Torquay United Fans Forum

ferrarilover wrote:Complete and utter waste of time. I've been in London this week, home of, well, all the London clubs. I've also had a lot of time on my hands. Not once has it crossed my mind to do a stadium tour of the current FA Cup holders, the current Premier League champions or the first team I ever went to see live (Fulham). Why on earth do you imagine a fat, penniless Brummie down here for a week in a caravan would give the first of two shits about spending half an hour away from Special Brew and telly to have a gander at the Popside shitters and the grease traps in the Bristow's tea bar? Better yet, to pay for the privilege.

In point of fact, the previous Board were happy to offer a tour free of charge. I reckon they did it twice in 5 years.

In the words of Big X, "for God's sake man, if you're going to think at least think clearly".

Matt.

You need to work for the tourism board. But you are correct.

Complete and utter waste of time. I've been in London this week, home of, well, all the London clubs. I've also had a lot of time on my hands. Not once has it crossed my mind to do a stadium tour of the current FA Cup holders, the current Premier League champions or the first team I ever went to see live (Fulham). Why on earth do you imagine a fat, penniless Brummie down here for a week in a caravan would give the first of two shits about spending half an hour away from Special Brew and telly to have a gander at the Popside shitters and the grease traps in the Bristow's tea bar? Better yet, to pay for the privilege.

In point of fact, the previous Board were happy to offer a tour free of charge. I reckon they did it twice in 5 years.

In the words of Big X, "for God's sake man, if you're going to think at least think clearly".

Matt.

Jack wrote:Just to put my original post into context.
We have a population of 250,000 in our catchment area. Probably less than 10,000 of them have been inside Plainmoor in the last 5 years? That leaves 240,000 locals who probably cannot visualise what Plainmoor is like other than what they see if they travel past the ground.
Torbay has 1.1M visitors each year who stay for an average of 4 days each making 4.4M visitor days. They spend £306M which equates to £70 per visitor day including accommodation costs. If we could attract some of the other spend it would help the financial position of the Club. If only 10% of visitors are footy fans that is still over 100,000 people.
As with all new ventures you have to start them in a modest way but I would be more than happy to pay £5 for a behind the scenes tour of the ground or £10 to include some light refreshments. With Christmas looming it is the time of year when "days out" are bought as presents and this could fit the bill for a small gift.
The Club needs to develop a more open culture with the public and inviting them in to have a look at the facilities would help to spread the word that we have good commercial facilities that are sadly under-utilised at this present time. The commercial/catering side of the Club seems to be keen to do business but they desperately need to widen their customer base.
As for Schools, I am sure the younger ones would rather visit when they can sit in the stands and dugouts trying out the seats etc rather than being forced to watch a football match. For older ones the Club is an example of a small/medium business enterprise that could be a practical example to use in business studies.
Sorry to ramble on but I can't help thinking that a lot of non league Clubs must be very envious of the facilities that we have and would market them agressively in order to maximise their income from commercial activities

Ramble on! More of this sort of ideas thinking needed

Just to put my original post into context.
We have a population of 250,000 in our catchment area. Probably less than 10,000 of them have been inside Plainmoor in the last 5 years? That leaves 240,000 locals who probably cannot visualise what Plainmoor is like other than what they see if they travel past the ground.
Torbay has 1.1M visitors each year who stay for an average of 4 days each making 4.4M visitor days. They spend £306M which equates to £70 per visitor day including accommodation costs. If we could attract some of the other spend it would help the financial position of the Club. If only 10% of visitors are footy fans that is still over 100,000 people.
As with all new ventures you have to start them in a modest way but I would be more than happy to pay £5 for a behind the scenes tour of the ground or £10 to include some light refreshments. With Christmas looming it is the time of year when "days out" are bought as presents and this could fit the bill for a small gift.
The Club needs to develop a more open culture with the public and inviting them in to have a look at the facilities would help to spread the word that we have good commercial facilities that are sadly under-utilised at this present time. The commercial/catering side of the Club seems to be keen to do business but they desperately need to widen their customer base.
As for Schools, I am sure the younger ones would rather visit when they can sit in the stands and dugouts trying out the seats etc rather than being forced to watch a football match. For older ones the Club is an example of a small/medium business enterprise that could be a practical example to use in business studies.
Sorry to ramble on but I can't help thinking that a lot of non league Clubs must be very envious of the facilities that we have and would market them agressively in order to maximise their income from commercial activities

You could set up a school tour for local children. However, I doubt if it would be come a tourist site. There isn't even a car park.

Some very good, interesting thoughts there. Personally when you look at it most supporters are clinging on and still sticking with the club because of history. The emotional attachments are made for many in key eras when they started following the club and then the many moments enjoyed is what gets you through the bad times. Its this emotion and the times shared in the past that keeps everyone coming back and hoping, its all we have in these troubled times when you look at the shell of its former self in the football pyramid that TUFC has become.

History is what got us here over 116 years, it hasnt all been bad by any means, so it couldnt hurt to try and market it, there was an exhibition at the mueseum in the summer and I did feel then that maybe there is a small area at the grounds inner sanctum that could put a similar thing to good use. All depends on cost and earning potential, who knows?

IThe Club seems very focused on promoting commercial activities and there is always at least one new news item on the Website each week. The problem is that the news items are only reaching the same audience, the usual diehard supporters, and not reaching the wider public.
If the Club wants to reach a wider audience and expand it's commercial activities it needs to be big and bold.
We have a lot going for us that many lower football league and national league sides don't. We have history including five Wembley appearances. Many well known football people including Frank O'Farrell, John Bond, Ken Brown, Robin Stubbs, John Rudge, Tony "Bomber" Brown, Bruce Rioch, Chris Waddle, Neville Southall, Lee Sharpe, Darren Moore, Leroy Rosenior, Mike Williamson and Gary Monk (just some of the better known names but not necessarily an exhaustive list) have been associated with our Club. We have a good ground with good catering facilities and a main stand that incorporates school classrooms as well as changing rooms etc.
If the Club brought all these factors together with an introductory film/presentation, guided tour of the ground plus a pub lunch/cream tea could we not create a worthwhile tourist attraction? There is not a lot to do in Torbay out of season and older visitors who have taken an interest in football over the years would be aware of many of the names I have listed. A potential spinoff in addition to the net income from the tour could be the sale of souvenirs plus possible attendance at a home game if it fitted in time wise.
I left Torbay some thirty years ago but I have supported the Club for over fifty years and I made all the Wembley visits. This season has been one of mixed emotions but we seem to be finally making progress on the playing front and now need to work on the three "c's" Commercial, Community and Culture. Opening the doors of the Club to supporters, lapsed supporters and visitors would bring in revenue and help to engender a feel good factor around the place.
We have an interesting history, lets ensure that we have a future!