NRL CEO Calls on fans to support the game26/06/2008 - By Manly Sea Eagles
Over the past few seasons we have seen a radical changes surrounding membership in the NRL. AFL have lead the way and only now are codes such as Rugby League and Soccer are seeing the benefits in having a strong membership base. A key to the change in thinking was the realization that membership was not only an important benefit to fans but a key to the long term growth of our game.
With so much pressure coming from the expanding AFL and A-Leagues, NRL clubs, in the majority, have embraced Membership as a way of securing our future.
“It is a message we have been working on for some time,†NRL Chief Executive Mr David Gallop said today.
“The NRL has already invested heavily in support for the clubs in driving membership and it is time for clubs and fans to accept that this is a change in the way we all support the game.
“People want to see their teams prosper, they want to see the best players remain in the NRL … and the most powerful influence fans can have on that is to sign up as a member of their team.â€ÂÂ
Fairly stern words from the NRL CEO however the message is clear. If we want to survive we all need to embrace membership as the best way we can support the club.
At the Sea Eagles we are already well underway with planning for our 2009 membership program, we are only waiting on the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle, could the Brookie redevelopment be ready for 2009! We expect to have an answer in the coming months.
DID YOU KNOW?
• In AFL and A-League when they refer to membership they are only talking about full Season Ticket Holders. Most clubs in the AFL only offer two types of membership a full season ticket and a country membership (half a season only offered to fans who live well away from their club).Â
• Some AFL Clubs have more members than their stadiums can hold!Â
• The Melbourne FC (AFL) are coming stone motherless last and they set a new membership record this year.
• A-League Clubs like Sydney and Melbourne only have full season memberships and have more members than most NRL clubs.
Over the past few seasons we have seen a radical changes surrounding membership in the NRL. AFL have lead the way and only now are codes such as Rugby League and Soccer are seeing the benefits in having a strong membership base. A key to the change in thinking was the realization that membership was not only an important benefit to fans but a key to the long term growth of our game.
With so much pressure coming from the expanding AFL and A-Leagues, NRL clubs, in the majority, have embraced Membership as a way of securing our future.
“It is a message we have been working on for some time,†NRL Chief Executive Mr David Gallop said today.
“The NRL has already invested heavily in support for the clubs in driving membership and it is time for clubs and fans to accept that this is a change in the way we all support the game.
“People want to see their teams prosper, they want to see the best players remain in the NRL … and the most powerful influence fans can have on that is to sign up as a member of their team.â€ÂÂ
Fairly stern words from the NRL CEO however the message is clear. If we want to survive we all need to embrace membership as the best way we can support the club.
At the Sea Eagles we are already well underway with planning for our 2009 membership program, we are only waiting on the final piece of the jigsaw puzzle, could the Brookie redevelopment be ready for 2009! We expect to have an answer in the coming months.
DID YOU KNOW?
• In AFL and A-League when they refer to membership they are only talking about full Season Ticket Holders. Most clubs in the AFL only offer two types of membership a full season ticket and a country membership (half a season only offered to fans who live well away from their club).Â
• Some AFL Clubs have more members than their stadiums can hold!Â
• The Melbourne FC (AFL) are coming stone motherless last and they set a new membership record this year.
• A-League Clubs like Sydney and Melbourne only have full season memberships and have more members than most NRL clubs.