Brisbane2 Bid News

[flippikat]

It looks like the Queensland bids have divided along QRL cup team lines. QRL Cup affiliation might end up looking like:

North Queensland Cowboys (unlikely to change):
Mackay Cutters, Northern Pride (Cairns)

Gold Coast Titans (Ipswich are currently a feeder, but they want their own licence):
Burleigh Bears, Tweed Heads Seagulls

Brisbane Broncos (Redcliffe will be going to Brisbane II):
Wynnum Manly Seagulls, Central Commets (Rockhampton), Norths Devils

Ipswich-Logan (Western Corridor) "Jets":
Ipswich Jets, Souths Logan Magpies (Canberra's feeder team, who need a new deal)

Brisbane (II) "Dolphins":
Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles (Manly's old feeder team), Redcliffe Dolphins (currently in Broncos stable, but itching for their own team)

I don't know whats doing with Easts Tigers, who are(?) Melbourne affiliated. They were rumored to be putting an NRL bid together with Wynnum Manly, but haven't heard anything since. Maybe Easts might end up under the Broncos or Bris II banner?

Hmm.. which again raises the question - how many teams can Brisbane support in the long run?

If we have Tigers bid included, that's 4.. you could basically go to each compass point.

- Jets (West)
- Brisbane2 (Sunshine Coast - would this also be North Brisbane...?)
- Easts Tigers (err.. East)
- Broncos (Presumably South???)

 

[smithie]

There should only ever be two Brisbane NRL teams. We don't want to replicate the same problem that Sydney has, too many teams in one area. We can't put a National team in each little region that wants one.

The IC need to put in a lot of work marketing and promoting the reserve grade competitions. As far as the QLD Cup goes, bringing back the Toowoomba Clydesdales should be a priority. The NSW Cup needs much more attention.

 

[Goddo]

There will be 8.7m people in Queensland by 2050, more than in Victoria.

There will be 1.1m on the Gold Coast, and Brisbane will be as big as Sydney is now.

To suggest that the State won't be able to support more than 4 teams is nieve.

Brisbane propper should only have 2 teams, but that isn't to say that South East Queensland won't be able to support say 5 clubs.

 

[Lockyer4President!]

There will be 8.7m people in Queensland by 2050, more than in Victoria.

There will be 1.1m on the Gold Coast, and Brisbane will be as big as Sydney is now.

To suggest that the State won't be able to support more than 4 teams is nieve.

Brisbane propper should only have 2 teams, but that isn't to say that South East Queensland won't be able to support say 5 clubs.

40years time is a looooooong time away mate. It’s like the NSWRFL in the 70’s trying to predict the game today, impossible.

15-20 years is the timeframe we oughta be working with and in that time we should aim to have 4 teams in SEQ (and keep the Cowboys strong in NQ).

Deciding where to place the teams is up to the IC but that should be their goal, just like they should have a goal to have teams in every mainland state capital, etc.

edit:f**k yah Hala & YowYeh!

 

[smithie]

Of course QLD we be able to support more than 4 teams in the future. By 2020 I'd like to see the Sea Eagles franchise relocate to the Sunshine Coast, which is a possibility. However some have suggested NRL teams at Ipswich, Logan, Redcliffe, etc. New York City has a population of over 8 million and only has two NFL teams. You don't see people saying there should be NFL teams at Manhattan, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island, Brooklyn, etc.

Ultimately I'd like to see Suncorp upgraded to 60,000+ and have two strongly supported Brisbane teams playing there as well as Gold Coast, North QLD, Sunshine Coast and Central QLD all having 30,000+ crowds. Would like to see QLD Cup sides getting crowds of 10,000+ crowds and some of the bigger clubs Ipswich, Redcliffe, etc. 15,000+.

But 2050 is a long, long way off. By then the AFL's blitzkrieg will have completely overwhelmed and taken over the country and those of us league fans that are left will be put into "special camps".

 

[docbrown]

But 2050 is a long, long way off. By then the AFL's blitzkrieg will have completely overwhelmed and taken over the country and those of us league fans that are left will be put into "special camps".

You do realise that the blitzkrieg is ultimately a flawed military tactic?

Look what happened when the Nazi's tried it in the Soviet Union.

How'd that war go for them again?

 

[smithie]

Yeah, let's hope they run out of petrol.

 

[hellteam]

They need to stay away from the B B alliteration. Way way too similar to Broncos.

 

[bobmar28]

I don't think this has been posted, so I'll throw it up. ABC Radio Grandstand interview with Craig Davidson, head of the Brisbane II bid.

5 June 2011
http://www.abc.net.au/sport/rugbyleague/audio/?page=3

Main points made:

1. Still looking at 3 locations for basing the club (presumedly the same 3 they anounced Davis Park (South Brisbane), Dolphin Oval (Redcliffe) and two locations in Redlands), will play all games at Suncorp.

