Crowd pain

[Ford Fairlane]

Probably not a topic we hear enough of on BF, Port's crowds. So here's an article from he who shall not be rooched, er named.

Interesting to note a couple of Ringmaster Choco's comments around

a) playing hard, competitive footy (please please man up around the midfield and stop handing uncontested possession over to the opposition), and

b) something new and exciting.

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/sport/afl/story/0,26547,23955919-5016212,00.html

And the crowd goes mild
July 02, 2008 12:30am

WHEN Port Adelaide was in the SANFL, selling tickets to home games was never a challenge - even in the tough times. There was the traditional theme that Port would never lose three games in a row (but it occasionally did). And its supporters were compelled to attend almost under threat of having to explain their absence when the sunshine returned.

The AFL is a different gig for Port, which joined the national league in 1997.

The Power, a grand finalist last year, has lost four consecutive games. It has tumbled to 13th with a 4-10 win-loss record.

Critically, the Power has lost six of seven games at AAMI Stadium this season - and it still has five to play at West Lakes.

Only two of these matches are against major drawcard clubs - a home Showdown with Adelaide on July 20 and a Friday night showcase against Collingwood on August 15.

The other three are against teams, like Port, out of the top eight - starting with the challenging sell of North Melbourne on Saturday week.

Port coach Mark Williams, who seems to have become the solo salesman at Alberton where the Power admits its players need to be the basis of the profile of the club, is working a promising sales pitch.

Asked how his club would encourage disillusioned fans to AAMI Stadium - where the Power needs 27,000 spectators to break even - Williams said: "Our supporters have always been encouraged by competitive games.

"That's exactly what we will do - play as hard and as competitive as we can.

"They also look forward to seeing something new (that) might excite them, so we hope to provide that as well."

It is a big promise to a fan base which has become irritated by how the Power plays, as evidenced by the reactions to how the 54-point loss to the Western Bulldogs unfolded in Darwin on Saturday night.

And it is a big challenge to a club striving to deliver hope to the supporter group - if only to build a platform for critical membership sales next season.

Port this season has averaged 24,851 to its six home games - with no crowd of more than 30,000, just two games reaching the break-even point of 27,000 and four unquestionably affected by live telecasts in Adelaide.

These figures will add red ink to the Power's financial chart which is being held up by soon-to-depart chief executive John James' gains in the corporate sponsorship market.

They also will add urgency to the Power's push for a new deal at AAMI Stadium to reduce the break-even figure from 27,000.

Port has not had a crowd of less than 20,000 to a home match since May 18, 2002 when it hosted Geelong and drew only 18,193 to West Lakes.

The Kangaroos are not a major drawcard. In six games against Port at AAMI Stadium, excluding last year's final, the crowds have ranged from 25,054 to 28,578 and averaged at a loss-creating 26,871.

Port's public appeal will be measured tomorrow when the AFL announces club membership figures for this season.

Fremantle has jumped the gun to say it has 43,366 - a record for the sixth consecutive year.

 

[FishingRick04]

He is jumping into another perceived weakness of Port at the moment.

Live against the GATE is the killer IMO. If a person like myself has busy commitments, 3 kids and other crap, what am I going to do, drive and walk for 1 hour to get there, another 1 hour trip back OR watch it live on TV save $70 bucks plus fuel, even a 20 minute delay wouldn't hurt.

Even though Roochie Poo wrote an article of the bias last week and a token comment on it this week, live agains the gate is a draw back.

Yes a more central stadium would help but it isn't the be all and end all.

I would love to know if the Perth games are live against the gate also? Anyone, I would imagine the TV rights there would be similar to here. But where is Subi? IS it close to Perth city centre or is there a drive like AAMI?

As for financial crisis, didn't Port in the mid 80's have revenue issues? I vaguely recall they had debt and the like. So even though Port has been onfield successful, from memory we have never been a financial powerhouse, would that be a correct statement?

