Brumbies 2020

[mst]

Brumbies game against the Stormers in 2020 will be at Manuka

Brumbies made it public that it was their plan to play the Stormers at Manuka at the fan forum last year (Sep 11 2019), which people reported on.
I think it’s a great idea, they keep seeing crowd numbers drop and are one of the few teams to be actively trying different things to see what affects crowd attendance. They publicised it earlier than membership renewals opened. Couldn’t really have managed it any better.

No it wasn't discussed with fans, it was an idea that was suggested and only announced yesterday.

For many it is a big deal. It makes a difference for us due to several factors and if the Manuka game was confirmed earlier it would have influenced our decisions around the memberships we purchased.

UPDATE: Brumbies are are providing refunds to members for the seat value (possibly car parking as well) for the Manuka game.

One key piece of information provided by the Brumbies that has surprised me is that in in 2017 more than 25% of Brumbies stakeholders said they would not attend a game at Manuka. I am unsure if stakeholders means just members or a wider group that includes sponsors / vendors?

One of the issue that they are navigating is that usually membership changes like cancellations / refunds means you have to re-apply from the start the following season. There are indications that some members may be feeling aggrieved by the late change to their package the way this has been handled (change no seat / venue [membership] without prior consultation and no public notification of ways to redress if unhappy etc) so their is a risk of losing some members going forward.

 

[Viking]

UPDATE: Brumbies are are providing refunds to members for the seat value (possibly car parking as well) for the Manuka game.

One key piece of information provided by the Brumbies that has surprised me is that in in 2017 more than 25% of Brumbies stakeholders said they would not attend a game at Manuka. I am unsure if stakeholders means just members or a wider group that includes sponsors / vendors?

One of the issue that they are navigating is that usually membership changes like cancellations / refunds means you have to re-apply from the start the following season. There are indications that some members may be feeling aggrieved by the late change to their package the way this has been handled (change no seat / venue [membership] without prior consultation and no public notification of ways to redress if unhappy etc) so their is a risk of losing some members going forward.

What's so wrong with Manuka? can go have a drink or coffee before or after the game there, or head to kingston nearby. Pretty poor form to say they would not attend - I'd rather go there then out in whoop whoop to Bruce.

 

[Mr Wobbly]

GWS don't seem to have a problem getting big crowds to Manuka. Why wouldn't the Brumbies want to go there?

 

[qwerty51]

Just a guess because it's an oval?

 

[Mr Wobbly]

Just a guess because it's an oval?

Sure. It's not ideal but it's only one game. Surely it's not so bad that people cancel their membership over it?

 

[Clawhammer]

Sure. It's not ideal but it's only one game. Surely it's not so bad that people cancel their membership over it?

You'd think so, but Brumbies members are notoriously obstinate.

 

[Slim 293]

Just a guess because it's an oval?

Canberra Stadium is not exactly a rectangular stadium either.........

 

[Slim 293]

What's so wrong with Manuka? can go have a drink or coffee before or after the game there, or head to kingston nearby. Pretty poor form to say they would not attend - I'd rather go there then out in whoop whoop to Bruce.

I can understand some members who have forked out for parking at Bruce being a little put off, but as I've said earlier in this thread - the location of Manuka stadium is infinitely better and is easier to access for half the territory, it's surrounded by food and drink options so people can actually go and do stuff prior to and after the match.

And ultimately............ it's one game.

 

[mst]

GWS don't seem to have a problem getting big crowds to Manuka. Why wouldn't the Brumbies want to go there?

Canberra is AFL starved and really Manuka is the only venue. Crowds have declined recently.

 

[mst]

Sure. It's not ideal but it's only one game. Surely it's not so bad that people cancel their membership over it?

A recent Canberra times pole showed many still pissed at the Brumbies after the board debarkle. With memberships, if you change, alter , vary memberships you need to rebid for your seats. Most will just walk rather than fight with the Brubies to attend games in the seats they want snd may have had for years (In our case over 10 years).

