Away From The Numbers
All good things come to an end. Or so they say. AFTN has been around since 1989, first as a fanzine and then making the jump to a website and forum in 2003. We've been through the many ups and down at East Fife in those 12 years but policing the forum has become a giant pain in the ass in recent years. As such, we made the decision not to renew it when it expired.
The forum is no more and will remain as a locked archive until it is eventually deleted by the host. We're looking in to try to save some of the content as an archive.
This is not the end of AFTN though. The site will continue and will be revamped and return in its full glory for the start of the 2016/17 season. Maybe even sooner. There will be a comment sections and possibly even a new, registered forum. Check our Twitter (@aftnwebsite) for all the latest info and we'll also post in on the EFFC memories Facebook page.
Until then, have a last browse here, thanks for all your support over the years, and 'Mon the Fife.
GoF
Surely the answer is to entice people to pay up front, by offering as many incentives as possible thus ensuring the money is in the bank, regardless of the weather, dissapointing form, three games in a week, etc.
As a bare minimum the season ticket should include SFL play off matches, and home friendlies.
Other incentives, which could actually earn the club additioal income could be:
£10 off kids replica top
£20 off hospitality
Couple of vouchers for free hot drink with purchase of pie.
Bring a guest half price to 1 Match
etc.
The proposed pricing structure is in danger of turning away a lot of 65-79 year olds, with season tickets nearly doubling in prce, and matchday entrance up 50%. either because they can't afford it, or refuse to pay it.
Also if 2000 over 80's sign up for free admission, there will be no room for paying punters.
Hope the board can explain or even better re-think this idea.
Jist let awbuddy in fur nuhing, that'll keep awbuddy happy!
It's a tough one as books have to balance.
The big discount has been tried by other clubs in the past. And it increases crowds for the first few games, but after that the crowds fall back to normal levels and the club is left with the same overheads but with less income.
One solution may be to offer players a contract that has remuneration based on gate receipts. But this is unlikely to find favour amongst players. And if EF are the only club offering this sort of deal then we'd soon find ourselves isolated with players opting to go elsewhere.
In terms of increasing attendances (in the short term), there isn't a silver bullet. There is a "natural limit" based on local population and their disposable income. A winning team always helps, but then that opens up the whole chicken and egg situation, and numerous clubs have fallen "fowl" by overspending on players in the hope that success will come and revenue will increase as a result. Barring a windfall or sugar-daddy, we are at the mercy of what the fan-base can afford to spend.
But, EF are not at that natural limit yet and there are some things that can be done to boost revenue.
An enticingly priced season ticket is a good start. It secures income upfront, and means that you have the punters money even if they decide not to attend. A full fare ticket at £160 works out at under £8.90 a game, so is pretty good value. However, we only get ~100 season tickets sold a year, so perhaps something else needs done here. Perhaps a two tier season ticket offer: The “Black” ticket which gets you into league games (say £120), and the “Gold” ticket (say £220)which includes all cup and playoff games, a cap parking space, reserved seat, match program, and pie, and 4 guest tickets.
Making the season ticket free for OAPs and Kids is a good call as they are likely to bring a full paying adult with them. And as the song goes, "Children are the future".
Longer term increase of attendances requires engaging better with the fan base. Morton managed to do this very well a few years back and are still one of the best supported teams in the lower leagues. This is no mean feat given that 20 old firm buses leave Greenock every week, and on average, the disposable income in Inverclyde is among the lowest in Scotland.
But increasing the attendance is only half the challenge. The club also need to look at ways of getting more revenue from the attending fans.
Suggestions are:
* Bookies in the stadium. Lots of people attending bayview have a bet on the game so why not do it through the club.
* Pre match Lunches…….there is a market for this…..just need to offer the right food at the right price
* Pre match Drinks….need to get more people in the bar for longer…….live football helps (but it is expensive) and perhaps a pre-match meeting with the manger where he announces the team and gives the fans a “geeing up” ahead of the game 
* In play drinks…… need to lobby the SFL/SFA on this as this could be a big money earner for lower league clubs
* Take out a one-off advert in the visiting club’s match day program with a voucher for £3 off entry, and a 2-for-1 voucher on match deal meal. This would hopefully bring more visiting fans to bayview, and get them to the club earlier to spend money in the bar and bookies.
