Fever Zone 2013/14 - How to Grow the Zone?

I don't join the FZ simply because that is not the way I like to watch my football, however I love having the zone there because it really enhances the atmosphere. I think, keep the zone buzzing and maybe do something along the lines Frankie suggests, that will enhance the atmosphere further, attract more fans to the games and from there, more people into the zone. From those that now attend games, you've probably got the zone-like people already in it, I don't know what you might do to make people like me or with kids want to all of a sudden join the zone. Except for topless beer wenches of course.....

Will happily add topless bear wenches to the list of must haves :)

Can we steer clear of "why we don't go into the Zone" chat? I just want to know how to get more people making more noise. If that's never going to be you then to be honest I'm not too bothered why.

In saying that, if there's a thing that would make you change your mood and come to the Zone then that I do want to hear.

Surely these would grow the zone?
Ernie Merrick's Kilted Army.

I would love it if we had those.

Somehow we need to make the chants thread more prominent.  Not enough people go in there - that's the only way you're going to get more variety of chants and more people singing and chanting and actually learning the chants.  Not a song book, but I still think that you need somehwere the chants are written down and agreed on.

Also, the back bencher has always been the heart of the Fever on game day, that going again will help.

This.

I think the best way to grow the zone is by pulling guys who are already going to the games but aren't in the zone - a lot harder to bring complete fresh faces in. 

I think most of Welly has probably attended a nix game by now, and I've found it a lot harder to bring guys to the games than I used to

Beer Wench uniforms?

I would also say - I think this is a great thing for Yellow Fever to focus on for 2013.  We don't need to do the club's marketing for them

The club can worry about the overall numbers going to games.  

YF should focus completely on making the zone larger and louder.

Personally, I think that the things that influence crowds in a material way (i.e. the difference between 7k and 10k average) are in no particular order :

- the team the club puts on the pitch + the manager, brand of football

- results

- pricing of tickets

- marketing, PR, relationship with media, engagement with fans

- etc etc etc

and all of these things are basically beyond the influence of YF directly (other than to encourage the club to do things properly itself).  

Therefore, why not focus on efforts to improve the things we can actually influence - support for the team and the way the fever zone works?

If handing out flyers on a lunchtime is an effective way to increase attendances then encourage the club to do it.  Personally I'm a bit dubious it is, but that's not for me to judge and I would never tell people not to do something if they enjoy it and if you guys want to do that then all good.  

However, fundamentally I don't think we should be doing the clubs marketing for them and I think we should focus our energy elsewhere.

One question/observation... how do people learn about this place?... aside from the tees etc, is there an opportunity to promote and publicise www.yellowfever.co.nz more broadly - and particularly using a broader football perspective (ie: club/international) to get people on here, and therefore participate more both online and on game day (and buying more merch of course).

Of course there's no ad budget but this is where social media can be utilised to get links on club web pages (Bookface) or some of the Kiwi supporter groups of Euro clubs, etc... we want people to realise YF isn't solely about getting drunk and singing (badly). This will engage more people, in more ways, more often... and some of those will of course get into the zone.

Alternately - get them young, start up a Yellow Fever Academy in Aisle 25, put a couple of YF Apprentices (ideally those on the YF Executive Graduate Program) in charge of everyone under the age of 18, get them on the red cordial from midday and let 'em go for it!

Ok - if you don't like it we won't do it.

One of the best things about the fever zone is that it's as close to experiencing a european football match as most people will come. The banter, the chanting, the atmosphere, is bloody awesome.

However it can be bloody daunting if you're not going along with mates/have an 'in' with you lot.

Without turning this into a 'lets make a welcoming committee' suggestion, making the whole match day experience starting at the pub, heading to the match, returning to the pub, more inviting would be a great start.

Ultimately the Fever needs to be intimidating to the opposition, but welcoming to Nix supporters. If you're with us you're my best bloody mate, if you're against us I'm going to hurl insults at you across the stadium until my teams kicked your team out of our stadium.

