Bums on seats

[pib]

Why does the club hardly ever put anything out on social media to push tickets for home matches?

It's something that's puzzled me for a while, but is something I've noticed especially this week, with tomorrow's game being such a big one and with Bradford selling out 4000 almost a week in advance, and many of their fans asking why they can't have more tickets.

I understand why they can't for security/segregation reasons on the concourses etc, but it is true that they'll look at our home ends tomorrow and see probably 3-4k empty seats. I really want our supporters to come out and get behind the team but how do you expect non die-hard fans to do so if they don't see anything about it?

If we're going to operate sustainably, surely we should be trying to squeeze out every drop of revenue we can? Sending out a tweet and a Facebook post once a day leading up to the game might not add thousands on to the crowd, but it's a free and fairly easy bit of activity, and even if it added 50 or 100 to the gate, the more the merrier. And a few of those might buy a programme or a shirt, and if it's a good game they might be tempted back again.

I've seen with other clubs how communicating about these things can help to build excitement and anticipation, and if it's a particularly well-coordinated and well-messaged campaign, it can create that buzz of people jumping on board just because they don't want to miss out on being part of something.

Because I'm a saddo, I've had a quick scroll through the Twitter feeds of the other 11 clubs playing at home this weekend in our league, and Donny and Hartlepool are the only ones that haven't put out some sort of tweet encouraging people to get their tickets for the game this weekend. We haven't put anything on Facebook either. In fairness to Hartlepool, they've had a midweek game and have announced the sacking and hiring of a manager, so it's hardly been a slow news week there.

Most of the other clubs have put multiple tweets out this week, even if they've had a midweek game. Mansfield and Barrow have both done 6!

I don't understand why we're not doing this? Surely it's a no-brainer and I think it's really poor and a missed opportunity that we're not doing so, unless there is some good reason for it (I can't think of one)

Oh, and before the "why don't you contact the club instead of moaning on here" lot respond - I have contacted the club about this.

[sf9944]

I think you pose a very pertinent question.  And well done for putting it directly to the club!

[roversdude]

Great post especially after DB mentioning gates the recent Meet the Owners

[Filo]

I think the media team have a lot to answer for at the moment, stealing a wage

[pib]

Great post especially after DB mentioning gates the recent Meet the Owners

Yep. Just found the quote from the DFP:

Bramall called on fans to ‘bring a friend’ along to matches at the Eco-Power Stadium with them, adding: “If we have got 50 per cent more attendances then we’d be absolutely balancing the books.

Makes you wonder why more isn't being done from the club to achieve this.

[roversdude]

I am a big defender of the club but I can see why people think there is an apathy from those involved.
Did you get a reply Pib

[pib]

I am a big defender of the club but I can see why people think there is an apathy from those involved.
Did you get a reply Pib

Nothing yet but I'll post an update if someone emails back.

[Thorney]

The club have advertised that they are doing a all rover day with players going around to schools and other places next week.
Surely this is a week or 2 too late, should of been done with this game in mind and possibly generating new support.
If they offered free kids tickets with discounted parent/carer tickets for a game like this then new support would be added. And potentially returning new support.

[steve@dcfd]

Great post especially after DB mentioning gates the recent Meet the Owners

Yep. Just found the quote from the DFP:

Bramall called on fans to ‘bring a friend’ along to matches at the Eco-Power Stadium with them, adding: “If we have got 50 per cent more attendances then we’d be absolutely balancing the books.

Makes you wonder why more isn't being done from the club to achieve this.

To start getting more bums on seats the team have got to be more consistent with their performances and results. Bring a friend along they wouldn’t be your friend for long with the performances and results we’ve been having.
If TB wants more people at matches then better players on the pitch to achieve better results is the answer not friends to watch dismal performances

[roversdude]

Has anyone received the e mail from Rovers - talks about the Bradford game then reverts back to Barrow shocking from the media team

MATCH GUIDE | Doncaster Rovers v Bradford City
All you need to know ahead of Rovers' Sky Bet League Two match against Bradford City.

The match will kick-off at 3pm at the Eco-Power Stadium.

TICKETING
Please note that you must have a previous purchase history with the club to be able to purchase a ticket for this game.

Tickets for the game are available here or by calling the Box Office on 01302 762576.  If you haven't yet purchased your ticket, please ensure that you arrive early to avoid queues on the day.

iFOLLOW
For those who can't make the match you can watch from wherever you are with your iFollow audio pass for only £2.50. Commentary will be brought to you by Robbie Andrews. Purchase your match pass from HERE.
 
GOLDEN GOALS
You could be the lucky winner of £200 with the Golden Goal scratch cards at the Barrow match. Cards can be purchased pre-match from programme sellers around the ground and from the Club Doncaster Box Office. Each card costs £2.
 
For more information and T&Cs please click HERE.
 
MATCHDAY PROGRAMME
The matchday programme includes exclusive interview with new signing Charlie Lakin.  The programme is available from sellers around the stadium and in the bowl for just £3.

[Usher down the wing.]

