Half Time Enterainment

[wullie]

Even though the Tea and coffee is great at half time, has the possability to bring in extra revenue into the club of having 7-aside matches being held between the local clubs and leagues. If they played for 10 mins would not effect the main match and would also bring the family members to the stadium.
I'm sure the youngs ones would then feel they have a attachment to the club for now and into the future

[Longfordian]

There usually are games between local school kids on at half time. Certainly they're on very regularly anyway.

[wullie]

Maybe I've missed it while the Coffee and Tea is being served in the bar I haven't seen any youngs ones hanging about ready to go onto the pitch. Maybe even an announcement about the halftime entertainment was missed. Maybe in the past there has been things done. But on the occassions that I was in Longford I didn't see anything apart from the main event. Maybe I need to go to Specsavers:)

[Longfordian]

I missed a good few home games last year but when I did go I'm pretty sure there were kids playing. I don't usually bother going into the clubhouse at half time so that may be how you're missing them. They've been a regular feature over the years.

[outspoken]

There's not one every week but in fairness when ever you go to away grounds you never seem to see it so were doing well to get some amount on.

[wullie]

You should not be comparing the club to what other clubs offer but what does the club bring to the visitor as an entertainment package. Does the visitor feel when they leave that they had an enjoyable night whether win or lose.
Is the people around in the crowd giving support to their players or just complaing of how bad they are, can be depressing to always hear in a stand. Is there a party atmosphere with upbeat music from the time you arrive through the gate not 5 mins before kick off with the team news
If the club wants more supporters, the club needs to look at the whole package that it offers it's customers and not just rely on the football

[outspoken]

I honestly think the club could have Enda Kenny out on the pitchat half time doing cartwheels and no one could give a ---- that's just the way the local sunshiners are. All they want is one big day out at a cup final or one cross water team over for a friendly they couldn't give a sh1te about LTFC that is my honest opinion.

[Town Legend]

Have to agree with Outspoken here. There was always games going on with young kids at half time but no-one really takes any notice of them which is a pity. To get crowds out from watching Real Madrid and Barcelona on a Sat evening, ya'd need the likes of U2 providing half time entertainment.....somehow I don't think they'd come cheap!!

[wullie]

I'm sure that the relatives come to watch the kids play which means more people in the gate. Maybe the Longford fans don't watch the games but 10 more people in the gate is a 10% increase on what was in attendance at the end of last season.
It makes you wonder if with such low attendance figures and no-one seeming to want to promote the club in getting people on the seats, does the club need help from the supporters in getting people through the gates to increase the revenue.
There will always be people that only come out for cross water games or for the cup final that's how come you get so many people following Liverpool and United, they will only follow success. That's why egg chasing is having so many followers at the moment, so naturally they will return when the club is successful

[Macy]

I would've thought that the half time games were little to do with attracting crowds, and were more to do with planting the connection to the club in the minds of the children playing. Which is fair enough.

I also think you are being a bit harsh on the club regarding doing nothing to attract people. As far as I'm aware there was a big push at the start of last season around the schools and in the town regarding children go free with a paying adult (or something similar). Take up was very small for the effort that went in.

Most clubs in the world attract more fans at cup finals, when the team is being successful etc. It's a chicken and egg situation - we don't have the money because of a lack of crowds to make the infrastructual changes that would bring in the crowds (imo).

[outspoken]

You say the club doesnt work hard enough to promote itself but radio adverts, newspaper inches they cost money you know and a lot more than you think also I would imagine a lot of the time the parents of those kids at half time would get in for free and personally I havent seen any of them back were not the only one suffering with these problems trust me success this season theyl be back when theres no success we simply cant keep the sunshiners happy so lets just get through this down cycle and be prepared for the boom again!

[wullie]

From your years of experience you would realise that advertising doesn't always actually cost money i.e word of mouth that people had a great time at an event, this then encourages other people to attend and so the conical upward effect occurs.
If the club doesn't have a mission on the entertainment package that it is presenting to the paying public then the gates will always stay where they are today.
What positive ideas do other people have to get the punters in and regularly on seats, maybe if the fans put their ideas up one maybe might look attractive to the club to implement.

[outspoken]

Well come on so lets see can we get any ideas

[Macy]

What positive ideas do other people have to get the punters in and regularly on seats, maybe if the fans put their ideas up one maybe might look attractive to the club to implement.
A winning team, pushing for promotion is the best solution for attendances.

There's lots of things that could be done, but the fact is the club don't have the money. Even what on the face of it should be a small thing, like a licence for the club house, would mean building work as far as I understand it regarding access. If it didn't, having it cans and spirits rather than pumps and coolers, the bar infrastructure wouldn't be that much. Pie in the sky stuff would be more covered seats that may give us the chance to have a "family stand" with pre and half time entertainment.

[outspoken]

Perfect post totally agree.

[Bosco]

What exactly is the criteria preventing the club from getting a license for the clubhouse?

[outspoken]

I heard it would cost a hell of a lot.

[Bosco]

I understand that, but what is the actual criteria that would need to be met?

[Longfordian]

One thing was that they were told by the fire officer or whoever was inspecting it that they'd have to build additional toilet facilities so that they would actually be inside the bar rather than having to walk down the tunnel. There were a few other things that I can't recall just at the minute.

