Expansion, Manly and the Coasts

[RHCP]

Death before relocation.

 

[oval]

I'm not sure I can see a reason for any Sydney club to move... Sure, in Manlys case there are slightly smaller than average crowds, a decrepid old ground (which we Manly supporters LOVE) and a constant battle to remain finincially viable. But as long as the team is performing, the fans are watching and the rivalries are simmering, why does anyone feel the need to suggest relocation? If Manly fail, then so be it - survival of the fittest and all that. But the club is still alive and kicking, and as long as that is the case, leave em be.

Why not just start a new team up at the Sunshine Coast or Perth or CC or wherever - I don't get why it should require the relocation of established Sydney clubs. I'm not sure who the OP supports, but most Sydney rugby league supporters would not like seeing another Sydney club leave, mainly because (a) you'll lose a traditional rivalry, which cannot be manufactured, and (b) you'll probably miss that particular away game. The best games in Sydney are the ones where you play another Sydney club (although I like it when Melbourne visit)...

Relocation is the last resort, and I will do my best to support the club and help ensure it never happens.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Why is it that Manly are the team always brought up for discussion to move elsewhere when we have Parramatta, Canterbury and Wests all living in each others pocket? Surely if a team is to be moved it would be one of them? You can even throw Souffs in there who are now living out of Homebush.

Yes the inevitible whinging from fans of those clubs is on its way but whatever.

Manly have (had?) strong ties to the Sunshine Coast, an expanding and underutilised area of Qld. Add to that the fact that Brookvale Oval is just about the worst stadium of an RL ground with no replacement/upgrade in the foreseeable future.

It really isnt a big leap from there is it

 

[ceagle]

Manly definetly has a large enough of an area to grow their brand in, we need to take advantage of that, we need to market our brand better (let's see what Perry does) and get an upgraded stadium, we then, imo would be one of the bigger clubs in Sydney.

And who says relocating to Sunshine Coast would be that much better? Gold Coast aren't going to great right now.

 

[smithie]

I cannot see any new stadiums being built in QLD for at least a decade now, thanks to the Commonwealth Games being held at the Gold Coast for 2018. Bad news for a Sunshine Coast, Springfield(Ipswich) or Central QLD team, as well as the Cowboys getting a long overdue new stadium.

 

[Quidgybo]

Manly definetly has a large enough of an area to grow their brand in, we need to take advantage of that, we need to market our brand better (let's see what Perry does) and get an upgraded stadium, we then, imo would be one of the bigger clubs in Sydney..

And if the Bears come back in from 2015, how much of that potential do they take away? They are after all claiming they'll reconnect with the North Shore and the big end of town. Surely that won't help if the Sea Eagles are already struggling now with the entire area to themselves.

Leigh.

 

[El Diablo]

Why is it that Manly are the team always brought up for discussion

no fans

no juniors

no decent ground

no future

 

[ceagle]

no fans

no juniors

no decent ground

no future

Here we go :roll:

 

[ceagle]

And if the Bears come back in from 2015, how much of that potential do they take away? They are after all claiming they'll reconnect with the North Shore and the big end of town. Surely that won't help if the Sea Eagles are already struggling now with the entire area to themselves.

Leigh.

If we can sucessfully expand the brand further that way, then don't bring the Bears back.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

And if the Bears come back in from 2015, how much of that potential do they take away? They are after all claiming they'll reconnect with the North Shore and the big end of town. Surely that won't help if the Sea Eagles are already struggling now with the entire area to themselves.

Leigh.

If all of this expansion was done right in the 90's then all Sydney teams bar Penrith would have merged with another team and we'd already have a Central Coast/Manly team in existance.

It's too late for that to happen now the NRL have to risk alienating a group of fans by relocating or killing off a team. They can't even bribe existing teams to move to the Central Coast as it is.

This is a big mess all because it wasn't done right the first time.

 

[oval]

Add to that the fact that Brookvale Oval is just about the worst stadium of an RL ground

That's where you're wrong. On a sunny(ish) afternoon I can't think of a better ground to watch the footy. For general admission price you can be right on the 50 metre line, on a hill with a fugload of atmosphere, great view of the game, warm beer and cold pies, bosomy betties pushing past, sneaky ciggies (or maybe something a little more jazzy), and sups from the hip flask... Of course when it's a wet Monday night it's a different story, but those nights are easy to forget...

It's hard to put bias aside, but I reckon the view + atmosphere in the middle of the Brooky hill at a big game is is similar to Leichardt and Kogarah, better than Shark Park cos their general admission is hidden away in the corner, more intense than Parramatta or Panthers due to their less concentrated plastic seating, and absolutely craps all over Homebush, the most boring ground for a club game I've ever been to. Sweet lord.

Sure the toilets are dark and stinky, the food is nasty, the corporate boxes are poor and you often have to stand up, but from my perspecitive - ie. the average supporter watching the footy on the hill - its f**ken GREAT. I don't care about hot chips or shiny cubicles to poo in. I don't give a shit about whether the elite have a comfortable and catered box to mince about in - I just wanna watch the footy. And yes I understand the club needs these things to improve their profit margin. But once I'm on the hill and the action has started, all that extra shite becomes irrelevant.

 

[Quidgybo]

Why not just start a new team up at the Sunshine Coast or Perth or CC or wherever - I don't get why it should require the relocation of established Sydney clubs. I'm not sure who the OP supports, but most Sydney rugby league supporters would not like seeing another Sydney club leave, mainly because (a) you'll lose a traditional rivalry, which cannot be manufactured, and (b) you'll probably miss that particular away game. The best games in Sydney are the ones where you play another Sydney club (although I like it when Melbourne visit)...

