How Can Our Club Connect To You?

Nano said:
I.e. there are people that are price elastic and people that are performance elastic.
Click to expand...

You’re right, but the club will cater to the group that they feel maximises overall gate revenue.

It’s a business, afterall. They’d probably rather have a 27k gate bringing in £500k than a 29k gate bringing in £450k
 
Merlin said:
Crowds are well above our historical average of around 20000 - we aren’t a big city club and our support is very good, especially when you take into consideration our ticket prices compared to most
Click to expand...

I'm not criticising our support, I think it's been excellent for a good few years now considering conditions, and even when we were struggling badly this season, the fans have largely turned up.

I'm just pointing out a false statement and countering what seems to be yet another snide dig at Boro fans from that poster whenever there's any criticism of the club.
 
TeaCider said:
I'm not criticising our support, I think it's been excellent for a good few years now considering conditions, and even when we were struggling badly this season, the fans have largely turned up.

I'm just pointing out a false statement and countering what seems to be yet another snide dig at Boro fans from that poster whenever there's any criticism of the club.
Click to expand...

Apologies, didn’t realise this was personal 😅
 
OP makes a strong point. Back in the day we were passionate about the team but the club were completely disengaged (Bernard Gent aside). The notion of Charlie Amer taking time out from selling all our best players to meet supporters would have been baffling. The club was run like a medieval fiefdom largely for the benefit of one individual. And that turned out OK. Oh hang on...
 
Nano said:
You are making the mistake in thinking that there are not multiple categories of people with different circumstances.

There are loads of people that won't/can't pay £30+ whether we are the best team in the league or the worst and there are some that will pay £50 to see us when we're winning regularly and wouldn't pay anything when we aren't. There are lots of people that are somewhere in between both of those circumstances.

I.e. there are people that are price elastic and people that are performance elastic.
Click to expand...
Nano there were 12,000 who spent around £48 each on tickets within 30 minutes - two years ago to go to Old Trafford for a Friday Night live game, because they were excited and thought we had a chance.
 
In response to the OP, I'd just say a bit more open communication from the top and less taking the fans for granted.

The social media side of the club is largely fine, but it's radio silence from the most important people for long periods, and the rare times you do hear anything it's often to a limited audience without any prior notice to the fanbase at large.

Kieran Scott's interview with the Twe12th Man in February was great, and it's something I'd love to see more of, but I only heard about it beforehand because I followed that fan group's twitter account.

Steve Gibson and Michael Carrick also had a event with a small number of fans in February but there was no public announcement of it happening and it wasn't viewable or readable afterwards, the only way you could find out what was said is if somebody who was there told you.

I went to one myself when Chris Wilder was still here, but most fans won't even be notified it's happening, let alone invited.
 
Last edited:
h_m_boro said:
I must have caught her on a bad day/week/couple of weeks as she wasn't.....good ....from my dealings with her ☹️☹️
Click to expand...
Iv emailed on multiple occasions and never had one response ! And they weren't even complaints!

One was in regards to putting my son's name down to be a mascot recently which the MFC website directs you to Yvonne's email address and tells you to contact her. I got sweet FA back. Brilliant customer service.

Speaking of customer service as well, I was invited to digital ticketing a few weeks back I downloaded my season ticket to my phone wallet. And when I checked the details showing on the card were for a seat I moved from 2 seasons ago nearly ! So I called the club ticket office - oh yes I'll pass this over someone will call you back.... You can probably guess the rest.

Iv just continued to use my physical card.

So based on my two above points and also the whole lack of stock for kids over the season again which I couldn't get my son any away shorts or socks. To make me feel more engaged with the club the whole customer experience needs looking into.
 
NorthumberlandBoro said:
We are not going to sell out in the second tier. That doesn't mean are crowds aren't good.
Click to expand...
I firmly believe with a better pricing structure which falls in line with something similar to what most other clubs are charging (particularly for kids) we would get very healthy crowds. Like other people have suggested, free tickets for school kids, grass roots football teams. Let's try and actually grow the fan base. Sadly while Gibson is at the helm, I just can't see it happening.
 
Redwurzel said:
Nano there were 12,000 who spent around £48 each on tickets within 30 minutes - two years ago to go to Old Trafford for a Friday Night live game, because they were excited and thought we had a chance.
Click to expand...
They were all season ticket holders, not the walk ups that can't justify £30+ for a home game. Seriously, how hard is it to recognise that the fanbase is not a homogenous blob but 10s of thousands of individuals with their own personal circumstances?

