Why will London be a success in Super League

[adamkungl]

It's easy to assume they'll drop right back down, it's easy to assume it'll be same old, easy to say they'll make no difference..

Lets be positive though - what can the Broncos do, what do they need to do to be a success this time round?

1. Take lessons from the Wolfpack. Promote promote promote. Maybe they don't have pockets as deep, but there's still a lot that can be done.
Make the game day experience unique, have some buzz about it, engage new young fans. Ignore the old heartlanders and do your own thing.

2. Take lessons from the Storm.
These guys are the benchmark of RL expansion and have been for 20 years. Absolutely professional on and off the field. Hell, see if they can convince Cam Smith to come over for a couple of years.

 

[Walter sobchak]

It's easy to assume they'll drop right back down, it's easy to assume it'll be same old, easy to say they'll make no difference..

Lets be positive though - what can the Broncos do, what do they need to do to be a success this time round?

1. Take lessons from the Wolfpack. Promote promote promote. Maybe they don't have pockets as deep, but there's still a lot that can be done.
Make the game day experience unique, have some buzz about it, engage new young fans. Ignore the old heartlanders and do your own thing.

2. Take lessons from the Storm.
These guys are the benchmark of RL expansion and have been for 20 years. Absolutely professional on and off the field. Hell, see if they can convince Cam Smith to come over for a couple of years.

Lots of positives around the broncos regarding junior development with a now constant and steady stream of academy players coming through each year. There’s also New amateur clubs springing up in and around London and in the south east of England area in which the broncos can tap into for potential new fans and junior players for their youth teams which you’d imagine will only increase due to the broncos being in super league.

The major problems for the broncos are the fans and more importantly the lack of them. Also I believe that Ealing is an absolute nightmare to get to for fans in the Greater London area.

 

[jim_57]

Lots of positives around the broncos regarding junior development with a now constant and steady stream of academy players coming through each year. There’s also New amateur clubs springing up in and around London and in the south east of England area in which the broncos can tap into for potential new fans and junior players for their youth teams which you’d imagine will only increase due to the broncos being in super league.

The major problems for the broncos are the fans and more importantly the lack of them. Also I believe that Ealing is an absolute nightmare to get to for fans in the Greater London area.

London is so broad though that pretty much anywhere you play would be inconvenient for some. I don't know enough about Ealing to comment but I'd like to see them really put down roots as an East London side. Having Skolars as the North London side and maybe one day in the medium term have South & East based teams as well.

Focusing on the Broncos, I'd echo what kungl says. Promote themselves, try something new, don't "rely" on away fans coming to town (obviously embrace it when they do, try and turn it in to a party atmosphere).

 

[Pommy]

They really need to move, some SL sides can get away with playing out of decrepit dumps but Broncos are competing against sporting clubs playing out of world class stadiums.
League people will obviously put up with the current situation but if they’re going to get new blood in to the fan base they need the uninitiated to take them seriously.

 

[adamkungl]

The stadium situation is probably the most interesting question they face. Ealing really doesn't seem suitable for top grade and the location is odd.
On the other hand, yet another move would have its own negatives.
Maybe some upgrades can happen with a view to a more long term stadium strategy in 3 years?

 

[Storm13]

An expanded Super League with say a Toronto and New York in the top division may be able to persuade the type of investment needed for London to become something more than they are currently not.

SL needs a vision of what it wants to be in the future and the more gimmicks they keep implementing wont help a club like London. I think London needs stability and a plan of what the game wants from them as a whole.

 

[Walter sobchak]

They really need to move, some SL sides can get away with playing out of decrepit dumps but Broncos are competing against sporting clubs playing out of world class stadiums.
League people will obviously put up with the current situation but if they’re going to get new blood in to the fan base they need the uninitiated to take them seriously.

Exactly. I’ve been saying this for years that they need to sign a long term lease agreement with a lower league football(soccer) team for say 20-25+ years in order to secure their long term future and be able to put down strong foundations.

They should target football teams like Wimbledon afc, Brentford, Leyton orient and maybe even Millwall or QPR.

