OT: Dont Look Now Port Fans But Your Corporation is Showing.

Markthirtytwo

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Thread starter #1
Fickle fans negate inroads
MICHELANGELO RUCCI
March 26, 2007 02:15am

PORT Adelaide signed up Australia's biggest corporate giant, BHP Billiton, last week. At the same time, the Power was not so successful in selling season tickets.

Corporate power is taking over at Alberton. And the Power has no choice but to accept it.
The club that came out of the SANFL in 1997 vowing to offer a people-powered alternative to the supposedly corporate monolith at West Lakes, the Adelaide Football Club, is now the darling of the white-collar set itself.

Port last year found an extra $1million from the corporate world. Another $1m is on the way this season. At the same time, the Power lost in each season almost $1m from the small man.

Bottom line: Zero change at a time when AFL clubs such as Port need more and more money to catch up with premiership club West Coast's $40m annual turnover.

Since Port's ground-breaking premiership in 2004, the Power's membership numbers have fallen from 36,340 in 2004 to probably 32,000 this year.

Home attendances are expected to drop from an average of 30,000 in 2004 to perhaps 26,000 this year (the minimum the club promised to deliver in its AFL licence tender in 1995).

Port chief executive John James will regularly leave his office at Alberton with the glow of having signed a company such as BHP Billiton to the club's corporate roster - and then spend all night awake in bed wondering where he can sell another season ticket.

"We've made as much as $7million a year from people going to the football - and now that number is falling," says James. "We're finding $5.5million from the corporate world where it is getting tougher and tougher to compete for the sponsorship dollar."

But not as tough, it would seem, to get a dollar from the football fan, even at a time when AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou says Australian football has never been stronger, healthier and more appealing to the public.

When the AFL launched its premiership season on Thursday night along the lake at Albert Park of inner Melbourne - and surprised its guests with no dinner - Power president Greg Boulton gathered James, coach Mark Williams and his staff for supper in the city.

Williams was demanding - and searching for answers on why Port is not growing and ideas for how it can: such as selling home games to New Zealand where the Power, says Williams, would wear an all-black jumper.

"It's a frustration we all share," says James. "On the footy side of it, we can't have asked Mark to do any more - he's improved what this club can deliver on the field with a regenerated team that will make an exciting new push for the premiership.

"Our question - and we're not the only club asking it - is how do we get more people to watch us as season-ticket holders?"

The issues confronting Port are these:

AAMI STADIUM. As the AFL admits, the arena is tired. The SANFL's refusal to allow beer to be taken to seats has turned away many of Port's core supporters.

LIVE TELEVISION. Of Port's 11 home games, as many as 10 will be shown live against the gate - eight on Pay-TV network Fox Sports. Foxtel executives told the AFL in Melbourne last week that subscriptions in Adelaide are "going through the roof".

PICK-AND-CHOOSE FANS. Rather than buy a season ticket for all 11 home games, fans decide on match day if they will go.

With 51,515 seats at AAMI Stadium and Port averaging home crowds of 30,000, there is little risk of being shut out of the West Lakes arena.

Port's marketing campaign has offered season tickets at $185 - in essence 11 games for the price of six.

"That's value," says James. "And from season tickets the club gets every dollar. We don't with tickets sold at the gate."

Port is not alone in facing this issue. Brisbane expects to drop $800,000 in lost season-ticket sales this year.

When Brisbane chief executive Michael Bowers sought out James last week at the AFL launch to compare notes he commented: "You guys couldn't have tried any harder to sell tickets." James this week will shake more corporate suits in search of money.

He would rather meet new Port members.

"The corporate side of football is part of doing business in the AFL," says James. "But we still want the biggest voice at our club to be members."

That voice is being quickly lost amid the empty seats at AAMI Stadium.




Mmmmmmm who has joined the .................................what have all the power trolls who come on here called us?



Just cann't remember.........................:confused: :rolleyes: :D


Looks like going by the time he submitted this article he now goes in under the cover of darkness and with his new Graham Cornes haircut, we wont be able to recognise him in the street.
 

