Western Bulldogs and their partnership with Ballarat a success

[geoffjennings79]

And so it begins. Irrespective of who gets priority and what seats are available, the bottom line is that most of us Melbourne-based members will be watching the game on Foxtel just like another away interstate game. Good luck to the club to expand its supporter base in the western region but the Ballarat initiative was never going to suit everybody.

I have spoken to 11 local members since the email - not one is purchasing a reserved seat, and two were far more hostile to the additional price than I am.

 

[Guido]

Even kids have to pay $66.

BALLARAT GAME ADD-ON PER YEAR PER MONTH*
ADULT $75 $7.50 BUY NOW
JUNIOR $66 $6.60 BUY NOW
CONCESSION $36 $3.60 BUY NOW
FAMILY $210 $21 BUY NOW
.

http://m.westernbulldogs.com.au/club/ballarat/ballarat-memberships

Might have been a typo with the email there, website says kids are $26, juniors would never be almost double the cost of the concession price. But otherwise I agree, if social club members and reserve seats holders who are already paying hundreds over and above standard memberships are being asked to pay an extra $75 to get a seat at a home game, it's pretty extortionate.

And this is from someone who was all for the venture.

I think if it had have been offered in a reasonably priced, structured, tiered way (say, if you're a social club reserved seat holder, exclusive first dibs at $25 (kids half that), either social club or reserve seat, $40, general member $65, off the street, a kidney/first born), then members could accept it. But as it currently looks, the club looking for the match to return a $500k profit rather than, say, a $300k profit could come at a significant price to some of the membership base's goodwill and trust further down the track.

I guess this is "a hello and welcome" to the nitty gritty realities of the demand>supply Geelong stadium model that we've all been jealous of all these years.

 

[maddog37]

Call it what it is. A rip off.

 

[geoffjennings79]

http://m.westernbulldogs.com.au/club/ballarat/ballarat-memberships

Might have been a typo with the email there, website says kids are $26, juniors would never be almost double the cost of the concession price. But otherwise I agree, if social club members and reserve seats holders who are already paying hundreds over and above standard memberships are being asked to pay an extra $75 to get a seat at a home game, it's pretty extortionate.

And this is from someone who was all for the venture.

I think if it had have been offered in a reasonably priced, structured, tiered way (say, if you're a social club reserved seat holder, exclusive first dibs at $25 (kids half that), either social club or reserve seat, $40, general member $65, off the street, a kidney/first born), then members could accept it. But as it currently looks, the club looking for the match to return a $500k profit rather than, say, a $300k profit could come at a significant price to some of the membership base's goodwill and trust further down the track.

I guess this is "a hello and welcome" to the nitty gritty realities of the demand>supply Geelong stadium model that we've all been jealous of all these years.

Thanks Guido, I agree. A tiered approach would make sense.

As for the Geelong model, their capacity is temporarily 27k, heading to 36k. Eureka will never see those numbers, especially for a max of 2 h&a games per year.

 

[Dog Rising]

I'm not 100% certain but do Geelong members with reserved seats get to sell their seats to games they can't attend thru the Ticketmaster resale? How does that work? Do they actually get the money from the resale?

 

[MYOB]

I'm not 100% certain but do Geelong members with reserved seats get to sell their seats to games they can't attend thru the Ticketmaster resale? How does that work? Do they actually get the money from the resale?

They get a credit off their next years membership

 

[compact72]

Even for the reserved seat members, you still expect a general admission ticket at the ballarat game.

I only have the home reserved seat membership, but why should I miss out on attending matches that I've paid for?

 

[ivan rassmussen]

I'm outside of Ballarat too, not an impressive effort from the club/membership dept. There is a chance here to quickly address this though - wonder if the club are up to the challenge. I like Guido's suggestion.
(haven't seen you in a while geoffj79... how's life as a sheep baron?!)

 

[LondonBulldog]

My biggest issue it that you should not treat your members like fools.

The membership information should have stated that, this year your membership/reserve seat will only give you 9 games instead of 10 as we attempt to expand into the Ballarat market. Try and explain the price increase for less games? Not sure how really. Yes we get a replacement Melbourne game but that does not guarantee a reserve seat, but at least explain that in the membership information.

It a home game what is not a home game....

 

[Prince Imperial]

My biggest issue it that you should not treat your members like fools.

The membership information should have stated that, this year your membership/reserve seat will only give you 9 games instead of 10 as we attempt to expand into the Ballarat market. Try and explain the price increase for less games? Not sure how really. Yes we get a replacement Melbourne game but that does not guarantee a reserve seat, but at least explain that in the membership information.

It a home game what is not a home game....

Do we? The membership website doesn't explicity state that we do for this game or the Cairns game and my guess is that the club has ditched this for 2017. If they haven't, those (like me) who buy the more expensive home and away memberships would be very badly treated in comparison as there are only 13 matches in Melbourne next year (compared to 15 this year).

Our membership revenue and yield has been the worst in the competition bar Brisbane, GC and GWS, so I understand what the club is doing. Most of us (I'm putting my hand up) go along thinking the benefits of certain types of memberships remain the same and with the AFL announcing the draw in late October only shortly before the rollover date it doesn't leave a lot of time to work what we are really getting.

 

[LondonBulldog]

Do we? The membership website doesn't explicity state that we do for this game or the Cairns game and my guess is that the club has ditched this for 2017. If they haven't, those (like me) who buy the more expensive home and away memberships would be very badly treated in comparison as there are only 13 matches in Melbourne next year (compared to 15 this year).

