Adelaide United - General Issues and Discussion
Posted: Fri Jan 04, 2013 12:26 pm
I've been reading a few of the threads and much of the discussion regarding the club, and I've put my ideas and thoughts down, in point form, as to what some of the issues at the club are and what can be done to fix them.
I did post some of these in my vented frustration on the club's Facebook Page, however this is more of a properly compiled post.
Feel free to shoot me down, but as a long term member and passionate and active supporter of the club, these are just some of my thoughts.
Look forward to reading your ideas, suggestions and feedback regarding the club and what I have posted below;
Core Active Support Issues
1. North and South are divided, due to differences of the heads of both areas. This needs to be sorted, and quickly, for the good of the club and active support. Agenda's need to be put aside, work together, ensure meetings are held and start resolving these issues. If you want the Western Sydney results, this will go a long way to starting it off.
2. From a North End perspective, only a few of the chants are aimed at and 'successfully' involve the surrounding, and sometimes majority of the crowd.
3. From a North End perspective, many of the chants are sung too fast or are too involved. Also, spur of the moment chants that are 'too' vulgar need to be stopped (even for me, and I'm pretty crude, some of them shouldn't be sung at the football)
4. There is no 'true' capo whom has the respect and the leadership to keep the flow and chants in tact for a full 90 minutes. This results in various split groups singing on top of each other, mis-matched chants and confusion.
5. Until a 'true' capo is found, and a fresh, and a more simplistic chant 'list' is compiled and followed, chants will never catch on to the surrounding people. Ultimately, the aim of the active support areas should be to 'create' a culture and have the stadium singing in unison. People will know the core songs after months and years pass.
6. The active support areas are segregated and 'roped off'. If outsiders or non-regulars want to join active support, they cannot do so (blocked by Stadium Security) unless they purchase a 'Home Supporters Bay' ticket for those specific areas. These areas are not marketed at the ticketing booths (they seem to fall under General Admission), therefore the non-regulars are unaware to ask for specific access to the active areas.
8. The following Stadium Security measures are pushed around, as an example, without consistency, on matchdays;
- You cannot remove your shirt.
- You cannot cover your face, unless you are of Muslim ethnicity. 'Santa Beards' were banned during the festive period due to this restriction.
- You cannot swear.
- You cannot discuss your point with Stadium Security or they can evict you due to their authority.
- You are not allowed to use party horns to make noise. (this is probably good thing as they are rather annoying)
Noticable Club Problems
1. Marketing has taken a back seat, and there has been no real 'push' to increase crowd attendances. There is also noticably very little promotion of matches in the media, witht he radio being the more prominent choice.
2. The club do not respond to some emails and majority of 'social media page' queries (mainly their Facebook page). Apparently the person at the club whom is in charge of the club's Facebook page manages it in her spare time (this is not fact, however it's possibly a reason as to why queries go un-noticed).
3.The club have taken far, far too long to choose a venue(s) for supporters to gather in Adelaide when the team plays away matches. People in the same city will travel to be together during these times. The obvious choice here is The Joiners Arms, however even when asked by myself, as an example, to support and promote it, this was declined by the lady at the other end of the phone. My email was also ignored.
Suggestions and Ideas
1. Utilise scoopon or group deals for new people to attend Hindmarsh. Take a leaf out of the Adelaide Bite's book and increase club membership and match attendances.
2. Provide 'return vouchers' to people as they leave the Hindmarsh gates. Promote a "half-price for non-members for the next match at Hindmarsh". Again, increase attendances and book people in for the next home game.
3. Promote buses for away matches as the previous owners did. They were called "Get Mobiles" and we'd travel far and wide to watch our team represent our city.
4. Continue with Red Out Loud. This is an integral connection the club had with its supporters and there was much positive feedback regarding it. CONNECTED is the core word here. The FFA may have banned the AdelaideReds website, however this doesn't stop you from utilising social media or inplementing it within adelaideunited.com.au or wearethereds.com.au
5. Don't shrug the supporters off when they volunteer to help the club. Send a positive message to those whom will sweat and continue to promote gatherings at venues.
6. Create the "Adelaide United Walk Of Fame", in which players whom represent our club for a certain amount of years have their own plaque on a patch of cement or walkway, commemorating their loyalty? Start BUILDING some history for us to be proud of and give us something to talk about and CONNECT WITH. The history room, as much as it is 'growing', is stock standard.
7. Release some new merchandise, e.g 59fifty New Era caps, street-wear (more than two options would be nice), instead of the boring same-same every single year. Ask the supporters as to what they want to wear. Design competitions are a good touch, or simply asking for their ideas or suggestions on a *continuous basis*.
8. On matchday, promote and assist active support with fundraising stalls at the front of the gates to acquire additional funds for banner-making, flags, tifo's, pullovers, etc. People will gladly drop gold coins into a bucket and this can go a long way.
9. Involve the East or West sides of Hindmarsh Stadium in regards to promoting the club. Large pullovers, tifo's, flags, etc.
10. The owners should take time to mingle with the supporters during matchday proceedings. Not just within the sheltered areas, however specifically around other parts of the stadium. Have a quick sing, show your faces, BE the people. This is insanely important for our club, especially in its early days (9 years is still early).
