Season ticket sales.

[Padge_DRFC]

Remember when John Ryan basically marketed them himself. Destination championship was the slogan

[karldew]

Remember when John Ryan basically marketed them himself. Destination championship was the slogan

Dare to dream!!

[drfchound]

I was talking to a bloke I know last week who I have never heard speak about football.
His neighbour is a Rovers ST holder and off the back of hearing him praising the team decided to go to the Bradford game with him.
He must have enjoyed it because he told me he has bought a ST himself for next season.

[TonySoprano]

A few people on here seem to be a bit snippy about the value of marketing. From someone who works in advertising for one of the biggest media brands on the planet - trust me - advertising and marketing work.

Yes, there is free marketing. Playing well puts bums on seats. We saw that at the end of the season. But it only goes so far.

It's completely fair to ask what marketing and promotion the club are doing to extract every single £ out of the potential fanbase ahead of the new season. We're riding the crest of a wave. There is no better time to market the shit out of the club - Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, local radio, out of home - get investing your money right now and you will see the return.

Sadly - and I may be wrong - I don't think the club have the professional knowhow to do this. Which is a shame. There's a reason brands advertise. It works.

It's not just the playing budget that needs investment to sustain the rise in our fortunes. Investing in proper marketing and advertising would see a real return. There's nothing wrong with pointing that out. It's not "the club can't do enough". It's an attitude that strives for more. And as fans, I think we all want to push on.

I used to work in advertising too.  Companies wanted brand awareness primarily to put them ahead of potential customers but also ahead of their competitors.

As a food shopper I might be influenced by advertising and marketing to choose one supermarket over another, one car brand over another, where to buy insurance etc.

But it’s different with football - I’m not going to go watch another club because their marketing is better than the one I already support..

The football markets itself IMHO - but I agree there is value in extra marketing when there are special offers available.

As someone has said, our sales compared to the same time last year are significantly better, so something is being done ok.?

It's not about persuading a barnsley fan to switch allegiances and support Rovers. It's about getting NEW fans through the turnstyles, the general Donny public, and to get the floating fans to buy season tickets.

These NEW fans? Who exactly might they be if they have shown no interest in Rovers for the past 20 years?

How do you know they haven't shown interest ?
Perhaps they look for the result every week, watch the highlights but haven't been to a game yet, and just need that final nudge.

[TonySoprano]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

[dickos1]

Same old folk who moaned all the way through a title winning season now moaning about a 42% increase in season ticket sales

Crackers!

[sf9944]

A few people on here seem to be a bit snippy about the value of marketing. From someone who works in advertising for one of the biggest media brands on the planet - trust me - advertising and marketing work.

Yes, there is free marketing. Playing well puts bums on seats. We saw that at the end of the season. But it only goes so far.

It's completely fair to ask what marketing and promotion the club are doing to extract every single £ out of the potential fanbase ahead of the new season. We're riding the crest of a wave. There is no better time to market the shit out of the club - Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, local radio, out of home - get investing your money right now and you will see the return.

Sadly - and I may be wrong - I don't think the club have the professional knowhow to do this. Which is a shame. There's a reason brands advertise. It works.

It's not just the playing budget that needs investment to sustain the rise in our fortunes. Investing in proper marketing and advertising would see a real return. There's nothing wrong with pointing that out. It's not "the club can't do enough". It's an attitude that strives for more. And as fans, I think we all want to push on.

I used to work in advertising too.  Companies wanted brand awareness primarily to put them ahead of potential customers but also ahead of their competitors.

As a food shopper I might be influenced by advertising and marketing to choose one supermarket over another, one car brand over another, where to buy insurance etc.

But it’s different with football - I’m not going to go watch another club because their marketing is better than the one I already support..

The football markets itself IMHO - but I agree there is value in extra marketing when there are special offers available.

As someone has said, our sales compared to the same time last year are significantly better, so something is being done ok.?

It's not about persuading a barnsley fan to switch allegiances and support Rovers. It's about getting NEW fans through the turnstyles, the general Donny public, and to get the floating fans to buy season tickets.

These NEW fans? Who exactly might they be if they have shown no interest in Rovers for the past 20 years?

Perhaps people newly moved to the area. I think there are quite a few. I might be wrong but Doncaster seems to be a fairly rapidly growing city and the airport might make it even more so.

[IDM]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

[DrewSouthStand]

Everyone in Doncaster knows the stadium and team exists, but I suspect the vast majority don't know the unbelievably good prices we're offering for an ST. £12.60 a game. Kids prices frozen. Its brilliant by the club yet unless you went on the website or bumped into a mate who knew then you'd hardly know

[DrewSouthStand]

Does anyone know if the club are going to carry on with the membership that allows you to pay a one off membership fee then get money off future ticket purchases? Or the pre purchase of 5 or 10 tickets blocks?

[DonnyBazR0ver]

I was talking to a bloke I know last week who I have never heard speak about football.
His neighbour is a Rovers ST holder and off the back of hearing him praising the team decided to go to the Bradford game with him.
He must have enjoyed it because he told me he has bought a ST himself for next season.

