Deep North saviour for the Sharks

[El Diablo]

http://business.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/deep-north-saviour-for-the-sharks-20090524-bjhz.html

Deep North saviour for the Sharks
Roy Masters
May 25, 2009

The Sharks' home crowd on Saturday night was their biggest of the season, a surprise considering the ugly headlines the club has generated. But it was not a shock to supporters of the opposition team, St George Illawarra, who didn't have to travel far from their district, which effectively surrounds Cronulla.

The Sharks' future though is in Cairns, driven by Queensland parochialism.

A confidential report commissioned by the NRL demonstrates the number of TV viewers surges in the northern state for matches involving the Broncos, Cowboys or Titans, but falls when two non-Queensland teams meet.

The introduction to the NRL of the Titans on the Gold Coast, together with Channel Nine's double-header format on Friday nights, has increased Queensland audiences by 25 per cent. (See first graph).

The average audience for Queensland for Friday free-to-air home and away (regular season) games has increased from 300,000 in 2005 to 400,000 at the end of last year

If the near bankrupt Sharks relocate to Cairns, it would give Channel Nine a fourth Queensland team to telecast, allowing it greater options with its 7.30pm Friday night coverage in the north of a match involving a Queensland team, concurrent with one involving a Sydney club shown in NSW. It flips the games at 9.30pm.

Similarly, Nine's coverage of Sunday afternoon matches has been affected by Queensland parochialism (See second graph).

The average audience for Channel Nine's Sunday 4pm games in Queensland has declined over the four year period, consistent with fewer Queensland teams being broadcast in this slot.

Again, the Cairns Sharks would give Nine greater Queensland options on a Sunday.

Figures for NSW suggest the exit of the Sharks from Cronulla would not affect viewer numbers in Sydney or its regional areas significantly.

The double-header format has had limited effect on NSW viewing numbers, while the Sunday afternoon free-to-air game has provided consistent numbers.

Nine and Fox Sports allocate the eight matches per round on the basis of Nine having first choice (Friday night), second choice (Sunday) and fifth (second Friday night game).

NSW's consistent audience numbers suggest fans seem content to watch a competitive match, with the geography of the team not as important as in the parochial north.

The Sharks' bottom of the ladder position this season has not damaged Nine's ratings, based on OzTAM figures for the first five rounds.

Nine is attracting an average 761,000 viewers per match in Sydney and Brisbane, up 9 per cent on the 2008 season average.

The second match on Friday nights is experiencing solid audience growth, up 42 per cent on last year's average.

Cronulla has lost $1 million in sponsorships since a Four Corners report on group sex was aired, placing pressure on a short-term debt of more than $11 million and an overdraft of more than $2 million. In 2008 the Sharks operated at a loss of $1.4 million, they face a tax debt of $800,000, and a receiver is monitoring their parlous state.

Should they move north, it would be consistent with a general population shift. One estimate suggests Queensland's population of 4.2 million will increase to 6 million within 15 years and 8 million within 30 years.

The Queensland Government is committed to supporting its sporting teams, contributing the major share of a $126 million stadium for the AFL's Gold Coast team, scheduled to enter that competition in 2011.

The Papua New Guinea Government also wants an NRL team, with their parliament approving a 30 million kina ($14 million) allocation to a new stadium in Port Moresby and appointing a bid team to lobby the NRL.

It is highly unlikely the bid will succeed until PNG has enough TV sets to generate the ratings which drive the broadcasting dollars, the principal source of revenue to the NRL. However, the NRL may look more favourably on an association between the Cairns Sharks and PNG, particularly the expected sponsorship from mining companies.

The Cairns Sharks would bid up the broadcasting fees paid in the next TV contract, scheduled from 2013, and fund the $15 million that the club would expect in order to relocate.

Cronulla recently had a bid to play five games a year for five years at Gosford rejected by the NRL.

Should they make a similar request to play out of Cairns, TV ratings suggest the NRL would view the request more favourably.

 

[Timmah]

Yeah, because Barlow Park would meet the criteria... :sarcasm:

 

[Perth Red]

No stadium, small population, ltd big business up there. Geez great idea Roy!