AytonMews said:
You’re right, but the club will cater to the group that they feel maximises overall gate revenue.

It’s a business, afterall. They’d probably rather have a 27k gate bringing in £500k than a 29k gate bringing in £450k
Click to expand...
And this is why there is a disconnect between club and fans. If every decision is viewed as purely a financial one then fans will see themselves as customers. I will support a football club that means something to me even when things aren't going well. I will not support a business that only sees me as a revenue source even when things are going well.
 
Put on free coaches for certain away games, particularly when it's a long distance to travel.

It would have been a nice gesture to have put on free coaches for Plymouth away.

A lot of clubs seem to do this but I don't believe we ever have.
 
Nano said:
They were all season ticket holders, not the walk ups that can't justify £30+ for a home game. Seriously, how hard is it to recognise that the fanbase is not a homogenous blob but 10s of thousands of individuals with their own personal circumstances?


And this is why there is a disconnect between club and fans. If every decision is viewed as purely a financial one then fans will see themselves as customers. I will support a football club that means something to me even when things aren't going well. I will not support a business that only sees me as a revenue source even when things are going well.
Click to expand...


I do see your point. But at the end of the day, it IS a business, and we ARE the customers.
 
The gates of the last few seasons have been very, very good. I'd say they've rarely been bettered at this level of football. Possibly 97/97 and 15/16 only, both promotion years.

There's good support but keeping the turnstile clicking is going to require good football results. The discontent this season is all about result disappointments, and that's down to fans building up their own expectations despite seeing the better players from last season disappearing.

We're getting more for bog standard mid table Championship games than we got for a UEFA.cup quarter final. Strange.
 
fmttmadmin said:
Is it all about pricing? Or is saying thank you very important too.
But what about beyond that, how can Boro make you feel that you are a part of a Boro community again?
Or is this sense of community built from fans and not club in any case?

Am just thinking about this because for me there is no us and them. I was a fan in the 70s and 80s and through the Ayresome years and I remember very little bond with the actual club. We loved the players, we supported their testimonials, or some of us did. But there were very few club events for the Boro masses. Even after 86 there were frequent arguments from fans that the club was too distant and secretive etc. It always seemed to be the case.

What do fans think we can do to make this more of a community feel club? Or is it all down to pricing?
Seriously, how can the football club reach you?

There could be ideas next season - of extending the FanZone for instance or encouraging more indoor bars to open after the game. We could try and ask for more events with players and staff at the Riverside. Affordable not dinner suit dinners.

Or maybe we could build a Boro museum at the Riverside - if the Boro Shirt Museum exhibition is a big success at the Dorman (starting April) - then this might perhaps give us some leverage.

The MFC Foundation (which legally cannot be part of the football club for charity status reasons, but is really) works with all manner of projects and demographics from people with dementia (award winning and heartwarming) to providing a youth service for kids to take them off the streets. And working in schools on mental and physical health and helping with getting fans fit in general.

MFC Women is also seen as a commitment to the community - looking to the future to involve and inspire girls and women but also all school kids in general in the area.

These are examples of community reach. Pretty significant in many ways. But in what other ways, wherever we are in the world, could we feel more connected with our club and community?

Please have a think about this because I think there are significant opportunities for us all to have some say, remove some barriers and be stronger and more united for it. To make it feel like your/our Riverside.
Click to expand...

My concerns are about the need for better engagement and communication between Middlesbrough FC and its diverse fanbase.

The essence of a football club's spirit lies not just in the game itself but in the community it fosters. While pricing is a tangible factor, the intangible warmth of feeling valued and heard is equally important. A simple 'thank you' can indeed resonate deeply with fans, acknowledging their loyalty and support.

For Middlesbrough FC to rekindle that sense of belonging, it's imperative that all voices are heard and not just those that the Chairmanwants to talk to behind clised doors.

MSF's role as a conduit for fan engagement is crucial, and it's disappointing when such a platform isn't adequately consulted and is used as a tick book exerciseby MFC. Transparent and regular communication can bridge the gap that has long been felt since the Ayresome years.

Visibility and transparency from the chairman are essential in fostering trust. Engaging with a broader spectrum of fans, including LGBTQ+, Women's and BAME groups, ensures that everyone feels represented. Recognising the diversity within the fanbase is the first step towards inclusive engagement.