But when performances ‘dip’, then you look to the ‘match day experience’ for the friend you’ve brought along (perhaps for their first game) in the hope they might forgive a performance dip & come again because a) The food on the concourse was good & well worth the money, b) There weren’t long queues because there were ample staff who knew their jobs & the service was quick, c) The Marshall’s were efficient, knew how & where to address problems/queries & were focused on the paying customer & stationed in areas where they would be most effective, d) Inside the still impressive stadium there was a scoreboard which showed the time, named any substitute’s along with their number to aid ‘new’ attendees to identify players, e) The toilets were clean with adequate facilities to wash & then be able to dry your hands, f) There were adequate hand sanitizers throughout the stadium concourse’s & as you passed through a turnstile.

There’s six off the top of my head that could do with addressing.

Tomorrow will be the biggest crowd of the season, I know it, you know it, the ‘power’s at be’ know it.

Will they have all concourse food & drink outlets open for a crowd in six figures? If not why not.

It’s called ‘optimising your financial gain’. You can call for “Bum’s on seats” & “Bring a friend” but if you then can’t give those extra bums (in a metaphorical sense and not in a literal sense in case a ‘twitchy moderator’ gets the wrong impression) a ‘good experience’ enough to want to come back for, then don’t ask again.

[monkeytennis]

The media (social and otherwise) management is so poor it’s embarrassing. You could really believe they’re just not bothered.

[ravenrover]

Does it mean that the golden goals from Barrow hasn't been claimed  or just a cut and paste gone wrong?

[Padge_DRFC]

Who's in charge of marketing?

[knockers]

Mr Bean by the look of it!

[roversdude]

Cut and paste Raven as the snippet about the programme was also referring to the Barrow game

[since-1969]

Why does the club hardly ever put anything out on social media to push tickets for home matches?

It's something that's puzzled me for a while, but is something I've noticed especially this week, with tomorrow's game being such a big one and with Bradford selling out 4000 almost a week in advance, and many of their fans asking why they can't have more tickets.

I understand why they can't for security/segregation reasons on the concourses etc, but it is true that they'll look at our home ends tomorrow and see probably 3-4k empty seats. I really want our supporters to come out and get behind the team but how do you expect non die-hard fans to do so if they don't see anything about it?

If we're going to operate sustainably, surely we should be trying to squeeze out every drop of revenue we can? Sending out a tweet and a Facebook post once a day leading up to the game might not add thousands on to the crowd, but it's a free and fairly easy bit of activity, and even if it added 50 or 100 to the gate, the more the merrier. And a few of those might buy a programme or a shirt, and if it's a good game they might be tempted back again.

I've seen with other clubs how communicating about these things can help to build excitement and anticipation, and if it's a particularly well-coordinated and well-messaged campaign, it can create that buzz of people jumping on board just because they don't want to miss out on being part of something.

Because I'm a saddo, I've had a quick scroll through the Twitter feeds of the other 11 clubs playing at home this weekend in our league, and Donny and Hartlepool are the only ones that haven't put out some sort of tweet encouraging people to get their tickets for the game this weekend. We haven't put anything on Facebook either. In fairness to Hartlepool, they've had a midweek game and have announced the sacking and hiring of a manager, so it's hardly been a slow news week there.

Most of the other clubs have put multiple tweets out this week, even if they've had a midweek game. Mansfield and Barrow have both done 6!

I don't understand why we're not doing this? Surely it's a no-brainer and I think it's really poor and a missed opportunity that we're not doing so, unless there is some good reason for it (I can't think of one)

Oh, and before the "why don't you contact the club instead of moaning on here" lot respond - I have contacted the club about this.

Winning team puts bums on seats ALSO !!

[Canadian Rover]

The email marketing/crm is poor too. A few years ago the club started to use infusionsoft a complex and expensive CRM that they quickly and rightly moved away from.

The club shop (elite sports) has a twice weekly drip campaign set up. In terms of club email marketing I've received one email (that was the survey) when you consider I do purchase tickets not only for myself (when in the UK) and commonly for family and friends (even season tickets) and yet never really get marketing for matches or upsells. I'm the classic CRM return on investment prospect.

Social media sales/attempts I am not aware of but probably numb of.

Lots to improve on for sure but the basics of people needed to do their jobs is clear to see.

 

[ncRover]

But when performances ‘dip’, then you look to the ‘match day experience’ for the friend you’ve brought along (perhaps for their first game) in the hope they might forgive a performance dip & come again because a) The food on the concourse was good & well worth the money, b) There weren’t long queues because there were ample staff who knew their jobs & the service was quick, c) The Marshall’s were efficient, knew how & where to address problems/queries & were focused on the paying customer & stationed in areas where they would be most effective, d) Inside the still impressive stadium there was a scoreboard which showed the time, named any substitute’s along with their number to aid ‘new’ attendees to identify players, e) The toilets were clean with adequate facilities to wash & then be able to dry your hands, f) There were adequate hand sanitizers throughout the stadium concourse’s & as you passed through a turnstile.

There’s six off the top of my head that could do with addressing.

