If Season Cancelled - refund or no refund?

[tigers80]

The club will damned If they do and they are damned if they don't.
There is a collective group of CEO's that are working together, with BG to come up with a collective package for all clubs to present to members from what I believe.
I am sure they are working on this also with the ACCC.
I was just put off and I'm donating to the club because that's what I WANT to do, I understand that people have a difference of opinion or their circumstances have changed, they have to do what's best for them.
Our memberships are pre paid every year, i don't do the rolling payment plan, so they have my coin.

 

[123cups]

One extreme is the season is over, but’s it’s also still possible we see 17 games this year.

Wuhan is close to normal after 10 weeks.

The clubs, players, and AFL are all in a difficult position with regards to committing to future finances.

I hope there’s no clear answer for at least 6 weeks, as that will indicate a more positive outcome is still on the table.

 

[LeeToRainesToRoach]

It's too early for many to make a call on this without knowing the long-term ramifications for themselves or the club. If e.g. the AFLW team is functioning next year then I would suggest the club is in a position to refund members in full.

 

[Jake]

Don't know whether it has been mentioned on PRE, sorry if has, but why don't the TIGES give back half the Membership money this year to members, keep the other half to run the club though troubled times. Then next year only charge the members half the price of a membership. This year we help the club, next year they reward us. BTW, anybody who wants to donate the membership money this year could also do that too.

 

[Tenacious]

Don't know whether it has been mentioned on PRE, sorry if has, but why don't the TIGES give back half the Membership money this year to members, keep the other half to run the club though troubled times. Then next year only charge the members half the price of a membership. This year we help the club, next year they reward us. BTW, anybody who wants to donate the membership money this year could also do that too.

In other words - you’re basically wanting a full refund of this years membership money - just split into two payments
I suppose it could be one of the options they offer members - along with a full refund (at one end) and no refund at all (at the other)

Obviously the personal circumstances of members will affect which they want to go.

Personally I don’t care if they keep the membership money - other than that paid to the MCC and Docklands for the specific costs of my reserved seats (5 of them)

 

[eZyT]

One extreme is the season is over, but’s it’s also still possible we see 17 games this year.

Wuhan is close to normal after 10 weeks.

wuhan welded people into their houses.

while we have games of stacks-on at stkilda beach.

NZ maybe normal in 10 weeks, but

this is gonna wipe out our year I reckon.

 

[nqtiger]

To be honest and fair given a lot of members will become unemployed, the club shou;s stop the direct debits until such time that there is clarity in moving forward, that is the fair and equitsble thing, tigers supporters have ALWAYS dug deep for the club and ALWAYS will, it’s time for Benny to show dome goodwill

 

[TrialByVideo]

Just in from HQ for AFL members.

​

​ ​ Thank you for your patience, support and understanding during this period of uncertainty. The priority of the AFL during this COVID-19 outbreak is the health and welfare of all our people: staff, players, officials, members, supporters and the Australian community more broadly. The AFL is committed to playing the remaining 144 games plus finals of the 2020 Toyota AFL Premiership Season this year and, while the season is on hold until Sunday, May 31 we will continue to review the situation. Membership Payments At this stage, we are unable to determine what the full impact of the 2020 Toyota AFL Season suspension will have on your AFL Membership. We are continuing to assess a range of options for members and will communicate further when the position becomes clearer. As you pay for your membership via AFL Advance monthly payments, your payment on Monday, March 30, 2020, will be debited as scheduled. We understand this may also be a challenging time for you and your family. If you wish to defer your monthly payments, simply follow the link below. Click here to defer your payments. This link will expire after 12pm, Monday, March 30, 2020. To log in, please use your email address and AFL Membership password. To defer your payment after 12pm, Monday, March 30, you can contact us at [email protected]. Please note: if you pause your scheduled payments, a future catch-up payment may be required to resume your AFL Membership once certainty around the remaining matches is communicated. AFLConnect - Coming Soon We’re pleased to be launching ‘AFLConnect’, the AFL’s member-only platform that will house and promote exclusive deals & services from a range of AFL corporate partners. We look forward to sharing more information on AFLConnect and the benefits for our members over the coming week. Member Services Given the suspension of matches, the AFL Membership Team has been stood down from Monday, March 30, 2020. The AFL Membership email inbox will continue to be monitored; however response times will be significantly longer until Monday, June 1, 2020. - - - We will come through this crisis and when we do our most valued part of our great game will continue to be you, our members, who create the history, tradition and connection that makes football so special. Thank you again for the loyalty, support, passion, tradition, and connection that you show through your membership. We will come through this crisis because of the people and their love of our great game. Footy will find a way. If you have any further questions, you can continue to contact us at [email protected]. Please take care of yourself and those around you to stay healthy and well. ​

