SUPPORTER

Supporter

The 3rd Supporters Meeting

Saturday, May 9, 2009 3rd Supporters Meeting

On Saturday, May 9th, from 1pm, the "3rd GAMBA OSAKA Supporters Meeting" was held at the Expo Stadium press conference room, with the participation of approximately 120 supporters. After President Kanamori's replies to questions sent in advance by email, there was a Q&A session with the audience.

President Kanamori

Hello everyone. Thank you for your continued support. Last year we decided to hold the third supporter meeting once every three or four months. I would like to explain to you once again the significance of holding this meeting.
Last spring, Professor Logan Taylor from Liverpool came to give a lecture and asked, "What do professional soccer clubs sell to their supporters?" The club officials answered, "Happiness" and "Exciting games," but the professor said that it's not that. He explained that they are selling "pain."
If the club I support scores a point and is ahead in the game, I am overcome with anxiety that they might be overtaken. If they lose, they lose. Even if they win and go home, will they be able to win next time? I am constantly "worried" about all sorts of things.
I think that the people involved with the club have to think that they are dealing with people who are suffering like that every day. The supporters are spending money and buying "pain." I think that the club has to face these people head on.
GAMBA OSAKA Osaka is a corporate organization, but it is not owned by shareholders. I believe that GAMBA OSAKA exists because of you all. I would like to make everything as public as possible to all of you who support us.
This year, I visited Europe in January and February to inspect the stadiums. I strongly felt that the stadiums and soccer clubs are places for local people to interact. There is a clubhouse inside the stadium, and it is used for local government meetings and chamber of commerce meetings.
Gamba is also aiming to be such a club, and we would like to face you and have a dialogue with you. Of course, there are things you can and can't be involved in, but we want to draw a clear line between them.
That is why I want to hold a supporters meeting.

About grades

Gamba won the ACL and the EMPEROR'S CUP. They finished 8th in the J-League. When I talked to the Head Coach about strengthening the team, he analyzed that the lack of speed and height was the reason for the lack of goals.
Then, efforts were made to strengthen the team, and this year's structure was decided based on the Head Coach's wishes.
This season's system started under the slogan "SHOBU - and towards world standards."
I talked with the Head Coach about our two goals of winning the ACL for the second time in a row and winning the J.League. After he told me how grateful he was for the reinforcements, Head Coach said that he wanted to take on the challenge this season with the EMPEROR'S CUP and Nabisco Cup in mind.
This year, we fought until New Year's Day, and I was worried about how much our physical strength would last. Even at the new start on January 29th, our physical strength had not recovered, and we went straight to Guam. I felt that our movements were poor. I was worried about how poorly we could work together with the new members in the practice match in Guam. The person in charge said that the plan was to strengthen our physical strength in Guam and then hone our tactics in Aya Town, but... I was worried.
I believe the coaching staff is still struggling, but I feel that they are gradually coming together.
If we were to compare it to the 10th station of Mount Fuji, I would say we haven't even reached the 3rd or 5th station yet, so I feel like there's something to be excited about going forward.

Business situation

Revenues were 4.4 billion yen. Closing date is the end of January. Expenditures were 4.1 billion yen. Operating profit was 170 million yen, and net profit was 38 million yen.
Most of his income comes from sponsorships, about 1.8 billion yen.
Admission fee: 600 million yen.
Merchandise: 280 million yen. Broadcasting rights: 130 million yen, prize money: 400 million yen, etc.
The personnel costs, including transfer fees, are 2.5 billion yen.
The cost of hosting a match is 600 million yen per year. The pitch rental fee for the Expo is the highest in Japan.
There will be almost no transfer fees from now on. If we don't win the championship, there will be no prize money.
So far, the business has been running smoothly.

About the Stadium

We are now starting over and working hard. We are well aware that the government does not have ample funds, so we are working mainly with corporations to find ways to raise funds ourselves.
There is no doubt that the stadium will be built. It will be a stadium dedicated to soccer. We are thinking of not using it for singing or other events.

I will report back to you once we have reached a milestone. Right now, we are making progress, little by little.

Regarding trash

We are taking measures outside the stadium, but the current situation is that we are not able to do so inside the stadium. We would like to take measures as soon as possible from where we can.
→Support will begin from the match on May 10th.

please

I want the people behind the goal to get the whole stadium involved in their cheering. I understand that it's important for them to have some time to just enjoy themselves, but I want them to cheer in a way that gets the whole stadium excited. I would like them to consider that.
The stadium holds an average of 1.6 to 1.7 thousand people. I would love to have it always full. It's not appealing to have seats always empty. I think a situation where the stadium is full and tickets are hard to get will make it even more full.
So, I would like to ask for your help somehow.
Even though we may change, GAMBA OSAKA will always be here. I hope you will continue to support the club.

Question-and-answer session

Q There have been reports that a new strain of influenza has been discovered in Neyagawa, Osaka. Will tomorrow's match on May 10th be okay?: A

The influenza infection that the player contracted this time was already present upon entering Narita, and as the player is currently in quarantine, we are in discussions with the J.League to see tomorrow's match go ahead as normal.

