Todd Greenberg has pretty much said one Sydney team will be relocated.

[Stallion]

Well the next TV negotiations if the commission and Greenberg have any gonads, should push for either an extra game or additional game on Saturday/Sunday afternoon.

And Free to air!

 

[Perth Red]

And Free to air!

Id hope not. You are taking a hit on crowds for no real benefit from an exposure point of view. Three games a week on FTA is enough for the public to have plenty of access to NRL to get them interested, we dont need anymore disincentive for fans to go to games.

IF the NRL is serious about launching a rival digital subscription channel then holding on to the ninth, and potentially tenth game as exclusive content could be a real ace in the pack to drive subscriptions. A million subscribers paying $10 a month to NRL.com would certainly cover expansion and potentially the loss of exclusivity for Fox.

 

[greenBV4]

That would be a good compromise for both Bears fans and assuring more local derbies for Newcastle and Manly Warringah. Gaining the Central Coast and recapturing lost Bears fans is a big plus. That would be the no risk. move along with Brisbane 2. Two areas of consolidation along with increased footprint with juniors and infrastructure in place. Makes good sense. More ambitious additional expansion clubs to follow after further development work I suggest. But definitely no whiteanting!

Sydney NRL fans have shown (and told) us time and time again that they prefer to not have to leave their suburb to attend a game and support their club. If this is the case why would old bears fans be happy driving over an hour up the highway to the central coast?

I get the central coast bid, even though IMO it is less important than many others locations, but I don't see how "bringing back" the bears based in Gosford would "recapture" old fans based in North Sydney.

"Bringing them back" in Adelaide, Christchurch, or anywhere really, would have just as much chance of recapturing North Sydney fans as the Central Coast, because we all know they aren't going to travel up the highway in traffic, and on TV it makes no difference if they are 1.5 or 15 hours away

 

[Perth Red]

Sydney NRL fans have shown (and told) us time and time again that they prefer to not have to leave their suburb to attend a game and support their club. If this is the case why would old bears fans be happy driving over an hour up the highway to the central coast?

I get the central coast bid, even though IMO it is less important than many others locations, but I don't see how "bringing back" the bears based in Gosford would "recapture" old fans based in North Sydney.

"Bringing them back" in Adelaide, Christchurch, or anywhere really, would have just as much chance of recapturing North Sydney fans as the Central Coast, because we all know they aren't going to travel up the highway in traffic, and on TV it makes no difference if they are 1.5 or 15 hours away

They wouldnt, you might get a couple of hundred turn up to Sydney games but it certainly isnt worth wasting a precious expansion license on. I think Bears would jump at the chance of a license in Adelaide (they've jumped at any other opportunity!). Its just how does the NRL fit it in, expansion plan to twenty teams but that could take decades or use existing licenses but how do they get rid of clubs, legally and without causing a massive stink? I still feel the NRL is holding out in the hope someone falls over eventually and they will offer a relocation package to either Gosford or Adelaide. The comp will go to 18 clubs with Perth and Brisbane if it expands at all. I cant see any way the Bears get in.

 

[Stallion]

Id hope not. You are taking a hit on crowds for no real benefit from an exposure point of view. Three games a week on FTA is enough for the public to have plenty of access to NRL to get them interested, we dont need anymore disincentive for fans to go to games.

IF the NRL is serious about launching a rival digital subscription channel then holding on to the ninth, and potentially tenth game as exclusive content could be a real ace in the pack to drive subscriptions. A million subscribers paying $10 a month to NRL.com would certainly cover expansion and potentially the loss of exclusivity for Fox.

Lol. The NRL is giving AFL an absolute free kick every Saturday for most of every season and you are against FTA coverage! Are you for real!

 

[Stallion]

Sydney NRL fans have shown (and told) us time and time again that they prefer to not have to leave their suburb to attend a game and support their club. If this is the case why would old bears fans be happy driving over an hour up the highway to the central coast?

I get the central coast bid, even though IMO it is less important than many others locations, but I don't see how "bringing back" the bears based in Gosford would "recapture" old fans based in North Sydney.