2. Team name, logo colours and branding will be anounced on Monday 18 July (12 days after Origin III, the Monday after the Broncos vs Titans match). Mentioned that it will definately be Brisbane "Somethings" and has reduced the short list 15 names down to 3. (I'd be betting they anounce their sponsors too)

3. Talked about population coverage and sustainability. Mentioned that Newcastle-Sydney had 3.4m people and 9 teams (he thought the Central Coast should have a team but that it be a current Sydney licence) that Ipswich-Logan only had 200k (didn't go near the population growth in that area though).

4. Talked up the Crushers, saying they averaged 21k attendence in first year and made $13m from sponsorship before being destroyed by Super League.

5. However, this bid will not be Crushers Mk II. Went on to talk about how a wealthy stable second Brisbane side will have huge flow on benefits to junior rugby league in Queensland.

6. Sees Perth as run away certainties for 1 of the expansion licences. Doesn't rate Central Queensland or PNG at all. Thinks they have Ipswich and Central Coast covered.
(I wouldn't go as far as that, I think its Perth, and a 3 way fight for the second spot)

Very interesting point:

7. Talked about how he saw the future distribution of clubs across South East Queensland. He believes that:

* Broncos - city, a little of south Brisbane and all of the North-West.
* Titans - Gold Coast up as far as South Logan.
* Brisbane II - he sees it taking in Redlands, North Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, with a strong feeder club relationship with the Sunshine Coast

(interesting how an Ipswich-Logan club would also fit perfectly into his model. Also sounds like this bid is leaning towards basing itself at Redcliffe rather than South Brisbane or Redlands)
------------------------------------
Seems to me like this bid is shaping as North Brisbane-Sunshine Coast, but playing at Suncorp. Looks like they will have a strong relationship with Sunshine Coast Sea Eagles and Redcliffe Dolphins.

Why not formalise that relationship with Redcliffe and use the Dolphins name. It would be better than the crap they asked us to vote on.

 

[LeagueXIII]

There should only ever be two Brisbane NRL teams. We don't want to replicate the same problem that Sydney has, too many teams in one area. We can't put a National team in each little region that wants one.

How is Sydney a problem, at the start of this month Sydney's crowd average was higher than the non-Sydney clubs. Take out the Broncos and most clubs are pretty much the same.

It's a myth that Sydney has too many teams.

 

[Goddo]

Here's Dousts angle on expansion. Seems pretty reasonable:
http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...in-the-pink-20110617-1g7rk.html#ixzz1PZvyzKoE

Peter Fitzgerald: Should the NRL expand, contract or remain at 16 teams?

Peter Doust: I'm an expansionist in principle. I like the idea of a national competition, of developing the game in other communities. But we can't do that at the expense of what we've got now, either​

​

 

[Goddo]

How is Sydney a problem, at the start of this month Sydney's crowd average was higher than the non-Sydney clubs. Take out the Broncos and most clubs are pretty much the same.

It's a myth that Sydney has too many teams.

Not in terms of TV money. You know, the thing that pays our bills?

 

[Lockyer4President!]

How is Sydney a problem, at the start of this month Sydney's crowd average was higher than the non-Sydney clubs. Take out the Broncos and most clubs are pretty much the same.

It's a myth that Sydney has too many teams.

Sydney should always have a higher average than the non-Sydney clubs. They get double the crowds because of the ‘away’ supporters from the neighbouring suburb, they have generations of supporters for each team whereas teams like Melbourne and Auckland are new and in expansion areas, etc.

It says something about how bad Sydney was that the non-Sydney teams used to be (and still are) comparable to the Sydney club averages…

Oh and Sydney does have too many teams in the NRL, anyone with two eyes can see that. It’s the NRL, not the NSWRL.

 

[flippikat]

The question the NRL needs to ask is whether they want the next Brisbane team to be geographically based or not.

for instance, an Ipswich/Western Brisbane team will be appealing to that community, but may have limited appeal in central parts of Brisbane (apart from league fans there who hate the Broncos)

If the NRL accepts a bid that's defining itself by a compass direction or a suburb, it has implications not just for future Brisbane bids, but also for the Broncos - who do they define themselves as representing?

If the NRL choose a bid that's a second Brisbane-wide team, that will really put a spanner in the works for the other Brisbane-area bids that may be working on a regional approach.

 

[Quidgybo]

If the NRL choose a bid that's a second Brisbane-wide team, that will really put a spanner in the works for the other Brisbane-area bids that may be working on a regional approach.

Two teams with a Brisbane wide appeal is probably enough but there is more to South East Queensland than just Brisbane proper. If these other bids are still interested in owning a franchise in the south east region then there are still two major areas open that could support their own team - Sunshine Coast and north, and Ipswich and west to Toowoomba. And the game itself certainly has an interest in having more than just four Queensland teams. The big question would be how they get their licenses - win them in a future expansion beyond 18 teams or buy an existing one...

