Rivalries develop organically.
There is nothing organic about our franchises, any kind of fan culture is very quickly stamped out .
As the documentary demonstrates, fan culture is what keeps these rivalries and clubs together. It keeps people coming back for the culture not for any one player or latest signing.
My point is not that we need rivalries that are based on 900 years of war and unrest our geography and history does not support this , my point its that identity is more important than the city groups of the world.
For sure. Obviously fan culture is something that is financially rewarding to a club, the community culture isn't IMO directly in line with the capitalistic world we now all live in though. Clubs thrive on people going the extra mile and casting aside the financial costs or rewards involved in supporting and assisting clubs. These days clubs just views fans as customers that need to consume their product.
Maybe in the future as we see more and more people beginning to question whether capitalism is the best model for the society we live in so the financial rewards that are currently on offer to clubs, like TV revenue and sponsorship may begin to dry up and clubs will need to depend more heavily on the rusted on fans like they did prior to the 1990's.
This was always part of my argument that the HAL needs to follow the German model more and force clubs to have a level of fan involvement in the ownership and or management of the HAL clubs. As I feel its very easy to see club management lose site of how the fans want to see the club being run, and when offered a voice fans are able to be better informed on what decisions are being made and why.
I'd be fascinated to see what would take place if AU offered a special membership (say a $500 membership) that offered a season ticket and a small stake in the club by way of an elected seat at the table of directors.
1000 members x 50% of a $500 membership fee ($250) = $250,000. If this was undertaken by the club I think it would get some legs.