Our membership revenue and yield has been the worst in the competition bar Brisbane, GC and GWS, so I understand what the club is doing. Most of us (I'm putting my hand up) go along thinking the benefits of certain types of memberships remain the same and with the AFL announcing the draw in late October only shortly before the rollover date it doesn't leave a lot of time to work what we are really getting.

Its hidden in the frequently asked question section

"How many replacement games will I get in 2017? In 2017, Western Bulldogs access members will be able to gain general admission access to two replacement games in Melbourne*. Further information and details for these two replacement games will be communicated to eligible access members closer to the start of the 2017 season."

But your right on a less melbourne game mean less value for your membership when they went up.

 

[Prince Imperial]

Its hidden in the frequently asked question section

"How many replacement games will I get in 2017? In 2017, Western Bulldogs access members will be able to gain general admission access to two replacement games in Melbourne*. Further information and details for these two replacement games will be communicated to eligible access members closer to the start of the 2017 season."

But your right on a less melbourne game mean less value for your membership when they went up.

Thanks for this. I don't mind giving additional money to the club, but charging $125 to be able attend two away games in Melbourne (gate price of $50 or so) is pretty ordinary. I realize when the club sets these prices it's prior to the AFL releasing the draw. However, the club should look at some way (Bulldog shop voucher or a couple of match tickets for friends to use) to address this for those who have bought or will buy home and away memberships for next season.

 

[Spiritof82]

My biggest issue it that you should not treat your members like fools.

The membership information should have stated that, this year your membership/reserve seat will only give you 9 games instead of 10 as we attempt to expand into the Ballarat market. Try and explain the price increase for less games? Not sure how really. Yes we get a replacement Melbourne game but that does not guarantee a reserve seat, but at least explain that in the membership information.

It a home game what is not a home game....

Its even worse than the joke "home" games we used to play at the SCG when the Bulldogs membership area was way up the back in an area where you struggled to see the game whilst the "away" team, the Swines, had access to the rest of the ground.

 

[Roogal]

Some interesting and the latest images of Ballarat's Eureka Stadium that I stumbled on during a Google search: Click Here

 

[Mattdougie]

Ballarat is a crap idea for anymore than 1 novelty game a year.

So this year we have this and the woman's leagues addin to memberships the club are asking us to pay for.

I won't be going to Ballarat and have paid for the woman's league this year but never again.

I'm against both moves so won't be supporting the club in either

But seriously you guys are now just working out a stadium that has capacity of 35 can't fit everyone?

 

[CaptainMurphy]

NOBODY ****EN BITE

 

[Substance]

Ballarat is a crap idea for anymore than 1 novelty game a year.

So this year we have this and the woman's leagues addin to memberships the club are asking us to pay for.

I won't be going to Ballarat and have paid for the woman's league this year but never again.

I'm against both moves so won't be supporting the club in either

But seriously you guys are now just working out a stadium that has capacity of 35 can't fit everyone?

NOBODY ****EN BITE

 

[Mattdougie]

NOBODY ****EN BITE

Bite at what ? My opinion On the moves doesn't effect others thinking

I was discussing the price rises and their impact and to think that moves look this won't increase fees is a little naive. We have 40000 members and people are surprised they can't get a seat in a tiny stadium and then don't expect the club to take advantage of increased popularity?

if we ever we have a huge membership, people who have found it very simple to get tickets in the past will from now on struggle To get a ticket and again if numbers increase the price of tickets will also.

The club is a business it's proven under Gordon it will do whatever necessary to raise money.

So selling a game to a pissy country stadium isn't about increased member numbers it's a revenue grab.

Ps I'd rather sell a game to Ballarat than Cairns Coz at least we may garner some meves from Ballarat Cairns is nothing other than an AFL cheque

 

[SCRAY72]

Sounds like the real cashed up diehards will be going to Ballarat for this game and everyone else will give it a miss.
Will be interesting to see the club's reaction if the game doesn't sell out.

 

[King Harold]

Bite at what ? My opinion On the moves doesn't effect others thinking

I was discussing the price rises and their impact and to think that moves look this won't increase fees is a little naive. We have 40000 members and people are surprised they can't get a seat in a tiny stadium and then don't expect the club to take advantage of increased popularity?

if we ever we have a huge membership, people who have found it very simple to get tickets in the past will from now on struggle To get a ticket and again if numbers increase the price of tickets will also.

The club is a business it's proven under Gordon it will do whatever necessary to raise money.

So selling a game to a pissy country stadium isn't about increased member numbers it's a revenue grab.

Ps I'd rather sell a game to Ballarat than Cairns Coz at least we may garner some meves from Ballarat Cairns is nothing other than an AFL cheque

It's all about me MD . I love Cairns. Go every year for a week and escape melbournes winter.
Ballarat will be lovely that time of year

 

[Mattdougie]

It's all about me MD . I love Cairns. Go every year for a week and escape melbournes winter.
Ballarat will be lovely that time of year

Oh it's about you then I silence my objection

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Let's hope Port supporters turn up and pay.

 

[TiAn_]

There are probably only a thousand reserved seats, maybe less, looking at the stand. The club will sell them out at those prices.

Winning a premiership and expanding our membership will necessarily entail access to games becoming more difficult and costly.

It's the lesser evil to the alternative where we are a modern Fitzroy, reaping less from our memberships and home games than all of the other teams and never catching up.

 

[Roogal]

Eureka Stadium update video - Early January 2017

 

[wian]

I will go up there with my family for a getaway weekend and guy a general admission ticket for my family