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Post by jdl on Oct 20, 2019 23:01:28 GMT
That was then, this is now. We can't keep judging simply on the basis that's it's better than it was in the Wilderness Years.
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Post by daveu on Oct 21, 2019 7:55:56 GMT
Not forgetting it's pretty hard to have any kind of initiative on non-league day when you're away from home. But why does it have to be only on Non-League day? I think the club could do a lot more to make people aware of the stadium, when games are, the costs, facilities, etc. If I wasn't already a supporter, the only way I'd be aware that Stones existed is by the odd shirt or scarf around town on match days. A good example is the sign outside ME station. It tells you to follow the signs for the History Centre, but I couldn't actually see any signs for the History Centre! Tell you what. If you've got better ideas why not approach the club with them. All the constant griping on here isn't gonna do any good.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 7:57:04 GMT
We've got one of the nearest, if not THE nearest, ground to a town centre to have been built in the last few decades. People in colours all over Week Street on a match day on the odd occasions I've been in town for a game. As for finding out when the next fixture is - apparently there's an electronic thing where you can look stuff up and get the answer? I'm genuinely intrigued by this - not saying you're wrong: are there really local residents who don't know that Maidstone United exist and play back in town?
BTW my trip to Oxford City on Saturday bore out my theory about the clientele of sheltered seating along the length of the pitch (it's 4 seats deep at Marsh Lane): exclusively old people and families with kids. (Another genuine Q - is the main stand sold out to season ticket holders or are there places available on the day? - yes, I'm out of touch...) Now don't go spoiling things by looking up the attendance at Oxford... (clue - 999 less than at the GalStad)
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Post by sword65 on Oct 21, 2019 8:02:26 GMT
Our attendances are fine as we have been spoilt with so much success over the last 10 years they have only taken a dip because that success has stagnated somewhat. I am pretty sure that by the end of this season our crowds will be back around the 2400-2500 mark as we approach the play offs.
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Post by malibustacey on Oct 21, 2019 8:17:37 GMT
We've got one of the nearest, if not THE nearest, ground to a town centre to have been built in the last few decades. People in colours all over Week Street on a match day on the odd occasions I've been in town for a game. As for finding out when the next fixture is - apparently there's an electronic thing where you can look stuff up and get the answer? I'm genuinely intrigued by this - not saying you're wrong: are there really local residents who don't know that Maidstone United exist and play back in town? BTW my trip to Oxford City on Saturday bore out my theory about the clientele of sheltered seating along the length of the pitch (it's 4 seats deep at Marsh Lane): exclusively old people and families with kids. (Another genuine Q - is the main stand sold out to season ticket holders or are there places available on the day? - yes, I'm out of touch...) Now don't go spoiling things by looking up the attendance at Oxford... (clue - 999 less than at the GalStad) I live close to a ground that hosts Super League and Championship Rugby Union. I keep forgetting it’s there and so don’t go often, even then it’s usually because an away fan mentions it. I don’t look up fixtures but I would go half a dozen times a year if it was easy - it’s people like me they need to market to.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 8:31:20 GMT
That was then, this is now. We can't keep judging simply on the basis that's it's better than it was in the Wilderness Years. Time for one of your non-league average attendance tables. Are we top 20 or so? Really not too shabby. And a drop-off after relegation is hardly a surprise, is it? Town Centre club shop is the only thing I can think of to raise awareness and make some money - but easier said than done I'm sure.
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Post by jdh80 on Oct 21, 2019 9:24:12 GMT
That was then, this is now. We can't keep judging simply on the basis that's it's better than it was in the Wilderness Years. Time for one of your non-league average attendance tables. Are we top 20 or so? Really not too shabby. And a drop-off after relegation is hardly a surprise, is it? Town Centre club shop is the only thing I can think of to raise awareness and make some money - but easier said than done I'm sure. Town centre club shop for a team at our level is just a huge drain on the finances, for every £50 you make your probably going to lose £1500 so defeats the object of having the shop. What the club would need to do would be implement a well thought out financially savvy marketing plan with advertising around the town at the lowest cost possible but gets the maximum exposure. Easy said than done. There are a few electronic travel boards around the town (definitely one in Sittingbourne road), maybe if anyone knows who operates these then they could let the club know and the club could approach them and see if we can advertise on them when no traffic information is being broadcast. As for the adverts on roundabouts why not, can't buy the excuse that it will cause a distraction especially nowadays when you see people on their phones or have headphones on whilst driving and nothing gets done about it.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 9:43:19 GMT
Forgetting the people who don't know and don't care - what about those who use the pitch during the week, and their families? Great audience to pitch promotions to, surely?