 

[mongoose]

Why Cairns?

If they were going to relocate to QLD, it would have to be somewhere around brisbane. They atleast have a few options of where they can play...Suncorp, ANZ or whatever its called these days, even ballymore.

 

[Perth Red]

Any new team in Q'land has to play out of ANZ, its criminal such a good stadium gets used so little. If Brisbane wants or needs another team is a different matter.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Any new team in Q'land has to play out of ANZ, its criminal such a good stadium gets used so little. If Brisbane wants or needs another team is a different matter.

im sure you mean suncorp.

but yeah , i agree.

All this talk of central qld , sunshine coast and now cairns is silly when you have such a great stadium and a growing city of 1.8 million.

Clearly the next qld team must be a 2nd brisbane team.

 

[mongoose]

Any new team in Q'land has to play out of ANZ, its criminal such a good stadium gets used so little. If Brisbane wants or needs another team is a different matter.

Brisbane does have an ANZ stadium, it's where the broncos played before Lang Park was fixed up, but its a terrible stadium to watch footy.

 

[The Tank]

I'm pretty sure Perth Red is referring to Suncorp, as was pointed out in an earlier post. On the article, aren't Cairns part of "North Queensland"? i.e. the Cowboys?

In regards to future Queensland teams Central Queensland may be one for the future, as is the Sunshine Coast, but I believe Brisbane should have another team. Call them Brisbane City RLFC.

 

[Everlovin' Antichrist]

If it's coming from Roy, it's got some legs.

 

[Sparky 74]

Can Qld handle 5 NRL teams

1/ North Queensland Cowboys
2/ Brisbane Broncos
3/ Gold Coast Titans
4/ Sunshine Coast - Sea Eagles - Manly may relocate - dramas at club
5/ South Queensland - Cronulla Sharks to relocate West of Brisbane?

Maybe that may work

 

[t-ba]

5 teams in those regions should be the plan for the next 10-15 years.

It's madness to put clubs in places like Cairns and Rocky atm though. We want the game to grow, and placing clubs in cities so bloody small is stupid. Wait until they grow before moving in, which they surely will. In 30 years time a few cities out of Toowoomba, Bundy, Rocky, Mackay and Cairns will have grown enough.

 

[Brutus]

Look, there needs to be another Brisbane team playing out of Suncorp. We need RL at that ground every week. A North Brisbane team with ties to Redcliffe and the Sunny Coast would be ideal. Maybe 10 home games at Suncorp and 1 or 2 on the Sunshine Coast.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Look, there needs to be another Brisbane team playing out of Suncorp. We need RL at that ground every week. A North Brisbane team with ties to Redcliffe and the Sunny Coast would be ideal. Maybe 10 home games at Suncorp and 1 or 2 on the Sunshine Coast.

Sold! I love that idea.

 

[Brutus]

Any new team in Q'land has to play out of ANZ, its criminal such a good stadium gets used so little. .

It is an atrocious stadium to watch footy from.

 

[Joker's Wild]

It is an atrocious stadium to watch footy from.

Not to mention its currently full of sand and has a massive athletics track around the edge that they have spent a tonne of cash on so they will not rip it up to bring in the seats.

QE II is not an option

 

[Timmah]

'ANZ' in Queensland is no longer known as ANZ, it's called QSAC. The ACDC concert will be there in Feb next year.

 

[Smiley]

City in a league of our own

LOGAN may not yet have its own nrl franchise, but the potential is enough to scare opposition teams.

The region’s youngsters had, until gold coast’s entry into the competition in 2007, only brisbane as a potential nrl home.

While the likes of boronia heights’ israel folau and marsden’s chris sandow have shipped off interstate eyeing nrl action, the possibility of an all-logan team is enough to have fans salivating.

David kemp, major sponsor of the logan thunder and a heavy hitter in sporting circles, says the time has come for logan to tap into its own back yard.

“we are a breeding ground for sportsmen but because of our sporting grounds, no one stays or comes back,’’ he said.

