Adelaide Crows include the chance to win a car in their new membership package
The Adelaide Crows are set to offer fans who maintain their memberships several new benefits, including the chance to win a new car … but will it be a Camry? SEE WHAT THE CROWS & POWER ARE OFFERING
AFL
Don't miss out on the headlines from AFL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Adelaide chief Andrew Fagan says the club will rely on the loyalty of members to keep its independence from the AFL and long term viability post COVID-19.
The more members that stick with Adelaide this season mean it will avoid the cap-in-hand AFL funding reality of cross town rival Port Adelaide or Gold Coast.
If members pledge 100 per cent season 2020 fees it will reduce the line of credit the club may ask from Bendigo Bank over 2021-22 that could exceed $10 million.
“We have moved down the path with our banking partner. It doesn’t reduce the size of the problem but gives us our chance to control our own destiny and maintain our independence and that is something members crave,” said Fagan.
“We prefer to source our own funding and not through the AFL.”
Adelaide will release a three-pronged ‘generous’ membership plan which the club says will value add for loyal fans including the chance to win a car.
“We wanted to present or members with choice. We have three options and tried to provide value now and into the future only to the extent members are capable,” said Fagan.
“Everyone’s circumstances are different and people will do what they can.
“All pledge options provide maintenance of membership rights into season 2021.
“Our members have been patient.”
Clubs carrying debt must rely on AFL support, particularly in a pandemic climate. Adelaide, West Coast, Richmond and Collingwood remain among the fortunate few in AFL able to rely on private revenue streams in a COVID-19 landscape
The Crows will ask members to stick with the club in the 2020 lockout season and be rewarded with a suite of measures across 2021-22.
“We know we are facing the biggest financial crisis we have but we confront those challenges together, stick tight and emerge strong the other side,” said Fagan as Adelaide approaches the fifth year since former coach Phil Walsh’s passing.
“We need the support or our members and corporate partners.
“The scale of the problem will be reflective of the campaign, having some clarity around the season.”
A $40 fee for cancellation will cover administrative costs and items already sent including lanyards and merchandise.
Members on a payment plan can receive a full reimbursement minus $40 holding fee.
Yesterday, Crows defender Tom Doedee called on members to remain with the club in an uncharted COVID-19 landscape that has triggered savage industry cost cutting and job losses.
“Just stick with us, we are super excited about this (season), the opportunity to have the full list with us,” said Doedee.
“We think we have a bright future, member-wise stick with us, that is what we want and roll forward from here.”
If members are facing financial difficulty they should contact the club said Doedee.
“Obviously if we have a situation where that isn’t a possibility we can work through it as a club,” he said.
Port unveils membership plans
Port Adelaide has unveiled the options for its members in 2020, and chief executive Keith Thomas is confident many of the Port faithful will stick with the club.
After the AFL locked in June 11 to restart the 2020 season, one likely to be played without crowds, Port on Wednesday revealed the options it will provide to members for the rest of the year.
They are: maintain their current membership, pause it with the club retaining what they have paid up until now, or cancel it for 2020.
Thomas said those who decided to pause or cancel their memberships would still maintain their rights next year.
“What we have tried to maintain is that the rights you have as a member in 2020 transfer into 2021, certainly those people who are paying as full members or part members that is automatic transfer of rights,” he said.
“Those who can’t maintain their memberships they will get first right of offer next year.
“We think that it’s a situation where everyone is dealing with the challenges of COVID differently.
“No they don’t (go into debt to the club), we just treat it as a pause and we will just take it as a part-payment and 2021 is a fresh year with all their rights retained.”
Thomas said that about 3 per cent of members had asked for a refund prior to the options being unveiled.
He was confident it wouldn’t rise massively.
“Historically when the club gets pushed up against the wall … Port Adelaide people come forward and put in at their own expense,” he said.
“I would thought our members would want to find a way to support the club.”
West Coast is offering members four options. Members can donate a portion or all of the membership fee towards the club, receive credit towards a 2021 membership renewal, downgrade a match access membership or cancel for a $35 fee.
Meanwhile, Adelaide Oval members can claim a full reimbursement of their 2020 membership payment or pro-rata credit towards 2021 season membership.
Money paid towards a 2020 membership that can’t be used due to a season lockout will be automatically deducted from the cost of season 2021 membership.
Members should contact Adelaide Oval Football Member Services to request a reimbursement.