harker wrote:
Hornet wrote:
It seems that we all want our club to better connect with it's fan base... sending home games overseas to markets that couldn't give a %$#& about AFL isn't conducive to that goal. It's nothing more than a short term financial gain but may be detrimental in the long run.
I'm not going to pretend I have the answers but I perceive sending home games interstate/international as a last resort for a club.
I don't have all the facts and figures at hand either but every club has a responsibility to maximize its revenue.
Hawthorn jumped the gun and got involved with Tasmania. Best guess would be that several other Melbourne based clubs wish they had have now.
Short, medium and long term scenarios must be constantly explored and reviewed and what seems like the ridiculous today may well be the norm in ten/twenty years time.
Getting to the MCG in 2015 is a no-brainer and may be all that most of us care about now, but we're not allowed to take our eye off the bigger picture and if that means getting a slice of the action in New Zealand, South Africa, China etc. then so be it.
The last two sentences are the key. Well said
I reckon you can talk as much as you like about connecting to members etc the bottom line is that the world may rotate at the same pace astronomically speaking but change is getting faster and faster. Clubs are going to have to find new ways of creating new revenue to keep afloat
For those opposed to playing one game overseas tell me where can you play in Australia where the game can expand with an AFL presence. Ballarat, Wagga Albury/Wodonga and maybe one or two other regional areas. And that can only happen with upgrading of the grounds.
The way forward is partly to look towards playing at least one game overseas.
The board should at least look at it
The best time to play(weather patterns)
Facilities
Insurance
Travel and working with the AFL and the people who design the draw to compensate for recovery from the travel
Marketing the game
Playing the game a weekend there isnt a big sporting event in that country
Time zones and TV time in Australia
The board should look at this and cost it then go to Andy and say we are looking at playing a game overseas for 4 premiership points
Now I am not one for kissing the bosses arse but the AFL and Andy D have made no secret of their desire to go international and if they and the two federal governments tipped in some money it might not cost much at all to do it
You are exposing yourself to a completely new population base.
I agree the game will never be truly international but that isnt a concern. There may be huge benefits in terms of sponsorship which is the number one revenue raiser. Membership as well
Look think back 30 years when the Swans went to Sydney. Nobody thought it would work. It has . Its still a rugby city but because its in a population base of 4 million people it works. So much so that there is now 2 teams.
Things people didnt think were possible happpen but they can only happen if the people running the show at least look at it from the beginning.
Look forward 30 years from now.
Can anyone predict that the Pratts and Mathiesons will be supplying this club cash.
No you cant
One things almost certain
Jeannie and Bruce will be dead and buried and that can change things