Upping the attendance.

[No Fixed Abode]

What I would like to know is, there are obviously people responsible for marketing the club, but as the marketing is non existant, they're not getting vfm from their employees.

On the A33 from the town up to the ground there are advertising flags all the way up which Kennet Island used. Why can't Reading stick some flags up there? That would be a start. It's quite easy to miss the ground when you're bombing down the A33. Few posters in the station and around the town etc.

Then - there are the community officers. These need a bigger presence in all the schools around Berkshire. Reading has a big catchment area for supporters and it's essential they reach out to all these schools as these are future supporters of the club. Offer free tickets to kids for important academy games or reserve games and play them at the Mad Stad.

It's easy to say as I don't know what budget the club works under for marketing etc.....but all I know is, it's a club that doesn't have alot of presence in it's own town.

[FiNeRaIn]

Completely agree, if all the money wasn't going into these black holes then we should spend on marketing.

[Red]

Agree with Kes too. Admittedly there's more competition in my neck of the woods but the local (premier league, which you'd think would sell itself) clubs are very active locally in advertising. Never see any of it in Reading.

[Red]

Whilst I understand your proposition the club is very aware that they need to keep the st holders happy and so are reluctant to do offers that undermine the value of a st. Whether that is right or not is moot.

Always comes back to this.

My immediate thought is that this shows season tickets are priced too highly, but as people are obviously willing to buy them I guess the club are doing ok here. I suppose the tribal nature and uniqueness of product (I.e. you're a Reading fan not a general football fan) means naturally high levels of loyalty so the club don't have to be particularly inviting with their season ticket offering.

Just means the club have to be more creative with offers though, not that they can't do them. Or what about rewarding season ticket holders for bringing friends along?

[Ian Royal]

LOL @ the club trying to advertise on the side of an A or M road. Like people are going to drive past and think "you know what, I'll go watch Reading this weekend".

I'd say the club's marketing team probably know a decent amount about what they're doing considering what our attendence was 10 - 15 years ago.

And LOL @ Finerain wanting us to spend money on marketing now, rather than players. He's such a poor wum

[FiNeRaIn]

Marketing costs significantly less than players and you are bound to make some money on it back in terms of short term and possibly long term fans. If you really think thats a wind up...you need some time away from the keyboard for today to recharge your brain.

There is nothing in newbury or thatcham either to suggest the area has a local football club, I think thats probably one of abodes best ever posts on this forum.

[Rev Algenon Stickleback H]

I think thats probably one of abodes best ever posts on this forum.

and Grumpy is the tallest of the seven dwarfs.

[Wycombe Royal]

These need a bigger presence in all the schools around Berkshire. Reading has a big catchment area for supporters and it's essential they reach out to all these schools as these are future supporters of the club. Offer free tickets to kids for important academy games or reserve games and play them at the Mad Stad.

You are just showing your complete lack of knowledge now. They have a big presence in schools. The primary school that my kids attend has an after school football club run by RFC and we frequently get flyers home promoting the clubs with offers for tickets. Now I doubt it is only a single primary school in WInnersh where this is happening.

However there is one thing that I think could be improved and that is a larger presence in the town centre for ticket and merchandise sales.

[Whore Jackie]

These need a bigger presence in all the schools around Berkshire. Reading has a big catchment area for supporters and it's essential they reach out to all these schools as these are future supporters of the club. Offer free tickets to kids for important academy games or reserve games and play them at the Mad Stad.

You are just showing your complete lack of knowledge now. They have a big presence in schools. The primary school that my kids attend has an after school football club run by RFC and we frequently get flyers home promoting the clubs with offers for tickets. Now I doubt it is only a single primary school in WInnersh where this is happening.

However there is one thing that I think could be improved and that is a larger presence in the town centre for ticket and merchandise sales.

My kid's primary school has RFC ticket promotion posters too. Visited all of the local secondary schools recently and everyone of those had similar posters. And they've received similar offers via their local Saturday morning teams. IMO they're pretty good at reaching out and engaging with local kids.

Agree about a town centre presence. That said the club had a Christmas shop at Broad Street Mall (and an outlet in Market Place a few years ago), and perhaps the costs just don't add up.

[melonhead]

Agree with Kes too. Admittedly there's more competition in my neck of the woods but the local (premier league, which you'd think would sell itself) clubs are very active locally in advertising. Never see any of it in Reading.

i always hear adverts for fulham, and even west ham this season on radio.


tbf it make them looks like shit clubs to me, and cant think of anyone id want at a football match responding to them by buying a ticket

[melonhead]

Whilst I understand your proposition the club is very aware that they need to keep the st holders happy and so are reluctant to do offers that undermine the value of a st. Whether that is right or not is moot.

