The Ipswich Knights

[siv]

When Tinkler went bust

Shouldn't the knights members get ownership back

Rather than selling the franchise off the the highest bidder

Anyway if Ipswich takeover the Knights

It will leave a big gap ready for someone like Easts to move in

 

[Perth Red]

Reign in the spending?

I don't know if you know a great deal about how the Knights are currently being operated but they're being run on far, far less currently than the other 15 clubs (Titans included).

If they reign in their spending any more the next thing to go will be the first grade coach (who is already getting squat to do the hardest job in the comp).

So why are they running at a $3mill deficit each year? I'm told its not sponsorship, its not lack of merch and membership/gate receipts, they get the NRL grant same as everyone so if its not excessive spending more than they are earning where's the problem sitting?

Not that they need a bigger fanbase but maybe a sweet deal with Gosford council and the stadium to take a 2-3 games a year there might fill the revenue gap? I know Roosters have their eye on the region but Newcastle would be a nearer proposition to build a following there maybe?

 

[Burwood]

So why are they running at a $3mill deficit each year? I'm told its not sponsorship, its not lack of merch and membership/gate receipts, they get the NRL grant same as everyone so if its not excessive spending more than they are earning where's the problem sitting?

So you think someone with the pedigree of Matt Gidley comes cheap?

 

[Noname36]

So why are they running at a $3mill deficit each year? I'm told its not sponsorship, its not lack of merch and membership/gate receipts, they get the NRL grant same as everyone so if its not excessive spending more than they are earning where's the problem sitting?

Not that they need a bigger fanbase but maybe a sweet deal with Gosford council and the stadium to take a 2-3 games a year there might fill the revenue gap? I know Roosters have their eye on the region but Newcastle would be a nearer proposition to build a following there maybe?

Because NRL clubs cost a lot to run and unlike the majority of clubs the Knights don't have a leagues club or some kind of owner/backer footing a lot of the bills.

The days of clubs getting by on gate takings and sponsorship alone are well and truely over, hence why I don't understand why I keep seeing people ask why the Knights aren't profitable with large crowd and supporter numbers. The game has moved far past that.

 

[Caped Crusader]

The Knights crowds are decent but their membership numbers are near the bottom of the NRL. I'd be surprised if merch sales weren't similar

Let's not forget, there were only what 2, maybe 3 profitable NRL clubs in 2016. Running an NRL club is near impossible to break even let alone make a profit

 

[siv]

So why are they running at a $3mill deficit each year? I'm told its not sponsorship, its not lack of merch and membership/gate receipts, they get the NRL grant same as everyone so if its not excessive spending more than they are earning where's the problem sitting?

Not that they need a bigger fanbase but maybe a sweet deal with Gosford council and the stadium to take a 2-3 games a year there might fill the revenue gap? I know Roosters have their eye on the region but Newcastle would be a nearer proposition to build a following there maybe?

It seems that it has a lot to do with grants and cap not going up in sync

Grants went up to $7 mil in 2013 and not gone up since but salary cap has steady increased $500k every year from $4 mil to $7 mil in 2017

We need to be smarter from 2018 and keep them in sync each year

Rather than letting the grant jump to $14 mil for 5 years. We will have same issue in the back end 2 years

 

[Johnny_Knoxville]

Discuss...

I'm Johnny_Knoxville and the Knights moving to Ipswich is the funniest thing I've heard all week!

 

[macavity]

We aren't running a 3 year deficit rvery year. We have the worst stadium deal imaginable and we get flogged nearly every week. What a surprise we struggle a bit.

 

[flippikat]

If (and big *if*) this is a real option the NRL are considering, it makes a mockery of the Gold Coast Titans sale process - they have a potential buyer (Bears) that supposedly have been told "No rebranding, no relocation" if they want to buy.

 

[jim_57]

Even the staunchest supporters of a 4th QLD side couldn't support this. You could probably say goodbye to 95% of Rugby League fans in Newcastle.

 

[Diesel]

The NRL make up rules to suit themselves. I haven't kept up to date with this but seeing an Ipswich Knights article tells me this is bullshit, won't happen and if the NRL were stupid enough to do so, it'd be a middle finger to the Hunter and it'd be supported as well as the Lions in AFL

 

[slotmachine]

When Tinkler went bust

Shouldn't the knights members get ownership back

Rather than selling the franchise off the the highest bidder

Ask the directors of the knights members club why that didn't happen.

 

[Perth Red]

Knights members club has no significant money and the club is running at a major deficit, would you want it back?

 

[siv]

Did anyone ask them ?

 

[Lambretta]

Slothfield would have no idea anything exists West of Bathurst

Are we talking about both Hemispheres?