2021 Financial Result

[Prince Imperial]

We won't see the report to view the details for a few more weeks yet, but this is confirmation that the club recorded a profit this year:


Sue continues to play a pivotal role in guiding the Western Bulldogs through the ongoing challenges as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, ensuring the Club remained profitable this year.


https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1028823/sue-clark-awarded-2021-graeme-samuel-scholarship

I'm assuming this is not simply due to the sale of the gaming venues or state government grants for the redevelopment.

Congratulations to Sue on the award too.

[Eastdog]

Great work! The club is being run very well particularly with the finances.

[Grantysghost]

We won't see the report to view the details for a few more weeks yet, but this is confirmation that the club recorded a profit this year:



https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1028823/sue-clark-awarded-2021-graeme-samuel-scholarship

I'm assuming this is not simply due to the sale of the gaming venues or state government grants for the redevelopment.

Congratulations to Sue on the award too.

Be a fair bit of member loyalty money again.

Not sure what I think about it - we take the hit but the club profits.

I guess that's good for all in the long run.

Well done to all the members no matter your contribution.

[azabob]

Be a fair bit of member loyalty money again.

Not sure what I think about it - we take the hit but the club profits.

I guess that's good for all in the long run.

Well done to all the members no matter your contribution.

I would have thought all clubs are reliant on member loyalty etc?

[Grantysghost]

I would have thought all clubs are reliant on member loyalty etc?

No doubt. I'm ok with it, it's just a lot of things didn't happen that usually cost the club money eg best and fairest, sponsors dinners, gifts from players that are part of my package and that's in no way really even acknowledged much.

Maybe a generic to all email.

I really don't know what my point is, I guess I think we have some work to do around communications.

Profit is great of course.

[GVGjr]

No doubt. I'm ok with it, it's just a lot of things didn't happen that usually cost the club money eg best and fairest, sponsors dinners, gifts from players that are part of my package and that's in no way really even acknowledged much.

Maybe a generic to all email.

I really don't know what my point is, I guess I think we have some work to do around communications.

Profit is great of course.

Did they cut down the coterie membership cost for the 2021 season? I'll check when I get home but I thought there was a decent reduction from the previous season.

I get your point though and it's one of the reasons why I'm still to decide what membership I'll take for next season.

[Grantysghost]

Did they cut down the coterie membership cost for the 2021 season? I'll check when I get home but I thought there was a decent reduction from the previous season.

I get your point though and it's one of the reasons why I'm still to decide what membership I'll take for next season.

I think there may have been a slight reduction. But they removed the season launch which we had to pay to go to.

But I get it with covid it was impossible to plan anything and I was grateful just to able to go.

[azabob]

No doubt. I'm ok with it, it's just a lot of things didn't happen that usually cost the club money eg best and fairest, sponsors dinners, gifts from players that are part of my package and that's in no way really even acknowledged much.

Maybe a generic to all email.

I really don't know what my point is, I guess I think we have some work to do around communications.

Profit is great of course.

Valid points. Communication has always been poor whether it is on the injury front, VFL form, training form and keeping members on the hook with extras during COVID.

[mjp]

Valid points. Communication has always been poor whether it is on the injury front, VFL form, training form and keeping members on the hook with extras during COVID.

What do I want? Tangible member 'extras' that enhance our experience.

I don't mean to be a jerk but the Melbourne based supporters have experienced (over the past two seasons) what us inter-staters experience EVERY year. We don't get to see the team so we 'miss out' on crucial 'stuff' relating to footy.

How about giving us a portal to watch the behind the goals vision (preferably a switchable split screen view of the game) with our OWN commentary team. I literally have NO IDEA how much this would cost but the difference it would make to my connection to the team...having to depend solely on the broadcast every week really does suck and if the club could find a way to make the connection greater between the fans NOT at the ground (for whatever reason) and the team that would be an amazing initiative.

[EasternWest]

How about giving us a portal to watch the behind the goals vision (preferably a switchable split screen view of the game) with our OWN commentary team. I literally have NO IDEA how much this would cost but the difference it would make to my connection to the team...having to depend solely on the broadcast every week really does suck and if the club could find a way to make the connection greater between the fans NOT at the ground (for whatever reason) and the team that would be an amazing initiative.

I imagine the AFL and their broadcast partners that pay millions for the rights would really get behind this idea.

[hujsh]

I imagine the AFL and their broadcast partners that pay millions for the rights would really get behind this idea.


In theory all they'd really care about is the number of viewers that see adds/subscribe. If more people watched and they didn't have to pay for a commentary team they could make more money.

