Should The NRL Offer Money To Sydney Clubs To Relocate?

[GongPanther]

This is a world where Monaco, a team from a microstate with a population that could fit into the old SFS has been a continental force in the worlds most popular sport for a decade and a half now (last years horror show excluded), and we're worried about having some dinky clubs like Manly and Cronulla running around our comp.

Chalk & Cheese comparison.

Monaco is a billionaire's tax haven, and they throw money at the local sporting teams like it's confetti.

 

[Tiger5150]

This is a world where Monaco, a team from a microstate with a population that could fit into the old SFS has been a continental force in the worlds most popular sport for a decade and a half now (last years horror show excluded), and we're worried about having some dinky clubs like Manly and Cronulla running around our comp.

Monaco = Roosters

 

[Pommy]

Unpopular opinion, I would be totally fine with the Tigers relocating. Perth ideally. Would ensure our future and I'd still see them every 2/3 weeks anyway.

Honestly I would be fine with the west coast Rabbitohs, still heaps of games in Sydney and gives the club room to breathe and carve out its own territory again which has been lost due to the changing demographics. Plus I would be more likely to attend games in Perth than I am ANZ.

 

[macnaz]

Unpopular opinion, I would be totally fine with the Tigers relocating. Perth ideally. Would ensure our future and I'd still see them every 2/3 weeks anyway.

Same lame gutless fight that our 1st grade side possesses... give in ,its all to hard .

 

[Vic Mackey]

Same lame gutless fight that our 1st grade side possesses... give in ,its all to hard .

Wouldn’t be giving in, this is from my point of view. I totally understand those who would walk away from the club though.

I’ve never had any affinity with the Balmain or Campbelltown area. I went for them because when I was a kid the Tiger was my favorite animal. If they were the Perth Tigers in the mid 80s I would have supported them.

We’re currently nomads who have half a foot in two areas but don’t truly represent any, we’ve had 7 different home grounds in the past 2 years. We need to form an identity or relocation will always be on the cards.

 

[Perth Red]

We had the chance in 95 with the first SL proposal for Sydney regional sides owned by the nswrl clubs, clubs didnt seem too against it but the nswrl and ARL stopped it from happening. With the size of revenue clubs now have its hard to ever see Sydney rationalisation happen now.

Has the football cap been agreed and implemented yet? That could be a big Factor of financial sustainability. I can’t see any club having to move due to finances unless people get some sense and stop feeding Pokie machines.

 

[flippikat]

I think some clubs need to think outside the box and take bigger opportunities while the decisions remain solely in their hands.
Whether that's taking the money in other capital cities or playing half their games at central stadiums, the days of a club playing 12 home games at the local park are limited. Look at Brookvale, modern regulations and a lack of upgrades mean it's bursting at the seams with 15,000 on the gate. That's their biggest crowd of the year.

Think about it this way. If the next TV deal or the one after doesn't live up to hopes, and the NRL is forced to tighten its belt, what happens?
Perhaps the cap stays the same but the club grant decreases. Clubs become reliant on what income they can generate outside the TV deal to field a top team. Who falls over first? Hint: It isn't the Roosters.

That's a really good point, and one I've pondered before. (Why don't any Sydney teams proactively take opportunities like relocation to safeguard their future on their own terms?)

I can only guess that seeing what happened to Norths has made every other Sydney club CEO very hesitant to relocate?

It's a shame, because Norths have to be commended for being the only Sydney club that proactively tried to relocate to preserve it's future (The joint-ventures were very much done under the impending threat of rationalisation).. yet Norths lost out BIG TIME.

I have a feeling if Norths had been given support to make it through the tougher-than-anticipated move (NRL money AND a guaranteed stand-alone license), we would have seen another 1 or 2 Sydney clubs relocate *off their own bat* by now (again, with full NRL assistance packages).

 

[macnaz]

Wouldn’t be giving in, this is from my point of view. I totally understand those who would walk away from the club though.

I’ve never had any affinity with the Balmain or Campbelltown area. I went for them because when I was a kid the Tiger was my favorite animal. If they were the Perth Tigers in the mid 80s I would have supported them.

We’re currently nomads who have half a foot in two areas but don’t truly represent any, we’ve had 7 different home grounds in the past 2 years. We need to form an identity or relocation will always be on the cards.

So the THE NOMADS WHO have 20,000 plus Members , A massive TV audience A massive Junior base plus significant sponsors, merchandise sales etc can f**k right off while sides like Titans,Rooster and Manly who offer f**k all as far CONTRIBUTING to the game apart from rich merkins buying a team each year to keep them alive can carry on ??

 

[Vic Mackey]

So the THE NOMADS WHO have 20,000 plus Members , A massive TV audience A massive Junior base plus significant sponsors, merchandise sales etc can f**k right off while sides like Titans,Rooster and Manly who offer f**k all as far CONTRIBUTING to the game apart from rich merkins buying a team each year to keep them alive ??

I’m not saying I want it or think it should happen. I’m saying it wouldn’t effect my support if it did

 

[macnaz]

I’m not saying I want it or think it should happen. I’m saying it wouldn’t effect my support if it did

I know you are pretty die hard Vic but it would seem not as die hard as me , I've witnessed Wests and Balmain merge so that's more then enough.. any more I'm out and I'm.sure I'm not in a minority.

