Have you ever imagined how football addiction and fanaticism can actually fetch you some money? If yes, then there’s a lucrative business out there waiting for you to take some two to three steps and you begin to earn a living for yourself. Meanwhile, the said steps are obviously on a smooth soil.
The business of a football viewing centre is one sure business in Nigeria that’s guaranteed consistent income and huge profits because of the great crowd of football fans who troop out to watch their respective clubs play football on weekends and midweeks (albeit not all weeks).
The coming together of football fans to see their favourite clubs in action is definitely not restricted to the stadiums alone, as many other fans across the world also have the opportunity to gather at the viewing centres, bars, clubs, to see their respective football teams in action.
However, the simple truth is that not all football fans would be opportune to go see the games live at the stadiums and also, not everyone would be able to afford Cable TV to watch, and not forgetting the epileptic power supply in the country that will deter many people from watching from the comfort of their homes. Hence, the viewing centre is the best bet for those that are thousands of miles away from the match venue.
So, you can imagine how you’d be giving the opportunity to see their teams by providing a viewing centre in your environs, you’d be making them happy and also making money for yourself in return.
That said, shall we take a look at the things to consider when setting up a football viewing centre of your own.
Have A Solid Business Plan
Having an amazing plan prior to venturing into any business of one’s choice can definitely not be underrated or overemphasized. Because when this is in place, it puts the owner of the business on the right track right from the beginning of such business.
But in this case, the plan we’re talking about is how you want your viewing centre to look like. Are you settling for a centre that would accommodate a minimum of 100 viewers at a time? Or is it the normal viewing centre that would require only planks and trampoline as the shelter for the viewers, which would only house a maximum of 50 people at once? Or even a house?
Well, it all depends on the capital at hand and the choice of the owner. But on the other hand, using planks to set the centre up saves you the trouble of having to adjust when it’s raining, or making any of the changes due to weather. But you have to create enough windows and alternate doors. It will enable ventilation and relaxation.
So, after getting a spacious land (which is very essential anyway), and building the place that would house your customers, the second piece of equipment that’d be needed is the seat your viewers would sit on.
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Wooden seats are advisable in this case because of the damage some fans might do to plastic seats all in the name of celebration. So a wooden seat is the best. It should be long enough and be strong.
Get Good Electronics
When setting up a viewing centre, owners are mostly handicapped because of the consistent spike in the prices of electronic appliances which makes them settle for a lesser quality of electronics.
But for a start, here are the first few but important things to have:
– Standing or Ceiling Fans: I’m sure you’d not want your customers who’ve paid to feel any form of an inconvenience no matter how little, thus the need for fans for a cool atmosphere.
– Blackboard: Yes, this is not electronic but you can agree with me that it is much needed so that you’d be able to advertise your viewing centre; when you write match fixtures and their times, it helps fans not miss out on any, knowing exactly when it will kick-off.
– Get Good TV sets: This aspect is the Crux of setting up this impeccable business. Just in case you don’t know, most viewing centre patronizers are not after the kind of cable TV decoders you’re using, all they want from you is utmost comfortability after paying you to watch a game.
And the utmost comfortability comes when the picture of your TVs is top-notch. Some TV sets of some centres can actually blind you because of their exasperating blurry screens. So, get sets of good televisions.
But don’t make a mistake of being economical with the numbers of television sets you’re getting, multiple TVs enables you to give viewers alternate matches. For instance, there could be three important matches at a go, and a crowd of fans divided according to their teams.
Multiple TVs will serve every team supporting group their own match and will enable each one to see the matches wherever he is seated. 3 flat-screen Televisions with super quality is okay, at least for a start.
– An amplifier and a Speaker: This also is very essential. The business is one that requires commentary with it; this commentary however helps increase the kind of publicity you give to your viewing centre.
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Install the speaker somewhere around your building, because you definitely cannot rely on the sounds of the TV sets alone. The sound from the speakers attracts hungry football viewers to come to see the action. So the amplifier and the speaker gives you that advantage of getting lots of customers.
Decoder
For this business, the decoder is the smallest but the most vital equipment that is indispensable to every viewing centre holder.
However, the DSTV decoder is the best of all decoders because they own the right to airing matches from most of the top leagues.
Having more than one decoder will help you satisfy different customers at the same time. Make sure that the subscription you have with DSTV meets your need. Also, with the advent of some dishes that can be cracked with some IPs, you get to be above your competitors by showing some matches in which the DSTV doesn’t have the privilege to air.
But the installation of the dish can be quite expensive which is why DSTV is the primary decoder for viewing centre.
A Reliable Standby Generator
This can be very important too due to the instability of the power sector in the country. Although it’s not compulsory it is very essential in the business – you don’t want to look like a fool in the presence of your customers when there’s a power failure, consistent occurrence drives away the customers.
You must keep the match going uninterruptedly with your backup plans and UPS helps to keep the TVs from going off while you trying to restore power. Also, endeavour to get yourself a standby generator.
Other basic equipment includes:
Extension Socket: You can make provision for as many sockets as you can so customers can charge their devices while watching football.
Electric power stabilizer: To regulate the television in case of light fluctuation.
Bulbs: To illuminate the atmosphere especially at night.
Total Cost Visibility For A Low-Budget Viewing Centre?
The capital that you need to set a viewing centre varies in relation to the capital you have, prefered location and how spacious you want your centre to be.
- With a budget/capital of N500, 000- N700,000, you can start your business
- Rent for land/shop or property: N50, 000 – N200, 000 / Annually, depends on location
- Blocking Setting to almost window level +
- Wooden Chairs N1500 – N2000 (20) depends on the quality
- Fairly used quality flatscreen TV sets (2) N50, 000
- UPS (2): N20000
- DSTV Decoder and dish and Installment: N18,000 or see list of Dstv Subs
- DSTV monthly subscription (XtraView): N15,000
- Standby Generator: N60000
- Ceiling fans/ standing fans: N20000
- Marker Board: N2000
- Lighting systems & Sockets: N8000 -10,000
Important Tips
A football viewing centre is a business that can be operated with other businesses because football matches are seasonal, so you have to look for other viable businesses you can run alongside.
Put on your thinking cap and consider other small businesses. For instance, you can have two small TV sets and PlayStation games that can rake in money during the offseason. Another one is to try having a betting house alongside the viewing centre.
Conclusion
In conclusion, running a football viewing centre business requires certain skillsets like coordination, management, and a good client-centric approach.
And it’s also a business that doesn’t require much marketing and advertisement. All you need do is an erect signpost in strategic areas within your environs so people from far and wide can be informed about the business.
In the early stages, you can offer free viewing for about two days and ensure to provide your best service. It is a way to get people to try your service and if they like your service, they will surely return.
Also, make sure your prices are competitive enough. They shouldn’t be too high so you don’t lose customers and should not be too low either so you don’t run at a loss.
