Why is has membership dropped in the last 3 years

[joffaboy]

-s.hit game plan
-boring games of keeping off
-AFL turning it into a game for sissies
-STKFC s.hitting on its loyal and paidup members
- offering 10 game reserved seats instead of 11 for $125 more a season
- AFL compromising the draw, rules, games, umpires to suit their agenda at the expense of the game in Victoria
-incompetent admin with multiple losses

Just a few off the top of my head

[aussierules0k]

[bigcarl]

The club seems to lack ambition and determination. The 'fearlessness' of the club from 2002-5 has gone.
We're a boring team to watch.
We have poor skills and play defensive, shut-down footy.
We're not playing young kids nor do we seem capable of a premiership.

what he said. let's hope we can turn some of them around this season.

[Teflon]

Some valid points above, and some of the usual pushing a specific issue argument.

That said i think the lack of initiative and offering by the membership department really has seen the offering drop behind other clubs.

I know i always get one, not that i really need it with MCC and other opportnities to attend games but to support the club. Back in 04 or 05 they had additional membership packages which wer great. I remember taking on eup where we had 2 sessions with the coaching staff talking about the season in a frank open forum. Also a before the game visit to the rooms and a after game function was all included. Great experience and i was happy to cough up the extra $ for it.

Dissappeared and all other type offerings. The club to me forgot the supporters(members) and assumed that success would maintain things. Hopefully the loyalty program , which Richmond has had for years , will improve this. Richmond offer gold members ( over 15 years consecutive I think) a cocktail party with the players at crown, full access, no cost to them and my wife goes each year and has a fantatsic night. We need something similar, not just %discount on merchandise to make supporters feel wanted and encourage them to stay members to keep the consecutive years going.

Geez the Richmond initiative is a good one.....

I dont think thats the only problems...I do think supporters feel we cant bridge the gap "the windows closed" talk hasnt helped and many dont like the style we have played at times.

I do think the antidote to the on field stuff is purely winning. We get on a roll, win enough(especially early) and most wont give a stuff how defensive we may look........

The draw for this year will kill us along with the financial crisis. Being Sunday specialists is poison - the games dont have that atmosphere and feel of a big Fr/Sat night game.

Marketing professionalism at the club (which has so much untapped potential for mine) has never been great - even the "Cos we're the saints" song sung by a bunch of school kids was cringe worthy.

In future IF we can align the marketing of the club with membership packages that are value for money and innovative and win we will draw the elusive "fair weather" fans from everywhere.

[plugger66]

-s.hit game plan
-boring games of keeping off
-AFL turning it into a game for sissies
-STKFC s.hitting on its loyal and paidup members
- offering 10 game reserved seats instead of 11 for $125 more a season
- AFL compromising the draw, rules, games, umpires to suit their agenda at the expense of the game in Victoria
-incompetent admin with multiple losses

Just a few off the top of my head

1 Fair enough
2 Doesnt effect most other good clubs
3 same again
4 Didnt happen previous years but still a drop in membership
5 Dont agree but that also has happened for years and again doesnt effect other top clubs
6 Not sure I agree but could be a reason

[saintsRrising]

If you takea long term perspective...our membership is still high.

However many no doubt jumped off when they no longer thought a GF appearance was as likely...

Add to that the "Billpay" Memberships and they would be contain to be the amjority of the drop off.

After that game style would bea factor too..IMO

[Bernard Shakey]

-s.hit game plan
-boring games of keeping off
-AFL turning it into a game for sissies
-STKFC s.hitting on its loyal and paidup members
- offering 10 game reserved seats instead of 11 for $125 more a season
- AFL compromising the draw, rules, games, umpires to suit their agenda at the expense of the game in Victoria
-incompetent admin with multiple losses

Just a few off the top of my head

1 Fair enough
2 Doesnt effect most other good clubs
3 same again
4 Didnt happen previous years but still a drop in membership
5 Dont agree but that also has happened for years and again doesnt effect other top clubs
6 Not sure I agree but could be a reason

Which number lines up with which of joffaboy's comments?
He has 7, you have 6.

[Enrico_Misso]

As pointed out above the club claims that 2008 was our highest ever "true" membership.
ie it excluded bogus memberships like the Bill Express thing or "pets" as Archie joked.

But it still raises the question (as asked but not properly addressed at the AGM) why our membership is not rising strongly as per other clubs, especially when we have made 3 Prelims in 5 years !

We are not the only club playing too much boring defensive footy.

At least Ross has aimed to be more attacking this year.
Aiming for 2 extra goals a game, lifting our average to 16.
That might stimulate some interest.
Offset of course by the GFC.

[PJ]

Just a punt but

For me a good deal has to do with perceptions

Saints (from a public perspective) are in a bit of a holding pattern

1/ Haven't really gone down (a little dip in 07, but that's to be expected)
2/ Still have good list but haven't performed to their perceived expectations
3/ Have added some players without the big names
4/ Are playing a style that doesn't blow people away but gets the job done (on most occasions)
5/ Not up to Hawks & Cats but clearly better than most
6/ Little media exposure - add in Ross's dry style

Interestingly most people I talk to that aren't saints people actually rate RL as a good footy brain.

