What are peoples thoughts on the Cats charging non members to attend open training sessions?

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2013-12-18/cats-defend-training-fees

I think it is a disgrace, imagine a family who is struggling to make ends meet and wants to take the kids to see there team train. They now need to fork out money to watch them to a bunch of run throughs and hand ball drills.

I hope this does not set a precedent and it gets strong opposition to the idea.

I'm surprised we didn't think of this first. By 'we' I mean Demolanders, MFC should've been paying us to watch them train.

Not fussed by the idea.

It's only for 2 specific open training sessions where players will be signing autographs and performing extra "spectator-friendly" duties beyond normal training sessions.

It's about value-adding for members, creating incentive to get a membership where interest is waning for the cats.

They're actually not in the best position financially atm.

I don't know what the fuss is about really because Simonds Stadium is a closed stadium and there are extra running costs (security, cleaning etc.) involved. You couldn't do that at Gosch's Paddock and we don't have enough punters turning up to our training sessions anyway to justify collecting the fee.

Non issue

move along

stinks

money rules

They can do what they like. Members aren't inconvenienced. No bigee

really....who gives a.....

They can do what they like. Members aren't inconvenienced. No bigee

really....who gives a.....

what about all the kids who don't have a membership for any number of reasons

if mfc did this i'd cancel my membership (seriously)

can't you remember when you were a kid bb?

what about all the kids who don't have a membership for any number of reasons

if mfc did this i'd cancel my membership (seriously)

can't you remember when you were a kid bb?

I can dc!

The MFC were a power then.

Unfortunately the memories are fading

what about all the kids who don't have a membership for any number of reasons

if mfc did this i'd cancel my membership (seriously)

can't you remember when you were a kid bb?

It's an interesting one because for most kids even these days 2 bucks isn't a big one and the parents will pay it. But I do see that especially in Geelong 2 dollars can still be a price to pay so I understand that. I probably would've though that $5 for adults, $3 concession, free for under 15's might have been a better system.

Geelong's argument is that the money raised will then be fed back in to the community and probably targeted to the kids who's parents can't afford the 2 dollars. So in a way they aren't losing in the long term.

Geelong's membership problem is pretty simple - if you're from Geelong then I presume you need a membership plus a reserved seat (either for the year or for one game) to get in and they'll only be so many available. And then 4 other home games are in Melbourne. If you're from Melbourne then 7 of your games will be away home games in Geelong. The counter is that every home game they get they make way more for less attendance. So Geelong can get the same revenue with less members and less attendance than anyone else. So I'm not buying Brian Cook's we desperately need more members statement.

collect from the disadvantaged and then distribute to the disadvantaged

yeah sure i believe that

it's just sheer greed, and all to watch a bit of training ffs

the very fact it is so hard to see a game at geelong is all the more reason to open the gates to anyone free on open practice days

these type of policies also have a habit of escalating (thin end of wedge)

All clubs will be doing it now that Geeelong have broken the seal sadly.

what about all the kids who don't have a membership for any number of reasons

if mfc did this i'd cancel my membership (seriously)

can't you remember when you were a kid bb?

I am so old I remember MFC practices matches on the G - red team vs Blue team and you could hear the echo through the stands everytime the ball was kicked.

All clubs will be doing it now that Geeelong have broken the seal sadly.

I would love to see how the MFC will do that at Goschs...

I would love to see how the MFC will do that at Goschs...

beat me by 2 minutes.

Also not sure collecting $10 would change much

Edited December 18, 201311 yr by old dee

beat me by 2 minutes.

Also not sure collecting $10 would change much

It will certainly annoy the joggers running through the park...

They will have to remember to carry a gold coin in that tiny pocket in their Skins.

It will certainly annoy the joggers running through the park...

They will have to remember to carry a gold coin in that tiny pocket in their Skins.

I would go to see that!

I would love to see how the MFC will do that at Goschs...

Precisely - this is just another benefit the GFC derives from a taxpayer funded redevelopment of their paddock.

P*#%@#s me off that you pay through the nose for a ticket to a real game there as well.

At least we are spared the rip off next season.

Edited December 18, 201311 yr by pitmaster

Precisely - this is just another benefit the GFC derives from a taxpayer funded redevelopment of their paddock.

P*#%@#s me off that you pay through the nose for a ticket to a real game there as well.

At least we are spared the rip off next season.

Careful. I think you'll find there's quite a bit of taxpayer money going into both the MCG and, to a far lesser extent, Gosch's paddock.

It's an interesting one because for most kids even these days 2 bucks isn't a big one and the parents will pay it. But I do see that especially in Geelong 2 dollars can still be a price to pay so I understand that. I probably would've though that $5 for adults, $3 concession, free for under 15's might have been a better system.

Geelong's argument is that the money raised will then be fed back in to the community and probably targeted to the kids who's parents can't afford the 2 dollars. So in a way they aren't losing in the long term.

Geelong's membership problem is pretty simple - if you're from Geelong then I presume you need a membership plus a reserved seat (either for the year or for one game) to get in and they'll only be so many available. And then 4 other home games are in Melbourne. If you're from Melbourne then 7 of your games will be away home games in Geelong. The counter is that every home game they get they make way more for less attendance. So Geelong can get the same revenue with less members and less attendance than anyone else. So I'm not buying Brian Cook's we desperately need more members statement.

Lets not forget the area is expecting 20% housing growth within 7 years.

They have been excellent at tailoring the city to their needs.

Frank Costa has done an amazing job for the Cats and we simply haven't had an off field leader with his power .

We need to be getting the City of Melbourne to promote us more to its residents.

We should be far more involved with the University campuses ,giving them cheap memberships, free games etc.

There is no point going to the MCG with only 20 thousand people in the stands.Give them away to the students if need be.

If we actively involved the CBD residents and students as "OURS" we may be able to develop a bigger base to rival the bigger clubs.

I would also like to see immigrants embraced by the club .

We should be hyping the hell out of the club under the Roos/Jackson tenure or we will blunder on forever.

As for charging to see training ,it is a stupid idea and will do nothing for the Cats .

what about all the kids who don't have a membership for any number of reasons

if mfc did this i'd cancel my membership (seriously)

can't you remember when you were a kid bb?

Since its only for 2 specific special training sessions, forget that the players are training and try thinking of it as 2 members-only events, that you can still access by paying a very small fee if you're not a member.

Now does it seem so objectionable?

Since its only for 2 specific special training sessions, forget that the players are training and try thinking of it as 2 members-only events, that you can still access by paying a very small fee if you're not a member.

Now does it seem so objectionable?

It seems an exercise in upsetting supporters to me.

If it is not a big event ( which training usually isn't) and they will charge a very small fee - then why even bother doing it. You will collect a small amount of money for a fair amount of angst.

Since its only for 2 specific special training sessions, forget that the players are training and try thinking of it as 2 members-only events, that you can still access by paying a very small fee if you're not a member.

Now does it seem so objectionable?

everything starts with a small seed.............and before you know.......................................

Let's look at this another way. Should closed training be open to member's only?

I'm all in favour of additional member benefits. So I support what GFC is doing.

(And this is not on topic, but all the best to Colin Carter, GFC's President, who had a heart attack about a week ago.)

How much will Geelong make out of it...$100??

Is it worth the negative press?

Not in my opinion.