This is a great example of people introducing other people. The most effective marketing tool is us.

When we think back to how we were introduced to Rovers, nearly I'm all cases we were taken by someone or went with someone.

Even John Ryan knew the best way of spreading the word is to get people talking about us.

Between now and kick off, there will be 100s of news snippets coming out of the club, media speculation, Supercomputer predictions (ha) YouTube Vloggers, all generating interest and talking points. New signings, the release of the fixture list will wet the appetite on the countdown to kick off. 

[TonySoprano]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

Bizarre post.

But I'll humour you regarding your first question.
A targeted social media campaign for a few months, would be a start.

[TonySoprano]

Same old folk who moaned all the way through a title winning season now moaning about a 42% increase in season ticket sales

Crackers!

As usual, your twisting reality.
The club are just resting on their laurels regarding the current season ticket sales, what they should be doing is using this opportunity to strive to grow the fan base and sell even more season tickets.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

Bizarre post.

But I'll humour you regarding your first question.
A targeted social media campaign for a few months, would be a start.

So, over and above what's going out on social media now, what should the campaign look like and to whom?

[TonySoprano]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

Bizarre post.

But I'll humour you regarding your first question.
A targeted social media campaign for a few months, would be a start.

So, over and above what's going out on social media now, what should the campaign look like and to whom?

Of course it's over and above what's going out now.

But it's where research comes in, which is part of the marketing.
You target certain demographics that you want to buy season tickets, and who you think would buy season tickets.

It's where data comes into play aswell, you can target people who show interest in football, but don't necessarily  attend a specific stadium regularly for example.

[Lincoln Rover]

DSS in answer to your question about purchasing membership, then getting a block of 10/5 tickets, the answer is YES.
Dates have already been arranged to announce this. Hope that answers your question.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

Bizarre post.

But I'll humour you regarding your first question.
A targeted social media campaign for a few months, would be a start.

So, over and above what's going out on social media now, what should the campaign look like and to whom?

Of course it's over and above what's going out now.

But it's where research comes in, which is part of the marketing.
You target certain demographics that you want to buy season tickets, and who you think would buy season tickets.

It's where data comes into play aswell, you can target people who show interest in football, but don't necessarily  attend a specific stadium regularly for example.

So neither you or I would be a recipient of such targeting then would we?

Plus, the club are pretty good at following up with people who haven't renewed. I have had emails AND phone calls to encourage me to sign up, as many others have too.

Just because you don't see these things, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

[TonySoprano]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

Bizarre post.

But I'll humour you regarding your first question.
A targeted social media campaign for a few months, would be a start.

So, over and above what's going out on social media now, what should the campaign look like and to whom?

Of course it's over and above what's going out now.

But it's where research comes in, which is part of the marketing.
You target certain demographics that you want to buy season tickets, and who you think would buy season tickets.

It's where data comes into play aswell, you can target people who show interest in football, but don't necessarily  attend a specific stadium regularly for example.

So neither you or I would be a recipient of such targeting then would we?

Plus, the club are pretty good at following up with people who haven't renewed. I have had emails AND phone calls to encourage me to sign up, as many others have too.

Just because you don't see these things, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

There's no point in targeting people who already have bought season tickets.
We're not talking about people not renewing, we're talking attracting new season ticket holders.

[sf9944]

I agree that the people who want to buy season tickets will. However what we are talking about is the people who don’t yet know that they want to buy one and need the idea planted into their head and a little push. There must be people that fall into this category.

In my case this isn’t about negativity it’s about the club capitalising on a big opportunity that has presented itself due to its success.

I am happy to trust the club to get this right and I’m sure they will but I do feel we should be pushing sales hard.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

And looking at the improved sales, they are, aren’t they?

Imagine what the sales would be if the club properly marketed the season tickets.

Define “properly”.?

Marketing costs money, it’s no use if there isn’t a return on investment.

Relatively cheap marketing such as fan database emails or social media posts, reaches your “followers” who know about the football by default, so in effect, preaching to the converted.

If I moved to a new place and wanted to see some local football, I’d look online and find out.

As long as ticket prices etc are freely available I don’t think the club needs to do more.

If you were offered an evening of naked jelly wrestling, with two or more of your celebrity crushes of choice, you’d be arguing about the jelly flavour.!!

Bizarre post.

But I'll humour you regarding your first question.
A targeted social media campaign for a few months, would be a start.

So, over and above what's going out on social media now, what should the campaign look like and to whom?

Of course it's over and above what's going out now.

But it's where research comes in, which is part of the marketing.
You target certain demographics that you want to buy season tickets, and who you think would buy season tickets.

It's where data comes into play aswell, you can target people who show interest in football, but don't necessarily  attend a specific stadium regularly for example.

So neither you or I would be a recipient of such targeting then would we?

Plus, the club are pretty good at following up with people who haven't renewed. I have had emails AND phone calls to encourage me to sign up, as many others have too.

Just because you don't see these things, doesn't mean it isn't happening.

