Hey guys,

I was just thinking of a marketing idea to get new memberships.

I am an MCC member and typically have not purchased a Melbourne F C membership, but this year decided to buy the full Melbourne membership, which I did on Sunday.

Now, I won't actually use it, so do clubs have any facility to donate the membership perhaps to underpriviledged people, through Red Cross or whoever ?? I know I can donate it to a child under 15, but I don't know anyone.

I am thinking if there are one quarter MCC members barracking for Melbourne (I heard that somewhere, seems a bit high perhaps), and if a lot are like me, and pay top dollar for MCC, they may still be pushed over to get a MFC membership if it could be donated to charity or a worthwhile cause. i.e a person who cannot afford a membership.

If my wife donates to Wrold Vision and we get a letter every so often from a child to create some sort of attachment, then why not do the same for MFC memberships e.g perhaps to a chinese student ?? who knows.

Good source of say $10,000 X $165 = $1.65 Mill. If we can get one quarter of that then thats $400,000.

What are your thoughts ?

Mate that is a bloody fantastic idea! I mean, at the very least, how many MCC members are uncles, aunts or grand-parents of young Melbourne Football Club supporters with nowhere near enough money to buy a membership or go to the games. I would love to see this initiative undertaken by the Demons and the MCC.

nominate the world vision child as the free u15.

membership increases by 1 and its only semi-wasted.

  Bay Riffin said:

Hey guys,

I was just thinking of a marketing idea to get new memberships.

I am an MCC member and typically have not purchased a Melbourne F C membership, but this year decided to buy the full Melbourne membership, which I did on Sunday.

Now, I won't actually use it, so do clubs have any facility to donate the membership perhaps to underpriviledged people, through Red Cross or whoever ?? I know I can donate it to a child under 15, but I don't know anyone.

I am thinking if there are one quarter MCC members barracking for Melbourne (I heard that somewhere, seems a bit high perhaps), and if a lot are like me, and pay top dollar for MCC, they may still be pushed over to get a MFC membership if it could be donated to charity or a worthwhile cause. i.e a person who cannot afford a membership.

If my wife donates to Wrold Vision and we get a letter every so often from a child to create some sort of attachment, then why not do the same for MFC memberships e.g perhaps to a chinese student ?? who knows.

Good source of say $10,000 X $165 = $1.65 Mill. If we can get one quarter of that then thats $400,000.

What are your thoughts ?

Very very very good idea BR

I dont think the ATO will alllow a deduction for a footy membership as donation !! even if we almost qulaify as a charity

  Chook said:

Mate that is a bloody fantastic idea! I mean, at the very least, how many MCC members are uncles, aunts or grand-parents of young Melbourne Football Club supporters with nowhere near enough money to buy a membership or go to the games. I would love to see this initiative undertaken by the Demons and the MCC.

That's essentially what it is. You can buy the full membership, which chucks in the nominate a child option already.

Otherwise there's the $40 (?) option, which gives membership but no nomination.

  Bay Riffin said:

Now, I won't actually use it, so do clubs have any facility to donate the membership perhaps to underpriviledged people, through Red Cross or whoever ?? I know I can donate it to a child under 15, but I don't know anyone.

I am thinking if there are one quarter MCC members barracking for Melbourne (I heard that somewhere, seems a bit high perhaps), and if a lot are like me, and pay top dollar for MCC, they may still be pushed over to get a MFC membership if it could be donated to charity or a worthwhile cause. i.e a person who cannot afford a membership.

If my wife donates to Wrold Vision and we get a letter every so often from a child to create some sort of attachment, then why not do the same for MFC memberships e.g perhaps to a chinese student ?? who knows.

Good source of say $10,000 X $165 = $1.65 Mill. If we can get one quarter of that then thats $400,000.

What are your thoughts ?

I like it. You're in essence sponsoring a child.

I think 'sponsor a child' inititave has a better ring to it then our current one where we encoruage them to buy a $40 membership.

I like the idea,

I like that it makes AFL more accessible to more people.

does anyone have any contact details to send ideas like this to ?

With McNamee on board, maybe they will listen now.

  Demon Rob said:

That's essentially what it is. You can buy the full membership, which chucks in the nominate a child option already.

Otherwise there's the $40 (?) option, which gives membership but no nomination.

This would also encourage more people to buy a full membership generating more money for the club! I like i like it alot!!

Someone email the club or ring them or something instead of sitting here hoping

I like your thinking, it may entice a few, but will the donated membership get a bum on a seat come match day? I think this is important

  CARN THE DEES! said:

This would also encourage more people to buy a full membership generating more money for the club! I like i like it alot!!

Someone email the club or ring them or something instead of sitting here hoping

Don't ring em - you'll look sillier to a bigger audience. Read the words - its already there! You buy a full membership with mcc and you can already nominate the child. Don't hope when its already happening!

o.k. I know I am a bit thick here, and I have read the initial post again, and have also noted the support it has received. But from my understanding RB is saying that MCC members "may" be keen to by an MFC membership as a donation to a less fortunate member of society.? This is to increase our membership numbers and revenue, right?

With no disrespect to the donatee (word?) will they go to games?

As I said earlier I like your thinking but doubt that it would achieve much.

If it guaranteed a presence at games it would be worthwhile.

If every member said to a mate, "I'll buy you a ticket if you came to the footy with me" for every home game and increase the crowd by 10K+ we could gain some credibility and perhaps, just perhaps, if the team played o.k get some further support.

Demon Rob, my point is I paid $155 for a membership which can go to anyone really as I won't use it. My boy is 13 months old so a little young and I don't know demon supporters under 15.

I am sure a marketing mind can come up with a campaign to sponsor a new demon to MCC members if there is some sort of attachment there.

Maybe there are groups, international travellers, local sporting clubs, charities anything with some faces to illicit some sort of emotional response.

There is truckloads of cashed up MCC members who could buy a simple $150 membership if it went to a good cause.

If we could get bums on seats as well, then we are cooking.

Redfin, the donatee may not go to games, but what I am suggesting it may get the MCC member to get out the credit card though. Getting them to go is step two !!

If world vision asked my wife for some money, she may or may not give, but paint a 'real' picture of someone, a person, a child who benefits and bang, there is the emotional attachment.

Anyway, DeeReaming has given me the proper contact at the club (thanks mate !!!)

I will put something together and see if it gets anywhere, and keep you posted.

Please post any good thoughts to add to this idea.

I am not 100% sure on this but what I am sure of is, I sit amongst some wealthy families and the Dees need them. They fork out hundreds of dollars to Spotless catering each year after all.

Ok, second idea - cut your own lunch and buy a membership !!

  Demon Rob said:

Don't ring em - you'll look sillier to a bigger audience. Read the words - its already there! You buy a full membership with mcc and you can already nominate the child. Don't hope when its already happening!

True, you can...I think what BR is getting is a more formal arrangement whereby the MFC / MCC member could elect to pass the Junior membership onto a charity [e.g. Berry Street] who would nominate a particular child. Perhaps the MFC could build on this by having a system whereby the recipients of these memberships could be "Godfathered" by individual MFC players and be sent personal messages etc etc etc