12.00

 

10. Canvey Island - £11.50

 

11. Exeter City - £11.00-£14.00

12. Crawley Town - £11.00-£13.00

13. Morecambe - £11.00-£12.00

14. Grays Athletic - £11.00

 

15. Stevenage Borough - £10.00-£13.00

16. Dagenham & Redbridge - £10.00-£13.00

17. Hereford United - £10.00-£12.00

18. Altrincham - £10.00-£12.00

19. Tamworth - £10.00-£12.00

20. Southport - £10.00 - £11.50

21. Scarborough - £10.00

 

22. Forest Green Rovers - £9.00-£11.00

 

As you can see we're 10th in that little list, which isn't bad. However, what I'd like to see is the prices drop to £10 which would put us into (more or less) the cheapest group of teams.

 

Now, bearing in mind a lot of people think we are too expensive, maybe we could use this table to promote that, when compared to other clubs, we are in fact, one of the cheapest. Giving our current situation of not knowing where we'll be next season, maybe it's a bit late for a marketing ploy like this, but I think it's an interesting idea.

 

I don't think lowering prices on it's own will do anything. But advertising the fact and showing how low our prices are? That may well do.

[A Non E Mouse]

Interesting - must have taken some time to compile.

 

It is good as a marketting tool but doesn't show the whole picture.

 

A lot of those clubs have far better facilities - womens toliets, catering, club house, seating and view - although none have a view of shipping passing up the Thames <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

 

Also, I think teams like Gravesend do a "family" ticket which is discounted. These are all thing sthat I think the Supporters Trust can now consider such as better concessions and appealing to both older, families and young supporters. Also the mini season ticket ideas etc.

 

Suppose you need to analyse information like you've posted and introduce schemes and ideas which will hopefully reap rewards in greater crowd numbers etc.

 

Also aren't divisions capped at certain prices by the relevant leagues?

 

Anyone any idea on average gates in Conf South and average price to get in?

 

Exciting times ahead!

[Ribbit]

Yeah, but we have to manipulate the figures to make ourselves look good. If you walk up to York on your tod, you'll be paying between £13 and £16 to get in. We'll ignore any offers, because, well, we don't have any.

 

Like you say though, we should get outselves some kind of family ticket and I do like the idea of paying for five or so games all at once.

[Eastside Urchin]

last season we was paying around £8 in conf south,some clubs were as cheap as £6.50

weymouth get around 1500

st albans 500+

average would of been around 350-400

some teams get 200 ie histon,yeading,maidenhead

others like sutton and welling nearer 5-600

[Lefty]

yeh but by dropping price we have to get in more people to make up for the drop so it could work against us

[Ribbit]

On todays gate, we could probably survive in the FCS, if those figures are anything to go by.

 

...But we should be capable of at least 1K a week.

[A Non E Mouse]

Just had a quick look on that anothers site and it looks like the average for Conf South is around 505.

 

If you took todays gate of 621 and knock off the 60-70 Harriers fans then we don't appear to be to bad. I think it shows our average for the season as 800 odd - so again take off say an average 200 away supporters and your still above the Conf South average although I expect gates would decrease because of playing in a lower league.

 

I'd like to think we could ply our trade in Conf South although I suppose it's also about how much the club gets out of sponsors etc. and the likes of Bishops Stortford, Thurrock, Basingstoke etc. have been plugging away at it for quite some time. Suppose the league would want to see that we are financially secure and that may be difficult as the supporters trust has just started.

 

However, and it's only my opinion, to stay in the Conf National which I would love seems to be a long way off. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

[Ribbit]

I'm struggling here. Even if we go into administration and take the ten-point deduction, we may not be relegated. Surely we can't just pull out of the league and decide we'll play FCS?

[A Non E Mouse]

To be honest I ain't sure - probably a complicated process etc. etc.

 

Perhaps I should keep me mouth shut as it's all speculation <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

[Captain Haddock]

Once the dust has settled, I hope that there is a way us exiles can assist, albeit by simply joing the Trust at the start. Sign me up please.