As to how to do this practically? My only thought is Smith in a 1950's house wife costume handing out pints to the newbies and pairing them off with future Fever BFFs.

Kids down the front playing with Ernie, M&D up the back lol.

Here's my 2 cents worth (Expecting to get flamed)

1] Why have the numbers declined? Is it results? Is it that the novelty has worn off? Is it fans have moved to other areas of the ground? Is it that they have just given up coming due to things such as financial cost of attending?

2] I thought the idea of splitting the YF into two bays was wrong a few years back. Sadly, the gap left wasn't filled by others wishing to join the zone.

3] I sit elsewhere for several reasons. One being getting sick of being covered in beer by some half-pissed moron (I never encountered that at other football games I attended overseas. Having said that, the self policing in the Zone is usually pretty good but now I prefer the other reason in that by sitting opposite the Fever, I get to hear you guys in full force and whether the ground is near empty or full, you certainly can be heard and it sounds great.

4] New chants? Sounds good idea. The usual ones are getting a bit worn/tired.

5] One thing I did notice, was at games in CHCH, Auckland, Ring of Dirt & Dunedin - most fans there were the hardcore Feverites and these people were a lot of fun to be with. The banter, friendliness is something to enjoy. I think it is the behaviour of the part-time associates back in Wellington that put some people off.

6] This very site has been consistant - consistantly positive about the Phoenix and geeing people up before a game. The Back Bencher, 4 Kings have always been very good to fans too. The banners have been excellent. 

7] So what to do about it? Well, threads like this for s start. It will hopefully bring out some honest comments and views.

8] What ever happened to our "Fever Friday" exercise? Always great fun but even better before a game takes place. It helps make the public aware. As for the Fever Zone, perhaps a few timely phone calls to various radio station before match day, inviting people to come and sample the atmosphere in there. Obviously not for patrons with kids nor those whom like to sit down during a game.

9] Perhaps the fickle fans may come back, perhaps we were reliant too much on the "Student factor"?

I sincerely hope this message helps, if even just to throw a few thoughts out there. I will of course still support you guys and I always look forward to catching up with that hardcore group at our games around New Zealand. You are awesome people who's company I enjoy.

Better utilising current of yellowfever social media. Especially youtube channel. More player interviews and opposing fan interviews (SFC one is lol), player skits like TAB did. Even going down to ASB/central league level/NZ national teams. 

We need to promote YF, not the Wellington Phoenix (and yes, I appreciate the two are intertwined).

What is YF about/for? What is the point of existing?... and how do we communicate that to others, and make it easy for them to be included?

As much as I deride mission statements and all that bollocks in a lot of contexts - perhaps a simple tag line/message (ie: by the fans, for the fans) or some such bollocks will help others identify exactly what YF is - and isn't, and encourage others to join in?

Clarify the intention - simplify the message - make it easy (for others, not ourselves).

Time to restart the Fever Friday thread again? Where you can send in a picture of yourself (Or someone else you've spotted) wearing Nix gear?

Supporters of Wellington Phoenix FC

my 2 cents, I've never sat in the zone, primarily cos I don't particularly want to stabnd for the 90 minutes, so I sit in isle 23, close enough to hear and chant and get involved, bbut I can sit when i want and not get showered with beer etc. From my point of view the non-fever people who go to the zone are the ones ruining it, they go to get pissed and be dicks which in turn is probably scaring the "fans" away.

lol... that was context - not a suggestion... where's all the kids with marketing degrees when you need them? All I know how to sell is grog!

has anyone ever really been showered in beer in the zone?  It seems like a reason that a number of people have given for not going in the zone, but I cannot recall ever leaving a game (could put a full stop here) with that horrible sticky feeling you have when you have been covered in beer.  Strong possibilty that it was me who was (accidently) covering other people in beer but I have only ever attended about 7 games so it shouldn't still be that much of an issue.

I remember it used to be a probably after a season or so. Every goal that was scored etc people would give those around them a beer shower. 

Never see it happening anymore.