11. Intensively market and promote the club to the multicultural communities in our city. I can't say I have seen much of this at all? Surely there is a market for more members from these communities.
I did post some of these in my vented frustration on the club's Facebook Page, however this is more of a properly compiled post.
Feel free to shoot me down, but as a long term member and passionate and active supporter of the club, these are just some of my thoughts.
Look forward to reading your ideas, suggestions and feedback regarding the club and what I have posted below;
Core Active Support Issues
1. North and South are divided, due to differences of the heads of both areas. This needs to be sorted, and quickly, for the good of the club and active support. Agenda's need to be put aside, work together, ensure meetings are held and start resolving these issues. If you want the Western Sydney results, this will go a long way to starting it off.
2. From a North End perspective, only a few of the chants are aimed at and 'successfully' involve the surrounding, and sometimes majority of the crowd.
3. From a North End perspective, many of the chants are sung too fast or are too involved. Also, spur of the moment chants that are 'too' vulgar need to be stopped (even for me, and I'm pretty crude, some of them shouldn't be sung at the football)
4. There is no 'true' capo whom has the respect and the leadership to keep the flow and chants in tact for a full 90 minutes. This results in various split groups singing on top of each other, mis-matched chants and confusion.
5. Until a 'true' capo is found, and a fresh, and a more simplistic chant 'list' is compiled and followed, chants will never catch on to the surrounding people. Ultimately, the aim of the active support areas should be to 'create' a culture and have the stadium singing in unison. People will know the core songs after months and years pass.
6. The active support areas are segregated and 'roped off'. If outsiders or non-regulars want to join active support, they cannot do so (blocked by Stadium Security) unless they purchase a 'Home Supporters Bay' ticket for those specific areas. These areas are not marketed at the ticketing booths (they seem to fall under General Admission), therefore the non-regulars are unaware to ask for specific access to the active areas.
8. The following Stadium Security measures are pushed around, as an example, without consistency, on matchdays;
- You cannot remove your shirt.
- You cannot cover your face, unless you are of Muslim ethnicity. 'Santa Beards' were banned during the festive period due to this restriction.
- You cannot swear.
- You cannot discuss your point with Stadium Security or they can evict you due to their authority.
- You are not allowed to use party horns to make noise. (this is probably good thing as they are rather annoying)
Noticable Club Problems
1. Marketing has taken a back seat, and there has been no real 'push' to increase crowd attendances. There is also noticably very little promotion of matches in the media, witht he radio being the more prominent choice.
2. The club do not respond to some emails and majority of 'social media page' queries (mainly their Facebook page). Apparently the person at the club whom is in charge of the club's Facebook page manages it in her spare time (this is not fact, however it's possibly a reason as to why queries go un-noticed).
3.The club have taken far, far too long to choose a venue(s) for supporters to gather in Adelaide when the team plays away matches. People in the same city will travel to be together during these times. The obvious choice here is The Joiners Arms, however even when asked by myself, as an example, to support and promote it, this was declined by the lady at the other end of the phone. My email was also ignored.
Suggestions and Ideas
1. Utilise scoopon or group deals for new people to attend Hindmarsh. Take a leaf out of the Adelaide Bite's book and increase club membership and match attendances.
2. Provide 'return vouchers' to people as they leave the Hindmarsh gates. Promote a "half-price for non-members for the next match at Hindmarsh". Again, increase attendances and book people in for the next home game.
3. Promote buses for away matches as the previous owners did. They were called "Get Mobiles" and we'd travel far and wide to watch our team represent our city.
4. Continue with Red Out Loud. This is an integral connection the club had with its supporters and there was much positive feedback regarding it. CONNECTED is the core word here. The FFA may have banned the AdelaideReds website, however this doesn't stop you from utilising social media or inplementing it within adelaideunited.com.au or wearethereds.com.au
5. Don't shrug the supporters off when they volunteer to help the club. Send a positive message to those whom will sweat and continue to promote gatherings at venues.
6. Create the "Adelaide United Walk Of Fame", in which players whom represent our club for a certain amount of years have their own plaque on a patch of cement or walkway, commemorating their loyalty? Start BUILDING some history for us to be proud of and give us something to talk about and CONNECT WITH. The history room, as much as it is 'growing', is stock standard.
7. Release some new merchandise, e.g 59fifty New Era caps, street-wear (more than two options would be nice), instead of the boring same-same every single year. Ask the supporters as to what they want to wear. Design competitions are a good touch, or simply asking for their ideas or suggestions on a *continuous basis*.
8. On matchday, promote and assist active support with fundraising stalls at the front of the gates to acquire additional funds for banner-making, flags, tifo's, pullovers, etc. People will gladly drop gold coins into a bucket and this can go a long way.
9. Involve the East or West sides of Hindmarsh Stadium in regards to promoting the club. Large pullovers, tifo's, flags, etc.
10. The owners should take time to mingle with the supporters during matchday proceedings. Not just within the sheltered areas, however specifically around other parts of the stadium. Have a quick sing, show your faces, BE the people. This is insanely important for our club, especially in its early days (9 years is still early).
11. Intensively market and promote the club to the multicultural communities in our city. I can't say I have seen much of this at all? Surely there is a market for more members from these communities.