Wish-list for Gus : Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:20 pm  

Anyone got any thoughts about things they'd like to see happen next season off the pitch?

Here are my hopes for things I'd like to see happen or improve:-

Seating arrangements - I hope ST holders will have the choice of a seat in West Stand (even if it's too expensive to open the bar there. I don't think it's too much of an inconvenience to use the East Stand bar, imo.) Re the Loyal and Loud area, I would like to see some continuation of this or would it be better to have a quiet zone? I'm beginning to wonder if more of our supporters prefer matchday to have the ambience of a local library. Our mob moved seats to the middle block this year and found quite a few of the punters around us seemed to not appreciate us getting behind the team with a song or a cheer (not that there was much to cheer about this year. Perhaps that's been part of the problem).

Decent kit- Let's hope the powers that be have picked something tasteful for a change. Let's face it, our kit over the years has been (with a couple of exceptions) a mixture of gaudy, lairey, bizarre, tasteless and downright vile. It would be good to be able to wear a shirt down the shops that you don't feel embarrassed to wear (or in my case, doesn't frighten the horses!).

Season launch - don't think we've had one for the fans in last couple of years. I don't think it's too much to ask for a small gathering to introduce the new players (looks like we've got a lot that are worthy of an introduction). I guess everything has slid a bit with the loss of Chris Warren, who was great with that sort of stuff. I don't mind if it's not a grand, expensive caper like we've had in the past. Something in one of the members bars in the Stoop or a pub venue would be good (Doggetts Coat and Badge would be a good place).

Sponsorship- Could we please have some affordable packages for ordinary fans or groups of fans? I know we will be aiming to get the corporates involved, but until we are in a position to sell out all our player sponsorships, surely some money is better than nothing?

Buck and Dusty - I know this isn't a big deal with most of the adults but the kids absolutely love Buck and Dusty. What is the point of getting rid of them now? The mascots aren't a big deal so why make it into one by scrapping them.

Lastly, someone in the old regime dispensed with the services of our best (in a lot of fans eyes) steward Al. He is a fantastically helpful bloke who is not only kind and very good at his job but is also a supporter of RL (and what's more, he can "handle" himself when there is any trouble). Please re-instate him as he has been missed by a lot of us and he didn't deserve the treatment he got (he is still doing a great job at QRU). BTW, I am not a relative but someone who has had reason to appreciate his efforts.

I'm probably too late as most of the above has probably been dealt with , but anyone got anything to add?

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Thu Oct 06, 2011 4:54 pm  

I agree kit is going to be interesting and important, at one time many other clubs liked to have our shirts in their collection, but until we know the colours selected we will have to wait and see. Also with is using a new shirt producer who currently are not into rugby league it will be interesting what design ideas they have/

Season Launch I am sure can be done and it does not have to be an expensive event, it is just good to set off the season.

Sponsorship, as you say as much money has to be generated as possible and some seasons they have all sold quickly anyway, I know as I have been too late a few times. I first started with the sponsorship of a young player and to make more packages available and affordable perhaps that can be done for even Academy Players, to be associated with an up and coming home developed player.

Mascots has it been discussed they will be scrapped completely?

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Thu Oct 06, 2011 5:43 pm  

Regular Fans forums - say three times a season. Xmas merchandise - too late for this one!

I fully concur with the all the excellent points of DSWG.

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Thu Oct 06, 2011 7:20 pm  

I also want to see a decent playing shirt. Ideally, we want to have the most stylish shirt in the league....it's easy to underestimate how powerful a good shirt is. If kids wear it in the streets, get their parents to buy them in sport shops etc. We'd make more money....plus the brand/club are being advertised for free!

I do fear we'll end up with a bad kit though.....personally, we need to be careful about it.

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Fri Oct 07, 2011 12:13 am  

13,000 NEW fans over the course of the season...to make this easier, how about 1,000 for the first game and make sure they enjoy themselves so much they come back every second week?
$13OK in increased revenue.....30% better crowds.......better atmosphere and more residual income thereafter.

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Fri Oct 07, 2011 8:59 am  

We have a big asset in being at the Stoop and the after match party. Talk to the majority of away fans and they like coming to the Stoop and all that it offers…….we need to promote the `party` aspect in a BIG way and make it a place that fans from both camps (and new fans) want to enjoy and revisit. Any Quins fans that travel to away matches will tell you that just about every other club provides naff all in this regard. OK I know that if we are getting tonked on the pitch this has an impact on the after-match atmosphere…..but hey, that`s not going to happen next year, right!!!

Continue with using all of the available stands, which regardless of attendance makes a vast improvement to the days enjoyment and atmosphere (looking at 2 or 3 empty stands is terrible). Stick with the North stand for away fans. Keep the West stand (the LV stand) for season ticket holders and have the East stand for home fans but on a first come first served basis which gives you flexibility and makes it a whole lot easier to bring along potential fans and still get a half decent seat.

Totally agree on the stylish, good quality shirt comments, which should include both replica kit and casual wear/T-shirts so that people have a good selection to choose from. If it`s too gaudy and rubbish quality it just will not sell and its revenue lost. (PS: wonder if the club will still be able to sell merchandise from the Quins shop……PPS: Will the merchandise be more than just shirts?).

Can we do something about the half time entertainment and the terrible `music` that goes with it!...........what happened to the kids games on the pitch, the goal kicking competitions to win a few beers etc?………..dare I mention the `Cow Girls`

Hopefully we are going to promote some matches for worthy causes i.e. Help for Heroes, 999/Emergency Services, specific charities, kids hospital, that sort of thing.

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:29 pm  

Some good points raised already & I fully concur with re-instating Al the steward, a big character who many of us fans enjoyed having match-time banter with.
Personally, I would like to see the club target one specific away game & try to get as many new fans as possible to try the experience. Hopefully, some may enjoy it enough to attend a couple of other matches & boost the "Away Crew".
If announced early enough in the season, fans could plan in advance & maybe the club could assist with travel, much the same as Castleford did for their fans when we played at Charlton. If I remember correctly, this resulted in about 12-15 coachloads coming.

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Fri Oct 07, 2011 4:57 pm  

BRONCO BILLY wrote:

I would like to see the club target one specific away game & try to get as many new fans as possible to try the experience. Hopefully, some may enjoy it enough to attend a couple of other matches & boost the "Away Crew".

If announced early enough in the season, fans could plan in advance & maybe the club could assist with travel, much the same as Castleford did for their fans when we played at Charlton. If I remember correctly, this resulted in about 12-15 coachloads coming.

I am sure it is worthwhile for the club to support Our New Fans and current supporters to travel to a few major away games!

But as far as helping fans to come to London, I think our first Priority is to increase out own new fans/supporters to attend matches, I don't think we can start financing travel for away supporters to come to London, that is currently out of of scope as simply we do not have a bottomless pit with money!

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:07 pm  

jaybs...Think you may have mis-read the post from BB.....he is not suggesting we sponsor away fans to come to the Stoop, its about getting more London fans to go to away games!!!!

Re: Wish-list for Gus : Fri Oct 07, 2011 5:18 pm  

Under the sticks wrote:

jaybs...Think you may have mis-read the post from BB.....he is not suggesting we sponsor away fans to come to the Stoop, its about getting more London fans to go to away games!!!!

I apologise if that is the case! but I was a little unsure about the second paragraph!

Again I see no problem with assisting to a few away games, perhaps like St Helens to the new ground and you never know Saints may chip in! Perhaps we need to see how we start the season and we are playing, it would not help new fans taking them to away games seeing us get beaten, which with the new squad I hope will not be the case.

Again Sorry Bronco Billy for misreading your posting.