Penrith in negotiations to play a NRL match in Hobart

[whall15]

PENRITH are looking to make a second home in Tasmania.

The Panthers are in negotiations with Tasmania's State Government about playing games for premiership points in Hobart, most likely Blundstone Arena or North Hobart Oval.


It is believed the deal would be similar to AFL premier's Hawthorn for four home games in Launceston, but without the sponsorship component, and would include growing the sport of rugby league in Tasmania.


Tourism Minister Scott Bacon confirmed a meeting with the Panthers last Thursday, where the Penrith representatives presented a proposal that would see the club play one fixture game in Tasmania in 2014 through to 2017.


``The Government has referred the proposal to Events Tasmania for an assessment against rigorous criteria around numbers and duration of stay by visitors and potential for broader community benefits,'' Mr Bacon said.


``The Government is a strong support of Events and has prioritised funding for events that occur in traditionally slower winter months and stimulate the local economy.


``We have to ensure that support for events provides a value for money investment.''


Hobart has had a small taste of NRL recently with great success.


In February 2012, North Hobart hosted a full strength practice game between the Melbourne Storm and the Brisbane Broncos that attracted about 14,000 spectators to Tasmania's spiritual home of Australian rules football.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...o-play-in-hobart/story-fni3gfvk-1226784406948

 

[franklin2323]

Makes sense. Play Melbourne down there every year

 

[Big Mick]

Play Melbourne and it'll be a Melbourne home game imo.

Lets play Cowboys or Titans down there. Games that don't attract crowds at Penrith.

 

[age.s]

For anyone interested in a great weekend away, Tassie's a truly beautiful part of the world. Well worth a trip, especially if there's a Panthers game.

 

[franklin2323]

Play Melbourne and it'll be a Melbourne home game imo.

Lets play Cowboys or Titans down there. Games that don't attract crowds at Penrith.

Any of those 3 draw poorly. This part makes me think Melbourne is the way to go:

'and would include growing the sport of rugby league in Tasmania'.

Melbourne given it's location and the potential TRL and VRL partnership makes sense to play them.

 

[The Mad Hatter]

If the NRL organised and compensated this properly over a 5 year period, and all 8 Sydney teams took their HOME game vs Melbourne to Hobart, it'd be a corker.

Same could be said if all 8 Sydney teams took their NZ Warriors game to Perth AND Gold Coast Titans games to Cairns (or whatever QLD regional area you wanted).

 

[franklin2323]

If the NRL organised and compensated this properly over a 5 year period, and all 8 Sydney teams took their HOME game vs Melbourne to Hobart, it'd be a corker.

Same could be said if all 8 Sydney teams took their NZ Warriors game to Perth AND Gold Coast Titans games to Cairns (or whatever QLD regional area you wanted).

That's the way I see it. I assume we won't lose money out of it so helps the bank balance. We can sell merchandise and memberships in Hobart and if we are out supported on the day then so be it. The teams all using ANZ face the same battle.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Interesting to see who we play down there.

 

[franklin2323]

Interesting to see who we play down there.

Yet. Again we have every interstate team at home. Mel or NQ I would say as we haven't scheduled those games yet.

 

[Buzzard Breath]

You thinking round 23 or 24?

 

[betcats]

Any of those 3 draw poorly. This part makes me think Melbourne is the way to go:

'and would include growing the sport of rugby league in Tasmania'.

Melbourne given it's location and the potential TRL and VRL partnership makes sense to play them.

Playing Melbourne down there would gain more support for the storm then it would us.

Growing the game is important but there is only so much growth to be had in Tasmania, its a small place and fairly isolated. IF we are gonna move games down there i'd rather we focus on getting people to support Penrith specifically, not just the NRL.

 

[franklin2323]

Playing Melbourne down there would gain more support for the storm then it would us.

Growing the game is important but there is only so much growth to be had in Tasmania, its a small place and fairly isolated. IF we are gonna move games down there i'd rather we focus on getting people to support Penrith specifically, not just the NRL.

No doubt they would support them atleast early on. Any worse then Parra, Dragons or Tigers taking a 'home' game to ANZ? I say no as we can sell jersey's in stuff to locals who don't have any team alignment.

 

[Doomednow]

Playing Melbourne down there would gain more support for the storm then it would us.

Growing the game is important but there is only so much growth to be had in Tasmania, its a small place and fairly isolated. IF we are gonna move games down there i'd rather we focus on getting people to support Penrith specifically, not just the NRL.

No doubt they would support them atleast early on. Any worse then Parra, Dragons or Tigers taking a 'home' game to ANZ? I say no as we can sell jersey's in stuff to locals who don't have any team alignment.

Yeah I'd rather not play Melbourne there, thanks. It should draw relatively well regardless as it's not a common occurrence. I don't care if it's the same challenge other teams face at ANZ, I'd rather not have the challenge at all. The goal is to recruit new fans by doing them a favour and showing them the club is willing to give them some games. That sense of goodwill might be diminished or obscured if we played the geographically closest team in order to strengthen their ties with TRL.

This is for the Panthers. f**k Melbourne.

 

[maple_69]

Yep screw Melbourne. One game a year and we're bound to get a solid crowd so I dont think we need to worry about playing Melbourne to pull a crowd. Theres obviously some research done that theres a bit of potential down there so it could be a decent new revenue stream. Previous administration would not have done something like this.

 

[TeamSatan]

Nope dont like it...Tassie is a waste of time. Noboday there cares about RL.

It will be a novelty act...and just how much money will we make? Hope more than half a million.

To play it late in the season is madness..we need to be settled going into the semis.Dont need a meet and greet with all the uncle dads down there.

Darwin , Cairns, Dubbo...anywhere but Tasmania.

 

[franklin2323]

Guys it's simple... I can not stand Melbourne. is their an interstate team we hate more? I doubt it. So this gets them out of Penrith atleast for 1 year. It's round 23 & 24. Either Cowboys or Melbourne. I'd rather watch Cowboys at home then Melbourne. I assume it will vary each year?

 

[murraymob]

so potentially we could be giving up 2 home games .Lets hope its only 1 as i dont see the value in having a home game there .Meaning it could be a 4 week gap between home games

 

[umina panther]

And lets hope we don't need to win it to make the 8

 

[Pantherjim.]

Nope dont like it...Tassie is a waste of time. Noboday there cares about RL.

It will be a novelty act...and just how much money will we make? Hope more than half a million.

To play it late in the season is madness..we need to be settled going into the semis.Dont need a meet and greet with all the uncle dads down there.

Darwin , Cairns, Dubbo...anywhere but Tasmania.

Spot on... Total and utter waste of time. Most Tasmanians are pro-AFL

F*cking League expansionists... when will they learn that you can't promote a code in a non-league state without junior development??

You might as well have a game of Afghan sheep carcass polo down there.

 

[darkbloom]

Yep screw Melbourne. One game a year and we're bound to get a solid crowd so I dont think we need to worry about playing Melbourne to pull a crowd. Theres obviously some research done that theres a bit of potential down there so it could be a decent new revenue stream. Previous administration would not have done something like this.

When you say there has obviously been some research done - what makes it obvious?