Always comes back to this.

My immediate thought is that this shows season tickets are priced too highly, but as people are obviously willing to buy them I guess the club are doing ok here. I suppose the tribal nature and uniqueness of product (I.e. you're a Reading fan not a general football fan) means naturally high levels of loyalty so the club don't have to be particularly inviting with their season ticket offering.

Just means the club have to be more creative with offers though, not that they can't do them. Or what about rewarding season ticket holders for bringing friends along?

theyre pretty decently priced for the league tbf, and "we" are already moaning about not spending money, reducing what we get in isnt going to help

[Schards#2]

I think our gates this year are around 2,000 per match higher than they would have been had we not had the late surge into the play offs last year. I suspect the possibility of Premiership football added 2,000-3,000 season ticket holder who may otherwise have not renewed. We may well see this effect in renewal sales next year, assuming we don't make the play offs again.

Casual fans have seen the stand out player sold and replaced cheaply in each the last two seasons, they will need some convincing that the product offers the same value for money in spite of this.

[FiNeRaIn]

Very, very good post Schards. The gates are definitely where they are due to that play-off run...which lets be honest isn't going to happen this season.

[who are ya?]

which lets be honest isn't going to happen this season.

Cheer up m8, we're not Bristol City

[Red]

Agree with Kes too. Admittedly there's more competition in my neck of the woods but the local (premier league, which you'd think would sell itself) clubs are very active locally in advertising. Never see any of it in Reading.

i always hear adverts for fulham, and even west ham this season on radio.


tbf it make them looks like shit clubs to me, and cant think of anyone id want at a football match responding to them by buying a ticket

Not keen on attracting new supporters then?

Is it a case of your dad takes you to your first game at the age of 8 or nothing for you melonhead? I guess that worked in the olden days that I keep hearing so much about, but people move around more these days.

[No Fixed Abode]

LOL @ the club trying to advertise on the side of an A or M road. Like people are going to drive past and think "you know what, I'll go watch Reading this weekend".

I'd say the club's marketing team probably know a decent amount about what they're doing considering what our attendence was 10 - 15 years ago.

And LOL @ Finerain wanting us to spend money on marketing now, rather than players. He's such a poor wum

You do talk nonsense m8. Readings crowds have grown due to the team being more successful and regularly playing in a higher divison, plus the move to the Mad Stad. I don't think the marketing department had much to do with that.

And your point about advertising on A and M roads. That is a joke right? You only see Audi, BMW advertising their products there, but what do these big companies know about about advertising eh?

[Red]

Yeh LOL @ Ian Royal's argument there.

Is it just billboards that are a complete waste of money? TV ads too perhaps?

Should be careful what I say here the entire marketing and advertising industry could be about to crumble.

[Ian Royal]

LOL @ the club trying to advertise on the side of an A or M road. Like people are going to drive past and think "you know what, I'll go watch Reading this weekend".

I'd say the club's marketing team probably know a decent amount about what they're doing considering what our attendence was 10 - 15 years ago.

And LOL @ Finerain wanting us to spend money on marketing now, rather than players. He's such a poor wum

You do talk nonsense m8. Readings crowds have grown due to the team being more successful and regularly playing in a higher divison, plus the move to the Mad Stad. I don't think the marketing department had much to do with that.

And your point about advertising on A and M roads. That is a joke right? You only see Audi, BMW advertising their products there, but what do these big companies know about about advertising eh?

Yeah, selling cars is comparable to attracting football fans.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

Works for Sky Ian, billboards sell televised football, from £40 a month, watch the stars, RFC £23 watch a game at 2nd level.

[No Fixed Abode]

LOL @ the club trying to advertise on the side of an A or M road. Like people are going to drive past and think "you know what, I'll go watch Reading this weekend".

I'd say the club's marketing team probably know a decent amount about what they're doing considering what our attendence was 10 - 15 years ago.

And LOL @ Finerain wanting us to spend money on marketing now, rather than players. He's such a poor wum

You do talk nonsense m8. Readings crowds have grown due to the team being more successful and regularly playing in a higher divison, plus the move to the Mad Stad. I don't think the marketing department had much to do with that.

And your point about advertising on A and M roads. That is a joke right? You only see Audi, BMW advertising their products there, but what do these big companies know about about advertising eh?

Yeah, selling cars is comparable to attracting football fans.

Of course it is. Audi, BMW and Reading FC are all brands wanting to attract customers. Obviously the first two are advertised globally, but there is no reason why Reading FC shouldn't be advertised around the whole of Berkshire at least and getting their brand name out there.