The women's team is in a bright spot right now. They are capturing the attention of many, but does that equate to being main-stream? To draw attention is one thing, but to parlay that into paying customers is an entirely different ball game. This needs to be given sufficient consideration and not lumped with the "we reach” syndrome that so often permeates our psyche when any glimmer of success on the international stage is within grasp.
This upcoming game for our women's team is a great situation to be in as it draws attention to the sport, the team, and the players. Therefore, this opportunity should be seen as a time to solidify the importance of women soccer, the opportunities available, and the success of our players in the local and international game. This is a time to develop heroes, stars, and personalities within the women's team to the wider public. To do this we need to cast as wide a net as possible. We eh reach, were on approach.
The posturing of “How much is a fete ticket?" is a relevant argument if used in comparison to would be customers making a choice on how they should spend their money. You must take into consideration competition for the same demographic you are targeting. Thus, the cost of a fete ticket must be a real consideration when setting a price for your product. That is, what other events are scheduled around the date and time that maybe relevant to the customers you wish to provide a service to.
That people are spending money to partake in other entertainment and so should automatically spend that money to support our women's team is a bit naïve. People need to know that the money they spend on entertainment will provide satisfaction for them that is worth their money. For an organization (not the TTFA perse) to proffer that people spend money on other supposedly "trivial" things and that supporting the women's team is a much more "meaningful" venture is very simple and shows a lack of understanding of customers. The TTFA have to make a concerted effort to sell this game and this team to the public. Not everyone is a football fan and not every football fan is a fan of the women's game. How do we win over the fence sitters? These are the people we should be focusing on and trying to reach to spend that money to come out and support. Cannot understand the rational that people should just support the team. We have to convince people to come out. They have many options to chose to spend their money on. Your product must be great and your marketing must be even better.
Notice must be taken on how other countries are going about generating hype around the women’s game. You make not take all of the idea but you may take bits and pieces to assist us in solidifying the women’s game in T&T.
Imagine the USWNT in the mecca of youth soccer (girls’ soccer is huge in KC and STL) only managed to generate just under 4000 spectators for their world cup qualifier opener through which last time they struggled.
Match: U.S. Women’s National Team vs. Trinidad & Tobago
Date: Oct. 15, 2014
Competition: 2014 CONCACAF Women’s Championship
Venue: Sporting Park; Kansas City, Kansas
Kickoff: 7:30 p.m. CT
Attendance: 3,621
Weather: 60 degrees, cool
We have to accept that great strides were made with the women's national team, but we are not equal to or on the same level as the men's national team. To admit that is not doing a disservice to the women's game or to our players. It is the reality. We know the players, we know the struggles they had to endure (not many of you know those struggles more than me), and we give our support. How much of the wider public know this team, the players, what they have been through. We could argue about Kenwyn Jones and Randafar Abu Bakr. We can compare Molino to Latapy. How many people can compare Mollon to a past female player? Compare Kamika Forbes to a past GK? Attins-Johnson to a past midfielder? We are on our way, but we are not there yet and we have to operate in the system as just that, we are not there yet.
The TTFA can use this game to streamline their organizing of hosting home games. Now is a good time to divide the stadium seating and affix various prices for different sections -
1. Behind the Goal,
2. Corner Flag,
3. Side line Lower (covered and uncover),
4. Side Line Upper (covered and Uncovered),
5. Field seating,
6. The Warrior Experience ("on field seats, meet and greet of TTMNT, etc.),
7. Group rates, etc...
This may also be a brilliant opportunity to get online sales going where you can purchase and print you ticket. How about a TTFA app for up to the minute news, give away, game day info, competitions, etc. This is a very short sighted approach that can come back to haunt the TTFA and the Women's game is mishandled.
Fill the stadium, bring as many people in to see our women play so that there can be arguments about player and how good they are or how shitty they are or how much they have improved or how much they have fallen off. This is the perfect scenario to lift the women's game to the next level.
Don’t be misled. I think the price is not bad and the monies generated will go a long way in assisting the FA to provide better services to our players.
Should the cost of entry to one of its finest moment in the women’s game in T&T be a point of contention?