TT Pro League CEO Dexter Skeene is adamant that the League must make changes if it wants to keep growing.
In responding to questions on the reactions of his proposal for a change in the league's format, the Columbia University graduate said the objective is to move the attendance figures from 33,000 to 100,000 and an increase in gate receipts from $660,000.00 to $ 2,000,000.00 in 2010.
His target is to further increase those figures by another 30 % in 2012.
“The reason I am advocating for the format and calendar change is based on the reality of the numbers,” Skeene explained. “The football product has improved by leaps and bounds but we still have work to do. Look at the fact that we qualified for the 2006 World Cup utilizing several of the TT Pro League talents in the person of Aurtis Whitley, Cyd Gray, Densill Theobold, Cornell Glen and Antony Wolfe, with Kelvin Jack, Carlos Edwards, Dennis Lawrence and Jason Scotland having played previously in the local professional league.
“The performance of the TT Pro League teams in the Concacaf Champions’ League has continued to improve with W Connection and Joe Public giving creditable performances against Mexican and MLS opposition.”
However Skeene believes the attendance is not where it should be and after looking at the figures for the last six years.
“It has shown me that the improvement in the product is not directly tied to the turnout at the gates. The marketing package has to be reengineered and repackaged to suit the needs of our key stakeholders. This is a response to the fans and sponsors as they too are also key stakeholders. The feedback from the fans including the “Soca Warrior” nation has been favourable to this initiative.
“The players are also important ingredients and it is our responsibility to provide them with a highly charged environment to lift their enthusiasm and performance.”
The former T&T strike squad player further stated, “It is a radical departure but I believe that we need to create touch points with our fans, potential fans and the casual fans. We have to be more innovative in how we promote and market the games.
We have to ensure that we become resident in the communities represented by the teams and even those that are not traditional football areas we must bring the Pro League to them,” said the Pro League CEO.“The mid week games have failed at the box office due to problems with transport, people have to work or go to classes. It is just does not make financial sense. I am confident that the changes will prove a success. The real challenge is to find ways to make it work and not focus on why it cannot work,” Skeene ended.
Skeene further hinted that its new television deal will give the League the opportunity to reach the masses in their homes with the games being shown as well upcoming games advertised. A revamped website will now include twitter and facebook as a medium to hear the views of our supporters and target audiences at home and abroad as well as give detailed information on the fixtures, news, views and interviews. In addition an advertising programme on the radio stations will keep reminding fans of pro league schedules and website. The community programme HOPE is expected to bring the teams in contact with their immediate fans and as such provide them with game day information.
“The mid week games have failed at the box office due to problems with transport, people have to work or go to classes. It is just does not make financial sense. I am confident that the changes will prove a success. The real challenge is to find ways to make it work and not focus on why it cannot work,” Skeene ended.