RADIO EDGE TEAMS WITH WEST PERTH FOR FALCONS RADIO

RADIO Edge has entered the WAFL set up this season broadcasting matches each round and now has expanded that to form an exciting new partnership with the West Perth Football Club.

Sporting clubs have something very powerful that businesses dream of.

They have 'fans'. Every business works towards going beyond having clients and customers and turning them into raving advocates for their brand. It rarely happens.

But in every sport, at every level, clubs have those diehard fans that volunteer, pay their membership, go to games in all sorts of weather and live and breathe their favourite club.

Of course, the numbers are bigger at AFL level, with memberships in excess of 60,000 at some clubs, but a new method of engagement is bringing passion back to supporting your local club and in turn, reviving the ability to attract members, supporters and sponsors in addition to engaging locally like never before.

West Perth Football Club is the oldest club in the WAFL competition. It is one of the proudest, powerful and successful clubs that continue 30 years after the VFL became the AFL and local football changed forever.

The club moved from its traditional home in inner-city Leederville to the new and fast growing northern corridor of Joondalup to survive and has made that area it's new home.

Working with the local community, local government and being innovative, West Perth have continued to be a force in the WAFL competition and will open brand new purpose-built premises as part of a significant local sporting hub in early 2018.

Recently, they also introduced an innovation in partnership with online media company Radio Edge. Footy Radio was established just before the start of the 2017 season to call WAFL on radio, except using only online resources, such as the WAFL app, websites and social media.

After a few weeks, the parties worked through a concept to create a club based station, operating 7 days a week with content only for West Perth supporters - and so Falcons Radio commenced in July this year.

The concept is simple really - if you barrack for West Perth, you don't want to hear news or stories from other clubs. You support West Perth. So a station full of game replays, interviews with coaches, players and past players helps engage and satisfy your appetite as a loyal Falcons fan, even if you can't get to the game these days.

This has rapidly to expand to include live commentary of the Colts matches as well as League, and supported by loyal West Perth sponsors, who now can see real value for their investment and reach those West Perth supporters that will use their services.

It's a win-win for all and with the introduction of Facebook Live for broadcasting the match calls and the ability to listen and comment from anywhere in the world to your favourite club, numbers have skyrocketed.

Last Saturday 1734 attended the West Perth grudge match against arch rivals East Perth. 8,592 listened online to the game. Comments from other states, regional WA and as far afield as Taiwan, Sweden and London came in, showing their support for their beloved team.

This is the future of sports broadcasting. Engaging, far-reaching and providing value to allow the clubs to attract new members and sponsors.

Falcons Radio is the first of many sporting stations to be operated by Radio Edge. Football is the first of many sports that will be able to build their profile and exposure that has all but disappeared from mainstream media.

If you're involved in sport or want to help your club, contact tom@radioedge.co for more information, on how sport can expand coverage and reach easily and effectively.