The club's communication and media strategy needs a revamp urgently. It shouldn't be just about relaying information; it's about creating dialogues. Fans should feel like they're part of the conversation, not just passive recipients of decisions made behind closed doors.

Extending the FanZone and creating more social spaces are excellent ideas that can encourage fans to gather and share their passion.

Events with players and staff, which are accessible to all and not just the elite, can strengthen the bond between the team and the community. It is good to see players attending schools and interacting with children and young people, and this does need to extend to adult fans also. I would love an opportunity to have a sit down with some of the players to hear their passion for the game but fir them to hear what Boro means to us as life long fans of the team. This could help them to play with more passion on the pitch.

A Boro museum would be a testament to the club's rich history and a beacon for future aspirations. Success with the Boro Shirt Museum exhibition could pave the way for such a legacy project. However transport links to the club would need to be better in order to make it more accessible.

The MFC Foundation's work is commendable, and its initiatives are a testament to the club's commitment to social responsibility. However they do focus their work reactively rather than proactively and this maybe down to funding.

MFC Women's focus on inclusivity and empowerment is a beacon of progress, inspiring not just women but the entire community. It has been fantastic this season to see that a little investment in the women's game can pay dividends...so I would urge the club to do more.

To enhance our connection with the club, wherever we are in the world, we could:

- Implement a more inclusive consultation process. A Fans Advisory Board would be good but only if it is actually truly transparent and listened to by MFC.
- Increase the chairman's visibility and interaction with fans through regular open forums.
- Develop targeted outreach programs for underrepresented groups within the fanbase.
- Improve the club's communication and media channels, ensuring clarity, honesty, and a two-way dialogue.
- Hosting regular forums where fans can voice their opinions and suggestions directly to the club's management.
- Organising community-driven events and projects that involve fans in meaningful ways, such as neighbourhood clean-ups or charity matches.
- Leveraging digital platforms to create virtual spaces where international fans can interact, share experiences, and feel closer to the club.

Let's seize the opportunity to have our voices heard, to remove barriers, and to unite as a stronger, more cohesive community. It's time for us to shape the Riverside into a place that truly feels like ours—a home where every fan is valued and every voice matters because at the moment sadly this most certainly not the case
 
h_m_boro said:
I must have caught her on a bad day/week/couple of weeks as she wasn't.....good ....from my dealings with her ☹️☹️
Click to expand...
Wow, you seriously must have caught her on a very bad day as Yvonne to me is the beating heart of the club. Her passion for MFC and more importantly the fans is unbelievably awesome. She is one of the loveliest people you could know.
 
BoroLioness said:
Wow, you seriously must have caught her on a very bad day as Yvonne to me is the beating heart of the club. Her passion for MFC and more importantly the fans is unbelievably awesome. She is one of the loveliest people you could know.
Click to expand...
I don't know ....but it left me even more disconnected with the club. I'll leave it at that 🤷🏻‍♂️🤷🏻‍♂️
 
Last edited:
BoroLioness said:
To enhance our connection with the club, wherever we are in the world, we could:

- Implement a more inclusive consultation process. A Fans Advisory Board would be good but only if it is actually truly transparent and listened to by MFC.
- Increase the chairman's visibility and interaction with fans through regular open forums.
- Develop targeted outreach programs for underrepresented groups within the fanbase.
- Improve the club's communication and media channels, ensuring clarity, honesty, and a two-way dialogue.
- Hosting regular forums where fans can voice their opinions and suggestions directly to the club's management.
- Organising community-driven events and projects that involve fans in meaningful ways, such as neighbourhood clean-ups or charity matches.
- Leveraging digital platforms to create virtual spaces where international fans can interact, share experiences, and feel closer to the club.
Click to expand...
There are some cracking ideas here, BoroLioness. It’s a long post and maybe some people’ll have missed the end list of really good suggestions, so I’ve clipped it above.^^

Our little FMTTM coffee club meets once a month and we have also aired some of these suggestions in our ramshackle, over 50s way whilst sipping our hot drinks and munching on our scones or teacakes.

I know some/all of our group would be up for being involved in some of these things. If nothing else, we are good talkers and mostly all hale from AP days and have a breadth of experience to offer.

It would be good if the club reciprocated by being open to new ideas or ventures.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top