* Stovies
The board have a tough job to do when it comes to balancing the books. The solutions are not obvious and have no guarantee for success. I’m sure they’d welcome any ideas to help get more money in (or less money out). But, it’s not all up to them. We the supporters need to play our part in encouraging new fans (or lapsed fans) to bayview, or existing fans to come more often. And we also need to support the initiatives the club are trying……lets back the 2012/13 season ticket offer and play our part in turning the fortunes of the club around.
The big discount has been tried by other clubs in the past. And it increases crowds for the first few games, but after that the crowds fall back to normal levels and the club is left with the same overheads but with less income.
One solution may be to offer players a contract that has remuneration based on gate receipts. But this is unlikely to find favour amongst players. And if EF are the only club offering this sort of deal then we'd soon find ourselves isolated with players opting to go elsewhere.
In terms of increasing attendances (in the short term), there isn't a silver bullet. There is a "natural limit" based on local population and their disposable income. A winning team always helps, but then that opens up the whole chicken and egg situation, and numerous clubs have fallen "fowl" by overspending on players in the hope that success will come and revenue will increase as a result. Barring a windfall or sugar-daddy, we are at the mercy of what the fan-base can afford to spend.
But, EF are not at that natural limit yet and there are some things that can be done to boost revenue.
An enticingly priced season ticket is a good start. It secures income upfront, and means that you have the punters money even if they decide not to attend. A full fare ticket at £160 works out at under £8.90 a game, so is pretty good value. However, we only get ~100 season tickets sold a year, so perhaps something else needs done here. Perhaps a two tier season ticket offer: The “Black” ticket which gets you into league games (say £120), and the “Gold” ticket (say £220)which includes all cup and playoff games, a cap parking space, reserved seat, match program, and pie, and 4 guest tickets.
Making the season ticket free for OAPs and Kids is a good call as they are likely to bring a full paying adult with them. And as the song goes, "Children are the future".
Longer term increase of attendances requires engaging better with the fan base. Morton managed to do this very well a few years back and are still one of the best supported teams in the lower leagues. This is no mean feat given that 20 old firm buses leave Greenock every week, and on average, the disposable income in Inverclyde is among the lowest in Scotland.
But increasing the attendance is only half the challenge. The club also need to look at ways of getting more revenue from the attending fans.
Suggestions are:
* Bookies in the stadium. Lots of people attending bayview have a bet on the game so why not do it through the club.
* Pre match Lunches…….there is a market for this…..just need to offer the right food at the right price
* Pre match Drinks….need to get more people in the bar for longer…….live football helps (but it is expensive) and perhaps a pre-match meeting with the manger where he announces the team and gives the fans a “geeing up” ahead of the game
* In play drinks…… need to lobby the SFL/SFA on this as this could be a big money earner for lower league clubs
* Take out a one-off advert in the visiting club’s match day program with a voucher for £3 off entry, and a 2-for-1 voucher on match deal meal. This would hopefully bring more visiting fans to bayview, and get them to the club earlier to spend money in the bar and bookies.
* Stovies
The board have a tough job to do when it comes to balancing the books. The solutions are not obvious and have no guarantee for success. I’m sure they’d welcome any ideas to help get more money in (or less money out). But, it’s not all up to them. We the supporters need to play our part in encouraging new fans (or lapsed fans) to bayview, or existing fans to come more often. And we also need to support the initiatives the club are trying……lets back the 2012/13 season ticket offer and play our part in turning the fortunes of the club around.
Thanks for the suggestions.
I have printed them out and will raise them at the next Board meeting.
1st Division Football
Cowdenbeath
£100 (65+)
1st Division Football
Dunfermline
£140 (60+)
2nd Division Football
East Fife
£140 (60+)
1st Division Football
Raith
£100 (60+)
Well said Jim