 

[Walter sobchak]

An expanded Super League with say a Toronto and New York in the top division may be able to persuade the type of investment needed for London to become something more than they are currently not.

SL needs a vision of what it wants to be in the future and the more gimmicks they keep implementing wont help a club like London. I think London needs stability and a plan of what the game wants from them as a whole.

New York in super league in the near future is a fantasy. I totally agree that if Toronto had made it to super league then maybe more multimillionaires and billionaires might have been interested in investing in teams like the London broncos.

 

[Walter sobchak]

The stadium situation is probably the most interesting question they face. Ealing really doesn't seem suitable for top grade and the location is odd.
On the other hand, yet another move would have its own negatives.
Maybe some upgrades can happen with a view to a more long term stadium strategy in 3 years?

Broncos home ground has a capacity of just over 3,000. I’m sure temporary stands/seats could be installed to take it over 4,000 which would be more than plenty for the broncos. They could also take a home fixture against Wigan to say Millwall.

 

[Storm13]

New York in super league in the near future is a fantasy. I totally agree that if Toronto had made it to super league then maybe more multimillionaires and billionaires might have been interested in investing in teams like the London broncos.

I think we would all agree a strong London in a strong Super League is something we all want to happen, just can't get excited about them in Super League as both those boxes will not be checked.

 

[Walter sobchak]

I think we would all agree a strong London in a strong Super League is something we all want to happen, just can't get excited about them in Super League as both those boxes will not be checked.

Like I said in earlier posts the fact that the broncos are back in super league can only help further the junior development currently going on at the broncos. Other than that I can’t really see any positives in terms of a strong broncos side or decent sized crowds but I’d rather the broncos were in super league than them not being in super league.

 

[latingringo101]

In the past the biggest problem the Broncos have had is a stable home. They switched homes about 5 times when they were in Super League and never had a solid fan base to support them (sometimes they struggled to get 1000 people to home games).

They need to get a solid squad, good home stadium in a good location and build a solid profile in the London area

 

[Walter sobchak]

In the past the biggest problem the Broncos have had is a stable home. They switched homes about 5 times when they were in Super League and never had a solid fan base to support them (sometimes they struggled to get 1000 people to home games).

They need to get a solid squad, good home stadium in a good location and build a solid profile in the London area

Hate to say it but I think the broncos were best off at the stoop.

 

[deluded pom?]

Exactly. I’ve been saying this for years that they need to sign a long term lease agreement with a lower league football(soccer) team for say 20-25+ years in order to secure their long term future and be able to put down strong foundations.

They should target football teams like Wimbledon afc, Brentford, Leyton orient and maybe even Millwall or QPR.

https://www.afcwimbledon.co.uk/news/2018/september/site-almost-cleared-for-new-stadium

 

[roughyedspud]

Brentford are building a new stadium too

Which isn't a million miles away from ealing

 

[deluded pom?]

Brentford are building a new stadium too

Which isn't a million miles away from ealing

http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/

"Situated next to Kew Bridge station, less than a mile away from Griffin Park, it’s much more than just a stadium for professional football though. It will also be home to a professional rugby team and is at the heart of plans to regenerate the area, including much needed new homes and commercial opportunities."

Looks like someone has beaten them to it 'spud.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Well that only leaves Barnet, Leyton Orient and Wimbledon afc.

 

[deluded pom?]

Wimbledon will be an initial capacity of 10,000 with a view to extending to 20,000 as and when required.

 

[Walter sobchak]

Wimbledon will be an initial capacity of 10,000 with a view to extending to 20,000 as and when required.

Something for the broncos to think about and definitely explore the idea of ground sharing with Wimbledon afc.

 

[Walter sobchak]

http://www.brentfordcommunitystadium.com/

"Situated next to Kew Bridge station, less than a mile away from Griffin Park, it’s much more than just a stadium for professional football though. It will also be home to a professional rugby team and is at the heart of plans to regenerate the area, including much needed new homes and commercial opportunities."

Looks like someone has beaten them to it 'spud.

London Irish apparently but nothing has been finalized.