Tomorrow will be the biggest crowd of the season, I know it, you know it, the ‘power’s at be’ know it.

Will they have all concourse food & drink outlets open for a crowd in six figures? If not why not.

It’s called ‘optimising your financial gain’. You can call for “Bum’s on seats” & “Bring a friend” but if you then can’t give those extra bums (in a metaphorical sense and not in a literal sense in case a ‘twitchy moderator’ gets the wrong impression) a ‘good experience’ enough to want to come back for, then don’t ask again.

This is bang on. They’ve got to spend money to make money.

[tyke1962]

 Well my club have made a real effort today to attract fans back to Oakwell for this afternoon's clash with Derby County .

Match tickets reduced to £20 for all areas .

Happy hour between 1.30pm and 2.30pm where food and beer is reduced by 30% .

Live band playing in the East Stand lower concourse pre match .

Outside the fun starts at 12.30pm in the fan zone with host Dave Cooper introducing a live band , former players with beer and street food available .

It's also scarf and flag day with everyone encouraged to bring one and ramp up the atmosphere .

We are looking at over 17k today looking at the club's ticketing map although that's only a guesstimate and helped by a big Derby following .

However for all that we are currently on a good run and playing a huge game this afternoon against one of our close promotion rivals .

For all the pre match activities and discounts if we were half way down league one this simply wouldn't work .

30% off craft beer at the Salt Bar is fine but give me three points instead all day long this afternoon .

[roversdude]

Although I agree with Ushers overall comments The catering is out of the clubs hand so an and b will fail for starters.
I’m sure there are still sanitisers in the West (they may be empty though)
Does the main screen not show substitutions
We seem to have more stewards then ever before

I was slightly alarmed at one of the comments that GB made at the MTO in that any money used tidying/tarting up the stadium means less on the playing budget. Obviously we do not have an infinite amount of money but we can’t let the stadium go to ruin surely.

[Usher down the wing.]

When you approach the west side of the stadium the images of our footballing heroes down the years are faded, ‘tired’ & sad looking bordering on becoming almost an insult to their memories.

If we can’t afford to replace or ‘tart’ them up then for goodness sake take them down altogether until the club can afford to give these iconic figures a proper & deserved tribute.

[Lesonthewest]

Although I agree with Ushers overall comments The catering is out of the clubs hand so an and b will fail for starters.
I’m sure there are still sanitisers in the West (they may be empty though)
Does the main screen not show substitutions
We seem to have more stewards then ever before

I was slightly alarmed at one of the comments that GB made at the MTO in that any money used tidying/tarting up the stadium means less on the playing budget. Obviously we do not have an infinite amount of money but we can’t let the stadium go to ruin surely.

Yes me too as regards to the upkeep of the stadium, always seems to be an excuse or somebody else's fault with things nowadays.

[i_ateallthepies]

The basics of clean and working toilets, concourse TVs working and the general hygiene of the place are important to the pride that we the supporters feel for our club.  Ongoing disregard for those things is a clear indicator of the respect the club has for us.

[i_ateallthepies]

Cut and paste Raven as the snippet about the programme was also referring to the Barrow game

The notes in the Match Guide email about following the game on iFollow says we can 'watch' the game for £2.50.  That surely is wrong on two counts; it's a 3pm Saturday game and the price is the audio only price.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I've counted 6 FB posts from the club about the Bradford game, all going out to 122,000 followers.

However, we all know the best marketing resources are results and us. Most of the additional fans who turn up today will be occasionals who follow Rovers, know the score in germs of ticketing etc but might not have been to the Eco for a while.

Whilst we're on the subject of toilets, they're a damn sight better than those at Belle Vue and much better than many around the football league.

[i_ateallthepies]

They are indeed a damned site better than BV, DBR and if urinals blocked and full of piss for months on end is your measure of what should be acceptable then there will be more than just me who thinks you're way off the mark.

[waldron40]

I was slightly alarmed at one of the comments that GB made at the MTO in that any money used tidying/tarting up the stadium means less on the playing budget.

The stadium facilities are there for the benefit of all users. It seems strange that the maintenance costs should come out of the Rovers budget, and not that of Club Doncaster.

[silent majority]

I was slightly alarmed at one of the comments that GB made at the MTO in that any money used tidying/tarting up the stadium means less on the playing budget.

The stadium facilities are there for the benefit of all users. It seems strange that the maintenance costs should come out of the Rovers budget, and not that of Club Doncaster.

Of course the stadium costs are dealt with in the CD accounts. The point being made is that the more you spend in one area the less there is in others, which of course includes the playing budget.

[Filo]

I've counted 6 FB posts from the club about the Bradford game, all going out to 122,000 followers.

However, we all know the best marketing resources are results and us. Most of the additional fans who turn up today will be occasionals who follow Rovers, know the score in germs of ticketing etc but might not have been to the Eco for a while.

Whilst we're on the subject of toilets, they're a damn sight better than those at Belle Vue and much better than many around the football league.

toilets? One trap in the west stand today at 2pm was full of toilet paper and the flush didn’t work, there has clearly been no pre match inspection