[quote="eric pascoe"]
"You know, call me crazy, but another year ticks over, and I say to myself: Must renew my family's 4 memberships,
and I do.

I do, because I am a Carlton supporter, and anyone here who does not can &^%$ off now."



Eric I appreciate your passion and the contributions you have made to the club. Thankyou!
But to imply that people who don't buy memberships are somehow not entitled to a view on a blog site and should &^%$ off is way too strong.
I am not a member and I cannot think of a good reason why I should become one.
I cannot see the games (atm) and working with disadvantaged families who earn around $20 a month I don't feel good about giving money to an organisation whose 20 year old employees earn thousands of dollars for playing a game.
I (genuinely) enjoy watching the game and will be a Carlton supporter through thick and thin and I am also genuinely grateful to those who invest time and energy in the club and buy memberships. If you can convince me that giving my money to CFC for a membership is a better use of my money then I will buy one.

I bought my seated membership this year. First time in a couple years. I've now got serious buyer's remorse. Could do with that 400 bucks this long weekend.

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"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."

I think what the club needs to also writer about is the domino affect.
Because people buy their seat often.. And buy in batches according to friends you go to the footy with..
Say I stop going and I have a friend who now will be going to the football alone. They will probably not go.
One of the things about being less inclusive is of one person stops going a swag of people potentially stop going... Wherever it's friends or family.
I know a few people who have stopped signing up.. All for a variety of reasons. There is never one reason..
But often the theme is they have lost interest in the club.. In the experience of football.
For me it's a couple of things. Firstly I don't want to gift the people who have been systematically running the club into the ground any money.. Is fanning the flames.
Secondly, the experience of going to the football is crap compared to what it was.. It's just boring.
Thirdly I feel the club has no connect with its supporter base they merely expect you to sign up. They often use emotional blackmail like "no passengers" " I am Carlton " or this year telling you there's a fine for not joining up early you may lose your seat that you've had after being paid up for years..
People are attached to their seats and neighbours and I don't think they take kindly to those kinds of emotional threats.
The club treats us as consumers.. Buy the product! But not because the product is German made but because you should or have to.
When they did impose a 'late fine' on memberships I knew they were desperate and instead of engaging with supporters who have jumped or fallen off the wagon.. They upped the ante on the people who have remained loyal.
The people running this club don't understand what a club is.. And when they attempt to they treat it like the MCC.
Difference is the MCC is a fantastic product and people buy into it not because of sentiment.. But because they believe in that product.
I also have the MCC choice. Id willingly buy a Carlton and MCC membership if I truly enjoyed the club and the game.. The truth is I don't anymore.
I haven't signed up my fifteen hundred for MCC restricted even though I waited sixteen years .I might still do it.. I can do it anytime before this years finals.. And buy a membership But my club is stubbornly blocking my path back to football.. And the afl isn't helping...
I support a few charities.. I have heaps of interests.
This is not 1980 where the shops closed at noon on Saturday and we had nothing much to do for the weekend.
Back then we just got highlights.. If you wanted to watch a game you had to go.
The world is different today. My club still thinks it's in the eighties and doesn't need to complete for my dollar..
It's been left in the eighties and doesn't know how to climb out.
It's not just membership.. It's everything..


I need another pill to calm me down...

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Due to recent budget cuts and the rising cost of electricity, gas, and oil....... the Light at the End of the Tunnel has been turned off. We apologize for the inconvenience.

That is a very good post, Synbad.

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"In better news for Blues fans, Jarrad Waite was not named on the club's injury list."

I feel the same as you bluegirl72. I have been a member since 1976, except for a few years when my kids were young. I upgraded my membership this year to reserve seats, had issues with the membership department getting our seats allocated, but all good now.
I too used to count down until the start of the season, couldnt be less interested than I am right now.
I have no expectations either, you can't be let down or disappointed that way.

Hear, hear....possibly the best post in a long list of quality missives written on this topic! Many thanks, Synbad

+1

Well done Synbad, I'd also add the undercurrent of the Essendon* situation - I simply don't know what we are watching/supporting anymore...when Carrazzo gets his shoulder broken by a former stick insect, it's hard to enjoy the game as a contest.

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"...that's the thing about opinion - you don't have to know anything to have one..." Andre Agassi commenting on Pat Cash 2004
"...the less you know - the more you believe..." - Bono 2006

I know its a completely different sport and setup but I was listening to an interview just yesterday with mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks (NBA). The host asked him whether fans were cheated of their hard earned money when coaches decide to rest the stars, (relevant for NBA which only has 5 on the floor).
He said something that immediately made me think of Carlton and the AFL. he said " We are not selling basketball, we are selling experiences and memories. Father with their kids, boyfriends with their girlfriends, grandparents taking their kids etc. We put on a show for them and they come to be entertained. Basketball is one of our products."

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T E A M

Well done to TC members for getting a gig in The Age today - lets hope your passion is a catalyst for change.

I'm glad Sam Lane is right into this and confronting the club, publically, about why our brand sucks.

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dane's trolling again

They butchered the site address, but the use of flower goes prime time.

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dane's trolling again

What a shame they used .com.au

Terrible mistake.

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Koperek.

Was great seeing Talking Carlton referred to in The Age today - it was enough to get me to emerge from my Oxygen Coffin.

Time to throw a few more grenades...

http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/carlton-membership-update-were-not-dead-were-in-a-coma-and-were-really-happy-with-the-way-this-is-shaping-up/

huge factor in my waning interest.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

right now, I'm hoping that lemanc is not Sam Lane!

Hi Sam!!!!!! love your work.

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That’s not a political statement — it’s a harsh reality, and we must act,” she said. “He is a clear and present danger to the things that keep us strong and free. I support impeachment.”

+2

Just last night I was thinking about this too. Why had I lost interest. Why wasn't I going to renew my membership. It was prompted by a phone call that I got during the day from the club asking me to renew. I told the lady that I wasn't going to and she asked why. I said that I had lost interest and couldn't be bothered. And that was it; the call ended.

Well lady there is more and Synbad has hit the nail on the head.

I get the distinct feeling that CFC is only interested in my membership to jack up their member numbers and to swell their coffers; they don't actually give a flying fig about me or my needs. I told the club about 2-3 years ago that as an interstate member I wasn't getting a lot out of it but I paid my membership as a loyal member wanting to make financial contribution. It was about the time that the club was promoting a special report from the coach which one could access online for a fee. I said to them that perhaps interstate members should get this access for free. Never heard back from them! So I think there is a real disconnect between members and the club/board and this is causing the club's membership hemorrhage. I also worry about their being a club within the club. Mates who appoint mates; the appointment of SOS and the departure of Rogers.

And as for the AFL, well I have had enough of them too. Reading that Vlad got paid $2m for 8 months work is just bizarre and insulting to the wider footy audience. Why should I part with my hard earnt when the AFL can splash it around like there is no tomorrow. They can GAGF.

That's my tuppence worth.

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I need some new conspiracy theories; all my others have come true.

My takeaway from all this is:

Start winning.

Woodwork.

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dane's trolling again

flowers hahaha

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*(grow - fun - gah)

Yeah but whatabout your whataboutism.

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This whole episode has already had an upside. As Dane and Grro pointed out, flower is now mainstream baybee. POSITIVES!!!!

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The only way for some people to understand is for them to be on the receiving end

Left wing moralists
In self serving denial
They shit me no end