Quote: Jim Pooley "Becoming a FAN is not something that happens overnight. You attend your first game......you maybe return the following week or week after but true FANDOM comes from regular attendance.
the Largest advertiser (by spend) on the planet says you are a simple consumer for your first 6 purchases of their products, but a CUSTOMER once you've bought for the 7th time......and thereafter, they will spend more to keep you than they will a 4th time buyer.
It's like drug dealing without the drugs.....'"
Koucash has allegedly offered free entry to the next game. I've heard marketing experts repeated say that cheap (or free) tickets is not a way for long term growth.
There never seems to be much thought or planning in Marwan's way forward. The likelihood is, he'll give away free entry to the Catalan game, 90% of the crowd wil be the same old species, just not paying. Once the cost goes back on, then
However, what if he introduced some sort of system where locals applied for a free season ticket for next year, or perhaps some sort of family ticket where kids go free (Designate one stand to it, it not like their struggling for space).
Split the season into sections of X number of games. Your free weekly ticket lasts for say the first 6 home games (half the regular weekly rounds), then you have to reapply. If you have attended 4 out of the 6 games, then you get an free renewal to last for the second half of weekly rounds - if you attend 4 out of the last 5 fixtures, you get a free pass to the play off/super 8 home games.
Do the ticket for free for next year, 20% RPP the year later, 40% in 2018, 60%, 80% and then in 5 years you've hopefully completed gathering a half decent, loyal and partisan home crowd.
AN expert may think the above is a terrible plan, but any long term plan is better than leaving the gates open, then complaining on twitter if no one walks through them.
Giving free ticket to schools is noble, but an afternoon of rugby camp for the local school kids followed by free entry to the game is better, if you want to build a lifetime relationship with these people.