I really don't think it's disillusioned St.Kilda people - must know the drill at sainterland but still come back because it's where their heart is not their head.

If the team gels and can put it together consistently the confidence will grow and you'll see them coming in droves but for the minute the jury's out - My perspective.

[saint66au]

You only have have to be a member for 5 consecutive years to go to that Tigers cocktail party..I too know people that go and they love it. No hiding behind ropes or in booths, no charging $25 for a happy snap, the players and coach just wander around and have a drink with the fans..and everyone leaves with a terrific sense of "belonging"

As for our membership, we are in a pretty unique spot in the "ladder" of melbourne Clubs

Above us are..

Ess/Coll (we'll never reach them)
Rich/Carl (Lots of hope/marquee signings/us in 2004)
Geel/Haw (were on a par with us but have flags now so have surged)

below us are...

Melb/North/Bulldogs (tradational membership basket cases)

That leaves us smack bang in the middle..not really belonging in either group.

[saintbrat]

the other point that has been made by several at the club is the push to get into the bayside area and in particular the schools and get the kids supporting------ and hopefully becoming members- get them early and then hold them through..

that will take time.
give them something close to being ' local'

[spert]

There doesn't seem to be as much obvious marketing for membership as was in the past, plus people are not spending money at the moment unless they really have to. The best way to boost memberships is to win games, win finals and get the club's presence out there in advertising land.

[Longwayfromhome]

Maybe we're just boring.
People looking to be a paid up member last year after the NAB cup win were confronted with a first up defensive boring game of footy. Money back in the wallet. This years' first NAB match was another boring event. Who wants to cough up the money to watch that sort of rubbish ?
ME. I BUY 6 of them. I don't care that the club is playing a questionable brand of footy. This will change. I don't care that the President can't answer simple questions at the AGM and is a trivia question to anyone outside the footy club. I don't care that the coach is portrayed as a boring, defensive introvert. He is a good coach.
I don't care that the membership department don't give two hoots how long it takes to get members their tickets. (I'm still waiting for 5 despite weekly wake up calls. They are not interested).
I don't care that our club is no longer marketed as a place where people want to be. We're going to Seaford. Sorry, not me.
I don't care that we are seen as a one player team. Roo is the only one seen as the face of St Kilda football club and for some reason a lot of people don't like him. The Hawks have Buddy, Roughhead, Bateman, Hodge and more that are marketed. Any youngster looking for a club aren't going to jump on our wagon.
I don't care they we no longer have a forward line capable of kicking winning scores week in week out. If Roo is injured, we don't have a key forward full stop.
I don't care that it takes 2 or 3 or longer years for our prized draft selections to get a go at the big time.
I don't care that the kids have to line up at the Family FUN Day for hours to meet a favorite player or have their faces painted and then get home to recall that they haven't had any fun at all.
I don't care that we are to become a Sunday afternoon 'who cares' participant and that there was not a squeak of protest from the footy club.
I don't care, but maybe a lot of people do.
and I haven't even mentioned the cost of getting to the football !!

[rodgerfox]

The current St Kilda Football Club, doesn't appeal to alot of St Kilda supporters.

Also, the club simply isn't being marketed well.

No hype. No persona. It really looks like a business more than a club than any time I've ever seen in my life.

There's not alot of reason to get on baord.

[marksnsparks]

3 majors fsactors for me:

(A) We were the 'it' club for a couple for years from 2004. Outspoken coach got us media coverage and an attacking brand of footy. I know that's what got me on the bandwagon. The reason I've not jumped off again? Loyalty and I can afford it (as another contributor said, $14 per month ffs!)
(B) Lack of success, case in point Hawks. Success gets the shallow fickle sad sacks back, and the poor to give up one pack of smokes a month.
(C) Boring play. We'll never attract new young members playing outdoor chess.

[aussierules0k]

[joffaboy]

The current St Kilda Football Club, doesn't appeal to alot of St Kilda supporters.

Also, the club simply isn't being marketed well.

No hype. No persona. It really looks like a business more than a club than any time I've ever seen in my life.

There's not alot of reason to get on baord.

Exactly right.

[evertonfc]

The current St Kilda Football Club, doesn't appeal to alot of St Kilda supporters.

Also, the club simply isn't being marketed well.

No hype. No persona. It really looks like a business more than a club than any time I've ever seen in my life.

There's not alot of reason to get on baord.

Exactly right.

I absolutely shudder at that.

[barks4eva]

May only play a small part but

Moorabbin / Frankston / Seaford home base process has annoyed

does not effect playing venue but does not take much to turn off AFL at theoment for some....

part of the jigsaw...as to why.

I agree that it "might" only be a small part, but it could be one of many contributing factors!

I will continue to buy my two social club memberships and reserved seats, but for the first time because of the club relocating to Seaford, it did cross my mind to only buy the one this year!