As for the crowds, I wonder if a change of coach would help evnigorate the crowd participation? I wonder if the club is a bit stale and the crowd is too? Maybe a new coach, rejuvinated administration, may bring supporters back?

 

[bringbackbucky]

The break even figure of 27000 is a real worry isn't it. Getting a stadium deal that is more cost effective will be the new CEO's number 1 (off field) challenge IMO.

Like it or lump it, our crowds over the next 5-10 years are likely to stay in that 22-28k average. We need to find a way to make profits off of those kind of crowds.

I am one of the stay away culprits this year - I have had 3 weddings fall smack bang on a Port game! Not a good look in Church with an earphone in...

 

[Enviable Tradition]

Lets face it port have been pretty painfull to watch this year and at times over previous years. Our game plan is such that when it is undone it is undone horribly. I have found it particularly heart wrencing watching port this year, more so than any other year ever!

Lets compare that to say the "boring" swans. Sure they dont always win but how many times to they go home from a game frustrated and irritated and feeling that their boys didnt really put in. How often do they feel that their coaches have let them down. How often do they feel they are being alienated by their own club. How often do they have to sit through the worst pre game routine ever invented.

Lets hope Mark is true to his word and we start playing more competitive hard footy.

FWIW i thought that the weekend was actually an improved spectacle despite the fact we were soundly beaten. We went into the game severely depleted with many of our absolute best not playing and were beaten by a better side. I can handle that as long as they put in, play hard, tackle hard and win the contested ball which they did. The reason I can handle that is that I know if they keep playing like that then the results will come. I also know that that is the style of football that does (and always has) win finals. No matter how much the game has evolved it will always be the teams that do those basics right that win premierships.

And we exist to win premierships!

 

[FishingRick04]

Lets face it port have been pretty painfull to watch this year and at times over previous years. Our game plan is such that when it is undone it is undone horribly. I have found it particularly heart wrencing watching port this year, more so than any other year ever!

Lets compare that to say the "boring" swans. Sure they dont always win but how many times to they go home from a game frustrated and irritated and feeling that their boys didnt really put in. How often do they feel that their coaches have let them down. How often do they feel they are being alienated by their own club. How often do they have to sit through the worst pre game routine ever invented.

Lets hope Mark is true to his word and we start playing more competitive hard footy.

FWIW i thought that the weekend was actually an improved spectacle despite the fact we were soundly beaten. We went into the game severely depleted with many of our absolute best not playing and were beaten by a better side. I can handle that as long as they put in, play hard, tackle hard and win the contested ball which they did. The reason I can handle that is that I know if they keep playing like that then the results will come. I also know that that is the style of football that does (and always has) win finals. No matter how much the game has evolved it will always be the teams that do those basics right that win premierships.

And we exist to win premierships!

Port are off, but this year haven't been too far off.

The boys lost to Geelong, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Carlton & Richmond by very small margins, that's 6 games, with a bit of luck, more skill & better coaching should have, could have won.

That would have given us 10 wins if we had those above factors.

With a competition so tight however, the littles things make a difference.

To me even though this year has become a shocker I am happy to write it off and 2009 will be a judgement year. Realisitcally I expected last year and this year for us to be bottom 8, probably last year I was expecting the results of this season and this year getting 8 to 12 wins.

However ny expectation would be 10 - 13 wins next year and play finals.

So if the boys bounce back with a few list changes to throw in I think we are on course.

So here on in enjoy the ride from our juniors and say Go the Bulldogs if you want to temporarily adopt a second team to maintain interest in the finals. That's what I am doing.

 

[Enviable Tradition]

So here on in enjoy the ride from our juniors

At least now we are out of the finals race we have well and truly lost all of our expectations we built up last year. We can now just go along and enjoy watching our juniors develop without expecting miracles.

p.s. rick it is not the scorelines that have made it so painful. As you said we have not been far off the mark. But it has been the will and desire of the players coupled with the gameplan and selections that have made it so painful.