Q Aren't there few Gamba-themed apparel-related goods that can be used as is around town?: A

I feel there is a need to develop it into something that can be carried and worn on an everyday basis.

Q We don't want to lose tomorrow's match after the ACL. I feel that Gamba players are lacking in mentality.: A

I heard that Yamaguchi spoke with the Head Coach for more than 30 minutes. After that, he also spoke with the training team. The players have been holding send-off parties and rallies among themselves, and have been holding various events to talk about various things.
The team's mood and communication have changed since a month ago. They are slowly getting better. Matsushiro and Yamaguchi are doing well. When things get tough, the support of the supporters is extremely effective. When the supporters' voices are aligned with the direction the players are heading, I feel that they can exert great power. I would like to ask for your continued support.

Q I cheer in the back stands and main stands, but there are too many restrictions. I can only wave flags on the top tier. It's difficult to cheer in the whole stadium from a hardware standpoint. I would like SB and SM to be allowed to do some of the things that are allowed to the people behind the goal.: A

I think that the way of cheering is different in the back of the goal, the main stand, the back stand, each. I would like there to be a time when the whole stadium will be unified, not that the way of cheering is unified in all places, so that there will be a moment when the stadium will be united. I would like to discuss and move forward with the support system of various supporters in public.

Q Rotosticks are no longer available, so I hope they bring them back.: A

With funding from sponsors, we have been creating and distributing blue and black sheets, bags, and other items. We received a request for items that can be used on a daily basis, so we focused on funnel bags. However, seeing the current situation where sticks are thrown away as garbage after use, we wonder if that is a good idea. We hope to provide items that everyone will be happy with while doing good work.

Q I think winning the ACL is amazing, but I didn't have a chance to celebrate with the players.: A

At the end of last year, I had a very busy schedule and I just couldn't find the time. I had received requests to hold a victory celebration, but I couldn't find the time during the season.

Q Regarding Miyamoto, I hear that Kobe is seeing an increase in spectators thanks to him, but has the president ever asked him to come back?: A

The story of Miyamoto, who came after we had already discussed strengthening the team with the Head Coach and decided on this year's members, was told. I thought that forcing him to join the team at this point would not have a positive effect on the team as a whole, so I declined the offer. The story about Inamoto from the other day was also false. When acquiring a transfer player, we place emphasis on the hearts of the existing players.

Q Young players are not doing so well. How to develop teenage players at the top level.: A

He showed me a list of players promoted from the youth team, and four players from Gamba Youth have become professionals. We have 14 players, or 45%. We place importance on development, and Uenoyama (former academy director, currently on loan to the J.League) has been seconded to spread Gamba's development program to the entire league. As for how to use youth players, the decision is left to the Head Coach. The Head Coach has spoken about how to develop young players while ensuring victories. There is also the issue of whether or not they can make use of the opportunity even if they are given it. There is also the issue of whether it is a good decision to promote them to the top team now, due to the issue of physical formation. I recognize that each Head Coach has a different way of thinking. I think these are players who will definitely come out.

Q How was the business situation last year?: A

We will be reporting on management and approval status on our website in the future.

Q Weekday start time. It would be better if it was 7:30pm.: A

There are residential areas in the surrounding area, and there are ordinances that prohibit noisemakers at 9 p.m. There are also adjustments to the broadcasting rights of Sky Perfect TV. The kickoff time is decided based on television, so it may not always be according to the club's request.
However, we would like to continue considering making it 7:30 p.m. on weekdays whenever possible.

Q If the stadium MC, Sengoku, could call out to SB and SM fans along with the cheering from behind the A goal, we could create a more unified cheer.: A

We want to make it a natural process, with the stadium MC taking the lead.

Q Gamba has a program on J:COM, but would it be possible for them to create a specialized program for a wider area, either nationwide or in the Kansai region?: A

I think it's something we need to think about in the future. We want to gradually strengthen our operations by digitizing our data. We would also like to start activities such as getting our programs broadcast in Korea.
However, there are copyright issues involved when using J.League footage.

Q Is it possible to expand activities such as soccer classes to a wider area outside of the hometown?: A

There are currently 37 professional soccer clubs in Japan. We are working every day to increase community activities.

Q I want to see a community site for GAMBA OSAKA fan club members on their website. The benefits of being a fan club member are not that great for anyone other than local residents.: A

This is something I'd like to consider important going forward. I'd like to think about how to deal with it.

Q I like the possession and attacking style, but is this Head Coach Nishino's style or Gamba's style?: A

Strategy. The club's strategy and the Head Coach's tactics have come to align. I think this is the reason why Gamba has become stronger. If this doesn't align, the club's management won't go well.

Our goal is to become a club that everyone can be proud of and love.

We would like to introduce the contents of the Year Book and the hometown booklet "G-smile" again.
We introduced our involvement in the local community, our track record of social contribution activities, and the state of our activities.

We would like to respond to any questions or comments you may have and reflect them in GAMBA OSAKA's operations.
We appreciate your continued support and encouragement for GAMBA OSAKA!

that's all