There is also many that belive that the Brumbies have got themself stuck with marketing to a core group of what's best refered as foundation members. Since the board issue where the membership dropled they have been focused on the Brumbies history etc. It's kept the natives happy but they haven't attracted any new members and casual attendance us down.

 

[mst]

Just a guess because it's an oval?

Yep. In part (I love I can do this) it's the Tahs supporters fault! Feed back due to forced moves shows that some venues seating is shite to watch games, particularly ovals.

 

[mst]

I can understand some members who have forked out for parking at Bruce being a little put off, but as I've said earlier in this thread - the location of Manuka stadium is infinitely better and is easier to access for half the territory, it's surrounded by food and drink options so people can actually go and do stuff prior to and after the match.

And ultimately.... it's one game.

As stated In the media several times by the Brumbies themselves, one poor gate could put them in financial difficultites. So the question I have is why do it with less than 75% of your stakeholders on board (based on a soft pole)? I don't believe many supporters (other than the old school ones) will identify with the reason for the move to Manuka (away from all the heavily promoted family activities and facilities).

 

[mst]

What's so wrong with Manuka? can go have a drink or coffee before or after the game there, or head to kingston nearby. Pretty poor form to say they would not attend - I'd rather go there then out in whoop whoop to Bruce.

Manuka has little appeal to families. The AFL and T20 have shown this.

 

[RugbyReg]

A recent Canberra times pole showed many still pissed at the Brumbies after the board debarkle. With memberships, if you change, alter , vary memberships you need to rebid for your seats. Most will just walk rather than fight with the Brubies to attend games in the seats they want snd may have had for years (In our case over 10 years).

There is also many that belive that the Brumbies have got themself stuck with marketing to a core group of what's best refered as foundation members. Since the board issue where the membership dropled they have been focused on the Brumbies history etc. It's kept the natives happy but they haven't attracted any new members and casual attendance us down.

who did they pole? The former CEO and his family?

 

[Mr Wobbly]

As stated In the media several times by the Brumbies themselves, one poor gate could put them in financial difficultites. So the question I have is why do it with less than 75% of your stakeholders on board (based on a soft pole)? I don't believe many supporters (other than the old school ones) will identify with the reason for the move to Manuka (away from all the heavily promoted family activities and facilities).

I dips me lid to that highly appropriate pun

 

[mst]

who did they pole? The former CEO and his family?

CBR Time article Feb 12 2020 (behind paywall). If winning fixes everything, why are the stands still empty when the ACT Brumbies run on to Canberra Stadium?

CBR times have undertaken several polls (over a 12 mth period) asking why fans won't come to Brumbies games. The Jones issue came up and it appears to be the mark in the sand (for whatever reasons) where the Brumbies decline started and is yet to recover from. Some people did cite the Board issues as a key reason and that it has tainted the Brumbies image and reputation.

They also compared it against the Raiders who are still on an upward trajectory which strongly (overwhelmingly) suggests that the venue is not the primary reason people may not attend (same venue, same weather issues). The takeaway is that the the Brumbies and Raiders have swapped positions in the public support stakes. The Raiders board have cracked the formula how to attract fans. The Brumbies seemed to have done the opposite and appears to retained only a core group of about 7000. This is about the same number as the current membership which suggest we don't have many casual fans.


Rugby.com version minus the research data: https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/02/11/super-brumbies-crowds

 

[Slim 293]

I’d like to see the Canberra Times data on those “polls,” as they appear to be based less on any scientific methodology, and more so on random Facebook posts from a few aggrieved fans, which will hardly provide legitimate results.

It is as we say......... bad journalism.

 

[mst]

I’d like to see the Canberra Times data on those “polls,” as they appear to be based less on any scientific methodology, and more so on random Facebook posts from a few aggrieved fans, which will hardly provide legitimate results.

It is as we say... bad journalism.

