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Salford stadium on progress.

bartman

Immortal
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41,022
I'm going to presume that Salford will get a franchise, as they have always seemed to have their off field stuff sorted out OK, and geographically are in a key location for the game, with BBC moving to Manchester at some point and the only Union team close by I think being Sale?

Of course this would mean only one of Celtic Crusaders or Toulouse, unless the RFL bites the bullet and does something drastic (and unexpected imo) with Castleford/Wakefield or HullFC/HullKR?
 

Knight87

Juniors
Messages
2,181
I think Salford, Celtic and Toulouse should be admitted, and either Castleford or Wakefield should bite the bullet. Both are their home grounds are crap.
 

Knight87

Juniors
Messages
2,181
also, if the Super League expands from 12 to 14 teams, hence an extra game (an increase from 6 to 7 games), what day do you think that game will be played on and does that mean that Sky Sports will televise another match per round? Do you think, like in Australia, Monday Night Football would be a success over in the UK?
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
The way the games work in the UK are that each team has a nominated preferred home day and time for the whole season, generally the one that works best for their fans and crowds. They stick to this throughout the season, except for the easter weekend (where they fit in two games per club) and the Cardiff millennium magic weekend, where they've played two triple headers.

Only two games per weekend are usually televised (on Sky/pay TV), and sometimes Sky will force a team to change it's fixtures for television, usually toward the end of the season when it doesn't want to get stuck with a "dud" game in its Friday night or Saturday night timeslots. Sky have been growing their coverage and showing a National League One game on Thursday nights, so until a new TV deal I don't think they'd throw in an extra "free" game just because Supelreague is expanding?

Personally, I think Monday nights would suck in the UK... it's hard enough for away fans to make some of the Friday night games with the traffic etc across the M62. And the way things are it would have to be at a club's discretion if it chose to shift its games from a successful and traditional time to a Monday night in favour of Sky viewers, there'd be mayhem...

I just can't see the league forcing Cas or Wakey's hand just yet... maybe in three years time with the next review of franchises? Although maybe I'll be wrong...
 
Messages
10,970
I think Salford, Celtic and Toulouse should be admitted, and either Castleford or Wakefield should bite the bullet. Both are their home grounds are crap.

yes thats what i think too.

i would much prefer 16 with the current 12, widnes, toulose, salford and crusaders
 

bartman

Immortal
Messages
41,022
Can't really argue with that 16... and you could then cut your way down some of the clubs struggling against criteria over time to introduce other aspiring teams into that 16 when ready, provided the game could afford to operate 16 at this point?

I think the RFL tied it's hands with the decision that SL would expand next year "up to 14" teams - I don't think they'll go back on their stated plans regardless of the strength of applications received? There's going to be some pain for the game in some way over the next year...
 
Messages
10,970
Can't really argue with that 16... and you could then cut your way down some of the clubs struggling against criteria over time to introduce other aspiring teams into that 16 when ready, provided the game could afford to operate 16 at this point?

I think the RFL tied it's hands with the decision that SL would expand next year "up to 14" teams - I don't think they'll go back on their stated plans regardless of the strength of applications received? There's going to be some pain for the game in some way over the next year...

there was a push for 16 teams but then they came out and knocked it on the head, and said even 14 wasnt guaranteed.

i genuinely believe that if they had those 16 with no P&R for 5 years then all those clubs would work out fine.

even clubs like cas, wakey and hull kr are getting really good crowds in crap stadia, and all are doing their best to get upgraded.

ie 7500 and above.
 

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