PANTHERS REJECTS ITS OWN SUPPORTERS CLUB
The Nottingham Panthers Ice Hockey Club requested the Supporters Club submit a Business Proposal to justify the financial return for the services they provide for the Supporters Club.
This proposal was submitted and offered to assist in the running of Social Events and continue to run coaches to support the Panthers at away games, whilst continuing to raise money for their charity.
Below is the reply we received recently from the Panthers:
Dear Julian,
The management team have now had chance to review your proposal and I write to inform you that unfortunately it has been rejected.
The club feels that with the growing trend for social media communication and the huge success of the clubs new partnerships for events, the Supporters Club proposal would actually incur sizable costs for the club and be only self-serving.
As I explained during our meeting, as a commercial organisation with considerable running costs every partnership must be economically viable and able to contribute to the overall success of the club.
As previously discussed the club dedicates a large amount of resources to the supporters club each season (below) that must see a return e.g. in increased travel, independent social events, fundraising etc. to remain viable.
Services utilised and/or offered to Supporters Club 2013/14
•Car Parking spaces and back stage passes
•Security on match nights and extra secure space for cashing up if required.
•Adverts on Social Media, website, Twitter, Newsletter.
•Stand on concourse with Desk set up costs at the Arena
•Magazine adverts each week
•Big Screen and Tannoy announcements when required.
•Children’s Christmas Party – McDonald’s (cancelled by client) Panthers Sponsor was very unhappy in previous years party.
•Players attending visit to QMC to visit the children at Christmas as part of your charity toy drive.
•Banner (sold to commercial sponsor for several thousand pounds)
•Board (offered to supporters club for minimal fee and offered to spread payments) held off selling (had to wait to sell space costing club money) Sold for 4 times as much to commercial sponsor.
•Services of community liaison officer for the season.
Away travel and non-player dependant events have dwindled over the past few season, and while we understand that fans travel choices have changed perhaps effected by rising fuel prices and the ability to now view some games live over the internet the decline is very sizable The proposal did not give an indication that the current situation would be in anyway improved next season, so we have taken the decision to bring remaining events etc. in-house for the foreseeable future.
Going forward the club will continue with full responsibility for all official events and our social media will provide the official platform for fans to communicate with the club and each other for social related matters.
In response to your kind offer of a donation to the clubs 2013/14 main charity, we have made our final total donation to the charity at the end of the season I have contacted the charity on receiving your email however and they are delighted with your generous offer. Please see direct address and contact below for your donation:-Lizzie Wright at Nottingham Hospitals Charity (
Lizzie.Wright@nuh.nhs.uk).
We would like to take the opportunity to thank all of the committee members and members for their support, and look forward to seeing you all at the start of the new season.
Kindest Regards,
Nicola
GMB Nottingham Panthers IHC
0115 941 3103
www.panthers.co.uk
It appears our Business Proposal has been treated the same as any other professional profit making organisation that wish to sponsor the Nottingham Panthers. There appears to have been no consideration to the fact the Supporters Club is a non profit making organisation run by a voluntary committee whose members give their time free of charge.
So due to their decision, this has effectively cut ties with the Supporters Club on a business front, and as such, it appears that the Nottingham Panthers Supporters Club will no longer be able to operate in its current capacity.
A further announcement will be made over the next few weeks in regards to holding a Emergency General Meeting for members to attend.
