Convert a mate to SUFC

[Pak Power]

I am really quite pleased with myself that I have converted a mate from a 'Gooner' to a Southend fan. Now this has taken a lot of patience and guile, but it can be done.

Firstly, I invited him to a game, then a drink after with the lads. Much subtle criticism of armchair premiership Sky (other premium tv channels are available) fans ensued. He found he enjoyed the 'live' experience again, even during the cold winter friday night games.

I kept him informed of events during the close season, the new signings, Liam Dickinson, Neil Harris, Jamel Johnson etc.

Now he actually 'phones me' to see if i am going to the game, and wants to come along. I actually overheard him talking on the phone to someone, saying he was a Southend fan now!


I know it's difficult getting tickets for Arsenal games, so I'm sure some Armchair Arsenal fans must be one of the easier ones to convert, but nevertheless I am pleased with myself.


Now, if we all manage to convert just one premiership fan (who never attends a game) we would double our gate. (see I always was good at maths). We all know Chelsea, Spurs, Man U (West Ham although now championship, but you get the drift) fans who never attend.


Have you ever converted one of your friends to the blues?


With natural wasteage our base support would dwindle each year (people dying, moving away etc) so aside from bringing kids (our next generation of shrimpers) there must be many premiership armchair fans who are bored watching tv football, and never experience a live game anymore.



UTB

 

[tottenham541]

the way things are going at arsenal i think a few more might convert to other clubs as well.:smile:

 

[Smiffy]

I think it is something the club need to look at, especially if and when the new stadium comes along.

Something like a Season Card referral scheme?

When a season card holder either books a match ticket for a friend or referrs someone who then purchases a season card. Then that person gets some sort of reward. Perhaps a discount voucher for club shop etc.

It is probably a fair bit of work putting that sort of system in place. But I think it would work if it was simple, well run and there was a nice little bonus for those taking part.

You only have to look at the take up on the pink shirts with the discount, to see things like this do work.

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

Convert a fan, love it. Managed it only once myself. Your a disgrace TSNB.

 

[Cricko]

Smiffy used to be a Brighton fan.

 

[Crawliano]

I brought 9 friends along to the Torquay game last year, my reward was having the money taken from my account twice!

 

[Cricko]

I brought 9 friends along to the Torquay game last year, my reward was having the money taken from my account twice!

Absolute Bollocks,you don't have 9 friends...

:tease:

 

[THE SEVENTIES NORTH BANK]

If we all tried to convert One person. Filled up those empty seats, it would probably safeguard Southend's future. It would be one of the best things you could do for our club.
There are so many Disillusioned London club fans out there. Fed up with players salaries, ticket prices, travelling, plus cost.
Some of them would bring their kids as well. We all know somebody like this. Just ask how they feel about watching their club at the moment. Some would never budge, but some would only take a little persuasion.

 

[shrimperian]

I tried to convert a few Crawley fans the other night!.....only trouble was, the team let me down!

 

[Onion_Bag_Dave]

I am in the process of converting a Chelsea mate. He came to his first away game against Crawley, and is yet to see us score a goal. He is still keen, so it's working!
However I'm beginning to think he is unlucky as he the last times he has been to see Chelsea they haven't won and/or they were useless!

 

[Crawliano]

Absolute Bollocks,you don't have 9 friends...

:tease:

That's just cruel...

I'm crying now. Bully.

 

[Eastblack]

I hav converted a few foreigners to follow us as their second team. Does that count? One in Holland, one in Dubai and two in New York. Doubt they'll make it to many games though.

 

[Pak Power]

I think it is something the club need to look at, especially if and when the new stadium comes along.

Something like a Season Card referral scheme?

When a season card holder either books a match ticket for a friend or referrs someone who then purchases a season card. Then that person gets some sort of reward. Perhaps a discount voucher for club shop etc.

It is probably a fair bit of work putting that sort of system in place. But I think it would work if it was simple, well run and there was a nice little bonus for those taking part.

You only have to look at the take up on the pink shirts with the discount, to see things like this do work.

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here Smiffy. I believe we should look at the mistake we made the other day with that fan who had a ticket for life. We renaiged on it, but I think it might be the way forward on the revenue front for the club.

When (if) the new stadium is built, we could offer Season ticket (chosen seat for life) at a on off up front cost. This could be adjusted for someone's age .I.E. the older you are the cheaper it gets, as you are more likely to expire. All this up front finance would go some way to bulding costs(less credit costs)

It could work something like insurance policies do. Based on season ticket price times likely life expectancy, even health issues could be taken into consideration, but think of all the revenue that could be taken in advance. It's not like we are going to fill a 22,000 seater stadium every week unless we make the premier league, and that is a chance the club would have to take.

I think this idea would suit RM, as it would help his up front costs, and leave him to clear off after the stadium is built, without worrying whether any of the seat for life brigade got it cheap as we are now in the premier league.

