The EELS have been to hell and back in 2016 and the season is not half over, the NRL has "pre punished" us for next season. Our coaches, players and above all us FANS have very little to cheer about and the future is unclear and may present more challenges as the year progresses.
There has been plenty said about our team by better judges than me so I'd like to focus on an area where I do have some knowledge in regard to customer service and marketing. I along with loads of friends have held season tickets for many years and have negotiated yearly with the club to retain these seats as we have been at threat of loosing them every year despite paying in full at the end of the previous season. Delays and messing about re issuing these tickets is constant and frankly very frustrating year in year out. We turn up every home game and often travel to other grounds in Sydney and interstate to support our team.
For many years some could argue the value we receive as members is less than special. EELS fans tend to be very loyal and the club has taken advantage of this and delivered not only lousy football results but substandard ground access,facilities, food and beverage etc but despite all of that we still turn up because we love our club.
The EELS are faced with a gigantic marketing issue in seasons 17 & 18 as I am certain many fans will simply choose not to attend games at Homebush. For the members there is no assurance that our current seats at Pirtek Stadium will be available once the EELS return home in 2019 unless we continue our membership whilst the new stadium is built.
May I suggest that the club (if there is anyone who has the authority to make a decision is left) offer current ticket holders significantly reduced costs to attend games at Homebush. I would think a 50% discount would offer some compensation for the long term bad management of our club, consistent bad results and all the additional pain they have dished out to us.
There are many people taking a long hard think about renewing membership next year based on all the turmoil we have endured. If the club has any regard for us this type of offer would help the club retain it's current members and ensure we can proudly take our allocated seats at our new stadium when it is complete. Does this make sense ??
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Hi mate, welcome and nice blog.
I dont think its fair to punish the club because we have to move for 2 years for a rebuilt stadium, do you think we can afford to give half price seats for 2 years because we are getting a new stadium and have to play away?, im not sure thats fair to ask mate although i understand your frustrations
We are getting a new stadium im pretty damn thankful for that.
Correct on the membership team though, imo the Worst in NRL
Thanks snake, I get what you say but ANZ is a very lonely place with 5-10K supporters, surely it makes sense to ensure the core EELS supporters are there EVERY game and build around that. I agree we are very fortunate to have a new facility coming. It's a tad like when we had to leave Cumberland Oval and play at Belmore for a couple of years whilst Parramatta Stadium was built ( shame we did not win a GF and get to burn the place down again oops showing my age !!) Maybe I'm just spooked because it's history repeating itself !! but I do know bums on seats generate revenue.
Maybe we may take more matches interstate next year against non Sydney sides. That will reduce the price. Our seats at ANZ should be under shelter and more Sunday afternoon matches there please.
Well at least we can generate more frequent flyer points if we have to travel. Our ANZ seats will be fine in good weather but if it rains the alternatives may be limited. Usually at that ground "under cover " means a long way from the game.
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I trust other members will understand this sooner than later and "help" the club understand the fans are the foundation of the club. OUR club is under great duress and they NEED our support and we ALL want to offer it but heck they make it hard !!
That is precisely my point . Thank You
Lak im with you mate, ANZ sucks for club RL, its not going to be great but we had to take it there financially, i dont think theres many fans at all looking forward to it but it really was our only option and theres no getting around it.
From a team point of view its actually good, it will harden us for the road, get us out of our comfort zone, teach us to have no issues with playing away, i always like to try and find ways of turning negatives around and if BA plays this well theres a lot to be taken away from playing away for 2 years.
Theres good times ahead my friend, lol, bloody hope so.
Just As you've mentioned LakEEL, my big gripe about my seating at ANZ is that we are not undercover like I am at Pirtek. I certainly don't look forward to spending 3 seasons at ANZ whilst having no protection from the rain.
I think it should only be fair that all season ticket members should have undercover seats at ANZ as well, especially those like you and myself who have been season ticket holders for quite a few years.
Larissa, if you get to read this, could you please give us an update of what's happening for next year, I'm sure it would be much appreciated by all members.
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