Small gestures to fans will help build a Titanic legacy

DEAR Rebecca, Mal and co at the Gold Coast Titans:

As you all work hard to rebuild the club and give the Gold Coast a team we can proudly support, I’d like to offer a simple suggestion amongst the many complexities you are no doubt dealing with.

As a fan, a Titans member, the father of a Titans-obsessed 11year-old – and as a born-and-bred local of 46 years – it saddens me to see the disconnect between the players and the fans.

I understand running and building a successful club is no easy feat, and the average fan, me included, doesn’t understand or fully appreciate what goes on behind the scenes to give us a competitive, local team to cheer for.

What we do understand is the experience we have on game day – having decided to spend our hardearned money and limited time on a few hours at a Titans game. For a club that is trying to grow membership, increase game attendance, engage with the community and create a platform for growth, I feel that the most simple gestures are sadly overlooked.

For almost all the games we have been to this year, when the full-time siren goes the adoring fans – mostly kids and kids at heart – stay back and line the field for a chance to see or interact with their heroes up close.

Win, lose or draw the true fans are always there, diligently waiting for a high five or a quick photo. It saddens me when their enthusiasm and passion is met with a halfhearted visit, from one or two players, for a fleeting moment.

At this week’s game, two players made the effort to come and see the fans after the game and make a fan’s day. That’s two out of 17 that felt the urge or need to engage with the fans.

It’s been similar at most games we have attended this year.

In my view engagement, loyalty, brand building, cultural shift and humility starts with small, memorable gestures. Nobody expects lengthy signature sessions or meet and greets. In fact, I don’t think the fans expect anything, which would make the gesture and time spent all the more valuable.

For the majority of players to take the time to walk the boundary after the game and engage with fans would help all of those things I mention – loyalty, brand building, humility and respect.

At worst, it’s a high five from an adoring 11-year-old who will be badgering to go again next week. At best, it’s a gesture to say “thank you for sticking with us”, and to maybe sign a cap or take a quick snap that will be a treasured item or memory.

As a member who’s struggling to justify the expense and the time, walking away feeling a bit “ignored” after a game is no way to build a platform for growth or a positive brand image.

Three or four emails a week don’t build loyalty, don’t generate excitement, don’t create a memory and don’t build the brand we all want the Gold Coast Titans to be.

Start with small gestures. Create memorable moments. Recognise and appreciate the fans. Create fans and members for a lifetime.

Make the small extra effort – win, lose or draw – because the fans are doing their best to make the effort week in, week out. BRENDAN GERAGHTY, BURLEIGH HEADS