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Re: Dont Look Now Port Fans But Your Corporation is Showing.

It is just me or does it seem a very strange coincidence that just after the happenings of the last few days, Rucci then delivers one of the most negative articles about Port I have seen in quite a long time. He's obviously thrown this out there due to that and because he felt he had to for the sake of maintaining his position.

The whole point about Port selling home games to New Zealand is just wrong, it was obviously put there to try and encourage gulliable people to become Port members. The SANFL would never allow Port to sell a home game away from football park.
 

Malibu#27

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#4
Re: Dont Look Now Port Fans But Your Corporation is Showing.

It is just me or does it seem a very strange coincidence that just after the happenings of the last few days, Rucci then delivers one of the most negative articles about Port I have seen in quite a long time. He's obviously thrown this out there due to that and because he felt he had to for the sake of maintaining his position.

The whole point about Port selling home games to New Zealand is just wrong, it was obviously put there to try and encourage gulliable people to become Port members. The SANFL would never allow Port to sell a home game away from football park.
Nah its just you - your seeing what you want to see. He has in the past and will in the future be critical of Port ..... its just that as a Crows supporter it doesn't support the argument that all his time is spent dissing the Crows .....

Don't worry though its the same for our supporters in reverse. Its all about perception.
 

Macca19

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Re: Dont Look Now Port Fans But Your Corporation is Showing.

I dont agree with relapse saying Ruccis position is under threat. Fact is Rucci often writes negative articles about us. You lot here are either oblivious to it or always pass it off as 'oh well, hes just trying to spur you on a bit'. So really, he cant win either way.
 

crowmyzone

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#6
Re: Dont Look Now Port Fans But Your Corporation is Showing.

Rooch is only delivering the facts relapse.
The fact he shouldve highlighted further is that pay tv is ruining the game.

By that I mean airing games live will continue to cripple attendances and the AFL need to wake up to this before the trend gets further and further in the *****.
 
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Perception is a funny thing, but I don't see it as a negative article at all. Sure it's an article about an issue of major concern, but it's been presented factually, without hysteria and shows the club is concerned and trying to come up with solutions.
 

spice18

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#8
Perception is a funny thing, but I don't see it as a negative article at all. Sure it's an article about an issue of major concern, but it's been presented factually, without hysteria and shows the club is concerned and trying to come up with solutions.
Now I can understand why they have issues with Rucci's articles across the boulevard. Nothing negative in that article imo, just cold hard facts that he Port Adelaide FC has to deal with. If John James or Greg Boulton takes this to the 'tiser and ask for Rucci to be moved aside, there will be something very wrong at Albeton.
 

DrJon

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#9
One feature I found amazing was the fact that beer cannot be taken to seats at AAMI. I thought Subi was bad but that's disgraceful.

Subi is still a sh**heap by the way.
 

Malibu#27

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#10
One feature I found amazing was the fact that beer cannot be taken to seats at AAMI. I thought Subi was bad but that's disgraceful.
Completely agree ..... or at least update the bars so you can get a beer "quickly".

Have dedicated pourers and you pay as you exit - like they do in Melbourne.
 

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rayven

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#13
. The SANFL's refusal to allow beer to be taken to seats has turned away many of Port's core supporters.
same for everyone at AAMI.

What happens if they start losing?????

weak crowds take away some of home ground advantage and that can be a snowball as well as players do feel the empty stadium.

Port you have to say are in a ruff patch on and off the field except they got a pretty sweet and well drilled rival in there area, unlike any SANFL days so :rolleyes:
 

rayven

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#14
Re: Dont Look Now Port Fans But Your Corporation is Showing.

Fact is Rucci often writes negative articles about us. You lot here are either oblivious to it or always pass it off as 'oh well, hes just trying to spur you on a bit'. So really, he cant win either way.
Yes he does but you would swear its two different writers when he critisises you and us.

:thumbsdown:
 

Markthirtytwo

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Thread starter #15
The reason I placed this newsworthy article wasnt to have a go at the Roochadore nor the club for signing on the worlds largest mining company.

