Hello all,
I have sadly ran out of free time to get thedonnypop updated often and also lost the website. But for a one off, I have bee looking at a few ideas on how to improve the club, enjoy!
Ways the club can improve (off pitch)
1- Communication
Everyone knows communication is poor at the club, how many check DROS for latest news? Chances are the news has broke elsewhere first. Communication between club and fans is massively important, and whilst we do have great schemes such as SLO's and IRWT, we still need to hear the official word from the club more. Even just simple things, it doesn't have to be difficult or expensive, at lot of times non league clubs are better at communicating then we are. I read a comment once, something along the lines of 'as this club has moved forward, we are still left with a conference level in many off field departments'.
John Ryan has now gone and the current board's approach is different, whereas John would often talk to the media and be in the public eye, the current owners do not. In my opinion I'm happy for this, it does not create any problems, however, I wish once in a while they did make a statement or two.
2- In town ticket sales
Something I have seen mentioned by fans time and time again. The club needs to have some presense in the town centre. Not so long ago we tried and failed to have an in town club shop, but maybe the club is just not big enough for this to be profitable. However, with the keepmoat out of the town centre and could be at least 2 bus trips away for the non-driver, many fans believe there should be some way of buying tickets in town. This doesn't have to be a club shop, but maybe a local store we could team up with or even some sort of self service machine situated in the frenchgate. The obvious argument for not doing this is tickets can be bought on line or by phone and picked up on game day. But teaming up with a local shop would have minimal cost and if the scheme sold an extra 5 tickets a game then why not. It is certainly something the club should be exploring and trialing.
3- Club shop
The Club shop is poor in my opinion. Without going into detail about shirt prices and yearly changes. The stock in the club shop needs to be improved, recently we have see people advertising Rovers phone cases, this is something the club shop should have been doing a long time ago and would be a big seller. This such as this are simple, but if they make even a small profit, surely there is sense in it. I for one have never used the online club shop, so cannot comment on this experience. But I did not recall seeing any advertising of stock on the social sites around the festive period. Shops have sales, they advertise sales, this pulls in more customers and if our shop isn't doing this, it needs to.
4- Tickets to kids
Kids are the future, one day they will be bringing their kids and grandkids like we do. But first the club needs to get them to the keepmoat. We should, if not already be doing into schools, football and other sports teams and giving away free tickets with a paying adult. If the parent already goes, maybe has a season ticket, nothing is lost. If not, then not only do we get a potential new fan, but also a parent who may not often attend. It needs to be pushed, the keepmoat is too big for us at the moment, we should and can give two blocks worth of free tickets away. The food and drink sales would go up too, and kids love merchandise! And the extra stewards and staff needed would be minimal.
5- Offers
Did you know there is a quid a kid offer currently running at the keepmoat? Me neither, I'm sure the club have a vast amount of different offers on tickets to suit most people, but lack of advertising these offers is poor. There is no point reducing the price to try and sell more tickets if people think the price is standard. The current marketing is poor. Why are the club not teaming up with the free press or the star with a page with the next few home fixtures and a list of some of the deals. Posters in town, posters in the stadium. Better advertising online. It does'nt have to be expensive, but it needs to be done. Maybe get some players to announce something on twitter, straight away seen by thousands.
Ways the fans can improve
1- Anyone seen the videos of Manchester United fan Andy Tate?
This can about after an interview he did for fan group 'full time devils'. One of the reasons I started thedonnypop was because I had this idea before I came across the United version. But, I do not have the time I hoped for the dedicate myself to this project. We currently have two main fan organisations and I am throwing the challenge to you guys!
Maybe a radio show, maybe a podcast. We moan and moan we do not get enough coverage on radio Sheffield and what not, so why not just make our own. With technology now it is easy and can be free. VSC and DRSG, who will step up?!
2- Unite or stay apart
The fans are split, if we cannot unite (unlikely) thats fine, we don't always have the same opinion, then stay apart, don"t try to bring the other down or belittle them. Just get on with your own group. And when a matchday comes support the team.
Ways Matchday can improve
1- Win
Keepmoat atmosphere is dread full, our home form is just as bad. We do all right away, but need to carry this on at home.
2- Catering
When is the contract up? Get some caterers in that care. The current lot have proved they can do it, but simply do not out the effort in the live up to the promise. One ides is the get a number of local catering companies in, which if possible is the ideal win, win solution.
Why do we not team up with some more local companies and get some official burger vans and various other food outlets around Alick Jeffery Way.
3- Make every game a big event
When I was younger every game seemed like a big event, now, its just another saturday. Maybe its because I'm older, maybe its the football on the pitch. But the club need to get this back, especially for the kids. Maybe have a little fair with some rides for kids around the stadium. Pre match out of stadium activity.
4- Big screen
Like it, nice improvement and looks brilliant. Advertising windows opened, well done Rovers.
5- Singing Section
Needs to the sorted, been talked about for far too long!
Do you have anything to add?
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Thanks, remember to leave a comment!