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Post by Bernie on Oct 21, 2019 9:53:10 GMT
Buy a pub? I wouldn't use the Spitfire Lounge for just a pint, but would drink in a club owned pub, if it was done right.
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Post by pedant on Oct 21, 2019 10:22:16 GMT
So, collectively and / or individually, we (whoever "we" may be) want the club to: invest in marketing initiatives to promote the club that may increase the attendances; and invest in the team that may improve the club's chances of promotion to a league we may or may not be financially capable of sustaining a place in; and invest in ground improvements that will increase capacity even though we're currently around 50-60% of capacity; and maintain a financially stable and sustainable club.
So who is going to be brave enough to suggest what the club should cut back on to allow any of the above? Or alternatively donate sufficient funds?
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Post by headstone on Oct 21, 2019 10:28:46 GMT
The tenor of this thread is only looking for ways to increase attendances, when we are at less than two thirds capacity. That seems quite sensible as a topic for discussion. What would be interesting is knowing whether the club have this under review themselves, as we would hope. Then we wouldn't need this thread....
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Post by pedant on Oct 21, 2019 10:46:57 GMT
The tenor of this thread is only looking for ways to increase attendances, when we are at less than two thirds capacity. That seems quite sensible as a topic for discussion. What would be interesting is knowing whether the club have this under review themselves, as we would hope. Then we wouldn't need this thread.... Strange. Its almost as if you're implying there's a connection between not needing a thread and not having one.
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Post by 61666 on Oct 21, 2019 12:12:44 GMT
So, collectively and / or individually, we (whoever "we" may be) want the club to: invest in marketing initiatives to promote the club that may increase the attendances; and invest in the team that may improve the club's chances of promotion to a league we may or may not be financially capable of sustaining a place in; and invest in ground improvements that will increase capacity even though we're currently around 50-60% of capacity; and maintain a financially stable and sustainable club.
So who is going to be brave enough to suggest what the club should cut back on to allow any of the above? Or alternatively donate sufficient funds? Speculate to accumulate. However, you usually need a shedload of Dosh to start the first bit, which we don't, it seems. The only way at present is for the team to keep winning, especially in Cup games, which then brings in more and more prize, attendance and TV money. The Club then gets noticed more and (hopefully) the much needed extra sponsors come on board. Nothing succeeds like success.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 21, 2019 12:40:20 GMT
Time for one of your non-league average attendance tables. Are we top 20 or so? Really not too shabby. And a drop-off after relegation is hardly a surprise, is it? Town Centre club shop is the only thing I can think of to raise awareness and make some money - but easier said than done I'm sure. Town centre club shop for a team at our level is just a huge drain on the finances, for every £50 you make your probably going to lose £1500 so defeats the object of having the shop. Just rejoined the Supporters' FB page after giving it a miss for a couple of years, and the first post I see is about a new shop in town selling Stones memorabilia! Albeit I daresay for their own profit, not the club's. Are there any independent sports shops in town (H&F, from a quick Google?) who would more systematically stock Stones stuff and split the profits? Sort of place that might be glad to publicise matches? But hey, we've already got a marketing team, so who needs my ideas...
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Post by jdl on Oct 21, 2019 16:50:16 GMT
That was then, this is now. We can't keep judging simply on the basis that's it's better than it was in the Wilderness Years. Time for one of your non-league average attendance tables. Are we top 20 or so? Really not too shabby. And a drop-off after relegation is hardly a surprise, is it? Town Centre club shop is the only thing I can think of to raise awareness and make some money - but easier said than done I'm sure. Bit behind with things this season - family matters. But will catch up soonish.
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