On a separate note, I also like the free flag/scarves idea (other clubs do it!) and getting kids in is vital. I know there's the free ST option, which has lead to at least 4 extra ST holders in my family, all of which are now paid for. Also, every primary school in Barnsley, Dearne and beyond should have free tickets available if they want them. Pack the West Stand / Family Stand / North Stand with family tickets - adult and two kids for only a tenner (or two and two for fifteen). Give out the vouchers at school, and people are only admitted with a kid. No adults would be able to use it without at least one kid in tow and only the normally empty areas would be filled. Everyone else should pay twenty quid flat rate. I'm sure the FSF 'twenty is plenty' campaign has been mentioned. Let's get the club on board early on. And why leave Hemsworth, Ponte and Kirkby to Leeds? My 6 year old cousin lives in Hemsworth and he already has a Leeds shirt. Why not give 10 shirts to every school each year to raffle off as part of a sports incentive? We do football in the community; let's step it up. These shirts cost a quid or so to make and Nike has enough money... There are options aplenty, and there are people on here who will help for free. There are kids wanting to see football and parents who can't afford it at the current price. It's really that simple. All this bullsh*t about lower prices not affecting attendance isn't true if you market it properly. If BFC don't get them, I'm sad to say Leeds or Wednesday will pick them up eventually.
Doesn't matter how you get people back to the ground, if whats served up is a dire inconsistent performance, which has been Barnsleys case for umpteen years, then they won't come back in a hurry. I'm a ST holder and so are both my kids, but after the first three home performances AND the negative Booing of some sections of the ground, I was in two minds about coming back the following week. You pay your money to be entertained, simple as. If you went to the cinema and paid to watch a film and it was poor, you wouldn't start booing and spoiling it for the rest of the paying customers. You'd most likely bare it, or walk out and think twice about paying good money on a film that wasn't getting good reviews. I'm taking the missus with us Saturday, paid for her a seat which I booked online, no probs. Even managed to select the seat next to us. Fingers crossed the players will make an appearance too and put in last weekends shift, not like the previous 3 home games.
What i'd do is make Barnsley Player free for the full month in December, start advertising the fact in mid October then once you have people listening to the games on saturdays it will get them wanting to watch the team wile there listening the match advertise tickets and season tickets
The club don't currently have a marketing department, they have a few people employed who have marketing in their job title but I genuinely don't think any marketing happens. The "marketing team" at Oakwell are a glorified sales team. Their job is to sell executive packages and attract sponsorship for the club as these are quick wins. However, every corporate package that is sold takes a lot of chasing (as any salesperson would know). In terms of wages, expenses, meetings etc it is actually not a very cost effective model. A marketing team should be trying to meet strategic goals such as creating a brand that represents the fans you want to attract. Unfortunately, I get the impression that DR doesn't have much sympathy for genuine marketing and like many small business, sees no distinction between a marketing and a sales role. There are numerous free ways of creating a splash in the media world, and selling tickets/merchandise off the back of that. Unfortunately the club are only willing to consider traditional channels that fit in with what they have already done. I do this as a profession and I have contacted the club with a plan of potential revenue streams to look into - did I get a response? Did I fu.........
Three words that the club need to think long and hard about Chief Executive Officer. Still amazed we don't have someone at the top with a track record of managing a multi-million pound business. Cryne aside, obviously. But he's not day to day.
Can someone please explain to me the rational behind the change to universal pricing. It is now the same price to sit in the ES upper as it is in the Ponte. The club perceive that the seats in the ES upper or the season prices would also be universal. I feel that different areas of the ground should have different pricing levels. This may enable folk to come and sit in the cheaper seats. PS I'm a ST holder so this not a personal thing
and i'm sure if the club charged thirty bob for a pie (especially if it was an award winner from a local butcher)as apposed to nearly 3 quid for some lovely personp from the other side of the country, then they would be onto a winner.. A Rob Royd pork pie !!!! yum !
A proper marketing campaign/structure at all levels So we don't have to rely on fans giving up their own time to spread the word about ticket prices.
Do some type of offer with Wildcats fans? £5 off Oakwell tickets on production of a recent Wildcats tickets and vice versa, Reds fans can watch Rugby League at Belle Vue for £5 less on production on a recent ticket or ST? In Wakefield floating football fans have a choice of clubs within 20 miles, Leeds, Barnsley or Donny..slightly further afield Huddersfield out of that lot us and Leeds are the better attraction.
Sounds like a good bit of cross-marketing that Gordon. Something that works both ways. Bound to rake up a bit of interest for a sport fan
How about a loyalty scheme, where people who pay on the gate get a discount or FREE entry on say their 6th/7th match. ie. Produce 6 (different) home ticket stubs and get a FREE match ticket. Or a 'stamp or sticker' on a voucher/ special ticket. Which when complete you get a FREE match ticket. Similar to what McDonalds do with their Coffee.
Re: Big bosomed naked lesbian mud-wrestlers at half time You are a bad influence on most people you meet! I was a quiet little thing until I met you
Re: Big bosomed naked lesbian mud-wrestlers at half time Oh aye(!) You were so meek, mild and timid!!Lol
Tell you what, Jay. I thought the naked lesbian wrestling idea was spot on. No idea what the fekk you're wittering on about here though.