blues six glens nil
13-04-08, 08:59 PM
Sadly topical given the cup final ticketing arrangements
FEBRUARY 2008
"The IFA's bi-monthly Marketing Forum is one of the ways in which the Association communicates with the supporters. The forum is made up of Northern Ireland fans and IFA staff, who get to hear about the work of our department as well as putting their own ideas forward"
Geoff Wilson, IFA Marketing and Communications Director
Now, call me cynical, but you would have thought that such an event they would have invited representatives of Irish League clubs, bearing in mind that the IFA are responsible for football in Northern Ireland, and might be interested to hear what Irish League fans have to say.
A few days later, he was a guest writer for the News Letter's business supplement, and basically cut and pasted from www.ivebeenaskedtowriteanarticlefora...
There are those who have the impression that the IFA couldn't care about domestic club football in Northern Ireland. The sad fact is, they give people ammunition to air those views.
You may have noticed this week, a story about the GAA announcing a new TV deal with BBC Northern Ireland. You may also remember a blog I wrote in November highlighting the GAA's attempts to improve the level of TV coverage and how the IFA should do likewise. So what has the GAA done that the IFA hasn't?
Something.
Senior GAA figures have been commenting about how their game needs Television exposure in Northern Ireland. Players, fans and officials have been letting the public know that they are not happy with the coverage they are getting from Northern Ireland's TV stations, and upping the ante when the rights came up for renewal.
As a result, they've got a better deal that they already had, and crucially, more exposure. Meanwhile in the intervening period, the IFA have done nothing about the standard and level of TV coverage of football in Northern Ireland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/nort...
If you say nothing and do nothing, you get nothing
The GAA understand the value of television when developing a brand, especially in sport. They know that by having a weekly showcase on television, they become more attractive to potential investors and fans.
The respective councils of Newry and Coleraine seemed to be on the ball to the power of TV when their sides were chosen to take part in a televised game. As both sides take the name of their locality, the councils saw it as a 90 minute advertisement for their town, and thus provided tickets and transport to fans attending the game.
If they can see it, why can't the IFA?
When Linfield and Cliftonville played each other last month in a top of the table clash, BBC Newsline didn't even bother to read out the score, never mind show any action.
Do they seriously consider the standard and level of TV coverage of the Irish League to be adequate?
There seems to be an attitude amongst the IFA that we should be thankful for what we're getting.
Well, what are we getting?
BBC's coverage which was already bad, has got worse this season as the BBC are in a huff about losing out on internationals to Sky. Forget the money factor, when you weigh up Sky vs BBC, there is only one winner.
Sky's dedication to coverage and professional coverage won it. The money on offer wasn't even a factor, merely a bonus.
The IFA need to realise that they are a business and that they need to get the best deal for them and their stakeholders. If I ran a business and contracted a service out, and got what I got from the BBC, I would think twice about doing business with them again.
If the rumours about Sky wanting to introduce a highlights show for Irish League football are true, the IFA have to accept, for the good of football in Northern Ireland.
That's the only way in which the Irish League will improve it's profile.
It would certainly be a better marketing ploy than the IFA have thought up, namely the half-assed 'Pass On The Passion'
Idea 1, 'Wear You're Colours With Pride Day', where people who wear there teams strip get £1 off the admission fee. The idea of spending £30-£40 to get £1 off is not going to grab the attention of floating fans.
Idea 2, the IFA issue a press release urging Irish League fans to tell their friends about the local game, and urge them to attend matches. It's not my job to market the Irish League and get more fans through the turnstiles, it's the role and responsibility of the IFA's Marketing Department to do so.
Pass On The Passion?
More like 'Pass On The Responsibility'
If the IFA are serious about 'Passing On The Passion', perhaps they should start internally.
FEBRUARY 2008
"The IFA's bi-monthly Marketing Forum is one of the ways in which the Association communicates with the supporters. The forum is made up of Northern Ireland fans and IFA staff, who get to hear about the work of our department as well as putting their own ideas forward"
Geoff Wilson, IFA Marketing and Communications Director
Now, call me cynical, but you would have thought that such an event they would have invited representatives of Irish League clubs, bearing in mind that the IFA are responsible for football in Northern Ireland, and might be interested to hear what Irish League fans have to say.
A few days later, he was a guest writer for the News Letter's business supplement, and basically cut and pasted from www.ivebeenaskedtowriteanarticlefora...
There are those who have the impression that the IFA couldn't care about domestic club football in Northern Ireland. The sad fact is, they give people ammunition to air those views.
You may have noticed this week, a story about the GAA announcing a new TV deal with BBC Northern Ireland. You may also remember a blog I wrote in November highlighting the GAA's attempts to improve the level of TV coverage and how the IFA should do likewise. So what has the GAA done that the IFA hasn't?
Something.
Senior GAA figures have been commenting about how their game needs Television exposure in Northern Ireland. Players, fans and officials have been letting the public know that they are not happy with the coverage they are getting from Northern Ireland's TV stations, and upping the ante when the rights came up for renewal.
As a result, they've got a better deal that they already had, and crucially, more exposure. Meanwhile in the intervening period, the IFA have done nothing about the standard and level of TV coverage of football in Northern Ireland
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/nort...
If you say nothing and do nothing, you get nothing
The GAA understand the value of television when developing a brand, especially in sport. They know that by having a weekly showcase on television, they become more attractive to potential investors and fans.
The respective councils of Newry and Coleraine seemed to be on the ball to the power of TV when their sides were chosen to take part in a televised game. As both sides take the name of their locality, the councils saw it as a 90 minute advertisement for their town, and thus provided tickets and transport to fans attending the game.
If they can see it, why can't the IFA?
When Linfield and Cliftonville played each other last month in a top of the table clash, BBC Newsline didn't even bother to read out the score, never mind show any action.
Do they seriously consider the standard and level of TV coverage of the Irish League to be adequate?
There seems to be an attitude amongst the IFA that we should be thankful for what we're getting.
Well, what are we getting?
BBC's coverage which was already bad, has got worse this season as the BBC are in a huff about losing out on internationals to Sky. Forget the money factor, when you weigh up Sky vs BBC, there is only one winner.
Sky's dedication to coverage and professional coverage won it. The money on offer wasn't even a factor, merely a bonus.
The IFA need to realise that they are a business and that they need to get the best deal for them and their stakeholders. If I ran a business and contracted a service out, and got what I got from the BBC, I would think twice about doing business with them again.
If the rumours about Sky wanting to introduce a highlights show for Irish League football are true, the IFA have to accept, for the good of football in Northern Ireland.
That's the only way in which the Irish League will improve it's profile.
It would certainly be a better marketing ploy than the IFA have thought up, namely the half-assed 'Pass On The Passion'
Idea 1, 'Wear You're Colours With Pride Day', where people who wear there teams strip get £1 off the admission fee. The idea of spending £30-£40 to get £1 off is not going to grab the attention of floating fans.
Idea 2, the IFA issue a press release urging Irish League fans to tell their friends about the local game, and urge them to attend matches. It's not my job to market the Irish League and get more fans through the turnstiles, it's the role and responsibility of the IFA's Marketing Department to do so.
Pass On The Passion?
More like 'Pass On The Responsibility'
If the IFA are serious about 'Passing On The Passion', perhaps they should start internally.