 

[eddazol]

No news in that announcement

 

[SpaceAce]

I'd like to see the powerful clubs help out the less powerful (Saints, Id like to see tigers buddy the saints, not ******* north)

I respectfully disagree on this particular point.
The powerful clubs are in a strong position because of large support bases, as well as sound resourceful business management.
This crisis is going to hit the top 5-6 powerful clubs pretty hard with mass layoffs and restructuring. From this point onwards its about self preservation.
As a member of the RFC, the LAST THING I want us to do is come to the aid of perpetual welfare recipients such as Norf, Saints, Suns and the Dogs.
I consider these clubs largely irrelevant at the best of times!
The competition has too many clubs as it is. A small haircut of 2-3 teams (by folding or merging) would be fine in the long run.
Lets start with Norf....

 

[Tigers of Old]

Just in from HQ for AFL members.

​

​

​ ​ ​ ​ We understand this may also be a challenging time for you and your family. If you wish to defer your monthly payments, simply follow the link below. Click here to defer your payments. ​

At least they have provided the option to defer payment. That is exactly what our club should have had as part of Gale's email to club members.

 

[Tenacious]

I respectfully disagree on this particular point.
The powerful clubs are in a strong position because of large support bases, as well as sound resourceful business management.
This crisis is going to hit the top 5-6 powerful clubs pretty hard with mass layoffs and restructuring. From this point onwards its about self preservation.
As a member of the RFC, the LAST THING I want us to do is come to the aid of perpetual welfare recipients such as Norf, Saints, Suns and the Dogs.
I consider these clubs largely irrelevant at the best of times!
The competition has too many clubs as it is. A small haircut of 2-3 teams (by folding or merging) would be fine in the long run.
Lets start with Norf....

100% agree
We need fewer clubs - in particular fewer from Melbourne - but we also need an even number.
If the resultant natural evolution from the current crisis left us all with 16 teams and with one of them in Tassie - it might be a good overall outcome.

 

[Tigers of Old]

With games off for now, what will happen to club members who want their money back?

It's a difficult time for all footy clubs and everyone involved with suspended seasons — but if you're a holder of a club membership who wants a refund, you might be left disappointed.

www.abc.net.au

 

[eddazol]

What happens with the loyalty scheme? If someone drops their payments do they lose their consecutive year status?

Grand Final tickets might be a lot easier to get next year.

I agree be careful

 

[SpaceAce]

100% agree
We need fewer clubs - in particular fewer from Melbourne - but we also need an even number.
If the resultant natural evolution from the current crisis left us all with 16 teams and with one of them in Tassie - it might be a good overall outcome.

I heard some interesting stats yesterday; the AFL has instructed clubs to operate at $25k per week (usually the weekly running costs are 4-5 times higher than this.
Also the AFL wastes $30 million per year for Gold Coast just to exist. Needless to say the competition has become accustomed to seemingly endless money supply.
The point here is that when this pandemic is over and the competition starts to recover, the AFL and the financially powerful clubs will all be a bit battered.
The weaker clubs with little/no support bases and resources will struggle to survive. I don't think the AFL will be in a position to bail them all out.

 

[eZyT]

What happens with the loyalty scheme? If someone drops their payments do they lose their consecutive year status?

Grand Final tickets might be a lot easier to get next year.

