Increasing ASBP attendances

How do we get more through the gate? Ideas?

What marketing, can anyone tell me, was done before the TW / HBU match?

I predict....

5 pages. 11 references to the knitting circle. 8 posts claiming the Nix are an Australian club. 3 yawn posts from Tegal. 2 long winded rants from T-X and JV. One banning.

you're probably right buffon...

i think they need to start by identifying their segments: i.e. 'parent who wants to show his kids good footy'

understand what drives them and why they would come to watch.  set out to provide the reassurances required to attract this segment

repeat process for each segment, or if the budget is tight, focus on one or two

Getting more than one club involved and caring about the team would be a big step. Realistically, the biggest source of attendance comes from those who support and play club football during the winter. A lot of these seem to be alienated when it comes to ASBP sides (speaking from a Wellington perspective and making similar assumptions about other regions too)

I watched more chatham cup than asbp over the last year because I felt more connected to the clubs from the winter leagues. I watched all of the wellington olympic cc home games (+ some of the other night time CL games when I wasn't playing) and enjoyed them all a hell of a lot more than any asbp games I've been to. I dislike w olympic for a lot of reasons (mainly all created from rivalry) but actually supported them in their cup run. Again, my point is that winter clubs have more history and character which grabs me. So in essence scrap the summer national league, it's quite tacky. Apologies to all those who put so much into it but that's how I see it.

There are two main reasons for low attendances. First, people dont feel they belong to a franchise team. There is no affiliation to the franchises whereas during winter people belong to a club which brings loyalty and pride. Clubs have been round 100 years plus and have in history

The other main reason is that people have better things to do in summer,. Go to the beach or work around home. The timings of  the games don't help attract crowds

I know the the Wellington and Waikato football scene well and the clubs feel they are actually competing with the franchises for funding and players

1. You're Scottish and don't 'get' Kiwi v Oz rivalry.

2. You've only been here a few years so NZ's long-established clubs don't mean much if anything to you.

But no hard feelings. You're still a trooper.

Don't want to make this about the nix but...basically what jerzy said. Plus the pride (or whatever) of having a professional football team in Wellington, it's something many of us never thought would actually ever happen, so when it did it was almost like a dream come true. That's a pretty big connection ( and is why as they take more home games away, that connection lessens) 

But anyway, back on topic...

Something quite a few of you who favour winter clubs over summer franchises forget is that the winter club-based competition seldom attracts more spectators than the ASBP. Certainly at Kiwitea Street ACFC attracts far more interest than Central United outside the hardcore supporters. A lot of spectators turn up for summer games who don't watch winter club games at Kiwitea Street. I'd says that's marginally true also at Fred Taylor Paddock. Certainly Canterbury United and Hawkes Bay attract as much if not more fans than the local winter clubs. Same is true of WaiBop this season.

The only time I've seen good turnouts in the winter league is when there's a good Chatham Cup run.

Local clubs may have history and some sport good facilities but generally there is no more interest in the winter league than the ASBP. In fact the big ASBP games generally attract a lot more spectators than the big winter league games. I know, I've been to both.

When was the last time a winter league club attracted 2000+ to a game as ACFC usually do two or three times an ASBP season.

Do any of the Christchurch club sides better Canterbury United's average of about 600 this season?

Does Napier City Rovers attract more fans than Hawkes Bay United?

I think the potential for one big ASBP crowd is there, if they engage with winter clubs and supporters. I'd say winter club attendance is bigger, but more spread out across all games. 

If winter clubs were able to compete for an O-League spot they could well see attendances rise. And raise their game in other ways too.

I doubt that. I don't see how that would get more people along? For the O league games maybe. 

Miramar v Olympic closing in on play-off spot for O-League qualification and possible $600,000 for World Club Cup entry wouldn't get people interested?

Oh well, that's that theory out the window.

Maybe they could go back and have a look at what worked in the first few seasons when TW got decent crowds.

For example, 

timing of games -  I wont go to a 1 or 2 pm game in summer

Getting clubs back on board - I always bought my season ticket through my club

Location - I wont go to Dave Farrington, Its a prick to get to and the parkings crap if theres a decent crowd. I would rather go to Newtown or Porirua Park.

or they could keep doing what's not working for them now.

Play games at a soccer specidic stadium on the waterfront on days when the Phoenix are not playing.

New stadium people will go and watch anything.

+1 news, best idea yet

also, i think that it's harsh to judge poor winter attendances in the current format where clubs are shunted down the hierarchy

personally i think it's different strokes for different regions.  wellington would do better with clubs, christchurch have always done better with one representative be it a club or franchise assuming the mantle.  auckland i suggest would benefit from both

In Auckland the knitting circle are (slowly) attracting a new segment: supporters who like to make a noise.

Once upon-a-time those noise-makers and the knitting circle were two different entities.

Yeah HN. Times change.

I think another aspect of the winter league is most grounds don't have much in the way of covered seating, and often none at all. The weather is usually lousy, rain and cold winds being the winter norm in NZ. This obviously affects winter attendances and is one of the primary reasons a summer national league is a better option. Cold wet winter's day at Dave Farrington Park or Fred Taylor anyone? That's sure to get the crowds out.

