Ideas, ideas...I've had heaps of ideas! Do I have to list them all again?!? Oh well, no need as most of the boys have already listed most of the good ones.
1. Get the Merchandising Section out of the Leagues Club and into an established retail environment with lots of passer-by traffic and that is convenient to access by public transport. How many local kids can get themselves down to the Leagues Club to buy their dad a Father's Day, Birthday or Christmas gift?
This is a really good start. The merchandise "store" in the club is a shocker. If it is too expensive to get a permanent store in Cronulla Mall of Miranda Fair then a cheaper, and possibly, much better idea is to get a mobile merchandise truck (like the Eels had at Shark Park this year) that can be taken around to shopping centres or even sports grounds all around the Shire and set up in carparks. This will have a great "impulse buy" power as people will see the truck, wander over for a look, and hopefully buy something.
4. Get a local panelbeater to get a car (preferably a convertible yank tank) and do it up with a complete spray job in Sharkies colours... complete with sound system... and maybe a dorsal fin. The sort of eye catching thing that turns up to kid's games, schools, fetes, etc., with things like Jaws theme, Up-Up Cronulla, Can't Touch This playing on the stereo. Make an entrance.
Way ahead of you there mate! Nearing completion on my '64 AP5 Valiant which I have painted platinum (sky) blue metallic with a white roof, Sharks car mats, Sharks number plates, sharks fluffy dice and Sharks stickers. I am seriously tossing up whether to put the twin black stripes up the bonnet, as per your picture - except my wife will go bananas if I spend anymore cash on it! Tell you what, if the club or a local spray painter want to pay for the job, I'll get it done!
8. Get in contact with all local schools and offer Sharks players to go to end of year Assemblies to hand out Sports Awards & Trophies.
Go one better than that. Assign a school to each player and make it their job to visit that school whenever possible and become part of the school family. We are losing young kids to other, more "glamourous" clubs like the Tigers, Dragons, etc. Far too many kids at my sons' school follow teams other than the Sharks and it really annoys me! If you don't have these kids by 12, stats show you have lost them forever.
I think for the junior base, we should allign ourselves with Endeavour Sports High, alot of good players come out of the school, but not many of them seem to play for the Sharks.
We are already aligned with Endeavour, problem is they are also aligned with the Dragons. They display both club logo's on their League uniform
More like family orientated activities ... like yes were in money problems though i think it would be awesome like BBQ at the game, bringing childrens activities you know the lot
Not just at the games, the Leagus Club itself must be more family friendly. Encourage people to bring their families for a meal at the Club. Look at the success of clubs like the Tradies and Taren Point Hotel where they offer a "kids club". Make use of the Summertime bar as a bistro area where kids can run around on the grass in the sunshine and Mum and Dad can watch them while they have a meal and a drink. Even better, put in some play equipment, climbing gym etc. Have a "kids room" for the older kids with Xbox, videos etc like they do at Tradies - my kids love it.
Actually assign a player to a club for the year and it is their job to get to a few training sessions and games. St Pats can get Covell, Yarra gets Barrett, Engadine gets...
Can't begin to explain how important this is is getting and keeping young fans...
These (and all the others) are great ideas that could really start a new era at the Sharks. The board and CEO should look at this as an opportunity to "start again" - rebuild the club from the ground up. We have the chance to re-invent this club as the envy of all others.
I just hope that someone out there is really listening...
