Reconnecting with the people of Barnsley.

That's the thing, it doesn't.

I'm not saying the club should open its doors and start throwing freebies away willy-nilly, but a measured, methodical, justified campaign across the community would do absolute wonders in generating fresh interest and opening the eyes of potentially thousands of school kids (in turn, the parents).

Toby Tyke visits a school. Gives a way a bunch of Barnsley FC stamped stationery, poses for photos and shakes hands. Win.

 

over here in DC when the baseballs on they have great promotions in the local press.

the Washington Nationals have gone from having around 10,000 in the stadium to near sell outs everyweek. thats 50,000

Yes its much larger than Barnsley but it goes to show doing and having great marketing really does work. And the team also played well last year.

heres a few of the things they do in local press.

ticket offers/ buy 2 get 1 free on select games.

vouchers on entry for a free drink or hotdog to the first 1000 through a certain turnstile.

A free concert after the game on the pitch.THESE really do attract the fans here. In Barnsley you could use local bands,or get a decent group on.

free t shirts to the first 3000 through certain gates.

Dont think this one would work at Oakwell but they have a bring your pet to the game day.

All the catering at Nationals park is done by outside catering and they love the things the nats put on.

At the end of the season they also have a prize draw its $2 a ticket and you win a signed game worn players shirt. they normally give away every shirt like this at season end.

Marketing is easy if you have the right people in charge. Unfortunatley thats where Barnsley are let down.

 

Re: Free tickets to schools

It's asking for people to work on Saturdays for free. Plus all the organising before hand. People who have nothing to do with Barnsley football club. A profession that is constantly **** on and taken advantage of. If you think it's no problem then you do it with your co-workers. I'm at a loss to why people expect teachers to do this type of thing on their weekends.

 

Basic advertising is what the club lacks in vastly. Has done for years. A consistent, measured, realistic approach that touches the community on all levels is what is needed. Not merely gimmicks and special offers (although every now and then would be great).

 

Is that above teh Legends Suite/Exec Boxes Floor?

 

Re: Free tickets to schools

I can't grasp why you are so obtuse. I'm not trying to suggest that teachers should be made to work Saturdays, merely hand hold a community initiative in getting youngsters invovled in the local footballing community, with the help of parents of course. If I were a teacher, I'd be on the phone to the club trying to kickstart something along the lines of this, but obviously I'm biased as a supporter of the club. I realise people have their own lives outside of work, but something like this every so often mixed with a good marketing campaign would be brilliant for the club.

 

I posted a similar ting on another thread.

I actually can't believe that we're not going into school assemblies with toby tyke and a player (bobby hassell, great role model) to get the kids nagging at their parents to take them.

It's the youth that are the future, and at the minute it's all too easy to 'support man u of man city' when their own club is just down the road.

 

Re: Free tickets to schools

Why do you have to be a teacher to do it? You do it. Get yourself CRB checked, get in touch with the club, get in touch with a local school or youth club, organise the tickets, organise it with the parents, organise and pay for transport and take the kids to the game. If you're not prepared to do that, don't ask others to do it for you.

 

has any body actually thought that the fans who arent coming are not coming because they cant afford to. There out of work,there looking after the well being of their families,football is just one of those expenses that at the moment people cant afford.

Maybe just maybe its nothing to do with the club/manager situation.
Maybe these people want a roof over there heads i think you will all agree that is more important.

 

Then for those people there's no point, there's nothing wrong with that.

It's the people that would rather go to a pub and spend money their watching Sky Sports than coming t well.

 

If you're stood on the concourse of the Lower East and look up, the floors missing. It was never utilised when it was built but its there to be used. You can see it clearly on this second picture down, look between the stairwell towers there's 3 floors of windows but on the ends only 2. The lower floor is only used in the centre when the stand was built for three floors, the ends are just left open. Only noticed it when my dad pointed it out. Would be ideal for a social club, and cost effective.

http://bbtandt2.blogspot.co.uk/2010/11/pictures-from-barnsley-trip.html

 

Hound For A Pound was mentioned on here years ago. The chance for a quid to take your dog to a game but it never got off the ground.

 

and i thought it was acrazy american idea bugger

 

Because of results. Largely dictated by budget.

 

Instead of fans spending about £3 on a train ticket?

 

Are team just needs to man up and play football. It winds me up how whimpish our team is!

 

My first BFC match was being accompanied in a small group of 3-4 kids by a teacher/football coach from my Junior school. He was a fan and didn't mind a bit, had parental consent. Not every week but some, dropped the kids home afterwards. Then we wanted to go every week which probably didn't please some Mams and Dads.

That was 30 years ago but I think it is a scheme that could be explored, things have changed a bit but it is still advancing community relations. Clarke had that first team I saw visiting schools on a regular basis and loads of kids started going. That, coupled with good form and affordable tickets was why we were averaging 16-17,000 more or less up until the strike.

I wouldn't rule out any ideas that brought in the next generation of supporters, because we are evidently suffering from the competition for our leisure time and disposable incomes. It could be achieved in conjunction with schools, parents and volunteer supporters. The arts/heritage industry where I work is sustained on such initiatives and partnerships, this is whwere to look for appropriate, tried and tested models.

 

Well, yeah...