Leigh

 

[flippikat]

Two teams with a Brisbane wide appeal is probably enough but there is more to South East Queensland than just Brisbane proper. If these other bids are still interested in owning a franchise in the south east region then there are still two major areas open that could support their own team - Sunshine Coast and north, and Ipswich and west to Toowoomba. And the game itself certainly has an interest in having more than just four Queensland teams. The big question would be how they get their licenses - win them in a future expansion beyond 18 teams or buy an existing one...

Leigh

I think this could be the way forward.

Most likely, the NRL decides on "Brisbane 2" team to join along with Perth in 2014 (TV rights revenue determining that Brisbane 2 gets in ahead of the Central Coast.)

Then it gets interesting.

I think the other unsuccessful bids are confronted with three options..

* Wait until the next round of expansion, keep their independence, work hard and hope that they get in next time.

* Form an alliance with an existing NRL team, maybe look to host a few of their partner club's home games - either as a profile raising exercise for the expansion bid or a first step to some sort of joint-venture.

* Stage a hostile takeover, and grab an NRL license from a club that's in dire need of the money.

 

[BDGS]

Putting off expansion to 2015 will help this bid mature and possibly could put themselves in the top 2 of the bids.

 

[NRLMad]

It's probably a good idea. The focus should be the individual about the merits of each bidder. Right now the focus is on the IC and has nothing to do with woprking out what the best bid is. They need more time.

 

[Goddo]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...n-and-who-is-out/story-e6frg7mf-1226078819053

NRL expansion bidders demand to know who is in and who is out
Margie McDonald

THE seven bid teams vying for the two extra licences to join the NRL said the code needs to put five franchises out of their misery.

While the NRL has not decided when it will expand from 16 to18 teams, bidders said they should be told if they had no hope.

The seven are Brisbane, Central Queensland based in Rockhampton, Ipswich, PNG based in Port Moresby, NSW Central Coast based in Gosford, Perth and New Zealand capital Wellington. The front-runners are Brisbane and Ipswich, from Queensland's populous south-east Queensland corridor, and Perth, which would give the NRL a more national feel and a team in a later TV timeslot.

"Is it fair on all the bidders out there? Not so much us because we only came on the market six months ago but the Central Coast in particular who've spent lots of money going around year after year," said Brisbane bid leader Craig Davison. "Put aside the argument of whether it's going to be 2013, '14 or '15, how about they go to the marketplace and actually make the decision. They've said they're going to have more teams so at least that's one decision out of the way.

"So let's know who those teams are and then they can tell us later what the year of entry is. I think you've got to put out of misery all those teams who aren't going to get it. There's a lot of money being spent by a lot of people so the NRL, and independent commission, should be very mindful of that."

Davison was responding to the comments of NRL boss David Gallop on ABC Radio where he said an 18-team competition from 2015 was his preference.

"It might come earlier but we should be giving our existing clubs a couple of years with the new television money to get themselves stable before we introduce new teams into the competition," Gallop said.

Ipswich bid chairman Steven Johnson said he understood NRL clubs would want to see what money the new television deal was worth.

"And that's commendable," Johnson said yesterday. "Our view is that it's something beyond our control. If there's an expansion, we're going to be their (NRL) guests so it's not up to us to be critical of the timing."

He pointed out the Ipswich bid was more advanced than others as it already boasted an existing football structure -- including a stadium and training facilities -- through the Ipswich Queensland Cup club. "So we could start a side tomorrow and start signing players," Johnson said. "For others without that it's a big ask to maintain that community interest and spending that amount of money on staff. That would be money wasted as it takes a fair bit to keep bids alive for that amount of time."

The NSW Central Coast bid, headed by Greg Florimo, felt Gallop's statement was another kick in the head as he had been trying for seven years to get the Central Coast Bears into the NRL. But he reminded everyone it was only Gallop's personal view.

"Look, I'm not going to enter into the debate, simply because the independent commission has the final say. They are the body which makes the decision," Florimo said. "David obviously will have a recommendation and a point of view. But until the commission forms, sits down and makes some solid statements on expansion I'm not going to waste any energy on it."

He did back Davison's call for two bid teams to be given the green light immediately.
"We are definitely in need of some direction. We've got close to 7000 members who have invested money, not to mention our sponsors and our fans and what they've put in," Florimo said. "So we are desperate for someone to make a statement of intent, because we are reaching a point that if 2013 is realistic then we need a decision real soon."

The second Brisbane team is due to announce its name, logo and stadium next month.

 

[BDGS]

You gotta love the newspapers aye? One bid's boss says the NRL must tell the bidder who is in and who is no chance and the headline is "NRL expansion bidders demand to know who is in and who is out" implying it's more then one bid team.

On another note, i don't think any bid team is in an position to demand anything really, demanding things from the NRL can't be good for whichever bid's chances that does so.