Insane FA Cup-tie ideas!

[mr.hobblesworth]

It may have already been tried but I think it would be a good idea to forge links with Stoke Poly or Keele, not just re fans but work with their departments in marketing, even art and design. I'm sure this was mooted before but I don't think anything ever came of it. It might be the weather and recent results but the club feels quite flat and grey at the moment. If you look at how some non-league clubs market themselves, I'm sure there are some lessons to be learned. Then again, maybe those kind of things wouldn't work for a club in the North side of Stoke-On-Trent. I dunno.

[JOHNNYAITCH]

The Poly no longer exists..it's Staffs University now..I think

 

Forging links would seem to be a good thing..must be plenty of students on marketing and media courses who could help out

[Fosse69]

I've no issues with offering them a free chocolate bar or two.

Maybe Toblerone will have to give their new bars away:smile:

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Maybe Toblerone will have to give their new bars away:smile:

 

Saw a pic of the new Toblerone..scandalous :) they'll be taking the bubbles out of Aeros next...oh, hang on..

[stupers]

We're going for a game where we'll struggle to entice people in no matter what the price. They should put it on a Friday night, make it relatively cheap and stick a beer tent on in the car park somewhere to lure people to spend money at the ground a bit earlier if you want to target that game.

 

But the real winner would be to put an offer on for a game people are likely wanting to go to (The Boxing Day game v Walsall for instance) but probably won't bother because it's Xmas. Start the promotion of it now, getting people to buy tickets for people for Xmas presents etc. You could get a good crowd in, good atmosphere and people will possibly want to come back. Doing it for a game that nobody is that bothered about (The Crawley/Oldham debacle a couple of years back) doesn't work.

 

Too bad the club is scared of actually doing anything exciting or risky. So what if were going to get 5k anyway, why not try and get 10k in. What is the harm in trying? I'd sooner spend money trying to get people back in the club than spend it on 13 professional players that sit in the stands every Saturday afternoon.

[stupers]

The Poly no longer exists..it's Staffs University now..I think

 

Forging links would seem to be a good thing..must be plenty of students on marketing and media courses who could help out

 

We already have a linkup commercially with Staffs Uni. Not sure what the benefits/costs are of that though.

[Guest]

It would make sense to try something out of the ordinary .

This is the biggest match in our history ( because its the present )so u would think they would try something .

More fans more atmosphere doesnt just make it better for the players it makes it better for our fans who go everywhere with them .

I have a season ticket but if they brought a offer out now saying get a however many games left at home bundle at knock down prices j wouldnt be bothered i want people in the ground .

Advertise the game the way they did v Burton years back although that game was a easy sell this isnt but with hard work u try made football affordable for all .

Why not a pay what u think the going rate is or what u feel u think should be the price obviously if u a adult no lower than 8 quid etc ,or folk would abuse it but when they print the ticket with the amount they r willing pay u have a rough idea why these people dont come so u market a price so they do.

Well Done Smithie for bringing this thread up .

A stronger Vale is a better Vale and that means tapping into the unknown .

[For Us All]

I've no issues with offering them a free chocolate bar or two.

 

Plus perhaps a bag of crisps,as long as they're not Walker's (robbing bar stewards).😁

[Tomo]

The last thing I want next to me is some twattish student called Tristram on his phone saying "So, we're like at Port Vale and stuff. Wish I'd stayed in the Student Union watching Sky".

 

Drippy layabouts.

 

Aside from that being an incredible generalisation (not sure if you were joking or not, if not it's pretty outrageous), I don't think we can afford to be picky about who comes to watch us, if they're paying customers. I think you'll find a lot of them also probably have their heads a lot more screwed on than a few of the true 'layabout' types that come to some of the more local/big away games.

[JOHNNYAITCH]

Plus perhaps a bag of crisps,as long as they're not Walker's (robbing bar stewards).

 

Mr Lineker has been quiet regarding that..I thought he was a bit of a champion for what is right these days?

[For Us All]

Mr Lineker has been quiet regarding that..I thought he was a bit of a champion for what is right these days?

 

He won't say too much about the 10% price rise JA,it might threaten his £500,000 salary from Walker's?

[robf]

But the real winner would be to put an offer on for a game people are likely wanting to go to (The Boxing Day game v Walsall for instance) but probably won't bother because it's Xmas. Start the promotion of it now, getting people to buy tickets for people for Xmas presents etc. You could get a good crowd in, good atmosphere and people will possibly want to come back. Doing it for a game that nobody is that bothered about (The Crawley/Oldham debacle a couple of years back) doesn't work.

 

I thoroughly agree with that. If you look at previous times such as the Burton game, it was a game that was already going to be busy but the promotion ramped up the crowd even more. The Burton game was also promoted really well with tweets telling us stands were close to selling out etc all ramping up the excitement and anticipation of a big crowd.

 

So, for me it should be three things -

 

1. A good offer (in terms of price and perhaps other things - hand out 10% off for the club shop vouchers, half-price parking if you have more than two people in your car, issue raffle tickets at the turnstiles and have a H/T prize draw - those sort of things).

2. A match that would be popular (Boxing Day vs Walsall is a great example)

3. Promote it properly - that means good use of Twitter, email, scoreboard, programme, flyers at the ground and (crucially) the local media to let people know about the offer.

 

There's no guarantee but do all the above and you'll probably stand a better chance of getting a bumper crowd than only doing one or two of the three...

[onestepatatime]

Some really good ides on here so why oh why don't Vale at least attempt now to start doing something?

 

My opinion too is that any offers/freebies/discounts/beer tents etc, etc etc should NOT be for just 1 match. They need to become regular things to continue to get crowds of people excited again at attending a Vale Match. Norman has to look into regular, continuing aspects of attracting fans back for it to make any serious impact on a long term basis.

 

As a season ticket holder I have no qualms about offers that get fans back to our great Stadium., even if it reduced the actual effect of me buying my season ticket pre season. We all need to stick together and bombard Norman with the sensible, effective ides that are being aired here.

[blackdog]

It will be interesting to see how Smurf markets this game, a victory could give us a pop at the elite so there are plenty of opportunities.

[Fosse69]

He won't say too much about the 10% price rise JA,it might threaten his £500,000 salary from Walker's?

Since they are owned by Pepsi, it is being blamed on the change in currency rates.