So what's your answer?
Where does the money come from to sustain these new clubs until revenue increases?
I like what IMG is doing, forcing the clubs to get their act together off the field and grow their connections with their communities. Better engage the locals first. We can see in traditionally smaller supported clubs like HKR, Leigh and Wakey the impact that approach is having.
There is no magic answer and there certainly isnt a money tree to 'just grow the game' by adding more clubs from areas with little immediate interest in RL. Working with what we have got and adding to it when the time is right with the correct clubs that can sustain themselves and add to the tv audience is the way to go.
Lets look at the only viable options for expansion of the comp:
Bradford - strong jnr pathway, terrible stadium, potential for good crowds, no rich owner
London - Poor crowds, good stadium, long history in SL of not performing. Would need massive annual investment to make a splash and stay in SL
York - Decent but small stadium, low crowds historically, no rich owner
Toulouse - Decent stadium and crowds, no rich owner, add nothing to UK tv value
Featherstone- Do we need another small town M62 club?
So its not like there is an abundance of riches just waiting to join SL is it? If Bradford could get stadium and investment sorted Id love to see them back in. If London had the serious long term cash investment needed to grow the RL fanbase down there I d love for them to be in.
Toulouse might help the French game so worth a slot if they can pay there way and spend big on jnr development
But the reality is the tv deal is locked in until end of 2026 so there is no more money for more teams. Current clubs wont take more of a haircut to grow to 14 so the Sl is stuck between a rock and hard place for now. Maybe if they can increase the tv deal next time by 10million pounds a year it will give back the existing clubs back the reduced 1/2mill and allow for expansion with 2 more clubs.
en.wikipedia.org