[Macy]

Yeah, the toilet issue was the main one that I'd heard. Seems silly, but the conditions needed to comply with the licence should have been thought of when the bloody thing was being built (but don't get me started on the stand - a disaster from the off imo!), or at least before it was fitted out. Even at fitting out stage there would've been some potential to move things around.

[Acornvilla]

The athlone stand is a good example of how space should have been used methinks, even if its a good bit smaller and they have more space.

[Macy]

Ours shouldn't even have built on that side, before we get into anything else!

[RonnieB]

For the half time entertainment we need strippers. Lots of them.

In regards to the toilets issue and the bar, Athlones toilets are not in the actual bar, you have to go back outside yet they got a license?

[Longfordian]

Different inspector I guess.

[Macy]

For the half time entertainment we need strippers. Lots of them.
If we had a family stand, I'd be in favour of an Adult Stand...


In regards to the toilets issue and the bar, Athlones toilets are not in the actual bar, you have to go back outside yet they got a license?
Haven't been the new place, but do you have to go outside, or to a different part of the stand? The fire issue could be the distance in from the exit. But I don't see why it'd be an issue for a licence and not the ground if that was the case. Could be a different fire inspector as well with a different interpretation.

[Bosco]

That's a good point about athlone,as far as I remember you have to go back outside to use the toilets and I wouldn't imagine there's that much difference in terms of the distance compared to ours.What did the inspector suggest we do?build more toilets?

[outspoken]

Just trying to remember the toilets in Athlone, is there not a door to the left in the clubhouse that leads to toilets or is that a staff door cant remember. Someone suggested to me getting a few tv's in there and getting Sky Sports on them because it often happens that theres a 5-30 kick off and the end of it clashes with ours and a lot of people stay away, wouldnt it be great for tem to be able to drive in and watch it in Flancare especially if there was a bar. My only issue again was the cost of the TV and Sky and yes folks I'm a shocking scab

[Longfordian]

Commercial rate Sky is ridiculously expensive in fairness. Depends on the size of your premises I believe but you're easily talking €10k a year.


What did the inspector suggest we do?build more toilets?
I believe so, yes.

[Cabs88]

A bar would be a great addition to the place in an ideal world, as mentioned above 5.30 games before the town match would be a great start to a saturday night, also having the Ireland matches in the euros on out their akin to the rugby club showing the RWC would be a great idea.

I am curious as to the function of huts at the far end of the stand are? I heard one was a changing room for female officials but that could be just hear say? Would the money have been better spent trying to ensure a licence for a bar?

I have spoken before of the need to attract new supporters but I am aware that money is a massive obstacle. I always wondered about having concerts in Flancare, i.e. the flancare festival for younger people.. I do think this is something that may bring in a bit of cash to the club, with cover bands catering for a younger crowd rather than what came before. This could be used as the fundraiser to improve the match day experience of the fans.

I do think matches were sporadic at ht last year, and maybe penalty shoot outs, crossbar challenges might be something that could be looked at, maybe for a smile prize, tickets for next home games etc. Even if a local team were brought out every game and introduced to the crowd, and drawn attention to they may come again, which be a cost effective alternative. Ads / leaflets in polish and other languages common place in Longford could be issued to local schools and businesses..

All suggestions of course, and I am not hitting out at the club in anyway or those that volunteer, just some points that may be considered

[Macy]

That's a good point about athlone,as far as I remember you have to go back outside to use the toilets and I wouldn't imagine there's that much difference in terms of the distance compared to ours.What did the inspector suggest we do?build more toilets?
The problem could be the distance of the toilets to an exit, which if the scumlone one's are totally outside wouldn't be an issue. But that's only speculating. Mind you, if that was the issue, it'd probably be more cost effective to build another set beside the shop than try to do anything internal.

I would think sky would be prohibitive, unless there's a deal on limited use (which the club house would be), but there's no reason why a bar couldn't be showing "The Premiership" immediately after a home game (most of the saorview receivers allow recording/ pausing with an external harddrive).


I have spoken before of the need to attract new supporters but I am aware that money is a massive obstacle. I always wondered about having concerts in Flancare, i.e. the flancare festival for younger people.. I do think this is something that may bring in a bit of cash to the club, with cover bands catering for a younger crowd rather than what came before. This could be used as the fundraiser to improve the match day experience of the fans.
I heard the figures that one of the GAA clubs made on running a festival recently - very little for the effort that went in. Big costs means big risks, and without a load of volunteers it's not viable. I guess if it's aimed at "the kids", the indie/ alternative bands might not command the appearance fee's of the bigger names that the one I heard about did. Pack the order with local bands would bring in the local crowd with then bigger names to headline might work. Agree about half time though - inviting a local team in to be presented wouldn't cost much, and if they got the right treatment it would establish the club with them, and give us contacts.

[outspoken]

I've said it here before I think something like a penalty shoot, cross bar challenge, different challenges every week etc would be a great idea as fans come in have a stand selling €2 tickets which allow you to enter at half time and as said above a small prize like 2 tickets to our next home game would be a great idea.