The Club's Official Facebook page opened the floor for membership-related question on Thursday afternoon.
Thanks to everyone who took the time out to send in their questions, please scroll below for a selection of the best questions/answers - click here to view the entire thread.
If you're after more information on 2015 memberships, please contact the club on 1300 742 466, membership@richmondfc.com.au or visit http://membership.richmondfc.com.au
JJ Holland Why don’t we make as much cash out of membership as other clubs?
Richmond FC I’m not sure exactly what clubs you are referring to but it is my understanding that outside of Collingwood, Richmond nets more out of membership than any other Melbourne based club. Don’t quote me on exact numbers but since 2010, net membership results have been something like $3.8m, $4.5m, $5.3m, $6.6m, $7.6m and we are on target to improve that number again in 2015. Where some confusion may lie would be in total revenues, before expenses are deducted. Richmond still have a low proportion of reserved seat members as a percentage of the total membership base. Playing 10 of our home games at the MCG means that members still realise they can use their general admission membership and get a decent seat to most games. The reality is that as we continue to improve, this will become more and more difficult. For the clubs like Collingwood, Carlton and Essendon, who share home games across the MCG and Etihad, they have been able to drive scarcity by using the much smaller capacity of Etihad. Unfortunately however, the margins on Etihad reserved seats aren’t traditionally great for clubs. Other clubs therefore have higher revenues due to more members paying higher prices to secure reserved seats, however these clubs are required to forego a big slice of this revenue to the stadium for rental on the seats. The additional revenues are therefore offset by much higher expenses and a lowering of the net position.
James Bazley Why can't holding up the banner each week be shared by the richmond members,instead of the same people in the cheer squad,certain members would love that experience to hold the richmond banner up at home games on the MCG.
Richmond FC The cheer squad work very hard during the week to produce the banners and therefore hold them on game day. If you would like to join the cheer squad, please let us know on 1300 742 466 and we can forward your details through.
Randolf Barker I think the junior members should receive a members sticker with the year, why don't they?
Richmond FC The first 10k junior members in 2015 all get a junior member polo to celebrate our 130th year. Back to stickers in 2016....
B.J. Winzer Make the members' cocktail night free again. I used to go every year until a $35 price tag was slapped on it. Reason for the cost, I was told, was "to cover the cost of a second cocktail night in case the first one is booked out and we need to hold a second one". A great member benefit bit the dust...
Richmond FC Hey B.J. we understand that the members cocktail party popularity has slightly dropped since the introduction of the small fee. If it was made free of charge it would fill up within hours, therefore only giving the chance of limited people to attend. With the current setup all members have the chance to purchase a heavily discounted ticket and attend the event.
Brad Herbert What's the go with members cocktail night at crown? I've been before and loved it, gimme details!!!
Richmond FC May 19th at Crown. Get around it. Massive discount on ticket face price and only available to members who have been consecutive for 5+ years and over 18 years of age. It’s a great night.
Owen Lewis I'm 29 and was a member from the age of 4 right through until 18 (I then got MCC and as a student couldn't afford both at the time), a few years later I then started to get both so that I could support the club and still have my MCC however I've only got my years of membership recognized as 9. Any chance I can get the other years added to my years of membership as I'm up to 23 years of membership not 9. Surely it's in the database?
Richmond FC Firstly, thanks for your great commitment over the years. The clubs Reward & Recognition program is an important retention tool and it’s important that the integrity of this program is maintained. Where members have missed a year or two we do have a process whereby they can purchase memberships in recognition of these years. Please feel free to make contact with the membership team directly 1300742466 and we can discuss your situation.
Clayton R Lawrence Would it be possible to get number of years you have been a member on the scarfs in the form of a Richmond jumper ? Be a nice little recognition ..
Richmond FC Hi all, the club made the decision a few years ago to have standard caps and membership scarves available for collection at the ground for Victorian members. The club has saved around $200,000 per year by not sending caps or scarves. We would need to send the scarves if we had consecutive years printed on them. We are always looking at our fulfillment items, if you have any other suggestions please email us at membership@richmondfc.com.au
Richard Howes Great work on boosting the membership drive. How does Richmond FC stand in terms of engagement and connectedness with Tigers fans? Do we rate highly in this area? I was pleased to receive the SMS text message from Dustin Martin to members when he renewed his contract. Do you have any other creative ways to keep in touch with members In 2015? A pep talk video from the coach or Captain perhaps to fire up the Tigers fans? By the way I really enjoyed listening to Dimma's Dissection in 2015 and his in-depth analysis of our performance. Keep up the great work.
Richmond FC Great question Richard. Engagement & Connectedness can be measured using numerous metrics however we can report that from a service quality perspective, Richmond have been ranked in the top 3 in the AFL for the last 4 consecutive years. We are currently working on some internal metrics as our next iteration of the strategic plan will reference our desire to have the "strongest possible connection" with our fans. So clearly we need to be able to measure that. I will ensure that your positive feedback on communications is passed on.
Aaron Cassie Is it possible to create in between tiers for the higher memberships eg gold plus, platinum plus. Currently 17 year member (not including original AFL member years that weren't counted until late 90's) but still have to wait until 25 years for platinum, would like to have my loyalty recognised at least every 5-10 years
Richmond FC Hi Aaron, whilst your point is valid it's important that programs like this are kept as simple as possible and adding addition categories might potentially over-complicate the program with only a small perceived benefit.
Brie Isabel Carter I'm a gold member for almost 20 years- the membership packs use to have hats scarves, now just stickers and lanyards. Id like something back like that ... Otherwise happy!!