 

Gutted I may not get my weekend in Torquay or Exeter next season, but will definately make the journey 'home' more often instead.

[Ribbit]

I was looking forward to Torquay too!

[Guest]

We may get more fans because, we may win more games at the lower level and with shorter distances to travel more fans will come.

 

There is no way I could do a mid week in scarborough, but there is no way I would miss a mid week in Farnborough.

[CanveyFan]

JUst noticed this post and although I don't live on the island anymore, I was thinking perhaps the club could maybe run a local bus service for fans who cannot easily get to the ground on match days.

 

I know this would cost a bit to initially set up but personally the parking charges at the club deter people from driving and parking there. If there was a more reliable public transport service in perhaps Benfleet with reasonable prices, more people would want to come raising the attendance.

 

As I said it may take a bit to get it off the ground but something like this service may influence the people who live close but refrain from coming because they cannot get to what is probably the more inaccessible area of the island.

 

Sorry about the long post but thought it could be an idea to increase attendances but in turn could be a load of rubbish.

[The Great Eckscape]

Quote:

CanveyFan said:
JUst noticed this post and although I don't live on the island anymore, I was thinking perhaps the club could maybe run a local bus service for fans who cannot easily get to the ground on match days.

I know this would cost a bit to initially set up but personally the parking charges at the club deter people from driving and parking there. If there was a more reliable public transport service in perhaps Benfleet with reasonable prices, more people would want to come raising the attendance.

As I said it may take a bit to get it off the ground but something like this service may influence the people who live close but refrain from coming because they cannot get to what is probably the more inaccessible area of the island.

Sorry about the long post but thought it could be an idea to increase attendances but in turn could be a load of rubbish.

This is definite consideration and one that will be looked into extensively.

[YELLOW]

We could survive in Conf South on gates of around 500. The likes of Sutton, Bognor and Maidenhead manage it so I don't see why we can't.

[Just Champion]

canvey fan, you don't remember last years attempt at a bus service then, on the best run 5 people used it, total waste of time and money.

[A Non E Mouse]

Quote:

Just Champion said:
canvey fan, you don't remember last years attempt at a bus service then, on the best run 5 people used it, total waste of time and money.

I remembered this service but presumed it wasn't successful because it went rather quiet.

Personally I feel all ideas should be considered but weigh up against previous efforts and what they cost.

The aim is to get people to stick with the club next season, increase the funds available and if possible increase our crowd numbers - irrelevant of what league we end up in.

IMHO the only way your probably going to do that is to be successful on the pitch playing entertaining football with reasonable admission costs run alongside a good awarness and marketting campaign.

Again, my personal opinion is that the club needs to go back to basics. We need to look at small local businesses that were perhaps overlooked and cannot afford the advertising prices at somewehere such as Southend UFC. Lets see if we can get them on board by advertising our fixture list and simple map - in return they get a regualr "support our sponsors" piece in the programme and recognition if a big game comes along. You got nothing for nothing in this life and we need to consider what we are offering as a club.

I also don't feel we should give up on our local audience of 40,000 people. I still feel we have the potential to fill a niche market in the local area and at the right level. Our biggest assets are the use of the ground plus the supporters bar(s) - lets use them. I always admired the fact that Grays had the best bar in non league football recognised by CAMRA - why not us? - sorry larger drinkers but how about the only real ale pub/club on the Island.

Perhaps instead of trying to provide transport at a cost to the club which brings in a handful of people we should target Benfleet Station in the evening with possible flyers. Co-ordinate with a discount voucher before key matches and you target men and women in both Canvey and Benfleet at one of the busiest main line stations in the South East. The main point should be a simple map highlighting the point area and the grounds location - nothing to busy - keep it simple with bus route numbers.

Perhaps discount admissions for anyone who attends a game and is a season ticket holder at Southend, West Ham or a league club. Lets become everyones regular second club.

I think we need to be realistic and not try and compete with the likes of Southend and West Ham but concerntrate on our local community building it up gradually and loyally.

Sorry - got carried away........