There's no point in targeting people who already have bought season tickets.
We're not talking about people not renewing, we're talking attracting new season ticket holders.

You're missing my maim point, if we're not the target audience then how do you know its not being done.

You're default position seems to be to criticise the club, rather than ask questions, on the assumption it's not happening.

[McCammon egg n chips]

Since when did we become so thin skinned? This isn't moaning - it's about trying to capitalise on a great opportunity riding the crest of a wave!! For what it's worth I don't know that this isn't being done. The club may have targeted advertising going on (I hope so) - maybe others can confirm.

Also - it's great we've sold more season tickets. But to me that's a massive market signal to me that we could sell even more with a bit more marketing and advertising. Now is the time to double down.

Anyhow - what would I do? Well it's a lot more complex than a forum post. It needs to be multi channel - social, radio, out of home. But I'll give one pillar a rough go anyway - the social bit.

Targeted ad campaign across social media
This isn't just posting to the club’s followers, but actually putting money behind ads that reach people who don’t currently follow the club or haven’t been to matches in a while. This is about precision-targeted marketing that treats season tickets like a product you actively sell to the right people.

Who would we target?
I'd split the campaign into different groups, each with a slightly different message:

Local casual fans
- People who live in Doncaster or nearby
- Follow the club on Facebook/Instagram but rarely go to games (we have 130 followers on facebook)
Messaging angle: "Get behind your local team this season - season tickets from just £x per game"

Lapsed fans
- People who used to go regularly but haven’t been in years
- Might have visited the club website or ticket page recently
Messaging: "Your seat’s waiting. Make this the season you come back."

Families
- Local parents, especially with under-13s (u13s season ticket only £20 for the entire season!!!!)
Messaging angle: “Affordable days out for the whole family. Kids under 3 are free/u13 season ticket from £20”

Younger fans (18–30s)
- People on Instagram or TikTok with an interest in football or local events
Messaging angle: “Back the boys. Every game, your seat, your club”

How would it work?
We’d run paid ads through Facebook, Instagram, Twitter/X and TikTok
Ads would appear in people’s feeds - even if they don’t follow the club - based on:
- Where they live (targeted around Doncaster)
- Their interests (football, sport, Yorkshire, family events etc)
- Whether they’ve interacted with the club before (clicked a link, watched a video, visited the ticketing page)
- I'd exclude people who follow other local clubs

We’d use custom audiences - like people who visited the ticketing site but didn’t buy - and then show them reminders over a few days.

Lookalike audiences could also be used - basically finding people with similar online behaviour to current season ticket holders (but exclude them if they are a fan of another football club - e.g. they follow Leeds on facebook etc)


So - do we think the club is doing this? I really hope so.  You could start a campaign like this out with about £500 as a test (you can start with a tenner but it's not really worth it - put semi serious money in and scale from there). Finesse your messaging and creatives and it's literally printing money, as you realise you need to invest £x to get x number of season tickets sold.

As an aside, if anyone at the club ever wants any marketing/advertising/media advice - I am willing to give up my time to give a bit of help and guidance.

[sf9944]

Exactly it’s not moaning, it’s wanting the club to be successful.

If the above marketing isn’t already being done by the club I say- give this man a job!!!

[anton123]

Club could start by posting on facebook ect about all the local games next season and guarantee your seat for the big games plus first dibs on the big away games , don’t miss out ect ect

[TonySoprano]

It's really bizarre how if you pose any questions of how the club do things, then the usual suspects get all offended. The same people who defended david blunt, and probably Richardson.

[DonnyBazR0ver]

It's really bizarre how if you pose any questions of how the club do things, then the usual suspects get all offended. The same people who defended david blunt, and probably Richardson.

I'm certainly not offended by anyone who asks questions and offers input, like McCammon egg n chips providing positive ideas. You accuse the club of doing nothing and resting on their laurels. I make no apology for challenging your assumptions.

[Lincoln Rover]

DBR is spot on with their last comment. I’m always willing to listen to ideas in how the club can improve. The SB challenge the club all the time & keeping asking probing questions. Interestingly the SB elections will be arranged shortly, so, does anyone fancy stepping up?

[Lincoln Rover]

Mc Cammon…. I’m aware some of those ideas have been addressed for certain. I’ve shared your entire email with the club officials. Thank you.

[McCammon egg n chips]

Sure, why not? As long as the nomination process isn't too prohibitive I'll get involved.

[TilehurstViking]

With all the new houses going up round Donny, there myst be a fair few people who are new to the area. The club should send the developers a load of flyers about season tickets, or even just voucher for discounted match tickets to put in their welcome packs.

[TonySoprano]

It's really bizarre how if you pose any questions of how the club do things, then the usual suspects get all offended. The same people who defended david blunt, and probably Richardson.

I'm certainly not offended by anyone who asks questions and offers input, like McCammon egg n chips providing positive ideas. You accuse the club of doing nothing and resting on their laurels. I make no apology for challenging your assumptions.

They aren't doing enough to drum up interest in season ticket sales, it's that simple.

I've even had an ad for Brighton season tickets on my Facebook today.