Maurice Rioli Club has a waiting list. No way will I relinquish them.

but I'd want to get some kind of benefit out of 'em?

I'd be happy with Dusty shaking me a margarita in the MR room when I'm next in Melbourne

 

[BillyJean17]

There would be many members who would be in similar situations of financial pressure given recent events.
The club is right to ask members to stay strong & loyal but it's a two way street. The club also needs to look after loyal members who've also been affected finacially by the virus.
The hold should not be an option that people have to hunt for. Not every member will feel comfortable contacting the club. In fact few will given the emotional ties.
To be honest I don't like that this has not been at least mentioned by the club as an option.
Can't help but feel that after this PR job by Gale that the club will now sit tight for 2 months until the season is announced as cancelled.
Then an option will be offered either as a percentage refund or as a credit for next years membership.
This really does come across as a business decision rather than what is right. I'm disappointed.

Sure some will say we owe the club plenty for what they've given us the past few years but we've all also been here for the 30 odd before that.
Just do what's right Richmond.

Why would they cancel the season in May when it’s been made very clear they are prepared to play into summer which means November , a further 6m away. Ludicrous suggestion , whilst their is a will they will find a way once restrictions are lifted

 

[DavidSSS]

This get thrown around a lot but it just isn't correct.

The TV rights pay $400 million a year for a start. Go from 9 games to 8 and you drop $44 million just on a straight percentage of that, not to mention the gains in participation rates etc in the expansion areas.

Expanding the competition is not wasting money, it is good business and is what has allowed the AFL to have the resources that the NRL would kill for right now.

I'm not convinced of 18 clubs, nor am I convinced about Gold Coast, but expansion, yes, needed to be done.

While we are on the topic, one thing to remember about Australian Rules Football - it has historically had one of, if not the, highest proportion of female fans attending games of any football code in the world. Look at European soccer - crowds are male dominated, and the same goes for rugby, gridiron etc. Expanding into Womens' AFL has heightened interest in what is an important market for Australian Rules Football: women and girls. It has increased participation too.

Maybe we need to drop down to 16 clubs but I also think we need to keep GWS, have a club in Tassie and there are some Melbourne clubs which are not negotiable: StKilda as he only club in the South has to stay as does Western Bulldogs (Footscray to me) as the only club of the West. The club most under threat IMO is North, and the logical move is to relocate to Tassie, that would attract a subsidy from the Tas govt. North will be asking for solidarity in this situation, but their past lack of solidarity is going to come back to bite them I'm afraid.

Fitzroy got merged and moved, South Melbourne just got moved, the weaker clubs who supported this may just reap what they sowed.

DS

 

[seven]

Also the AFL wastes $30 million per year for Gold Coast just to exist.

McGuire was saying if the AFL can win Gold Coast then the AFL is the undisputed No.1 comp in the country.
Get the feeling this is what the AFL think as well. They don’t want GC fail like other comps have.

 

[BillyJean17]

I'm not convinced of 18 clubs, nor am I convinced about Gold Coast, but expansion, yes, needed to be done.

While we are on the topic, one thing to remember about Australian Rules Football - it has historically had one of, if not the, highest proportion of female fans attending games of any football code in the world. Look at European soccer - crowds are male dominated, and the same goes for rugby, gridiron etc. Expanding into Womens' AFL has heightened interest in what is an important market for Australian Rules Football: women and girls. It has increased participation too.

Maybe we need to drop down to 16 clubs but I also think we need to keep GWS, have a club in Tassie and there are some Melbourne clubs which are not negotiable: StKilda as he only club in the South has to stay as does Western Bulldogs (Footscray to me) as the only club of the West. The club most under threat IMO is North, and the logical move is to relocate to Tassie, that would attract a subsidy from the Tas govt. North will be asking for solidarity in this situation, but their past lack of solidarity is going to come back to bite them I'm afraid.

Fitzroy got merged and moved, South Melbourne just got moved, the weaker clubs who supported this may just reap what they sowed.

DS

Forget tassie for a couple of decades there’ll be no more spec picks for a while and I mean a while