That's the point of a Commission co-ordinated deal for the Sea Eagles season ticket I suggested. A ten year agreement for a Sydney season ticket with six games at the SFS, five away games (Roosters, Dragons, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs or Sharks) and one home game (Bears). Sea Eagles to get 10% commission on each away ticket sold to its fans. NRL to guarantee express public transport from Brookvale for games.

Rival clubs get bigger gates from the Sea Eagles delivering their fans as a block to games in Sydney. The Sea Eagles get a percentage of all sales to their own Sydney based supporters (on top of eleven home games on the Sunshine Coast). The NRL provides game day transport to the closest stadium to Brookvale and the best Rugby League facility in Sydney. Fans of both clubs get to keep watching these traditional rivalries between "Sydney" teams.

Leigh.

 

[oval]

That's the point of a Commission co-ordinated deal for the Sea Eagles season ticket I suggested. A ten year agreement for a Sydney season ticket with six games at the SFS, five away games (Roosters, Dragons, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs or Sharks) and one home game (Bears). Sea Eagles to get 10% commission on each away ticket sold to its fans. NRL to guarantee express public transport from Brookvale for games.

Rival clubs get bigger gates from the Sea Eagles delivering their fans as a block to games in Sydney. The Sea Eagles get a percentage of all sales to their own Sydney based supporters (on top of eleven home games on the Sunshine Coast). The NRL provides game day transport to the closest stadium to Brookvale and the best Rugby League facility in Sydney. Fans of both clubs get to keep watching these traditional rivalries between "Sydney" teams.

Leigh.

They're some nifty little ideas, but I'm not sure whether this arrangement would create much support up on the Sunshine Coast, who would no doubt rather have their own club. If the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are anywhere near as disliked up in QLD as they are in NSW, I can't see the local population really getting behind the team, especially if the team remains so Sydney-centric.

 

[Quidgybo]

If all of this expansion was done right in the 90's then all Sydney teams bar Penrith would have merged with another team and we'd already have a Central Coast/Manly team in existance.

It's too late for that to happen now the NRL have to risk alienating a group of fans by relocating or killing off a team. They can't even bribe existing teams to move to the Central Coast as it is.

This is a big mess all because it wasn't done right the first time.

That's all well and good for starting a round of recriminations. The more important questions are how do we sort it out now we're in this situation? Do we allow another $50m to $100m to be spent on Brookvale and commit as a game to having a franchise there while we're looking to base a team at the modern existing facility in Gosford? Do we really want two franchises competing in the northern Sydney / Central Coast region? And if not, what do we do about the Bears?

Leigh

 

[Quidgybo]

They're some nifty little ideas, but I'm not sure whether this arrangement would create much support up on the Sunshine Coast, who would no doubt rather have their own club. If the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles are anywhere near as disliked up in QLD as they are in NSW, I can't see the local population really getting behind the team, especially if the team remains so Sydney-centric.

What's Sydney centric about it? The players and staff live and train on the Sunshine Coast, and they host eleven home games there each season. I suggested that their relocation grant would need to be $10m up front to cover the costs of physically relocating and then $1m extra per year for ten years to market themselves to their new fanbase. Beyond that, what happens in Sydney with 5 of their away games and their 12th home game really isn't relevant to getting established on the Sunshine Coast and engaging with that community.

Leigh.

 

[dangerousdave]

That's the point of a Commission co-ordinated deal for the Sea Eagles season ticket I suggested. A ten year agreement for a Sydney season ticket with six games at the SFS, five away games (Roosters, Dragons, Tigers, Rabbitohs, Bulldogs or Sharks) and one home game (Bears). Sea Eagles to get 10% commission on each away ticket sold to its fans. NRL to guarantee express public transport from Brookvale for games.

Rival clubs get bigger gates from the Sea Eagles delivering their fans as a block to games in Sydney. The Sea Eagles get a percentage of all sales to their own Sydney based supporters (on top of eleven home games on the Sunshine Coast). The NRL provides game day transport to the closest stadium to Brookvale and the best Rugby League facility in Sydney. Fans of both clubs get to keep watching these traditional rivalries between "Sydney" teams.

Leigh.

But Manly fans dont travel

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

That's all well and good for starting a round of recriminations. The more important questions are how do we sort it out now we're in this situation? Do we allow another $50m to $100m to be spent on Brookvale and commit as a game to having a franchise there while we're looking to base a team at the modern existing facility in Gosford? Do we really want two franchises competing in the northern Sydney / Central Coast region? And if not, what do we do about the Bears?

Leigh

No we don't and we don't need the Bears either IMO when a team 5 minutes down the road exists.

Do we really need Canterbury right in the middle of the circle that is Parramatta, Wests, Souffs and St George?

Whatever happens somebody is going to be pissed off.

 

[MSIH]

What's Sydney centric about it? The players and staff live and train on the Sunshine Coast, and they host eleven home games there each season. I suggested that their relocation grant would need to be $10m up front to cover the costs of physically relocating and then $1m extra per year for ten years to market themselves to their new fanbase. Beyond that, what happens in Sydney with 5 of their away games and their 12th home game really isn't relevant to getting established on the Sunshine Coast and engaging with that community.

Leigh.

May as well start a new team up there if Manly or Cronulla or anyone for that matter folds. Manly/Sharks/whoever fans won't support a Sunshine Coast side. Why would they?

It's a nice idea in theory for a non-Manly fan, but it's fanciful imo.

 

[El Diablo]

Here we go :roll:

my mistake

you do have two fans

 

[1 Eyed TEZZA]

Gotta say, I like the idea of the Sea Eagles staying in Manly. The only relocation that I think would ever happen is, of course, Cronulla and even then I wouldn't push them.

If I were on the IC, id say what areas we want a team in and say who ever comes up with the best plan for a club there (whether that be an existing club or a bid team) wins.