Richmond FC Hi Brie, as Chris said membership caps and scarves can be collected at the Tigerland Superstore or from our membership marquees at gates 3 and 5 match day until Round 12. Interstate members have their caps and scarves sent via mail.
Paul Barter What constitutes a family membership 2 adults and 4 kids or do they all have to be from the same family unit ie husband wife and kids or 2 mates and there kids
Richmond FC Hi Paul, our family membership breakdown changes depending on the package. Our Access Home and Access Home and Away family memberships include two adults and up to four juniors (under the age of 15 as at 1/01/2015). This can be any two adults and any four juniors. They don't need to be from the same family. If you would like to inquire further about the family membership please contact the membership department on 1300742466.
Scott Anderson Do you think that kids who are gold members by the age of ten should be a bit more rewarded than an invite to a cocktail night ? ......That they can't attend anyway because of their age ... They used to get a " gold member scarf or hat with gold member on it " ... Seems strange , means they have been signed up since birth ( committed parents ) and possible future sponsors .. Sure when they turn 18 the cocktail night might be an option but but for the 8 years in between very little reward ....... Could be worked on
Richmond FC Hi Scott, thank you for raising this point. Where possible we like to include more value in our rewards and recognition program. It is hard to include certain initiatives for the volumes of members but if you have any children that would like to be taken on a tour of the facilities, please let us know and we would be happy to organize this.
Natasha Linke I am an interstate member, are we getting a cap/scarf this season? My family are crows members and on top of a cap they were also given the opportunity to buy a members hoodie for $45. This would be a good option as the Tigers ones are $130!
Richmond FC Hi Natasha, you are entitled to your membership cap or scarf with your interstate package. If you haven't received this please contact the club on 1300 742 466 and we will arrange this for you. In regards to the Hoodie we have a range of merchandise available and 2015 member jackets are now available to purchase.
Susan Derschow I would love to buy a membership but I live in regional WA 1000km's north of Perth. Do you recommend a special membership I could possibly purchase.
Richmond FC Hi Susan, as Steve mentioned the country/interstate membership gives you access to 5 home games and the ability to substitute 2 home games for a reserved seat at an interstate game. This is $130 or $16.25 per month. If you can't get to the game in Perth we have a supporters membership called The Alannah and Madeline Foundation. This is only $50 and includes our full membership benefits, plus access to 1 home game in Melbourne. To purchase this package or the country/interstate membership simply go online or call 1300 742 466.
Maree Hodges Hite Does my 3 game membership go towards the member tally? My first year as a member. So proud to put my money where my mouth is. Bring it on 2015!
Richmond FC Hi Maree, yes it certainly does counts towards our tally. Thank you for joining as a Richmond member in 2015 #gotiges
Adam Hughes If (when) we play in the grand final will the tickets be allocated to members in order of longest, continuous membership first down to the newest member? This method is the only fair method. It rewards members & encourages them to stay on board.
Richmond FC Hi Adam, good question. If we are participating in the Grand Final we are only allocated a limited number of tickets as you are aware. The only way to guarantee yourself a ticket is through the Maurice Rioli Club (or via Coterie or Reserve Seating membership). If you or anyone is interested in the Maurice Rioli Club please let us know and we can arrange this for you. There will also be an AFL ballot and information will be sent if we win the first final or finish in the top 4.
Mark Sinclair Can you give us a breakdown of membership numbers into the categories... Gold, yellow and black, platinum etc
Richmond FC Dont have the stats on AFL members on hand but the most highly populated cateogies in our database are 3-5 year members with around 18k. Silver members about 12k, gold 16k, platinum less than 1k and Yellow and Black 159. Hello and thanks to those 159 Yellow and Black members. 50 years of unwavering support is amazing commitment
Martin Watkins Thought the campaign to beat the price rise was inappropriate. Surely somethimg related to the support of the club and players would have been better. I guess the large numbers prove me wrong but i would have thought the tiger army are more in for the love of Richmond Football Club rather than saving a couple of dollars. I would suggest a rethink for future drives.
Richmond FC Thanks for the feedback Martin. Everyone is certainly entitled to an opinion however sometimes the numbers are impossible to argue with. In February we joined almost 11k members. According to numbers on their websites, Collingwood, Hawthorn and Essendon were around 3k. One of the challenges we have experienced in years gone by was to create the urgency to have members sign up before the season started. We therefore introduced an incentive which created both urgency and a reward for signing up early. Beat the Price Rise was complimented by a junior campaign where the first 10k junior members in 2015 receive a complimentary junior polo. A huge congratulations has to go to the membership team, many of whom worked 50-60 hour weeks all of February. We estimate that they managed around 40,000 calls for the month, however the effort was well worth it signing almost 11,000 members for the month. We are now tracking around 7k up year on year and well on our way to our first membership target for the year, which is 70k.
Linda Brown How long does a membership take to arrive?
Richmond FC Hi Linda, membership packages usually arrive in 10-15 working days time. If you are looking to purchase this for a present in the mean time we can always organise a gift certificate to be sent via mail or email.
Wayne Tarr Our current membership tally after the family day please.
Richmond FC Hi Wayne, our tally as we speak is 63,687 amazing loyal members
Alex Morrison What is the target for 2015 ? 75.000 ?
Richmond FC Hi Alex, the membership goal for the 2015 season is 70 thousand members. We are currently on track to meet this. We still have 10k un-renewed members so we are working hard on in ensuring that each one of those members has been contacted through multiple channels to ensure we don’t miss them.
