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Post by twistthemellonman on Apr 30, 2017 18:01:20 GMT
At first I'm sure we all thought it was a bad joke but talking to a few 'in the know' people it seems the club wants to rebrand as 'Manchester Red Devils' next season. Mind-boggling to be fair. Obviously this is probably down to what the club sees as a limited fan base in Salford but would our fan base suddenly shoot up to the desired amount if we changed? Would the club be shooting themselves in the foot by potentially loosing more fans then gaining in this endeavour? If this was solely down to a stadium move into Manchester to save money but kept the Salford brand then I'm sure most fans would get behind it. But completely changing hundreds decades of history in pursuit of a quick fix is monumentally stupid. Like i said we know how the rumour mill works and it could be a load of rubbish. But with the ever growing frustration of Blease and Marwan i wouldn't rule it out.
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Post by salfordlad1 on Apr 30, 2017 18:05:06 GMT
I can't see it myself.
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Post by Astleyred on Apr 30, 2017 18:51:29 GMT
Couldn't go today as I'm away working, but what was the crowd?
I'd seen one of the usual tweets pre game from IB saying that ticket sales had been poor.
They aren't doing themselves any favours, there have been improvements this year the average attendances are the best since we've been at Barton but it seems just because the team are now doing well they expect the whole population of Salford to suddenly roll up to the AJBell.
I genuinely believe that you won't see any serious increases like what their wanting / expecting until we start reaching the quarters / semis of the cup and top 4 in SL on a regular basis.
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Post by mrg on Apr 30, 2017 19:08:24 GMT
The crowd was reportedly 3128 I think. I agree, some fans have been waiting 30-40 plus years for a successful team. They're not going to come flooding back overnight. Yes we're playing well and getting the results but it'll take more than s good half season. The club needs to be as patient as the fans. As long there's increases on previous years they should be happy. And yet again marketing round the City is so poor.
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Post by reds89 on Apr 30, 2017 19:45:43 GMT
I remember not too long ago hearing Marwan saying that he wouldn't change the name to Manchester as that would move away from Salford. But he did say he could look at expanding the area by becoming Greater Manchester.
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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on May 1, 2017 6:48:57 GMT
No, not for me.
I think the club would lose its core support by doing this. I hope they come out and quash this rumour!
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Post by Carnster on May 1, 2017 7:37:58 GMT
Always a thorny subject.
I don't really have any stance on the issue to be honest as I can see both sides of the argument. I'm not Salfordian, so my ties to the City are purely via the Club so I don't have the depth of feeling a lot of Salfordian's do. I fully understand why changing the name would feel like a betrayal, both historically for the Club and more relevantly for the City now with its independent identity. To me, if they changed the name it's just a name and the heart of Club would just be the same, although I would be sorry to lose the identity we have grown and become. I can see where the Club is coming from with regards to widening the appeal in an area that shouldn't be that difficult to tap into. We've got a new modern ground and a team that is going places, and while the Club shouldn't expect numbers to double overnight it is pretty disappointing to see how little the crowds have improved this season. If the people of Salford remain apathetic to the Club, they are really not helping the issue, and unfortunately they are. I've heard all the excuses over the years...The Willows isn't appealing, thirty years of failure takes time etc etc. The fact of the matter is, are any of these things true? As the Club ticks off each of the excuses and remedies it the crowds still don't really change. Will they ever?
On the other side of the coin, I can't see that changing the name would be the major catalyst for a hike in attendances without a massive amount spent on marketing to make the most of it. Let's face it, the Club have not got the money to do that. Even then, will it make a blind bit of difference? While changing the name may widen appeal for business ties and corporate money, will it bring in new curious fans? I'm not so sure.
I think the Club are lacking a little patience, and with a good season this year and another decent season next year I think the crowds will slowly rise. Rome wasn't built in a day and I know it must be difficult for the Club because it needs the money so that it doesn't have to rely on MK holding it up. He may be a rich man, but he'll have a limit to how far his money will stretch.
At this point in time, with everything going so right in so many ways, I think a name change will only succeed in alienating the hardcore support that the Club is so reliant on and needs. If it happens then we'll deal with it and from my point of view it's still my Club and I'll still support it.