 

[Angell Delight]

I am really quite pleased with myself that I have converted a mate from a 'Gooner' to a Southend fan. Now this has taken a lot of patience and guile, but it can be done.

Firstly, I invited him to a game, then a drink after with the lads. Much subtle criticism of armchair premiership Sky (other premium tv channels are available) fans ensued. He found he enjoyed the 'live' experience again, even during the cold winter friday night games.

I kept him informed of events during the close season, the new signings, Liam Dickinson, Neil Harris, Jamel Johnson etc.

Now he actually 'phones me' to see if i am going to the game, and wants to come along. I actually overheard him talking on the phone to someone, saying he was a Southend fan now!


I know it's difficult getting tickets for Arsenal games, so I'm sure some Armchair Arsenal fans must be one of the easier ones to convert, but nevertheless I am pleased with myself.


Now, if we all manage to convert just one premiership fan (who never attends a game) we would double our gate. (see I always was good at maths). We all know Chelsea, Spurs, Man U (West Ham although now championship, but you get the drift) fans who never attend.


Have you ever converted one of your friends to the blues?


With natural wasteage our base support would dwindle each year (people dying, moving away etc) so aside from bringing kids (our next generation of shrimpers) there must be many premiership armchair fans who are bored watching tv football, and never experience a live game anymore.



UTB

Yep, Draft Shrimper was a Gooner before I "worked" on him. Now he's a proud SUFC fan of 11 years! :thumbsup: :smile:

 

[hockleyshrimper]

Im in the process of converting a liverpool fan and an arsenal fan (who sometimes gives up his season ticket to watch southend with me). Unfortunately for the club its generally away games they come to so no money is being made out of them. Yet.

 

[silentshrimper]

working on a Chelsea and Spurs fan, they have been to the first 2 home games and loved it, they are coming to Burton, just hope the lads pick themselves up after Tuesdays nightmare.

 

[Col.U. Mad]

Makes me laugh when you see the lard asses in their replica tops watching the team they "support" on sky.
Bores me ****less having to listen to their moronic comments. :thumbdown:

 

[Another Surrey Shrimper]

Im in the process of converting a liverpool fan and an arsenal fan (who sometimes gives up his season ticket to watch southend with me). Unfortunately for the club its generally away games they come to so no money is being made out of them. Yet.

This might be a little naive but can someone explain to me how revenue is split for home / away teams? Thanks

 

[londonblue]

This might be a little naive but can someone explain to me how revenue is split for home / away teams? Thanks

Simple. It isn't.

 

[haveaguiness]

I'm going to throw a spanner in the works here Smiffy. I believe we should look at the mistake we made the other day with that fan who had a ticket for life. We renaiged on it, but I think it might be the way forward on the revenue front for the club.

When (if) the new stadium is built, we could offer Season ticket (chosen seat for life) at a on off up front cost. This could be adjusted for someone's age .I.E. the older you are the cheaper it gets, as you are more likely to expire. All this up front finance would go some way to bulding costs(less credit costs)

It could work something like insurance policies do. Based on season ticket price times likely life expectancy, even health issues could be taken into consideration, but think of all the revenue that could be taken in advance. It's not like we are going to fill a 22,000 seater stadium every week unless we make the premier league, and that is a chance the club would have to take.

I think this idea would suit RM, as it would help his up front costs, and leave him to clear off after the stadium is built, without worrying whether any of the seat for life brigade got it cheap as we are now in the premier league.

Sorry but as good as it sounds that is never going to work for such small numbers. At Wembley, for example, this kind of thing worked (are they 10 or 15 year season tickets) because the prices were sky high, but because it was Wembley people paid it. If someone was to pay 10-15 years up front for a season ticket at Southend you are looking at around £5000 per person. If only 1000 people took this up then thats only £50,000 up front, with no income from those people for 10-15 years, ticket wise. As for the costs of implementing a cost based on life, i'm sure this would be incredibly expensive to implement and not really worth it for the small numbers that would take up the offer.

I agree with Smiffy on this, it is not about getting more money in from the same people, but actually getting more money from more people. The greater the attendances the more money the club makes over time which I think is the key. We need to start getting a larger amount of money in on a regular basis, not just once every now and again for season tickets etc. I think offering incentives is a great idea once/if we get the new stadium as we will really need to try and get between 8000-10,000 new fans from somewhere and if it means a £20 voucher for the club shop if you get someone to start going to 10 home games a year then the profit for the club is evident.

Back on topic though... have tried many a time to convert friends to Southend fans but with no luck, mainly because Southend seem to lose every time I take one along. However, I do now quite a few people I went to school with and used to talk about Southend "to" them that are now season tickets holders, despite never having the slightest interest in football at the time of my "talks".