 

[unforgiven]

I know you are pretty die hard Vic but it would seem not as die hard as me , I've witnessed Wests and Balmain merge so that's more then enough.. any more I'm out and I'm.sure I'm not in a minority.

Agreed!

 

[adamkungl]

We’re currently nomads who have half a foot in two areas but don’t truly represent any, we’ve had 7 different home grounds in the past 2 years. We need to form an identity or relocation will always be on the cards.

Hence why I said Bankwest or Perth for Tigers. The club has options in Sydney but needs to pick one rather than going half-arsed on all of them.
Bankwest would be a unified Wests Tigers letting go of the Leichhardt/Campbeltown awkward split and looking to the future.

 

[flippikat]

Hence why I said Bankwest or Perth for Tigers. The club has options in Sydney but needs to pick one rather than going half-arsed on all of them.
Bankwest would be a unified Wests Tigers letting go of the Leichhardt/Campbeltown awkward split and looking to the future.

Do you think there's any future in a Sydney club basing themselves solely in Campbelltown?

With the MacArthur A-league team coming soon, and upgrades to the stadium on the way for their debut, the synergies sound pretty good to me - hell, if the venue has a soccer and a rugby league tenant, it may be grounds for further upgrades beyond what MacArthur are doing.

Thoughts?

 

[unforgiven]

Hence why I said Bankwest or Perth for Tigers. The club has options in Sydney but needs to pick one rather than going half-arsed on all of them.
Bankwest would be a unified Wests Tigers letting go of the Leichhardt/Campbeltown awkward split and looking to the future.

The Tigers fans do not seem to like Bankwest!

 

[adamkungl]

Do you think there's any future in a Sydney club basing themselves solely in Campbelltown?

With the MacArthur A-league team coming soon, and upgrades to the stadium on the way for their debut, the synergies sound pretty good to me - hell, if the venue has a soccer and a rugby league tenant, it may be grounds for further upgrades beyond what MacArthur are doing.

Thoughts?

I dunno. It might be possible but it requires total buy-in from the club not 4 games a year.
Personally I think there's a bigger, better future in semi-centralised modern stadiums than the outskirts of suburban Sydney, which is why I think Manly, St George, Cronulla should consider their options.

The Tigers fans do not seem to like Bankwest!

Mixed results so far

12.5k v Raiders
9.8k v Souths (Thursday)
13.9k v Roosters
24.1k v Eels

Keep in mind these are all mid-Origin period, which is always a dud time for crowds.
Would any have got more through the gate at Leichhardt or Campbeltown? Probably not.

Again, I think a stronger buy-in from the club is key here. If the club throws its weight behind Bankwest I have no doubt Tigers could be the premier team representing all Western Sydney and start a major modern rivalry with the Eels.

 

[unforgiven]

I dunno. It might be possible but it requires total buy-in from the club not 4 games a year.
Personally I think there's a bigger, better future in semi-centralised modern stadiums than the outskirts of suburban Sydney, which is why I think Manly, St George, Cronulla should consider their options.



Mixed results so far

12.5k v Raiders
9.8k v Souths (Thursday)
13.9k v Roosters
24.1k v Eels

Keep in mind these are all mid-Origin period, which is always a dud time for crowds.
Would any have got more through the gate at Leichhardt or Campbeltown? Probably not.

Again, I think a stronger buy-in from the club is key here. If the club throws its weight behind Bankwest I have no doubt Tigers could be the premier team representing all Western Sydney and start a major modern rivalry with the Eels.

Mate I am a Tigers fan and love BW, but I am in the minority!
https://weststigersforum.com/topic/29868/where-do-you-want-us-to-play/75

 

[franklin2323]

The worst performing club over the last 5 years has been the Titans... Yet again focus on Sydney which in reality only needs a few tweeks

 

[adamkungl]

Mate I am a Tigers fan and love BW, but I am in the minority!
https://weststigersforum.com/topic/29868/where-do-you-want-us-to-play/75

Tbh at a certain point there's no helping some people.
Most Rugby League "fans" would complain about the food, traffic and weather if you held the bloody game on their front lawn.
People in general hate progress.

The suburban ground die hards ultimately have to answer this:
If Broncos, Storm, Parramatta, Souths, Bulldogs, Easts, Cowboys, Knights are pulling 20k+ average crowds (and it might not seem likely now, but one day they will), what can you do to keep up financially if your favourite home ground only comfortably fits 16,000 people on its best day?

 

[unforgiven]

Tbh at a certain point there's no helping some people.
Most Rugby League "fans" would complain about the food, traffic and weather if you held the bloody game on their front lawn.
People in general hate progress.

The suburban ground die hards ultimately have to answer this:
If Broncos, Storm, Parramatta, Souths, Bulldogs, Easts, Cowboys, Knights are pulling 20k+ average crowds (and it might not seem likely now, but one day they will), what can you do to keep up financially if your favourite home ground only comfortably fits 16,000 people on its best day?

There is a decent push to move to one stadium amongst the fan base, even one of the central stadiums, just not BW. I really want BW but most want ANZ!

 

[franklin2323]

There is a decent push to move to one stadium amongst the fan base, even one of the central stadiums, just not BW. I really want BW but most want ANZ!

Bankwest is always going to be Parra's. League's club and location.

Campbelltown to me is best especially after upgrades to ground. Have the country areas to expand the area aswell as the Airport that will bring in corporate dollar