Paramatta In Seattle

[PacificCoastRL]

Point now understood. In fact, I think it would be up to the USARL to reach out. That is what BCRL did, and it has paid dividends.

 

[Asnito]

I am on the USARL board of directors and never heard anything. It's interesting that the British Columbia RL are sending 4 guys to Parramatta in the near future (And sent 2 last year I believe). Maybe they linked with those guys while they were in Seattle?

Seeing as you are in the know are the guys playing RL in the US people from overseas living here or are there people playing in club leagues who move up?

I was surprised to learn about the Philly Fight as I have never heard of them. Was even more surprised to learn their major sponsor is 15 minutes from my house.

 

[Boston13s]

Yeah there is a big mix of people playing in the US:
- Those that started playing overseas
- Those that picked up rugby (union) in high school or college
- Those that have converted from other sports

Here in New England we have some youth programs running which will eventually see some players make the USARL through these systems too.

 

[Asnito]

Yeah there is a big mix of people playing in the US:
- Those that started playing overseas
- Those that picked up rugby (union) in high school or college
- Those that have converted from other sports

Here in New England we have some youth programs running which will eventually see some players make the USARL through these systems too.

Thanks for the feedback. I figured there had to be some union players because there's a lot of schools and colleges with union club teams.

I was surprised to learn about the Philadelphia Fight winning 3 of the last 4 championships. They're located 15 minutes from me and I never heard of them and couldn't find any info on where they play.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Thanks for the feedback. I figured there had to be some union players because there's a lot of schools and colleges with union club teams.

I was surprised to learn about the Philadelphia Fight winning 3 of the last 4 championships. They're located 15 minutes from me and I never heard of them and couldn't find any info on where they play.

You should get in touch with them Asnito as you seem to enjoy the game and have some well-informed opinions on how the game can be administered in the US, I'm sure they would be open for some help.

 

[PacificCoastRL]

Thanks for the feedback. I figured there had to be some union players because there's a lot of schools and colleges with union club teams.

I was surprised to learn about the Philadelphia Fight winning 3 of the last 4 championships. They're located 15 minutes from me and I never heard of them and couldn't find any info on where they play.

Wow. I understand that the USARL is still in its infancy and doesn't have a marketing department, but this fact is absolutely mind-boggling that somebody with more than a passing interest in rugby league didn't know there was a team just down the road. They are always talking about growing their sponsor list, but I don't think they would like prospective sponsors to hear this. You should speak with them Asnito, if they can't make themselves known where they are, they're in trouble.

 

[Rugger]

[/B]
Wow. I understand that the USARL is still in its infancy and doesn't have a marketing department, but this fact is absolutely mind-boggling that somebody with more than a passing interest in rugby league didn't know there was a team just down the road. They are always talking about growing their sponsor list, but I don't think they would like prospective sponsors to hear this. You should speak with them Asnito, if they can't make themselves known where they are, they're in trouble.

Agree, however playing devils advocate, if Asnito looked up "rugby league US" then he would have undoubtedly known about the the Fight. They've existed since 1998. Did he also not know about the Axemen?

 

[Asnito]

I didn't look up RL in the US as nobody I talked to even knew the difference between the two codes.

FTR I have an asphalt and powerwashing business with close to a thousand customers and I am often on the local news sites as weather is very important in how I plan my day's work. I have never seen a thing on any of the three major local news sites about the Fight.

I've turned 8-10 of my customers on to the NRL and I've talked to a couple dozen of my customers kids who play Union and none had ever even heard of league. That's why as a fan of league, entertainment value blows union out of the water, I am worried that union is going to make huge inroads in the states and league will be an afterthought in the next ten years.

As far as the Fight go I looked up their website and couldn't find any info on a schedule or where the matches are played.

IMO they should try to target West Chester for expansion of fans. The demographic that league should be targetting is 15-30 year old males and West Chester has a university with over 13k students and a union team. There's a lot of bars and restaurants and WCU's stadium seats over 7k with the opportunity for concession income. WCU used to host the Philadelphia Eagles summer camp and was home to a womens professional soccer team.

The advertising dollar would go farther as you make a blitz of the dozens of bars and restaurants advertising in as many as you can. If a deal could be worked out with WCU to use their facilities you could give away tickets to home games with the knowledge that you have the chance to make more on concessions than the cost of a ticket.

The last thing about targetting West Chester is that there is the posibility(probably slim) of celebrity endorsements. Currently there is three active NFL QB's from the West Chester area and some of the guys that started "Jackass" are from West Chester. The show "Viva La Bam" is shot in WC and Bam Margera used to co-own a bar in WC and there's some talk about a new one opening. You work out a deal to get one of those guys at a game and there will be butts in the seats.

One other thing to add is how about contacting the local papers and TV, the worse thing to happen is they say they're not interested. The Daily Local News, small local paper, is located in WC and would most certainly do an article on the Fight.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

I didn't look up RL in the US as nobody I talked to even knew the difference between the two codes.