So I can see that some might see this as the final straw and drop off!

I also think the club is at fault regarding a number of issues and the way in which in corresponds, or should I say doesn't correspond with the members on important decisions.

The whole L2 fiasco where the club without warning sent out letters with the exact following quote "We have taken the liberty to" increase your membership fee and you are now required to be a social club member or you will lose your seat, was handled disgracefully and annoyed many!
No warning or prior consultation to inform the members of these changes.

The club relocates itself to Seaford and the members are none the wiser as to why this was preferred to other locations, no PR, no information, just dish it up and expect everyone to love it!

If the club had to move from Moorabbin, I know many members who would prefer the club to once again locate itself in the St Kilda area, but no information is given to the members as to why, according to the club this is not possible!
There is a serious lack of transparency and I for one am very annoyed about the precious little information provided to the members on such a serious issue as the relocation of this club for the second time in it's almost 140 year history!
It's just foisted upon us in such a way that it in my view shows complete contempt to the members with no information provided whatsoever!

Such a move, relocating a football club, should in my view demand a meeting/information session where the board are required to advise the members as to why this is being considered and as to why other options are not!
This just does not happen!
We are always told post facto, that this is what has been decided, handed down by a board without any consultation, information meeting or anything at all with the members treated with contempt!

Perhaps some members drop off because they feel like they do not have a voice and are not treated with respect by the club, who impose decisions upon them without any consultation!

Are information meetings a thing of the past, are the members not worthy enough of having some form of respect accorded to them?

Surely a club relocating itself for the second time in it's 140 year history deserves an information meeting with it's members to explain the issue in it's entirety so the members are better informed!

[iwantmeseats]

Hmm interesting points and a good thread.

So, seeing as we have all aired our grievances...


IS ANYONE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOWARD TO GOING TO THE FOOTY AGAIN THIS YEAR? ANY HOPE? ANY FRIGGIN EXCITEMENT WHATSOEVER ?

I agree with nearly all the points in this entire thread, but Im still looking foward to getting back to the game for 09 and supporting the saints.

Come on people! It could be worse, YA OLD MAN COULDA BEEN A FITZROY SUPPORTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[plugger66]

Hmm interesting points and a good thread.

So, seeing as we have all aired our grievances...


IS ANYONE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOWARD TO GOING TO THE FOOTY AGAIN THIS YEAR? ANY HOPE? ANY FRIGGIN EXCITEMENT WHATSOEVER ?

I agree with nearly all the points in this entire thread, but Im still looking foward to getting back to the game for 09 and supporting the saints.

Come on people! It could be worse, YA OLD MAN COULDA BEEN A FITZROY SUPPORTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love the footy as much as ever and still wake up early before every game. Footy is as good as ever if a little different from the 80's. I have always seen between 12-15 games a year and only miss some others because of an involvement with another club. Bring it on and to all thise people pissed off with the game just imagine if we didnt have it at all and then lets see the whinging.

[saintlee]

Hmm interesting points and a good thread.

So, seeing as we have all aired our grievances...


IS ANYONE ACTUALLY LOOKING FOWARD TO GOING TO THE FOOTY AGAIN THIS YEAR? ANY HOPE? ANY FRIGGIN EXCITEMENT WHATSOEVER ?

I agree with nearly all the points in this entire thread, but Im still looking foward to getting back to the game for 09 and supporting the saints.

Come on people! It could be worse, YA OLD MAN COULDA BEEN A FITZROY SUPPORTER !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am looking forward to the footy for sure, always do......but I don't think we're good enough to win the flag...and to return to the topic, I think a lot of people think that, hence lowish membership......having said that, if we did win the flag, the membership for next year would be up by 5,000.....everybody loves a winner

[saintspremiers]

It's pointless asking us diehards that bother to find and talk about the Saints on an unofficial forum what is wrong.

We generally bleed for the club, go often to games, always buy memberships regardless.

If the club wanted to address this vital issue, they'd survey members that have dropped off since 2005 as to why they haven't re-signed.

Only then will we know the real answers IMO.

[plugger66]

It's pointless asking us diehards that bother to find and talk about the Saints on an unofficial forum what is wrong.

We generally bleed for the club, go often to games, always buy memberships regardless.

If the club wanted to address this vital issue, they'd survey members that have dropped off since 2005 as to why they haven't re-signed.

Only then will we know the real answers IMO.

Not sure on agree about that. Some on this thread have admitted they are not members and i am sure others who are members have friends who havent rejoined.

[St Fidelius]

It's pointless asking us diehards that bother to find and talk about the Saints on an unofficial forum what is wrong.

We generally bleed for the club, go often to games, always buy memberships regardless.

If the club wanted to address this vital issue, they'd survey members that have dropped off since 2005 as to why they haven't re-signed.

Only then will we know the real answers IMO.

I typed this in the sticky re membership...

Just to let you know....

Two weeks ago, the Club has emailed and sent direct mail out to over 35,000 homes who haven't joined as yet or have had their membership lapsed over the past 3 years.