Possible. But the facts seem to add up. Empty stands, punters with reasons why they are not turning up. All available via the CBR times. Or contact Dutton @CBR times who is the author and a Brumbies supporter. Article is here if you can get to it: https://www.canberratimes.com.au/st...-turned-their-back-on-rugby-and-the-brumbies/

The common theme here is that this has being going on over the last few years. Also the view from the Brumbies side of the line (Club and core members) is all the alleged reasons, polls results, comments and angry punters are are apparently wrong, false data, silly comments.

The empty seat suggest otherwise. Arrogance, ignorance or clueless? Are the Brumbies actually listening to the Public or just a core membership group. I suggest its the latter.

Key Brumbies specific points from the article:

Readers of The Canberra Times are yet to be convinced, flooding social media with reasons why they've stopped attending matches.

The fans aren't talking about the disastrous results of 2011. They're talking about the boardroom angst, which has divided Canberra rugby union circles for a decade.

Some still resent the way coach Andy Friend was sacked, others refuse to watch after the club was plunged into civil war when chief executive Michael Jones took the board to the ACT Supreme Court in 2016. "The civil war in the Brumbies a few years ago killed the golden goose," Frank Walmsley said. "I doubt they will ever get back to the vaulted position as the most popular team in Canberra."

Casual supporters say they didn't know the competition had started. Part of the problem is SANZAAR, Super Rugby's governing body, give little or no funding to marketing the competition and advertising games.

Then take a minute to think about this: The official Super Rugby Twitter account posted just five times between November 8 and January 16. The competition's Instagram account posted four times in the same period. "Maybe advertise that the games are on," Eddie Ruiz said. The Brumbies have increased their social media presence, but circumstances outside of their control hurt round-one figures.

One of the biggest criticisms of the Brumbies is they lost their Canberra connection. Fans have felt as though the players weren't invested in the city, and they therefore didn't invest in the team. "Brumbies USED to be the hottest ticket in town ... they became a victim of their own success, and in doing so, lost touch with community," said Graham Wilson. "The players have got to get out to the local junior clubs and engage with the juniors at their club ... the kids and the fans have become disillusioned."

NRL grand finalists the Raiders have managed to capture new fans since introducing the Viking clap at the end of 2016.
In 2014 and 2015 the Raiders averaged 9600 people per home game. In the same years, the Brumbies averaged 12,500.

Fast forward to 2019: The Raiders averaged 16,237 (which includes a home preliminary final) and the Brumbies 8798 (including a home quarter-final).

 

[Slim 293]

There’s a lot of factors why the crowds are down, and much of that fits into the overall trend across the country.........

What I don’t buy is the idea that supporters are not showing up because they care about the boardroom antics of 2016, or Andy Friend’s firing.........

If the casual supporter doesn’t know who the teams are, or when the games are going to be played, I doubt they’re familiar with the obscure political machinations of ACT rugby.

It’s definitely not going to be the hot topic at recess among those prospective juniors.........

 

[Viking]

CBR Time article Feb 12 2020 (behind paywall). If winning fixes everything, why are the stands still empty when the ACT Brumbies run on to Canberra Stadium?

CBR times have undertaken several polls (over a 12 mth period) asking why fans won't come to Brumbies games. The Jones issue came up and it appears to be the mark in the sand (for whatever reasons) where the Brumbies decline started and is yet to recover from. Some people did cite the Board issues as a key reason and that it has tainted the Brumbies image and reputation.

They also compared it against the Raiders who are still on an upward trajectory which strongly (overwhelmingly) suggests that the venue is not the primary reason people may not attend (same venue, same weather issues). The takeaway is that the the Brumbies and Raiders have swapped positions in the public support stakes. The Raiders board have cracked the formula how to attract fans. The Brumbies seemed to have done the opposite and appears to retained only a core group of about 7000. This is about the same number as the current membership which suggest we don't have many casual fans.


Rugby.com version minus the research data: https://www.rugby.com.au/news/2020/02/11/super-brumbies-crowds

Super Rugby in general doesn't have many casual fans. This is not a Brumbies issues, but a whole super xv issue.