FTR I have an asphalt and powerwashing business with close to a thousand customers and I am often on the local news sites as weather is very important in how I plan my day's work. I have never seen a thing on any of the three major local news sites about the Fight.

I've turned 8-10 of my customers on to the NRL and I've talked to a couple dozen of my customers kids who play Union and none had ever even heard of league. That's why as a fan of league, entertainment value blows union out of the water, I am worried that union is going to make huge inroads in the states and league will be an afterthought in the next ten years.

As far as the Fight go I looked up their website and couldn't find any info on a schedule or where the matches are played.

IMO they should try to target West Chester for expansion of fans. The demographic that league should be targetting is 15-30 year old males and West Chester has a university with over 13k students and a union team. There's a lot of bars and restaurants and WCU's stadium seats over 7k with the opportunity for concession income. WCU used to host the Philadelphia Eagles summer camp and was home to a womens professional soccer team.

The advertising dollar would go farther as you make a blitz of the dozens of bars and restaurants advertising in as many as you can. If a deal could be worked out with WCU to use their facilities you could give away tickets to home games with the knowledge that you have the chance to make more on concessions than the cost of a ticket.

The last thing about targetting West Chester is that there is the posibility(probably slim) of celebrity endorsements. Currently there is three active NFL QB's from the West Chester area and some of the guys that started "Jackass" are from West Chester. The show "Viva La Bam" is shot in WC and Bam Margera used to co-own a bar in WC and there's some talk about a new one opening. You work out a deal to get one of those guys at a game and there will be butts in the seats.

Let them know: atully124@yahoo.com

 

[Asnito]

Let them know: atully124@yahoo.com

Thanks for the link. I can't imagine they would be very receptive to a stranger sending them an e-mail telling them to change the way they're doing business.

 

[deluded pom?]

To quote your good self Asnito "the worse thing to happen is they say they're not interested".

 

[deluded pom?]

http://www.fightrugby.com/club/stadium/

This is from the PF website.

 

[Rugger]

I didn't look up RL in the US as nobody I talked to even knew the difference between the two codes.

I figured not because it is literally impossible for you not to have know about them if you had. Not their fault on that accord. That's like saying the 76ers aren't doing a good job at advertising, etc if you have and always had zero interest in the NBA or basketball, never looked it up, or the 7 people you spoke didn't either. Ignorance is bliss. You can't make blanket statements about what should/should not be done to grow the game in the US if you have no understanding of what was/is/and is planned to be done. Well, you can, but your statements are baseless and worthless.

Could they do a better job at advertising, probably yes. However, many on lookers don't understand the budgets these teams working with...

 

[Asnito]

To quote your good self Asnito "the worse thing to happen is they say they're not interested".

Ha, touche

 

[Asnito]

I figured not because it is literally impossible for you not to have know about them if you had. Not their fault on that accord. That's like saying the 76ers aren't doing a good job at advertising, etc if you have and always had zero interest in the NBA or basketball, never looked it up, or the 7 people you spoke didn't either. Ignorance is bliss. You can't make blanket statements about what should/should not be done to grow the game in the US if you have no understanding of what was/is/and is planned to be done. Well, you can, but your statements are baseless and worthless.

Could they do a better job at advertising, probably yes. However, many on lookers don't understand the budgets these teams working with...

Fair enough on what's being done as I am not afilliated with any league organization. Union is much more out there though with the local high schools and colleges having teams and people who actually play Union having no idea that League even exists.

As far as the budgets go I have a pretty good idea of the limitations which is why I said targetting WC would be a benefit. I am quite familiar with both Conshohocken and WC. WC is a town where people will go and may hit 2-4 bars/restaurants a night and draws people in from surrounding areas where as Conshohocken is more of a corner pub type of place. The money spent on advertising in WC will most likely show a higher ROI than Conshohocken.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

Thanks for the link. I can't imagine they would be very receptive to a stranger sending them an e-mail telling them to change the way they're doing business.

au contraire, I'm sure they would love to have feedback and constructive criticism. It can help out a lot.

 

[Asnito]

au contraire, I'm sure they would love to have feedback and constructive criticism. It can help out a lot.

Are you affiliated with them?

I looked at the link posted earlier and I scanned their site and didn't even notice the stadium link. From a marketing standpoint I think WC offers more opportunites than Conshohocken although the fact the field was redone may make that a moot point.

 

[Asnito]

OT but if it hasn't already beend done the NRL needs to put a CD together with the highlights of last season and use it as a marketing tool. Make it for US consumption and make sure it gets in the hands of every college rugby union player and also as many high schools as possible.

Small investment with the potential of high return.

 

[deluded pom?]

Are you affiliated with them?

I looked at the link posted earlier and I scanned their site and didn't even notice the stadium link. From a marketing standpoint I think WC offers more opportunites than Conshohocken although the fact the field was redone may make that a moot point.

The links are at the bottom of the home page rather than the top for some strange reason.

 

[deluded pom?]

I'm sure Ryan McGough (Fighter on this forum and CEO of the Philadelphia Fight ) will happily answer any questions you have Asnito. He posts on here regularly.