Will re-open in the new year. Basically, it has been in the wrong place forever - exhibit A being Souths Juniors. It was not a problem with the brand but more with the location. Of course, it was run into the ground, a bit like the fottball club was. Both occurred under the stewardship of the one person. A person whose heart was in the right place but didn't have a clue.
On memberships, it is ironic that the same person introduced them as a fund-raising venture, not seeing that this was the very thing that unseated him. Very easy to control the votes of a hundred or so members. Not so easy standing over fifteen or sixteen thousand with newly discovered voting rights.
As for Leagues club funding, those days are just about over. Very few of them are in a position to offer the funds they used to. Canterbury, Easts and Parra maybe but nothing like it used to be. The next club to fall over will be the one who cannot generate funds through membership (or is already technically bankrupt, as one club is).
People can LOLSouffs all they like but the fact is, they have the largest membership base and the largest income from it. All seats, with the exception of some charity versions, are at primo pricing. Mine cost $339 and is nothing special. Non ticketed membership at $90 is nearly equivalent to Newcastle's ticketed members. I know which income I'd prefer but there is obviously the Tinkler effect. He won't be taking those losses forever. Just ask Max Delmege.