This. A cold winter's day is sure to bring out all those people "attached" to their local club. People will not go to ASBP games for a variety of reasons, including

Most non fanatics don't have a clue it's on

The ROI for clubs to advertise to the non fanatics is minimal

We can all watch multiple leagues from across the world on our telly or online with well known superstars playing

Back in the heyday of the national league there was nothing else to do on Sunday, ie all shops were shut, there were 2 tv channels and no internet - families have a lot of choice how to spend their money, and $50 to go to a suburban football ground for the family is not really going to compete with the myriad of other options available

People's time is precious - do you really think the casual sports fan wants to spend 3 hours of their day at an amateur football match?

Further to the above, look at the crowds Super 15 gets - they are crap for the "best provincial rugby" in the world, so if people aren't going to watch NZ's national obsession what chance the ASBP.

I don't want to be negative about this subject, but focussing on getting bigger crowds to ASBP games is not going to work. In business when you have limited funds you have to think wisely about the best way to invest. We'd all love to see 5000 people packing out every game every weekend, but it will not happen any time soon.

As I've said before the prime function of the ASBP is to give NZ's best talent the opportunity to play at a decent level, and allow fans who want to come along the chance to enjoy a good game. To get that talent performing to the optimum level, money needs to be spent on coaching and facilities, not advertising to the masses in the hope 100 more come thorugh the gate at $10 a go

This. A cold winter's day is sure to bring out all those people "attached" to their local club. People will not go to ASBP games for a variety of reasons, including

Most non fanatics don't have a clue it's on

The ROI for clubs to advertise to the non fanatics is minimal

We can all watch multiple leagues from across the world on our telly or online with well known superstars playing

Back in the heyday of the national league there was nothing else to do on Sunday, ie all shops were shut, there were 2 tv channels and no internet - families have a lot of choice how to spend their money, and $50 to go to a suburban football ground for the family is not really going to compete with the myriad of other options available

People's time is precious - do you really think the casual sports fan wants to spend 3 hours of their day at an amateur football match?

Further to the above, look at the crowds Super 15 gets - they are crap for the "best provincial rugby" in the world, so if people aren't going to watch NZ's national obsession what chance the ASBP.

I don't want to be negative about this subject, but focussing on getting bigger crowds to ASBP games is not going to work. In business when you have limited funds you have to think wisely about the best way to invest. We'd all love to see 5000 people packing out every game every weekend, but it will not happen any time soon.

As I've said before the prime function of the ASBP is to give NZ's best talent the opportunity to play at a decent level, and allow fans who want to come along the chance to enjoy a good game. To get that talent performing to the optimum level, money needs to be spent on coaching and facilities, not advertising to the masses in the hope 100 more come thorugh the gate at $10 a go

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I agree.

Knitting circle never yawn, they're too busy singing & gobbing.

Agree too happy days and blue magic. In Chch you're lucky to get 100-200 to an MPL game (less if a southerly has rolled in); only more if there is a league decider if latter rounds Chatham cup.
Need to recognise ASBP for what it is - stepping stone league - and then manage that 'product' in accordance with its raison d'être.

Yer I don't reckon club games in CHCH would attract more in total than the Premiership. 

One thing Canty Utd are doing this year to attract more families is getting the local terrible radio station to come down with facepaint, free ice-creams, sumo suits, bouncy castles etc and that entertains the kids while the parents can have a beer and watch the game. They give out free passes as well. Nothing beats watching the best in NZ play on a hot summer day. And even tho I've only got one of my club mates in the team (and hardly ever makes the bench) I still have a connection with the team as this is my provincial side. 

I have always gone anyways so these efforts haven't changed my attendance, however must've changed others.

Also this season in additional to a team poster that is handed out to mainly childern Canty United have also produced player cards, with three are handed out free each home game and the kid are allowed on the pitch after the game and have the players sign the cards. They have also had had several training sessions for childern which you have to register to attended. Held on a Saturday morning after the first team practice. Players are also made available to go and speak to schools.

Also forget that The Press is one of the Canty United sponsers and at the next home game they (The Press) are running a competiton to give away 100 double passes.

Good for you Canterbury United. Just shows what can be done to promote the ASBP. I wish all those who put down the ASBP would spare a bit more thought for the tremendous time and effort that goes into keeping a team going in this competition. I know the dedicated band of ACFC volunteers work their socks off on match day. That's why I get so fed up with the "dismal crap" brigade.

Of course the ASBP is a development league for players moving into professional leagues, whether in Australia or elsewhere. That's the reality of any part-time semi-pro or amateur league. By definition it's not an end in itself like the EPL or Seria A. How could it be unless the player is happy to be a part-timer? But attendances/promotion do matter because the ASBP depends on them. If we can encourage more NZ football fans to go to ASBP games all the better, I've never said otherwise.

So now you accept the Phoenix as a legitimate pathway for NZers to go pro, rather than an evil australian entity that kills ASBP attendances (somehow)? 

Also, if you hold the view of the ASBP as a development league, shouldn't you be against so many imports taking up spots on rosters that could be used for the development of kiwis? Or is it just ok when Auckland city do it? 

If It sounds like I'm having a go, I'm not. These are genuine questions as to whether you've changed your tune somewhat. 

Aren't there 17 other threads on this argument between you lot?

Shifted from the TW thread to this one: 

I'd argue the EPL is taking away more coverage. See an article a day in the paper, and a massive wrap on the news.