I’ve read this thread and seen the “for’s and against’s†in respect of membership packages.
I’ve seen and written in other threads on other forums and it amazes me the amount of ignorance, selfishness and complacency that some people have.
It would be impolite and pompous of me or anyone to dictate to another how they spend their money or how they budget their funds however it is evident that some people are making their decisions with ill founded logic and a basic misunderstanding of facts.
This is my input (for what it is worth) and apologies that it is a lengthy post but I hope you’ll understand why if you take the time to read it……?
The question of “What you get for your money†is simple…..
First look here to understand the current set up and structures of the various entities
http://www.manlyseaeagles.com.au/manly-warringah-sea-eagles-family.asp
What do you get for Screaming Eagles membership?
The improved chance of your team standing alone and surviving in the NRL
You lessen the reliance of funds from the Delmege and Penn families (God forbid if they ever decided to pull their money out or their personal businesses hit hard times and they needed money to support their core business!) and also the reliance on the Leagues club grants (Who in themselves are struggling financially and in the current climate will struggle to provide anywhere near the level of funding to the football side that they have in the past)
It’s fair to say the fact that you are on this site means you are a Manly supporter – with Screaming Eagles membership you assist in financially supporting your team and it’s ability to put a team on the field, attract players and pay them and have a half decent chance of returning to the “Glory days†of old (Any self respecting supporter should know that the club was literally hours away from folding and disappearing not too many years ago due to lack of money?)
Next read here: http://www.manlyseaeagles.com.au/manly-warringah-sea-eagles-history.asp
Football Club membership IS NOT Screaming Eagles membership (they are memberships of 2 different entities – as per the link above)
What do you get for your Football Club membership?
Well….having read the history and being a supporter of the club if the $25 Football Club membership is not seen as a viable a return on the investment to protect the history of your club and have the ability to have input to it’s future then I’m sad for you.
It’s been well publicised that clubs are doing it tough (Aren’t we all I hear you say?)
To further explain this was posted in another thread on this site a while ago but well worth a read
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/news/sydney-clubs-feel-the-squeeze/2007/07/27/1185339261724.html
Now to some of the comments posted on this thread
Quote: ie, some people get benefits from the leagues club ect or anual meetings ect. Thats not an option for interstate members. So, make some changes and you'd find people more willing to part with their money.
Reply: FACT: The membership package WAS changed this season to accommodate out of town supporters. The membership price of $80 was reduced to the current figure with the features deemed as “not attractive†to non local supporters such as Leagues club membership and free travel on the supporters bus to away games removed – these are now “user pays†and an “add on’†to the Screaming Eagles membership – Did you not know that or do you want to reduce the price even more?
Quote: I spend 100's of dollars in years passed to at least get down for a few games. I really don't want to be spending any more just to see the team perform.
Reply: How much do you value the team? FACT: The team can’t exist without money – If we want a team to support then it’s fair to expect that we should pay for the privilege?
Quote: It doesn't give 'me' and in my opinion interstate members as good a value as local manly members. So, drop the price.
Reply: I know many many out of town and interstate members who feel they get value but more importantly are members so they can assist in having a team – they can’t get to many games so can’t contribute at the gate but feel that a $1 a week to see their team on the paddock is a worthwhile investment?
Quote: Look no offence guys but i have to agree with flip here you'd think the club was goin broke the way some of you are goin on.Where is $48 going anyway the club has just received $6,000,000 so brookie is saved,surely it can't be going to pay the players.He's right in a way not everyone is in a position to give out $48 it's enough i pay $120 for myself & family everytime we attend a game at brookie but to pay to post on a forum no way & it's unfair again thank god for silvertails.
Reply: The club was going broke! Without the current owners we would be broke! If Delemege and Penn don’t front up with cash we will be broke! A strong membership base will lessen the likelihood of this happening!! - Hope you have read the above on this? The $6mill from the State and the $4mill from Warringah Council will go towards ground improvements. It’s an established fact that a club in the NRL needs a budget of around $12-15million just to survive in the NRL - you are not paying to post on a forum - you are paying to assist the club be there
Quote: I think they should be payment options
Maybe a basic membership that costs say 25 - 50 a year but if u want to upgrade that the club direct debits your account monthly through out the season.
Reply: Fair point and valid BUT for $48 the cost of administering that would more than wipe out the profit margin unfortunately. A few seasons ago the club offered “installments†on a season ticket and it proved to be a nightmare to manage due to insufficient funds in accounts, reminder letters to be sent etc etc so I can imagine they would not be too keen to try that exercise again?
Quote: I'm not a member, I spend $1000+ on the rugby league goods and services I want per year and 98% of that is paid directly to the club, no need to pay $50 for a plastic card and crappy hat to make me feel warm and fuzzy, not interested in the functions either, I like watching footy, the other crap I don't need.
Reply: No team = No footy (The other “crap†funds it?) – Good on you for supporting the team but of the $1000 plus you spend you don’t say how (Is that on merchandise from Rebel, does that cover travel expenses, Are you assuming that 98% of gate attendance revenue goes to the club (It doesn’t) – membership fees go straight to the bottom line of the club and as they are paid at the start of the season give them the cash flow early on to allow budgets to be set and income to be assured (Compared to the vagaries of gate takings, corporate box revenue and sponsorship which are affected by all manner of factors)
Quote: I haven't paid my membership this year mainly because I want to see how long it takes to be followed up.
Reply: Dead set! What a stupid comment from somebody who should know better! As someone who prides themselves in having an “in†with the CEO and one of the owners I can’t believe that you seriously mean that?
Quote: So should I forgo putting petrol in the car, or feeding the kids, or paying the wifes hospital bills??
Just wondering which one I should not worry about paying for to be a member of a footy club.
Flip is 100% correct, why should someone pay for something which they get absolutely no value for? times are tough enough as it is.
If I want to donate to a charity I'll ring world vision or the Cancer Council
Reply: It’s fair to say we all have bills, we all have to budget and we all find it tough to make ends meet.
I began the post by saying it would be rude of me to tell you how to spend your money but I hope this post has enlightened some as to the facts regarding our great club?
I get to most games home and away and take 2 school age children with me.
We have only missed the Canberra away game this season and I fly to Auckland on Friday for 10 days which will be my holiday and I’ll catch the game at Mt Smart on Sunday week.
I’m fortunate in being able to do this but it means I make sacrifices elsewhere, I budget my income and save money where I can to be able to meet my financial commitments (Of which there are many) – The money I spend on travelling to games with the kids means that there are some things I’d like to own or things I’d like to do that get sacrificed along the way – That’s my decision and mine alone and not meant to be disrespectful of others - It’s my decision and I justify it by the enormous amount of pleasure we get from the whole “Match day†experience and the fun we have had and the people we have met along the way.
Your choice of course…..
Thanks for you time and in closing - Ask not what your club does for you but what you can do for your club?
Vidmar