 

[FishingRick04]

So here on in enjoy the ride from our juniors

At least now we are out of the finals race we have well and truly lost all of our expectations we built up last year. We can now just go along and enjoy watching our juniors develop without expecting miracles.

p.s. rick it is not the scorelines that have made it so painful. As you said we have not been far off the mark. But it has been the will and desire of the players coupled with the gameplan and selections that have made it so painful.

Exactly.

I am looking forward to Watch more of Lower, Thomas, Thomson, Deluca & Gray, I really want to see where these guys are at. I thought Lower played his best game against the dogs, got more ball and showed good composure.

Thomas has come on this season.

Thomo needs more games to make a definitive impression, but inside work looks good.

I also thought big Fabian ruck work looked promising and stretched out he's a tall fella. i didn't realise he was only 21, once I did I can understand the club still shielding him from too many games as his body needs to mature more. But he's looking ok.

Gray in his cameo midfield roles is looking excellent, quick brain and good hands, he'll be a gem.

The more token players to watch are Boak, Pearce Chappy, Bob for me as I am starting to know what they can do.

I am losing faith with Pettigrew and Thurstans which is a shame.

 

[relapse]

He is jumping into another perceived weakness of Port at the moment.

Live against the GATE is the killer IMO. If a person like myself has busy commitments, 3 kids and other crap, what am I going to do, drive and walk for 1 hour to get there, another 1 hour trip back OR watch it live on TV save $70 bucks plus fuel, even a 20 minute delay wouldn't hurt.

Even though Roochie Poo wrote an article of the bias last week and a token comment on it this week, live agains the gate is a draw back.

Yes a more central stadium would help but it isn't the be all and end all.

I would love to know if the Perth games are live against the gate also? Anyone, I would imagine the TV rights there would be similar to here. But where is Subi? IS it close to Perth city centre or is there a drive like AAMI?

As for financial crisis, didn't Port in the mid 80's have revenue issues? I vaguely recall they had debt and the like. So even though Port has been onfield successful, from memory we have never been a financial powerhouse, would that be a correct statement?

As for the crowds, I wonder if a change of coach would help evnigorate the crowd participation? I wonder if the club is a bit stale and the crowd is too? Maybe a new coach, rejuvinated administration, may bring supporters back?

When Port people are talking about live against the gate, there has been only 1 game live on FTA this year hasnt it ??? The others are live on fox. West Coast, Adelaide, Brisbane and Freo have exactly the same circumstances of live on fox as do many of the smaller melbourne clubs.

This is why the telecasters are paying $780 mill for 5 years for the rights. When you work out the costings vs the rights revenue clubs are apparently better off, the clubs now just have to work out how to counter it.

 

[Carnport]

^ Controversially selected ahead of Channel 9???

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

This is why the telecasters are paying $780 mill for 5 years for the rights. When you work out the costings vs the rights revenue clubs are apparently better off, the clubs now just have to work out how to counter it.

Ignoring other stuff the AFL pay for eg ground redevelopment, annual special distribution, etc, this is how the clubs base distribution from the new TV monies changed given the cash component went from $405mil (2002-06) and $690mil (2007-11)

2006 base distribution was $4.442mil

2007 to 2011
Variable $4.442mil + yearly increase in salary cap (ie increase goes to the players)
Fixed $1.2mil per year for 5 years (ie goes to the clubs less the extra non salary cap payments needed)

So over 5 years the clubs get an increase of
Variable amount, $449mil per New Generation documents - ($4.442mil x 16 x 5) = $449mil - $355.36mil ie $93.64mil which goes to the players, and
Fixed amount of $96mil.

So for those clubs who have a bad tv draw ie live against the gate or the poor drawing ( ie both gate and ratings) time slots are they better off especially in years 3, 4 and 5 of the TV deal if it greatly affects their gates? I'm not sure, but the new TV monies don't look anywhere as attractive from the clubs point of view as they do from the AFL's point of view.

However it's a bloody hard thing to measure as a clubs form effects crowds as much as probably time slot/draw, TV against the gate and weather combined.