Should Brighton be doing more to target the gay / student / rest of Sussex population

[Brighton Breezy]

I was thinking about this the other day.

With such a large catchment area the club really should be doing as much as they to get noticed in towns around the county.

I am from Horsham and now live in Hastings. Can't really remember the club doing anything to venture down into either area despite neither having an obvious pro club for locals to support.

Add to that the huge number of students who live in Brighton and, very often, don't ever leave. When I was at uni in Hull the club gave students tickets for something stupid like a fiver. It was the same at Nottingham Forest.

Do we advertise deals in the student papers? Do we give the student papers access to player interviews etc? Do we have stalls at freshers week giving out Brighton TAT and perhaps a free ticket?

Also, with such a huge gay community does the club do anything to attract that part of the community to football? Surely some sort of inventive marketing campaign could be used in Kemptown etc? Im sure a lot of people are still worried about homophobia in the same way ethnic minorities were perhaps put off by racism. Some sort of campaign with local gay groups to tackle homophobia? Bill boards with 'I Love Dick' on and a picture of Knight underneath (JOKE).

Just worry the club is not getting the most about of being a relatively unrivalled club in the area.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

lets get real ,NO GAYS FOR STARTERS

 

[The Spanish]

why not just give them the formula that has been used successfully for this site?

 

[HG201]

Possibly aiming to attract more students, maybe cheap tickets for 16-21 year olds, quite alot of other teams do this, would certainly attract more fans and maybe some people here for uni etc who we could add to our fanbase

 

[bristolseagull]

agree with the student thing, we need to tap into that market when Falmer is up and running.

as for the fags, they all hate football anyway.

 

[The Large One]

Advertising to as broad a range as possible is always a good thing.

However, in order to motivate what would have to be a pretty hefty marketing campaign specifically aimed at, to use your examples, the gay community and students would probably not be cost-effective all the while we're still at Withdean. That's not to say we shouldn't market the club them, I mean more 'target-market' them. We are advertising to fill an extra 1,500 seats at present.

There isn't really an angle you could use if you aim at the gay market, you either like football or you don't - whether you're gay or not really ought not be the issue. However, I do like the 'We love Dick' bit, and oughtn't cause offence, and could be seen as humorous, and therefore attractive.

The students, once we're at Falmer, is where the club really ought to clean up. One, obviously, the stadium is right on their doorstep, and two, the main issue students have which the club could help them with is reduced prices.

 

[NMH]

No, what they SHOULD be doing is targeting people interested in watching good and exciting football, like they USED to do.

Right now they are targeting die-hards (also known as saddos) who will come to watch anything because it's under the name Brighton and Hove Albion - not unlike when the club were playing home matches at Gillingham.
Thank goodness for these masochistic supporters, but they have to be repaid with some flashes of excellence to refuel their hopes and dreams.

 

[Napper]

Not sure targetting Gays is the best idea , alot have moved down and I doubt many would be that passionate about football

+ this isnt homophobic, of all the gay people I know they all hate football

 

[Common as Mook]

Most people who live in Hastings support Wisla Krakow anyway.

 

[Brighton Breezy]

'I love 11 Men'

With a picture of the Albion team underneath would be SMART.

I just think if the club perhaps made a point of talking to gay groups to address fears over homophobia it might do something to dispell the myth of football crowds being homophobic.

The club seriously needs to make watching Brighton TRENDY again and could start with some decent marketing and more fashionable clothes etc in the club shop.

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

I was upset a few years back when the club turned down an event with the local gay community, events have taken place at the racecourse.

Manchester City and Charlton have done much more than us on addressing homophobia, although I am aware quite a few away fans have been arrested and charged with making homophbic comments.

I am sure if members of our community are into football they already attend, we have good offers on and free transport. I think the best offer is anyone with kids in Gullys scheme get free tickets for them and an adult and any other kids ticket is just 50p. My mate went to the Tranmere game with two kids and it cost 50p, plus the scarfs and programmes they then demanded.

 

[hart's shirt]

NO GAYS FOR STARTERS

I know, I'm as disappointed as you are.

Let's hope they join us in time for the Main Course and Dessert.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

so were all off to the pink pen for our own protection............ really

 

[Mellor 3 Ward 4]

In the months leading up to Falmer opening, the Club has to do a whole lot better at selling itself to the people of Brighton, and Sussex as a whole.

Whether that is Students, kids, gay, straight, unemployed, OAPs whatever - I don't really care. But you're right Richie, the club's Marketing of itself is poor - I am currently giving them the benefit of the doubt in so far as that they fear the Withdean Factor,

When Falmer is a reality, everything must change.

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

I know, I'm as disappointed as you are.

Let's hope they join us in time for the Main Course and Dessert.

mmmmmm a spit roast

 

[Brighton Breezy]

Also, what about FOREIGN locals and tourists.

I think Fulham have worked hard to attract tourists to games, selling it along the lines of 'Come and see a proper English football match'.

Might be more difficult selling the Withdean experience but does the club do anything to attract people from say the Polish community etc?

 

[Horton's halftime iceberg]

'I love 11 Men'

With a picture of the Albion team underneath would be SMART.

I just think if the club perhaps made a point of talking to gay groups to address fears over homophobia it might do something to dispell the myth of football crowds being homophobic.

The club seriously needs to make watching Brighton TRENDY again and could start with some decent marketing and more fashionable clothes etc in the club shop.

Sussex are way ahead

Sussex promotes ball tampering - News archive - News - Sussex County Cricket Club

 

[Pretty pink fairy]

'I love 11 Men'

With a picture of the Albion team underneath would be SMART.

I just think if the club perhaps made a point of talking to gay groups to address fears over homophobia it might do something to dispell the myth of football crowds being homophobic.

The club seriously needs to make watching Brighton TRENDY again and could start with some decent marketing and more fashionable clothes etc in the club shop.

whats wrong with primark ??

 

[rudeboy]

mmmmmm a spit roast

fancy vice squad tmorow prince albert das?

 

[The Spanish]

perhaps the gay community could then reciprocate for football fans tearing down the walls of prejudice, by not throwing people out of pubs for doing nothing apart from apparently not looking 'dyke friendly', just as an example.

if someone does not want to go to a f***ing football match, why do some people think it is probably because of potential hate crimes?