Opinion Will Pies lose a lot of members in 2015? (Poll added)

[TradeDraft]

2015 is going to be an extremely hard year financially for the majority of Australians.
Higher costs everywhere, including fuel, medical and utilities.
All on a background of industry closing up releasing tens of thousands into the job market.
Forcing people to take less wages to retain their employment.
This will have more of an effect on all AFL teams memberships than results on the field.
Today we have one in 29 Australians having AFL membership.
Will be interesting to see what this figure is in 12 months time.

and The stupid Budget that the Idiot Lib’s Put in does not help

 

[Throw]

I'm one of the handful that is a member but isn't renewing. I've posted about it before, and it is entirely because of the match day experience (holden rev up ads and gambling being rammed down our throats) and nothing to do with on field performance.

 

[ottoman]

Today we have one in 29 Australians having AFL membership.
.

Are you sure about this stat.
If true that's very impressive considering AFL isn't the main sport in some states.

 

[Morganashlee]

Not renewing a membership because of ads or crappy entertainment during the breaks is just bewildering to me.

If our sponsors ads are make or break for people when it comes to being a member of a footy club then that is pathetic.

 

[Scodog10]

Not renewing a membership because of ads or crappy entertainment during the breaks is just bewildering to me.

If our sponsors ads are make or break for people when it comes to being a member of a footy club then that is pathetic.

I personally don't get that one either I'm there for the footy and tune out when that stuff's on. That stuff's a case of toughen up princess are you there for the footy or not?..

I'll be renewing mine I've been to 15 Collingwood matches this year and a handful of neutral games so my AFL membership is perfect. Having said all that though we have been painful to watch at times this year with some truly ugly footy matches.

My general feel for it is that we've always been hated, but just a few years ago some neutrals would look forward to a Collingwood game (ala Cats v Hawks which I love watching) and ANZAC day aside that just isn't the case any longer.

As far as our overall brand of footy goes we just don't put bums on seats. I could understand if we were winning ugly because the whatever it takes approach works for me, but when you're losing ugly that's a recipe for a drop in crowds and memberships.

 

[Throw]

Not renewing a membership because of ads or crappy entertainment during the breaks is just bewildering to me.

If our sponsors ads are make or break for people when it comes to being a member of a footy club then that is pathetic.

I think you might not know what "pathetic" means. Are you saying people who don't want to reward the club which has treated us with contempt by ramming gambling down our throats, or blasting the holden logo at us are in some way weak? The only possible way a member can influence that decision is by voting with their feet and not renewing memberships.

Or is it that you disagree with the view, and rather than sympathising or respectfully disagreeing, you say the first insulting thing that pops into your head and call people with a that view "pathetic"?

The day the club starts treating members as actual members of the club and not a captive audience to be flogged to betfair and holden is the day I renew my membership.

In my view there's something pathetic about remaining a member of an organisation that apparently thinks it can **** you in the ear with impunity.

 

[Tippy78]

Not renewing a membership because of ads or crappy entertainment during the breaks is just bewildering to me.

If our sponsors ads are make or break for people when it comes to being a member of a footy club then that is pathetic.

If it ruins the game day experience then why would you renew your membership? Totally understandable for me.

I am able to tune out to a degree but it has dropped my game day enjoyment considerably. I want to talk to the people next to me about the footy, not sit there watching ads and terrible entertainment.

 

[Morganashlee]

I think you might not know what "pathetic" means. Are you saying people who don't want to reward the club which has treated us with contempt by ramming gambling down our throats, or blasting the holden logo at us are in some way weak? The only possible way a member can influence that decision is by voting with their feet and not renewing memberships.

Or is it that you disagree with the view, and rather than sympathising or respectfully disagreeing, you say the first insulting thing that pops into your head and call people with a that view "pathetic"?

The day the club starts treating members as actual members of the club and not a captive audience to be flogged to betfair and holden is the day I renew my membership.

In my view there's something pathetic about remaining a member of an organisation that apparently thinks it can **** you in the ear with impunity.

I find it difficult to sympathise with you over something that isn't worthy of sympathy. Don't get me wrong the Holden ad is annoying, but I would never consider not renewing my membership because of it.

Have the gambling ads increased of late? I thought there was a roll back in match day betting ads but maybe I just don't see it.

I'm sure you'll find that I didn't call you pathetic, rather the reason behind your decision. Advertising is everywhere, are you going to throw out your tv because you don't like the ads too?

If we were serious contenders for the flag next year would you still be walking away?

 

[Throw]

I find it difficult to sympathise with you over something that isn't worthy of sympathy. Don't get me wrong the Holden ad is annoying, but I would never consider not renewing my membership because of it.

Have the gambling ads increased of late? I thought there was a roll back in match day betting ads but maybe I just don't see it.

I'm sure you'll find that I didn't call you pathetic, rather the reason behind your decision. Advertising is everywhere, are you going to throw out your tv because you don't like the ads too?

If we were serious contenders for the flag next year would you still be walking away?

Yes. The ads cross a line. They are an imposition on and a betrayal of the membership that made this club what it is.

Someone at the club thought long and hard about those ads, and concluded "wow that Holden ad is really loud and annoying and detracts from the match day experience, and the betting ads will piss a lot of people off particularly people who want to take kids to the footy - but **** the members' enjoyment of the game and the social harm caused by problem gambling, we'll get away with it, take the money and live the high life."

So while the ads themselves annoy me, I'm even more angry at the thought process that necessarily had to happen at the club in order for the 2014 experience to be what it is. That's why not renewing my membership is a very easy decision, and has nothing to do with match day performance or 2015 prospects.

Also I see no reason why we can't be serious contenders for the flag next year. In round 1 I thought we'd finish 4-6, but allowing for our injuries to key players (particularly Reid and Swan) 9th is no surprise. Although I'd like to see how our key injuries recover (Reid and Brown), assessing our list and the likely movement of other clubs at the moment I think Collingwood can reasonably aim for top 4 next year.

In some ways I think it's a shame that our inevitable drop in members will be masked by a poor 2014, when I suspect there are more people like me who are dropping off for other reasons. Reasons which could easily be fixed but probably won't be.

 

[TradeDraft]

So Reading the Ball Thread - Would people not Re-New there Memberships one that?

 

[Baltimore Jack]

So Reading the Ball Thread - Would people not Re-New there Memberships one that?

Adams might bring in new members Dave

 

[Shellz]

I'll be a member next year without doubt. Collingwood could have a circus on match day and I would still sign up and attend every week.

Pretty sure most of you wouldn't care about kiss cam if we were winning every week.

And there's more gambling adds on TV than at the game!!?