Neil’s comments make very interesting reading and I have to agree that accessibility to junior players is the key to future investment.
I could harp on about how governments and local authorities have concentrated too much on new housing without thought to the provision of facilities forever and a day, (anyone who knows me knows how much I feel this social issue needs addressing) but the simple truth is that those charged with making such decisions are simply responding to demand. More and more people want housing – so they build more houses. If young people wanted more ice rinks, they’d probably build more.
What needs to be done therefore, is the creation of demand in the first place - the tried and tested way of creating demand is to provide the facility at little or no cost in the early stages. The last mayor of London recognised this strategy by making bus fares non-existent for young people and getting them used to using the network. The thinking being that, by the time they can afford to start paying fares, they are so used to using the system that they continue to do so. Personally, I wouldn’t have introduced bendy-buses to do it on, but that’s another story.
So, how would this strategy apply to Ice Hockey? Simple. You charge junior players and spectators little or nothing to skate or watch, and gradually increase the prices up through the age ranges.
This way, juniors get the taste for the game without the cost and, by the time they can afford to pay the costs of playing or watching the sport, they’ll want to.
As long as rink managers accept that children who have not paid to skate will probably spend the money on refreshments anyway, it shouldn’t take too long to fill the rink up again.
Steve T.
Moderated By: mdenholm@sloughjets.co.uk
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