Eels membership can hit 30k: Osborne

Not only does Paul Osborne think that Parramatta can crash through the 10,000 member mark before the end of the year, but he believes the club can reach 30,000 members over "the next year or two" by greatly increasing benefits offered to Eels members.And it appears that if Parramatta is to ever return to being run under the football club banner, then such member numbers will be a requirement. Osborne told 1Eyed Eel that it was unlikely that the board would move the running of the club out from under the Leagues club, as was mooted during last year's board elections, until the club was in a far more sustainable position. As it stands, the Leagues club cut its grant this year, which was the pre-cursor for the redundancies and restructuring that has taken place at the club during the off-season.Despite the cut-backs, Osborne is happy with the progress he has made at the club in the last five months and pointed to membership growth as being particularly season.The club has now broken 6,000 members - 5,000 of which are ticketed members, but clearly he believes that figure is just the tip of the iceberg."I still think we can easily pass Souths," Osborne said. "I'm very confident of getting 10,000 before the season starts, in fact I think we could end with 30,000 in the next year or two.""We're going to really ramp up the member benefits - we're talking to different businesses about discounts and so forth so if you are a member of the club you will get discounts at their stores."Osborne nominated Bunnings as an example of the type of business, the Eels had been in discussion with.Financially, Osborne said he was happy with the direction Parramatta was going, although he confirmed reports on 1Eyed Eel that Park Lea Markets would no longer be sponsoring the club."They won't be with us next year, but we've got Pain Away on board and we're talking with Pirtek and they want to extend so jersey wise we're going well.""We've had a complete overhaul of our sales and our portfolio and I'm very very happy and relaxed with where we're at. I don't think we'll have any problems selling our corporate hospitality next year given some of the games we've got at home."However, Osborne has had to put in place some "significant savings" as a result of Board action to improve the"The grant from the Leagues club is down. I've been in about 5 months now, and just have been really taking the time to have a look and there has been some merging of jobs and there were some redundancies and changes of direction in a couple of places."1Eyed Eel asked Osborne if the board had made any progress with plans to move the running of the NRL side under the Parramatta Rugby League Football Club rather than the Leagues Club."I think once the football club becomes sustainable they're happy to let it go, but while they're tipping in however many millions as they are at the moment, they've decided it's probably best if they keep it as is."

If Parra wants to reach 30000 members in the future I really think they need to look at their memberships.

I have been looking at the prices as my husband wants to get a membership next year and the problem I have is with the lack of choice for family memberships with the only options being in the Mick Cronin stand or general admission. So you have the limited choice of paying $425 for a general admission membership with the risk of getting a crap seat where you can't have a beer or paying $650 for a seat in the Mick Cronin stand. If you wanted to sit somewhere else, such as the Western Terrace, you would have to pay for individual 'Hindmarsh' memberships at a cost of $730 (obviously you wouldn't do this as you would get the Mick Cronin membership but...)

Why not have the option over the whole stadium?If you can make it cheaper for the families to get to the footy they will go and bring their dollars with them to spend on food, drinks and merchandise.

Another idea which Cronulla has introduced this year is a $60 membership for kids which gives them a hat, sticker, autograph book, birthday card from the 1st grade team, their name embedded in the round 1 jersey, a coaching session with Luke Covell and other first graders (for the boys) or an on-field performance with the mermaids at a home game (for the girls), as well as general admission for all home games.

If Parra had something like this it would allow people to buy them for their kids, or nieces/nephews at a cheap cost without having to commit to an expensive family membership. They could then get a ticket for themselves whenever it suited them to go.It would also surely add to the loyalty of both the old and new fans for the kids to be given the opportunity to train/cheerlead with the stars.

"I didn't see any of these kind words up until now, thank you all, very kind of you.
Makes me feel a bit poor Randolph calling you a "fatassed" bigot so I will rephrase it to 'skinny assed." LOL "

"The rebuild needs to start from next year, not 2027 or beyond.
If Galvin hasn't already had a secret handshake with the Eels and Tigers refuse to release him before 2027, I would prefer the club focus on getting Sandon Smith and use that extra cash…"

Replies

Hindy's Hienie January 12, 2010 at 9:31am

Agree 100% about the club being funded by supporters. FC Barcelona (different code i know) have the ultimate model - 100,000 members who actually run the club and own the club - its the perfect scenario because everything is done with the welfare of the club and its supporters in mind.
Also, personally i don't really have a problem with managers supporting other teams, you need strong businessman/women in these positions, not necessarily eels fans. Anyway, ask Ozzie who he supported before he got the job...i bet it wasn't Parra.
Sharkiesboomboomboom January 12, 2010 at 10:55am

If Parra wants to reach 30000 members in the future I really think they need to look at their memberships.

I have been looking at the prices as my husband wants to get a membership next year and the problem I have is with the lack of choice for family memberships with the only options being in the Mick Cronin stand or general admission. So you have the limited choice of paying $425 for a general admission membership with the risk of getting a crap seat where you can't have a beer or paying $650 for a seat in the Mick Cronin stand. If you wanted to sit somewhere else, such as the Western Terrace, you would have to pay for individual 'Hindmarsh' memberships at a cost of $730 (obviously you wouldn't do this as you would get the Mick Cronin membership but...)

Why not have the option over the whole stadium?If you can make it cheaper for the families to get to the footy they will go and bring their dollars with them to spend on food, drinks and merchandise.

Another idea which Cronulla has introduced this year is a $60 membership for kids which gives them a hat, sticker, autograph book, birthday card from the 1st grade team, their name embedded in the round 1 jersey, a coaching session with Luke Covell and other first graders (for the boys) or an on-field performance with the mermaids at a home game (for the girls), as well as general admission for all home games.

If Parra had something like this it would allow people to buy them for their kids, or nieces/nephews at a cheap cost without having to commit to an expensive family membership. They could then get a ticket for themselves whenever it suited them to go.It would also surely add to the loyalty of both the old and new fans for the kids to be given the opportunity to train/cheerlead with the stars.
Clive January 12, 2010 at 7:41pm

Id like an off-field performance from the Mermaids. :)
Snapper January 13, 2010 at 10:10pm

Funny you say that Parra 90 (40k stadium...)

I was told Parra stadium has been rubber stamped for a 40k stadium, if Australia get the world cup, I'm also told FIFA, Parra stadium & I think Parra Council have all given the go ahead and all payed by FIFA..........

In the end they walk away and Paar have a 40k Stadium... Now how true... I dont know but think about it, it so close to Homebush....

Anyway just what I have been told... + may help with Membership (in time)

Can't wait for the season to start

This reply was deleted.

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Eels membership can hit 30k: Osborne

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