You have to segment the market and also think of where those folks live - so many downtowners and Vancouverites so close to the stadium and ethnic communities.dupsdell1 wrote:Bob Ackles, in The Water Boy, wrote:
I didn't know how bad things really were in Vancouver when I arrived [in 2002]. I'm not talking about the finances; I'm talking about acceptance in the community. There's no rocket science to the football end of this business. There really isn't. Anyone can win at any time; anyone can lose at any time. Having the right head coach, having the right quarterback, avoiding injuries — that's all it takes. That's the easier part of it.
The tougher part is getting people in the seats. That's incredibly important when you are a gate-driven business like the CFL and can't rely on the kind of television revenues that support the NFL. In Vancouver, when I arrived back, nobody cared. A sea of change had happened since I left in 1986. We had 30,000 season-ticket holders back then. We were averaging 45,000-plus fans a game. [sj-roc note: much of this off-field success is commonly regarded in some corners, such as this board, as due to the novelty of BCP but given Ackles' success in his second go-round, it's fair to imagine that the subsequent attrition after this factor eroded would not have been so precipitous had he never left.] We were winning. It was really a high. Sitting in the stadium the first game back in 2002, attendance was 12,000 [sj-roc note: it was reported as 15,796 but 12k might well have been a better read on the true turnstile count.], although we would average out at about 18,500. It was a nightmare. I knew turning around an apathetic city and community would be tough. ...
Football teams, or any sports franchise, are not like manufacturing companies feeding a specific need or a business with a clearly defined market. They require the alignment of a greater number of elements to produce success. You have to understand the pulse of the community, the pulse of fans, the pulse of the team and understand what will make the mix come together and gel.
Totally Agree with the above statement From the late Great Bob Ackles, Some how or another Skulski does not seem to get it.
Is there any one from here that is going to phone in next when the GM'S are on 1040 ?
This has to be brought up , because what is happening is not working. But I bet you he thinks it is.
In Hong Kong you see dozens of soccer shirts and when the visiting top teams come here the crowds fill up with thousands in their fav team jerseys. It's called marketing.
Wally a while back when asked about ethnic players said he'd never do that for ethnicity sake but let me tell you the Eng. Premier League Clubs certainly grab a top player and go global. South Korean player let go to another club as his top talent is sagging a bit for them and what do you know they get a top Japanese player. Of course they bring their teams to this region every year.
Man City was here last summer and I was invited to meet their new President and Chief Commercial Officer - an American marketing guru who was helping us meet folks to connect with in the room for our business. Man City teamed with Man. Business School to do the free night for business leaders and alumni and they spared no expense in food and alcohol.
The Lions aren't likely to come to Hong Kong to market but there are communities they need to market to right in Vancouver who live close as well as go ethnic with the appeal. These other teams don't take an ethnic guy who can't play but they aren't stupid either and it sure helps their brand and sales to have these guys featured. NBA China and now the NFL heading there and running camps in Beijing etc. Huge market as more folks move to better jobs in China that 1.3 billion population looks good to them. But Lions can do more at home.
