Achi news desk-
With the Calgary Stampeders season about to start, there is an effort to get more female fans into the stadium.
Lois Mitchell, former lieutenant governor of Alberta, and Jay McNeil, president of the Stampeders, started the campaign to attract a new fan base to Calgary’s professional soccer team.
The aim is to get 100 girls to commit to two season tickets each before the home opener on 7 June.
“It introduces the game to a different demographic, and introduces the Stampeders as a brand,” McNeil said.
“Our fan base is largely older white men.
“The honorable Lois Mitchell has really been spearheading this project. She calls it the 200 Club.”
As a season ticket holder since 1992, Toni Ion-Brown can testify to the benefits of supporting the team in person.
“I have been in the same department for over 25 years,” he said.
“It’s like a football family.”
Her section has included five generations of her real family, as well as her best friend since second grade, and other season ticket holders.
Ion-Brown, general manager of the Calgary Petroleum Club, is part of the team trying to attract women to join the 200 Club.
“It starts in May with the early pre-season game. It’s over in November. And it’s only a short season. It’s for everyone, and it’s affordable,” he said.
Toni Ion-Brown (left) has sat in the same section for more than 25 years. Her section has included five generations of her family, as well as her best friend since second grade, and other season ticket holders.
Season tickets for one person are offered at a discounted rate of $995 for the 10 games – 11 if the team makes the playoffs.
The football club is also offering incentives to this dedicated group of Stamps fans, including placing each of these women together.
“In Section T, my section, the sunny side,” said Ion-Brown.
“It’s right behind the visitors’ bench. So people in Section T, we have an important job to do. We have to support our team and, you know, shake the opponent.”
They will also receive exclusive benefits including a series of speakers, two fringe experiences and the possibility of flying with the team’s charter for an away game.
Toni Ion-Brown (front, second from right) has sat in the same section for more than 25 years. Her section has included five generations of her family, as well as her best friend since second grade, and other season ticket holders.Sports marketing researcher and educator Cheri Bradish said some people have a misconception that there aren’t many women in or supporting sports.
“We’re in an era where sports and sports fandom are really fair,” said Bradish, director of the Future of Sport Lab and chair of marketing management at the Ted Rogers School of Management.
She says marketing doesn’t always need to be different for men and women, but women are more holistic consumers.
“If you want to have women who are supporters of you as an organization, you should really think about what my organizational values ​​are towards women, not just to buy a ticket,” she said.
“You want to look at everything from front to top … whether it’s sideline entertainment, who they’re talking to, when they’re buying tickets, who they’re seeing on the sidelines .
“They want to see a diverse sporting experience and they want to see that you actually support women in the organization.”
Apart from all the football fun, the 200 Club will also offer a platform for networking, learning and friendship.
“We’re going to have 200 women in the T Division … new football fans, seasoned football fans … bringing people together to support our community.”