“guys like folau are very proud they come from logan.’’

the all-logan nrl team could also include fellow broncos flyer antonio winterstein, who grew up near logan brothers, and gold coast winger esi tonga.

1. Gerard beale (brisbane/logan brothers)
2. William zillman (gold coast/logan brothers)
3. Israel folau (brisbane/marsden)
4. Esi tonga (gold coast/marsden)
5. Antonio winterstein (brisbane/logan brothers)
6. Josh mccrone (canberra/souths logan)
7. Chris sandow (south sydney/marsden)
8. Daniel joyce (canberra/souths logan)
9. Cameron smith (melbourne/logan brothers)
10. Scott logan (canberra/waterford)
11. Corey parker (brisbane/logan brothers)
12. Joseph tomane (melbourne/marsden)
13. Chris mcqueen (south sydney/beenleigh)
14. Cy lasscock (canberra/souths logan)
15. Junior sau (newcastle/logan brothers)
16. Corey norman (brisbane/beenleigh)
17. Glen buttriss (canberra/souths logan)

link

 

[Smiley]

Field of dreams

A CRESTMEAD businessman wants to build a new sports stadium in Logan to bolster the case for a third National Rugby League franchise in South-East Queensland.

Responding to comments from NRL CEO David Gallop about the possibility of a joint Logan-Toowoomba-Ipswich side, shelving and fitting magnate David Kemp said the time had come for action.

Mr Kemp plans on spearheading a group including councillors Phil Pidgeon and Russell Lutton with designs for a 15,000-seat stadium.

Redeveloping Slacks Creek’s Meakin Park - now leased out by the Brisbane Strikers - would be an option.

But Mr Kemp sees the land next to Logan Metro Sports Centre at Browns Plains as a better long-term prospect.

He proposes that grandstands be built, piece by piece over the next few years.
Queensland’s newest stadium, Skilled Park at Robina, cost $160 million and seats 27,400.

An oval-shaped field could be used for cricket, Australian football, baseball, soccer, rugby union and rugby league, as well as concerts.

“If we want this (NRL team) to take off, we have to combine with Ipswich and Toowoomba,’’ Mr Kemp said exclusively to the News.

“But when it comes to building a stadium, why should it go to Ipswich?

“Because of its size, Logan needs a big stadium we can’t wait 10 years.

“If we don’t do it now, there could be another NRL team out of the western corridor.’’
Logan Deputy Mayor Russell Lutton said the idea “would be sensational’’, but a solid grounding must be laid first.

A lack of quality alternatives in a city expected to expand in population by 200,000 in the next 20 years has Mr Kemp strongly behind the push.

It could open possibilities for national league teams across major codes - rugby league, soccer, rugby union, cricket and Australian football - to host money-spinning pre-season matches in Logan.

“We have got absolutely nothing,’’ Kemp said.

“The facilities at Meakin Park are terrible we will never get anyone there.

“People won’t want to come unless they have comfortable seating, food and drinks, and cover.’’

A-League’s Central Coast Mariners have proposed a pre-season clash with Queensland State League’s Logan United at Meakin Park in June, but Kemp says ``you might as well not have it.’’.

“If we don’t get better facilities in it will be very hard to get corporate dollars,’’ he said.

“You talk to a lot of business people and they are all for it.’’

“If we developed some seating though we could get pre-season AFL, NRL and A-League teams. We could even get Asian teams out here for the Champions League.’’
Last week the Queensland Government agreed to kick in $36million to help fund the Gold Coast AFL team’s stadium proposal.

“We have seen the talk in the papers over an NRL team coming here but before we start spending any money we need to know the lay of the land,’’ he said.
“The council would get behind it but we would need a lot of state and federal assistance.’’

link

 

[Fathead]

Queenslanders love their Rugby league.
It will be the new mecca.
I believe that Rockhampton may be a better choice but for all means go to North Queensland before another Brisbane team. Lets grow this great game.

 

[lockyrulz]

There is your next gold mine, and the NRL should get right behind it.

IMO next moves to be looked at should be this one, perth, and sharks relocate to Adelaide.