Re: New era at Wimbledon : Wed Feb 02, 2022 11:20 pm
Good read. Did smile at the video; it certainly sold Ealing very well, but as you've said, they are off again.
The decisions on the advertising/marketing this season are very strange. I know you covered it before, but the lack of visibility in the local area is staggering and the easiest method is a flyers drop. Low cost and volunteer driven delivery.
I love your ideas about the offer of a meal for two at the Ivy etc, whether it's linked to a program, match ticket purchase etc.
Honestly I don't know anybody who knows the Broncos are in town apart from AFC Wimbledon fans. Nice half time announcement last night. Stating the London Broncos now playing at Plough Lane. AFC Wimbledon fans most welcome. Details available on the website (including url). Date of next match, the opponents and the name of the league competition.
Not at all convinced the Broncos management understand the demographic of the AFC Wimbledon fans. There appear to be a sizeable number who at not local, in other words they need to travel, commit a large proportion of their day to watch a match at Plough Lane. I get the impression the season ticket group have the largest portion of that non-local category. On one side they are of course a good group to target, on the other side they are unlikely to bother.
The half time announcement was probably fairly effective in terms of connecting with locals who bought a single match ticket and weren't aware of the Broncos. Plus they aren't being offered the £1/£5 tickets. The counter issue they are being expected to pay more for a family at the Rugby than Football for a sport they know little about.
Surely a key target audience is the local community who can walk to the ground. The Football club is obviously an easy start, and rightly targeted. But the local community is key to pulling in the crowds. I get the impression that may have created the attendance successes at Brentford.
It maybe that there is a strategy (don't laugh) to initially pull in AFC Wimbledon fans then move on to the Locals. Danger of that would be leaving it too late and aligning it to matches where the Broncos will likely be hugely out classed.
It's easy for me as I don't have the baggage of the last decade or so. There do appear opportunities to make this work, or at least give it a chance of working. But I totally (best I can) understand how badly this has been handled multiple times and it doesn't fill me with confidence they will get it right this time.