Good on you.

My main point was a dig at the tools that keep coming on here and calling us a franchise or corporation. I just wonder what they think of their team going down that track.

The other was that there are the ones that constantly harp about their followers are true blue, die in the wool supporters that nothing in the world would stop them from supporting their team. Well if a few lean years and the worst of all, can't take your beer to your seat is the problem well it's soft as butter. (Where have I heard that before) :D

Can we keep all threads on this topic and not anti Rooch please, I have had my fill with that one.
 

Crowked

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#17
"The corporate side of football is part of doing business in the AFL," says James. "But we still want the biggest voice at our club to be members."
The biggest voice at Port has been a corporate one since the day they won the second AFL licence. Big Al has had his name on everything at Port all along.

The reality is they have been every bit a corporation and a franchise since day one. Only the seriously deluded ever thought otherwise.
 

crowmyzone

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#18
Im still amazed that the stadium "chose" teal blue seats. I'll bet me left one a shady deal was done on that front;)

As far as beer goes, the MCGs 6 schooner taps are needed at AAMI
 

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Perception is a funny thing, but I don't see it as a negative article at all. Sure it's an article about an issue of major concern, but it's been presented factually, without hysteria and shows the club is concerned and trying to come up with solutions.
There is a difference though, when I say that it is a negative article I mean he is focussing on something factual that Port wont have as many members this year. Usually he turns a blind eye to something like that and doesnt like to focus on it.

There were no pot shots at the port supporters or anything in the article though, which is fair enough due to it being about Port, but that is where the difference is. Report on something factual but keep the opinionated snide remarks out of it. He can do it with Port, but doesnt seem to be able to do it when it comes to writing about the AFC.
 
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There is a difference though, when I say that it is a negative article I mean he is focussing on something factual that Port wont have as many members this year. Usually he turns a blind eye to something like that and doesnt like to focus on it.
JJ probably rang him and asked him to write on the subject to help get potential members/season ticket holders on board. ;)
 

jmorg1

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#21
I think the whole point of this thread was not about whether Rucci does or doesn't write anything bad about Port but the fact that factual evidence has been presented proving that Port supporters are, in fact, one of the more, if not the most, fickle football supporter groups going around.

We have already seen how one extremely fickle Port supporter (i.e. bighawk1961) jumped onto the Hawks bandwagon (probably barracking against Port in the 2001 final) when the going got tough, and here we have statistics which show that more fickle Port fans like him are abandoning their team just like many did in the second half of the 'dream' Showdown semi-final.
 

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#23
Perception is a funny thing, but I don't see it as a negative article at all. Sure it's an article about an issue of major concern, but it's been presented factually, without hysteria and shows the club is concerned and trying to come up with solutions.
I thought it implied the club is out of ideas? :confused:
 

Crow-mo

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#24
The biggest voice at Port has been a corporate one since the day they won the second AFL licence. Big Al has had his name on everything at Port all along.

The reality is they have been every bit a corporation and a franchise since day one. Only the seriously deluded ever thought otherwise.
seeing as they asked Nike what colours sell more merchandise, and they returned with the teal of the then Charlotte Hornets... they've always been pretty corporate.

nothing wrong with that, you need to have a corp focus to compete.

seems they're losing the grassroot supporter though, which is a different matter. People from areas far and away from Alberton have always jumped on the bandwagon of Port's success. seems they jump off too.
 

PowerForGood

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#25
seeing as they asked Nike what colours sell more merchandise, and they returned with the teal of the then Charlotte Hornets... they've always been pretty corporate.

nothing wrong with that, you need to have a corp focus to compete.

seems they're losing the grassroot supporter though, which is a different matter. People from areas far and away from Alberton have always jumped on the bandwagon of Port's success. seems they jump off too.
Make your mind up, guys....

One day we are rabid one-eyed traitorous-to-the-SANFL inbred supporters, the next day we have bandwagon supporters.:confused:
 
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