I checked with two casual supporters this morning and asked when the next Nix game was - neither knew. They did assume there was one this weekend, but it could have been away for all they knew. The point - you will only know when the games are on if you go looking. Nor sure how you make a bunch of casuals go looking, but for me the key is to let them all know and get them along whenever possible. If I didn't then they probably would miss Sunday's game.One thing that has stopped is previews on the tv news. Once they realise we are 3rd and possibly 2nd then they may get involved - hopefully.
There has been a LOT of discussion here about marketing, newspaper, radio, ADSHEL, etc. etc.
Sure it "works", but is it cost-effective for a Club which is struggling to pull 10K at the moment?
With due respect, I think a lot of people who say the crowd numbers are a lot to do with lack of paid advertising/marketing probably don't realise that HEAPS of people see an ignore these ads.
As Royal points out, I think people need to be looking for it before they really notice it. Sure, they might see the Black Out page in the Doom Post, but if they have no ENGAGEMENT with the Club/team/players, then it will be soon brushed off.
Someone commented about walking to a Nix game and seeing game posters along the way, then walking home and seeing they had been changed to posters for the NEXT home game. Wonderful I agree, but ultimately they might not be as effective as we, the fans, may believe them to be.
I'm not saying don't do them. I like them and think they are important. But I'm just saying I don't think we should disproportionately blame the advertising for games for the crowds.
I have personal experience. In Dunedin, while advertising was modest, it WAS present in the form of radio ads, billboards, and print advertising in the local newspaper.
I walked the streets for hours on the day before the game, and on game day. And guess what? A HUGE number of people told me they didn't even know the game was on. Some of them were/would have been interested in the game. Others told me "oh I thought the game was on NEXT week!".
Sure, they may have been lying to me, but what would the motiviation have been to do that?
The BEST advertising is WORD OF MOUTH. I know there are many Social Media doubters here but the recommendation of a trusted friend/person is the strongest endorsement that any product can receive.
We, Yellow Fever, the fans, are the biggest asset that Gareth and the Phoenix have. We are worth more than newspaper advertisements, billboards, radio ads, and (you may not believe me on this one) scantily-clad women giving out game flyers.
Some posts in this thread have suggested that the Wellington Phoenix needs to take a long hard look in the mirror before they threaten their fan base. Fair enough, but similarly I implore every one of you to also look in the mirror and ask not what Gareth can do for you, but what you can do for Gareth and the Club that you and every one of us hold so dearly to our hearts.
"Phoenix till they lose"