Mariners vs Wellington at NSO - Game Talk

[Tassiemariner]

The community round is a permanent fixture within the A-League season so my question to you is this

Would you rather a 'home' game in North Sydney or an 'away' game in Dunedin.

If I was a family living on the coast, I'd probably rather NS. As a Die-hard, I'd prefer Canberra, Orange, Hobart

If it's promoted as "Mariners getting out in the Community/celebrating our southern sydney/CC border fans (obviously something more catchy), then I don't think CCM fans will be too upset.

 

[Ancient Mariner]

I think people are getting upset about the wrong danger.

The mariners will not play any regular games in the Northern Suburbs or Northern Districts of Sydney. There is no acceptable or suitable ground in those areas.

There is a large group of non attached sympathetic to mariners football players/supporters in these areas. Playing the community round at NSO will give the chance to guage the level of and potentially target that market.

The danger is a couple of poor seasons when nothing you do will increase attendances. For a skin of the teeth, when it comes to finances, club, this could prove fatal. Think Gold Coast or North Queensland not South Melbourne. The club will fold not move.

Anything that can get more bums on seats is essential. This was our most successful season on the pitch, not only for results but for quality of football. Percentage of the pop. has been great but not enough for a stellar season.

It is not a time to be insular. Whatever it takes.

 

[hayson]

I think people are getting upset about the wrong danger.

The mariners will not play any regular games in the Northern Suburbs or Northern Districts of Sydney. There is no acceptable or suitable ground in those areas.

There is a large group of non attached sympathetic to mariners football players/supporters in these areas. Playing the community round at NSO will give the chance to guage the level of and potentially target that market.

The danger is a couple of poor seasons when nothing you do will increase attendances. For a skin of the teeth, when it comes to finances, club, this could prove fatal. Think Gold Coast or North Queensland not South Melbourne. The club will fold not move.

Anything that can get more bums on seats is essential. This was our most successful season on the pitch, not only for results but for quality of football. Percentage of the pop. has been great but not enough for a stellar season.

It is not a time to be insular. Whatever it takes.

Exactly right AM....people are getting hung up on detail. The way I see it Mike Charlesworth is looking at any and all possibilities to expand the fan base,as he said he would a few weeks ago. To suggest that he, or anyone else, is looking to relocate the club is ludicrous.

At the risk of upsetting a few people on this forum I suggest much of the negativity is 'small town thinking'.

 

[dibo]

At the risk of upsetting a few people on this forum I suggest much of the negativity is 'small town thinking'.

Not upset about this comment, but will offer some breaking news: we're a small town club. We're parochial (even those of us who are expats and haven't lived up there since the start of the millennium) and pretty sensitive about the idea of losing something that's ours - even for a game or two.

It's not rational, it's not considered, it's a visceral "from my cold dead hands" thing.

 

[Forum Phoenix]

Well... I for one am loving this thread.

 

[Big Al]

It's an A League run initiative.
It's our turn to participate.

We are going to an area that has potential to grab extra paying fans.

We love our team but there will be no team if we don't put more bums on seats or get bigger sponsors. The club won the grand final, is in the last 16 of AFC CL & couldn't pay it's players or staff in the same year.

Open your eyes or they will be shut for ever & the CCM will be a memory.

Now who should we play there is a better argument than should we be there at all.
The big derbies are out they need to be at Gosford IMO
1. SFC - ADP didn't make the last game but drew a big crowd - Another chance to cash in - Also don't want Northern Sydney people watching Smurfs & going yep I like them I'll go for them (same for WSW)
2. WSW - They will travel to BT as well in large numbers - Another chance to cash in
Also that respects that the home of CCM is BT

Atomic suggested the light weight crowd drawers like Wellington or Heart - I can see the merit in this but would also like a better quality game to attract some interest.
Maybe Victory or Glory?

 

[Bladesman]

I still can't see how this is going to get us new fans. If the supposed legion of football fans based on the north shore waiting to watch some a-league football that are all going to turn up haven't bothered to drive the 9km extra to SFS to at least have a look at us for a game and decide if they want to commute to BT and support us at some point in the previous 8 seasons I am pretty certain we are wasting our money and pissing off fans like myself and others on here who do hand over our cash.

We have more chance to drive some additional fans by investing in converting the part timers on the coast to come week-in week-out than get new supporters to drive up from sydney.

 

[bikinigirl]

At the risk of upsetting a few people on this forum I suggest much of the negativity is 'small town thinking'.

. as dibo said ... that is exactly what you are dealing with

. i don't think people on here are really being negative though - and most understand the 'community round' initiative ... just trying to warn of potential fallout if it is handled badly. and once again, for clarity, i will state it is not forumites we should be concerned with

. if former spirit fans see it as a homecoming - great
. if latent fans (of whatever description) fall in love with the mariners - great
. if it attracts new fans - great
. if it disenfranchises existing fans/members ... for whatever reason - not so great and the benefits had better outweigh the negatives

. if the marketing campaign is about a spiritual homecoming - that is dangerous
. if the initiative stops people from coming to gosford - that is bad
. if the marketing is based on someone talking to mates that live at manly - will any good result?