That said there's no way in reality that a conservative organisation like channel 7 (live and in 720p!) will buy into the idea.

[mjp]

In theory all they'd really care about is the number of viewers that see adds/subscribe. If more people watched and they didn't have to pay for a commentary team they could make more money.

That said there's no way in reality that a conservative organisation like channel 7 (live and in 720p!) will buy into the idea.

So - don't offer it as a live feed. Offer it as a replay option during the week.

Like, honestly, it's about to be 2022...why do I have to listen to BT every week...maybe just produce a commentary podcast feed that you can play alongside the game? It would be clunky...but clunky is EASY!

All I am suggesting is that the club is profitable which is awesome. So let's invest in some things that will make being a part of that 'better'...my membership experience hasn't changed in > 20 years to be truthful. I guess I lived in Melbourne for a few years so could go to games and have had some kids so there's some more $ there...but what innovation has there been? Back when the club was battling I didn't want or expect anything. Now I look at the success we have had on and off field and I wonder when we will see something innovative.

A video from Bevo after the game telling me we won/lost? Yeah...well, I already know those things. Do I have answers as to what they could do? Not really...but sending 5x hats, 5x cards and 5x fridge magnets to my house every year then emailing me the team (available on the website) + Bevo's brief every week and calling once a year for some money relating to the major raffle...is that it? Sorry - and every year a survey which I dutifully fill out - never a response and never a change.

As I've said before, the club is one of very few things in this world I love unconditionally so I'm sure they figure that they don't have to do anything to keep me (or thousands like me)...so anything 'new' would just be a sunk cost...but gee it would be great to see them try SOMETHING new.

There are a lot of similar themes to this on the membership thread...I'm by no means a disgruntled supporter - hell, I'm actually really happy with things right now - but I'm still curious as to how the club plans to make the supporter experience 'better'.

[Grantysghost]

Agree. Loyalty rewards need to be better too. I'm a Victory member just went gold (10 years) I get a scarf, hat, pin that reflects that. I mean it's tokenistic but I really am a sucker for that kind of thing.

If we are making profits from members, let's invest it back in to making their experience unique. Especially the loyal ones.

[ReLoad]

I imagine the AFL and their broadcast partners that pay millions for the rights would really get behind this idea.

Well Im willing to donate my time to be part of the commentary team, would be ace!

[Grantysghost]

Well Im willing to donate my time to be part of the commentary team, would be ace!

+1 to that. I'm sure you'll be completely unbiased.

[EasternWest]

Well Im willing to donate my time to be part of the commentary team, would be ace!

I'm all for it, I'm just not sure Kerry Stokes' (would eat into the BRS defense fund) or Rupert Murdoch's (just evil) cold, dead hearts would agree.

[boydogs]

Business, politics, entertainment are all about new and at risk customers. Loyal ones are safe seats, not a churn risk, taken for granted and gouged.

I was openly told by my home loan provider the interest rate on their homepage is for new customers only, and loyal customers are not eligible. Loyalty is seen as laziness and requiring no competitive effort to retain

Ask yourself, if the club produced some content for members only, would they not benefit more from sharing it more broadly?

[hujsh]

Business, politics, entertainment are all about new and at risk customers. Loyal ones are safe seats, not a churn risk, taken for granted and gouged.

I was openly told by my home loan provider the interest rate on their homepage is for new customers only, and loyal customers are not eligible. Loyalty is seen as laziness and requiring no competitive effort to retain

Ask yourself, if the club produced some content for members only, would they not benefit more from sharing it more broadly?

But in the example of the home loan it's not given out for free, it's used as an incentive to entice new customers. So if it were the club it would be adding membership benefits to entice new members (and to complete the example would be unavailable to existing members)

[boydogs]

But in the example of the home loan it's not given out for free, it's used as an incentive to entice new customers. So if it were the club it would be adding membership benefits to entice new members (and to complete the example would be unavailable to existing members)

Yep, that's what I'm saying, other industries are offering non-customers/members more than loyal ones

Maybe in some industries if you spoil your existing customer base you will get more business from them and word of mouth referrals, say in a country cafe, but for a footy club you're not going to become a Western Bulldogs member because they give cool hats to members only, it's because of exposure to footy content, hence the public videos, articles, Facebook posts, interviews etc.

Money comes from the volume of supporters giving sponsors an audience, not squeezing Coterie members for an extra $200. Think 3 game memberships on sale for $50 in round 17 to bolster the count for the sponsor pitch, after everyone else paid full whack before round 1