Is club membership the way forward?

The AFL in Australia has led the way for years with club membership.
Souths were pretty much the first club to promote and encourage football membership.
Before the campaign to become a member South's had 2,500.
When Crowe & Holmes a Court took over and started the membership drive the first year was 8,000 then 11,000 the year after...last season was 20,000 and they are anticipating 23,000 members for season 2012.

The NRL still has some clubs like Penrith, Manly and Cronulla who struggle to get 4,000 members where as one city one club like Brisbane, Newcastle Melbourne have got a huge advantage of gaining anything from 30 - 40,000 members in the near future.

It gives the clubs a huge financial advantage of knowing before a ball is even kicked how much they are earning through gate receipts rain hail or shine and the figure can only grow with those supporters who turn up and support on the day.....defiantely the way forward I feel.

I am a bit confused with what is the difference between Season Tickets and Club Membership.
Is there a difference?,by that I mean are Members allowed access to games the same as season ticket holders.
If so what happens when the total of members and season ticket holders exceeds the ground capacity.
As an example Barcelona Football Club have 173000. members, I know there is proberbly a logical explanation so please enlighten me in my old age.
Cheers.

It's exactly the same thing olé mate....

* Season ticket holder and club membership is the same thing anything from $50.00 - $250.00 per seat at home games.

* There is also a patron membership of the Leagues Club $25.00 which entitles you to enter the clubs premises and enjoy a beer and a meal or a show etc....
.