 

[bikinigirl]

Also don't want Northern Sydney people watching Smurfs & going yep I like them I'll go for them

. that would say more about the north sydney people i think ... we don't want them thinking - 'why would i go all the way to gosford when i can just head over to the sfs'

. assuming the people we are trying to attract are those that don't already have an allegiance

 

[Big Al]

. as dibo said ... that is exactly what you are dealing with

. i don't think people on here are really being negative though - and most understand the 'community round' initiative ... just trying to warn of potential fallout if it is handled badly. and once again, for clarity, i will state it is not forumites we should be concerned with

. if former spirit fans see it as a homecoming - great
. if latent fans (of whatever description) fall in love with the mariners - great
. if it attracts new fans - great
. if it disenfranchises existing fans/members ... for whatever reason - not so great and the benefits had better outweigh the negatives

. if the marketing campaign is about a spiritual homecoming - that is dangerous
. if the initiative stops people from coming to gosford - that is bad
. if the marketing is based on someone talking to mates that live at manly - will any good result?

Agree with pretty much most of the post here BG

They basically need to say -
It's the Mariners Community round that Can't be played in front of our Community LOL

 

[midfielder]

BK

You said """ if the marketing campaign is about a spiritual homecoming - that is dangerous""" HHHHMMMMMmmmm only if the plan is to stay there .... if saying this is where it it started I see it as adding to the understanding and development .... I agree it must be made very clear we are not losing a home game but promoting our club...

Just on the promoting part ... wonders aloud if the connection with Northern Sydney is seen to be an objective ... what / how / who / where, can it be maximized for the best benefit...

Some suggestions ... remember I am an Accountant so others please amend and add...

Copies of the Code for sale...
Special Day memberships available ... i.e. three matches for the price of two from a Mariners tent ...
Pictures of the CC ....
Brochure of the night life after dark in Gosford ....

 

[adz]

Brochure of the night life after dark in Gosford ....

 

[bikinigirl]

.... I agree it must be made very clear we are not losing a home game but promoting our club...

. yeah that was what i meant ... the main 'danger' is in communication - something we are not that good at

 

[hayson]

BK

You said """ if the marketing campaign is about a spiritual homecoming - that is dangerous""" HHHHMMMMMmmmm only if the plan is to stay there .... if saying this is where it it started I see it as adding to the understanding and development .... I agree it must be made very clear we are not losing a home game but promoting our club...

Just on the promoting part ... wonders aloud if the connection with Northern Sydney is seen to be an objective ... what / how / who / where, can it be maximized for the best benefit...

Some suggestions ... remember I am an Accountant so others please amend and add...

Copies of the Code for sale...
Special Day memberships available ... i.e. three matches for the price of two from a Mariners tent ...
Pictures of the CC ....
Brochure of the night life after dark in Gosford ....

Any initiative is better than sitting on our hands. The population of the northern Sydney region as at 30th June 2012 was 580,215 according to NSROC.
If CCM can attract even 1% of this it is well worth exploring.

 

[scottmac]

Not upset about this comment, but will offer some breaking news: we're a small town club. We're parochial (even those of us who are expats and haven't lived up there since the start of the millennium) and pretty sensitive about the idea of losing something that's ours - even for a game or two.

It's not rational, it's not considered, it's a visceral "from my cold dead hands" thing.

Isn't the Central Coast the largest, fastest growing regional centre in Aus? (Is it still? or used to be? No basis in knowledge or fact just something I was told or overheard at one point in time )
Bit more than a small town club IMO. Smallest in the league no doubt, but like Hayson said

At the risk of upsetting a few people on this forum I suggest much of the negativity is 'small town thinking'.

Its like at times we only believe the worst possible scenario & second guess (or completely make up) the intentions behind things that occur. Myself included. In this case a poorly worded thread title (depending on personal/historical affiliations) has brought about the idea that we might move regular games on a permanent basis to North Sydney because we've exhausted the supporter base on the Central Coast.
I'm as possessive as the next person when it comes to our club but sometimes we make it worse than it has to be.

In saying that, like FP said, it makes for great reading.
So please...........continue......

 

[scottmac]

Needs more bong smoking IMO

 

[bikinigirl]

In this case a poorly worded thread title (depending on personal/historical affiliations) has brought about the idea that we might move regular games on a permanent basis to North Sydney because we've exhausted the supporter base on the Central Coast.

. from this article linked above:

The club will use the match as a barometer for regional interest in the sport, with the ultimate vision of playing a game at the venue each season if it proves an initial success.​

​

​

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/sport/a-league/aleague-will-leave-it-late-to-end-season-20130517-2jryv.html#ixzz2TtyffBCc​

... but perhaps seb sourced his info from negative sentiment in this thread

 

[adz]

Have you seen his twitter? He is always banging on about moving the Mariners. Probably made the last bit up to stir the pot.

 

[scottmac]

. from this article linked above:



... but perhaps seb sourced his info from negative sentiment in this thread

Yep...................I saw that............

 

[bikinigirl]

. sorry don't do twitter ... too many other addictions consuming my time

. regardless, this is the sort of shit which will actually keep people away. try to imagine you are currently considering jumping on the bandwagon ... you read this from a 'respectable media outlet' and a 'well connected football journalist' - what do you do? do you re-think? save yourself from emotional turmoil?

. or grab the whole family and jump in with both feet?

. if you haven't committed by now ... these type of things can hold you back ... again