"Bringing them back" in Adelaide, Christchurch, or anywhere really, would have just as much chance of recapturing North Sydney fans as the Central Coast, because we all know they aren't going to travel up the highway in traffic, and on TV it makes no difference if they are 1.5 or 15 hours away

Bears fans are more than North Sydney! It's also the immense positive effect of junior numbers in both areas (Central Coast and northern Sydney ) as well as capturing the influential North Sydney CBD backing which has left the game since the Bears unnecessary ousting.

 

[greenBV4]

Bears fans are more than North Sydney!

Every club is "more than their area", thats not an argument

It's also the immense positive effect of junior numbers in both areas (Central Coast and northern Sydney ) as well as capturing the influential North Sydney CBD backing which has left the game since the Bears unnecessary ousting.

If Manly wasn't so scared of leaving their little peninsular those juniors and influential CBD could be theirs, same as the Central Coast, and then they probably wouldn't be one of the clubs most talked about for relocation. Instead the Roosters are sweeping it out from underneath them

 

[Stallion]

Every club is "more than their area", thats not an argument


If Manly wasn't so scared of leaving their little peninsular those juniors and influential CBD could be theirs, same as the Central Coast, and then they probably wouldn't be one of the clubs most talked about for relocation. Instead the Roosters are sweeping it out from underneath them

It doesn't work that way champ! There's factors including locality, culture and substance that are crucial in what and whom a club is. This matters big time.

 

[Perth Red]

Lol. The NRL is giving AFL an absolute free kick every Saturday for most of every season and you are against FTA coverage! Are you for real!

Giving them a free kick? Where? Have you seen the terrible tv ratings for afl in nsw and Q’land? Nrl won’t be shown live in W.A. and vic on a Saturday night so what exactly are we missing out on? Ch9 didn’t want it, we don’t need it and all it will do is hurt yet another games crowds.

 

[Cdd]

When it comes to relocation although it’s not the preferred option I think it could work.

Perth and Brisbane would probably both benefit from having a brand new franchise but a relocated team to Central Coast, Adelaide or New Zealand could work. A relocated team would still be able to get great support in Sydney and it allows current fans to stay connected to the club through an away season ticket.

If I was a fan of a Sydney club that was struggling financially and struggling for attendances I think i’d Jump at the chance for them to relocate and become a powerhouse with the best away support in the NRL.

Equally couldn’t this work with the Bears if they relocated? Would they be able to get support for away games in Sydney?

 

[MugaB]

When it comes to relocation although it’s not the preferred option I think it could work.

Perth and Brisbane would probably both benefit from having a brand new franchise but a relocated team to Central Coast, Adelaide or New Zealand could work. A relocated team would still be able to get great support in Sydney and it allows current fans to stay connected to the club through an away season ticket.

If I was a fan of a Sydney club that was struggling financially and struggling for attendances I think i’d Jump at the chance for them to relocate and become a powerhouse with the best away support in the NRL.

Equally couldn’t this work with the Bears if they relocated? Would they be able to get support for away games in Sydney?

This is exactly what I've been saying, new brands in perth and brisbane, but a relocation to non-league heartland areas, like Adelaide and Christchurch, will make NRL truley national, and also cover all markets, with lessening the sydney clubs to properly not dilute their market, clubs needs to spread out and cover more areas as they can, cronulla has already stated they'll take games to tonga and fiji, which is a good first step, also more games spread into country areas, throught the year moreso

 

[Cdd]

This is exactly what I've been saying, new brands in perth and brisbane, but a relocation to non-league heartland areas, like Adelaide and Christchurch, will make NRL truley national, and also cover all markets, with lessening the sydney clubs to properly not dilute their market, clubs needs to spread out and cover more areas as they can, cronulla has already stated they'll take games to tonga and fiji, which is a good first step, also more games spread into country areas, throught the year moreso

More games in more areas is great but they could also do more to make games more attractive in Sydney as well.

Too many games played in empty large arenas. Why not play triple headers with all Sydney teams throughout the season. Pack out ANZ and offer more value to fans. Sub 10k crowds does nothing for the image of the game in such a big stadium.

 

[Stallion]

Giving them a free kick? Where? Have you seen the terrible tv ratings for afl in nsw and Q’land? Nrl won’t be shown live in W.A. and vic on a Saturday night so what exactly are we missing out on? Ch9 didn’t want it, we don’t need it and all it will do is hurt yet another games crowds.