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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on May 1, 2017 8:02:32 GMT
I think the Club are lacking a little patience, and with a good season this year and another decent season next year I think the crowds will slowly rise. Rome wasn't built in a day and I know it must be difficult for the Club because it needs the money so that it doesn't have to rely on MK holding it up. He may be a rich man, but he'll have a limit to how far his money will stretch. At this point in time, with everything going so right in so many ways, I think a name change will only succeed in alienating the hardcore support that the Club is so reliant on and needs. If it happens then we'll deal with it and from my point of view it's still my Club and I'll still support it. Spot on this! I'm getting quite annoyed with the passive-aggressive Tweets by IB and MK on the subject of attendances. I think they need to remain patient; as you say - Rome wasn't built in a day. It would be typical of the club to throw a hand grenade like this in to the middle of a what's shaping up to be a very successful season. |
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2017 8:16:59 GMT
Quite simply if the club want to alienate us die hard fans make this change, think like myself a great many would do a great deal of soul searching before making a decision to follow a team in the UK other than Salford. I actually don't like British RL/SL any longer as the product is a pale imitation of the NRL, I continue to follow Salford as I am Salford, it is a part of me and a rebrand would take that part of me away.
As for these Tweets by IB & MK it strikes me as being a irresponsible to chide fans for not turning up, actually if you think about it is nonsensical to attack someone who is ambivalent towards the club anyway.
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Post by knightsthatsay on May 1, 2017 8:28:23 GMT
I'm not salford ian either but after working at Salford Royal (Hope for purists ) off and on for 16 years have a feel for the city.
I believe Sale RUFC tried the add/change name to manchester technique which didn't work.
The club are trying to promote the red devils brand and that makes sense especially to the younger element of our ssupport.after all this nick name was given to us not conjured up by PR team. It has tradition.
I think keep salford name but support the Red Devils brand. Is sounds good looks good and is built in the tradition of the club.
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Post by scoot on May 1, 2017 8:31:17 GMT
What the club don't seem to realise, is that fans from years ago have either died or totally moved on. They are not going to get any former fans back because they are not there. they have to work hard at getting new fans, and they will not get them on their twitter, facebook or website sites because new fans will not know about them.
I think they will have to do it the American way with big advertising especially on TV, and keep winning,.It will cost money in the short term but could be the Speculate to accumulate
As for the name change to Manchester, well we are part way there by being The Red Devils with no mention of Salford on logo's branding
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Post by knightsthatsay on May 1, 2017 8:39:34 GMT
Things don't just happen! To promote the club take effort. The club are trying off the field the best they can on limited resources. On the field it's spot on. But that hasn't happen by luck.
I really believe, us the converted worshippers need to take the good fight on. At the next fans forum we need to get a list of volunteers who will help with simple things like posters going up, promotion stands in places like Trafford Centre, bury town centre, Manchester City centre etc cast ner far and wide. The club needs help and I believe with have people out there who will spare an hour or too to help build and preserve this club. Volunteers organised by the club to target areas.
What's do people think?
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Post by bonitared on May 1, 2017 8:42:40 GMT
Disagree about tv advertising. Pissing in the wind.
Blease has 9 out of 10 so far but banging on about the crowds,even indirectly is tedious and won't make a difference.
As regards name change to Manchester,I am a proud Salfordian and,for me,the test is if it was a choice between going the Swinton route or staying as a successful club in Superleague with a name change I'd go with the latter.
I don't believe,though,that a change of name will work and,as for the idea that he might link that with a stadium move,he'd have to replace those fans that won't travel to the other side of Manchester before crowds increased at all.
Winning,ultimately,is the best form of advertising
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Post by Deleted on May 1, 2017 8:43:11 GMT
If only there was a Salford fan who had approached the club with an idea to get details of the clubs next home games seen by a great many people throughout the city and wider area.
If the club hadn't then said yes we'll pass on the idea to the marketing team and they will contact you.
If said marketing team had actually have made the call.
As I say so often with Salford, nearly but not quite.
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Post by bandgeekmafia78 on May 1, 2017 8:46:50 GMT
If this change of name goes ahead, who fancies running a brand new team with me?  |
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