Smooth transition with basically infrastructure in place does pay bills. Especially in an unfortunately underserviced area for top rugby league representation. You will find that these established advantages will pay dividends in numerous ways. Be it greater interest in genuine local derbies, recapturing disenfranchised Bears and rugby league fans, gaining Central Coast involvement on the top flight and consolidating rugby league on the eastern seaboard of NSW. Athe the moment RL is being challenged by other codes. If the current administration keeps sitting on their hands, the farm will eventually whittle down and be lost.
Broadcasters aren't looking for smooth transitions and existing infrastructure, they are looking for new broadcast timeslots, new markets for viewers and new eyeballs on screens. That's what pays the bills in actual currency, not in nostalgia.
The people of the Central Coast already watch NRL in large numbers and attend games (both on the Central Coast and I would imagine by driving an hour and a bit up or down the highway once or twice a year to either Newcastle or Sydney.
So, how exactly would the bears increase the TV viewership, increase the average attendances in the NRL and provide enough new viewers to pay for themselves in the next TV deal? Please answer in actual financial terms, not in nostalgic terms.