You are clearly delusional. Guess what the FTA tv ratings is for the NRL on a Saturday? ZERO. I just cannot believe how dumb you prove to be! And so consistent. The free publicity alone gives AFL a huge advantage on FTA tv. PR : You are proving to be dumber and dumber! I'm amazed that you come up with such crap!?

 

[adamkungl]

Ahh another thread ruined by Stallions hysterical childish rambling

 

[flippikat]

Ahh another thread ruined by Stallions hysterical childish rambling

..and personal insults.

It's almost inevitable that a post will have one of those embedded into the mix of rants and unverifiable and/or unsourced 'facts'.

 

[Stallion]

Ahh another thread ruined by Stallions hysterical childish rambling

Doing your bit for the "union" cause! ? Ignorance and apathy being a big plus for that code. Ofcourse fostered well and truelly by dudes like yourself within rugbyleague ranks!

 

[Perth Red]

You are clearly delusional. Guess what the FTA tv ratings is for the NRL on a Saturday? ZERO. I just cannot believe how dumb you prove to be! And so consistent. The free publicity alone gives AFL a huge advantage on FTA tv. PR : You are proving to be dumber and dumber! I'm amazed that you come up with such crap!?

Cut the insults (you’ve been warned about this already) and make your argument. No one is watching afl on fta on Saturday night in RL states, they aren’t getting a free anything. If the ratings were good you’d have a point but they are terrible and are in no way effecting nrl interest. All it will do is effect crowds. Not to mention Ch9 we’re happy to offload it so obviously don’t see it as that valuable.

 

[Stallion]

Cut the insults (you’ve been warned about this already) and make your argument. No one is watching afl on fta on Saturday night in RL states, they aren’t getting a free anything. If the ratings were good you’d have a point but they are terrible and are in no way effecting nrl interest. All it will do is effect crowds. Not to mention Ch9 we’re happy to offload it so obviously don’t see it as that valuable.

You are clearly out of the loop.Have a read of the article in the Roar today. It tells that the Manly A grade rugby league competition is ceasing! It informs thathe rugby union can consolidate the area and take usage of the rugbyleague grounds that will.? the be used anymore fir rugby league. Yet you continually ignore and deny the weakening of rugby league in northern Sydney. Pathetic PR. You deserve every description going your way!

 

[adamkungl]

If participation is on the decline in Manly (I can't find anything on the Roar about this, please link) to the point where a senior comp is untenable,
and as we all know the Eastern Suburbs competition can only function in partnership with other leagues,
and North Shore participation is relatively low.

Easts and Manly both have first grade teams, Norths don't but the Bears maintain a strong NSW Cup presence.
What does that tell us?
Participation in all 3 is well down from the glory days.
Manly and Roosters prove that a first grade team doesn't automatically translate to huge participation.

This tells me that the broader region of North-East Sydney doesn't need 3 professional RL teams and questions have to be asked whether it can support 2.
Eastern Suburbs, North Shore and Northern Beaches all share a quite similar demographic, no surprise that it's the Union heartland of Sydney.
Plonking another team back into the crowd isn't going to magically solve the problem.

Bears are already out of first grade,
Manly are on deaths door playing out of a condemned park,
Roosters are loaded with cash, and have the image, success, and stadium to capture that demographic.

I see 2 scenarios playing out, neither involve reviving the Bears back to NRL level.

1. Manly see the writing on the wall, and make the smart move to relocate up to Central Coast Stadium for at least half of their games.
They retain the Beaches and perhaps gain Upper Norther Shore as their junior base.
Roosters take the Bears and North Shore or Lower North Shore juniors as a feeder long-term, and take responsibility for growth and promotion in the area.
Manly, Easts, and Country RL come to some arrangement regarding Central Coast juniors.

2. Manly dig their heels in waiting for the Brookvale upgrade that has been promised forever and never happened.
Eventually they are left behind by first grade professional Rugby League and forced to drop back to NSW Cup.
Roosters take both Bears and Manly former territory as well as the Central Coast.

 

[Perth Red]

Hang on what has that got to do with AFL on FTA TV on a Saturday night?

ps Manly has an NRL club, are you telling me that cant hold the area against a sport that is on its arse and is broke despite having an NRL club based there?

Stop being childish.