Joined: Feb 17 2009 Posts: 15511 Location: Huddersfield
i started to go watch the giants when we first got in super league and we were the whipping boys..8 of us went back then and only 2 of us go still now, those years made us lose a generation of supporters. We are having to build all over again at the moment. would be interesting to know what percentage of our supporters are aged between 22-32, not much id say as they have been lost.
Funny thng is , from when we were crap i know of at least 20 people who went home and away religiously back then who dont come at all now, seems weird that you would go then but not come along and enjoy us at our best but i guess thats due to them having families/partners/other interests.
I think the biggest drop though is down to the 2/3 years of cheap season tickets when people and maybe whole families bought them and probably enjoyed coming but when the prices went up and there was no silverware to look at decided they werent prepared to pay more and didnt renew and found other things to do at weekends.
GIANT DAZ wrote:I think the biggest drop though is down to the 2/3 years of cheap season tickets when people and maybe whole families bought them and probably enjoyed coming but when the prices went up and there was no silverware to look at decided they werent prepared to pay more and didnt renew and found other things to do at weekends.
This.
When you have a season ticket you are captive and make the effort to go. If you don't have a season ticket and it's £24 on the gate it is easy to not be bothered cos of the weather, make other plans, watch on Sky, save a bit of cash, etc.
Joined: Mar 09 2013 Posts: 71 Location: Huddersfield
Pricing isn't the only issue for bringing in new fans though, when the Huddersfield students union has cheap tickets for home games ( £7.50 :p ) there still are very few takers from students, probably 10 i would guess...and they do try to advertise the tickets all over the building and on the internet too!! I think there's an element of luck in getting new fans to stay really, an offer to bring in the punters has to somehow coincide with an exciting game that shows of the sport, and more importantly the team, in the best possible light. As a new fan myself this year the two games that have kept me coming back were St helens away and the wigan win at home.
Joined: Dec 18 2011 Posts: 1078 Location: huddersfield
Ok so crowd numbers are a big problem for us. Not only from the fact of supporting the team as they deserve more getting behind them but also financial. So its not like the club will fold or have to drop to championship in the next few years but simple facts are to keep competing we need more brass coming in ie more fans coming to the ground. So as the majority on here if not all are fanatical giants fans who do there utmost to get home and away and buy the gear is there anything else we can do? Not a rhetorical question generally what can we on this forum do to try get our support up?
Joined: Feb 17 2009 Posts: 15511 Location: Huddersfield
fowlesy31415 wrote:Pricing isn't the only issue for bringing in new fans though, when the Huddersfield students union has cheap tickets for home games ( £7.50 :p ) there still are very few takers from students, probably 10 i would guess...and they do try to advertise the tickets all over the building and on the internet too!! I think there's an element of luck in getting new fans to stay really, an offer to bring in the punters has to somehow coincide with an exciting game that shows of the sport, and more importantly the team, in the best possible light. As a new fan myself this year the two games that have kept me coming back were St helens away and the wigan win at home.
just 10 takers at £7.50 a ticket says it all really.
adam - the only thing left is winning something - nothing else the club has done over the years has made a lasting difference, if that doesn't pull them in nothing will.
Personally i think we should be targetting other local areas like the Bulls and Leeds did - fair enough they had trophies to entice people with but lets all be honest unless your a fan does anyone in Huddersfield/Mirfield/Kirklees etc know the Giants have a game on ? we should be trying to get to people who dont know about us rather than just the ones who do. We need a huge marketing push from somewhere.......something to say to people 'COME AND WATCH THE GIANTS, THEY'RE PRETTY GOOD' !
plus, i think if crowds dont go up during the better weather the club should look at reducing on the day prices - £24 is a hell of a lot for a game of rugby. It was only 5 years ago we were one of the cheapest in the league to watch ..not anymore.
5 years ago it cost £16, so an £8 increase in that time, thats a hell of a hike in my eyes.
Joined: Jun 04 2002 Posts: 15309 Location: huddersfudlia
main problem for me personally is financial,i couldn't afford a season ticket and can't afford £24 for each game,i now pick and choose games mainly.i know of others who can't afford either or aren't prepared to pay £24 each for a game.if i could afford i would put more money into the clubs coffers to help take some of the burden off ken,but i can't and im sure there are many others like me.combine that with the poor form last year and perceived lack of respect and passion from some players and the seemingly lack of positivity from the club has taken it's toll on the crowds this year.
as for ken,i feel for the guy,and he will always have my respect for what he has done for this club, but it must hurt him,seeing other clubs(warrington,hull,hull kr,even wakefield) and other sports(town mainly) pulling in crowds and yet the people of huddersfield desert the best team either code have had for 40 years! i too believe the only hope we have of ever improving our crowds is to win something THIS SEASON!.
the Claret And Gold Machine is ready to roll
sunday September 1st 2013, when a dream became a reality!!
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