: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:02 am  

And not having their 'own' nickname hinders this?

: Sun Mar 08, 2009 12:04 am  

'Hitman' Norvern Soul wrote:

And not having their 'own' nickname hinders this?

Does it affect their awareness?

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 11:48 am  

Wellsy13 wrote:

You're still missing the point.

Let's assume that Salford have an average of about 4,500 fans that go to games. Are there more 5,500 Salford fans sat at home not going to the game? And do you realistically expect them to get them all to the game?

Every club has fans that don't go to the game. You only have to look at the amount of FC fans that come out of the woodwork when we get to a final. You're never gonna get them all to the ground every week. You can't expect everyone that knows who Salford are to turn up. You need to expand how many people are aware of your club, hope that a fair amount of these are attracted to the club (so that they consider Salford "their team"), then become attached to the club so that they attend regularly, then form allegiance with the club so they become loyal and stick by it no matter what.

If you have a small base of awareness, you'll generally have a smaller basis of attraction, attachment, and allegiance. It's the Psychological Continuum Model.

And what, exactly, does our nickname have to do with that? We could change colours to pink and green and become the Salford Meerkats or something equally stupid, but that doesn't mean we'd suddenly get 9,000 people coming through the door with the exposure that would bring us.

There is one of us missing the point here, but it certainly isn't me.

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 5:43 pm  

GT wrote:

And what, exactly, does our nickname have to do with that? We could change colours to pink and green and become the Salford Meerkats or something equally stupid, but that doesn't mean we'd suddenly get 9,000 people coming through the door with the exposure that would bring us.

There is one of us missing the point here, but it certainly isn't me.

You're being overly defensive which is why you are suggesting ridiculous alternatives instead of rationale ones in trying to put your point across. You are still clearly missing my point, but I will discuss yours in relation to my point to see if it helps.

To be fair, changing your name to Salford Meerkats and playing in pink and green would probably get you a fair bit of awareness! Probably more so than Salford Reds, playing in red in a football mad area where two of the world's biggest sports teams play in red (one being called the Reds and the other being the Red Devils).

However, I can see the point you are trying to make, but it still doesn't go against the point I'm trying to make. Everyone is aware of the BNP, but would you want to join them? You've got to make people aware, but you've also got to make sure you offer them something attractive that they want to be part of (the other parts of the model I discussed). Would Salford Meerkats playing in pink and green appeal to people and make them want to be a part of it? I'd guess you think not. Ridiclous kits didn't do too bad for Stade Francais though, did it!

: Mon Mar 09, 2009 8:43 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

You're being overly defensive which is why you are suggesting ridiculous alternatives instead of rationale ones in trying to put your point across. You are still clearly missing my point, but I will discuss yours in relation to my point to see if it helps.

To be fair, changing your name to Salford Meerkats and playing in pink and green would probably get you a fair bit of awareness! Probably more so than Salford Reds, playing in red in a football mad area where two of the world's biggest sports teams play in red (one being called the Reds and the other being the Red Devils).

However, I can see the point you are trying to make, but it still doesn't go against the point I'm trying to make. Everyone is aware of the BNP, but would you want to join them? You've got to make people aware, but you've also got to make sure you offer them something attractive that they want to be part of (the other parts of the model I discussed). Would Salford Meerkats playing in pink and green appeal to people and make them want to be a part of it? I'd guess you think not. Ridiclous kits didn't do too bad for Stade Francais though, did it!

I see what you're trying to say, but our club's nickname and colours are still not part of the problem. The fact that RL is not fashionable in these parts, we play in a very old stadium and the team is far from successful - coupled with the fact that we've got, currently, the best football team in the world just over the border - are the problems we face.

We had a free ticket scheme that was run at various games last season - we got over 6,000 in for the derby against Swinton. If we can pull something like that off again a few times this year, coupled with improvement on and off the pitch, then the appeal of the club will grow. Changing the club's name and colours and practically forgetting the club's history will not.

In fact, in my opinion if marketed properly "the original Red Devils" could be a superb selling point. If more and more people became aware of where the name came from and that United took it from Salford, then it'd raise our profile more than any other name could.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 11:55 am  

GT wrote:

I see what you're trying to say, but our club's nickname and colours are still not part of the problem. The fact that RL is not fashionable in these parts, we play in a very old stadium and the team is far from successful - coupled with the fact that we've got, currently, the best football team in the world just over the border - are the problems we face.

We had a free ticket scheme that was run at various games last season - we got over 6,000 in for the derby against Swinton. If we can pull something like that off again a few times this year, coupled with improvement on and off the pitch, then the appeal of the club will grow. Changing the club's name and colours and practically forgetting the club's history will not.

In fact, in my opinion if marketed properly "the original Red Devils" could be a superb selling point. If more and more people became aware of where the name came from and that United took it from Salford, then it'd raise our profile more than any other name could.

Both entitled to our own opinions, obviously. Whilst I don't think your club's nickname is as significant a problem as the others you mention, I do think it does harm your clubs awareness.

"The Original Red Devils" may require a certain amount of awareness from the people you're trying to attract, as they may not have a clue what you're on about. But once they do, it could be an attractive selling point. You've got to be careful not to go to war with Man Utd fans though, otherwise you're alienating a large part of your market. It would be like trying to get union fans to come watch league by saying "our rugby's better" sort of thing.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 12:32 pm  

Wellsy13 wrote:

You've got to be careful not to go to war with Man Utd fans though, otherwise you're alienating a large part of your market. It would be like trying to get union fans to come watch league by saying "our rugby's better" sort of thing.

Most regular United fans know their stuff about the nickname. And I bet you would struggle to go into the Stretford End and get a United fan who uses the term "Red Devils" as a term of endearment. That was a marketing ploy in the 80s, which the JCLs attached themselves to. In fact, I reckon if you petitioned the Stretford End you would get fans wanting the devil off the badge and replaced with the traditional stripes.

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 4:29 pm  

GanEden wrote:

We are the Reds and the Reds we are and will always be! We don't want some stupid devils name attached!

We should go back to our first nickname then — ‘the good old Turkey’!

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 5:37 pm  

Chico wrote:

We should go back to our first nickname then — ‘the good old Turkey’!

What's the story behind that? Isn't your fan site called "Scarlet Turkey"?

: Wed Mar 11, 2009 7:31 pm  

i think the giants as worked really well for us at huddersfield, i have watched them for 40 years and like both names fartown and the giants a lot of people i know who arent rugby fans all seem to know who the giants are, but not so fartown. it has certainly helped younger kids become interested in rugby league, i know of 5 boys 12 and under who have all been inspired to start playing by the giants coming to their schools with the giants mascot, for me i like it.