Reality check for all the pro supporters.
$10m turnover but Panthers still lose $1m
By Dean Ritchie
THE Panthers will register a gross turnover this season of $10 million up $1.7 million from last year, Penrith chief executive Shane Richardson revealed last night.
The $10 million figure comes on the back of Penrith's historic season where the club secured an NRL premiership and minor premiership.
Penrith's financial bonus came through:
Gate takings ($2.5 million).
NRL grant ($2.5 million).
Corporate sponsorship ($2.5 million).
Concession at grounds such as beer and food ($1 million).
Merchandising ($1.5 million). But the Panthers will still post a $1 million loss.
Only three NRL clubs Brisbane, New Zealand and Newcastle made a profit last year without grants or loans.
"We've had a very successful season," Richardson said last night. "And things will only get better next year.
"We had 900 season ticket holders at the start of this season yet averaged crowds of more than 18,000.
"We're hoping we can get that figure up 3000 to 4000 next year. It will be the hottest ticket around.
"But it's only the beginning. We want to be in a position where we make a profit."
Penrith aim to make a profit next season through marketing their high-profile stars, including Craig Gower, Ryan Girdler, Luke Priddis, Luke Lewis, Trent Waterhouse and Joel Clinton.
Richardson also called for all NRL clubs to receive additional television revenue.
"The bottom line is we (rugby league) are the No. 1 TV sport," he said. "Yet we can't make a profit despite winning the premiership.
"We have improved $3 million since we (Richardson and coach John Lang's team) arrived in 2002.
"Rugby league is great TV sport and I think clubs need at least another $1 million revenue annually from TV.
"We need that extra money to come out square each year and make the game pay for itself."
In any one season only 1-3 of 15 clubs will make a profit. Clubs are heavily supported by their Leagues clubs commercial operations. The NRL as a whole only turns a small profit from year to year. It substantially reduced the number of teams to protect its revenue base a few years ago.
It's the premier RL Comp in the world.
Has the largest global TV market of any RL comp
The ESL is seen in AU but is usually a week behind and we don't get every game.
There is no NZ Bartercard Cup televised here or anywhere else and no French RL either.
So someone please tell me how a pro US comp is going to be financially viable? And FFS don't tell me there's a potentially huge US audience for RL who will want to watch a second rate pro comp on TV.
This is never going to fly unless you call jumping off a cliff flying before you hit the ground with a thud.
$10m turnover but Panthers still lose $1m
By Dean Ritchie
THE Panthers will register a gross turnover this season of $10 million up $1.7 million from last year, Penrith chief executive Shane Richardson revealed last night.
The $10 million figure comes on the back of Penrith's historic season where the club secured an NRL premiership and minor premiership.
Penrith's financial bonus came through:
Gate takings ($2.5 million).
NRL grant ($2.5 million).
Corporate sponsorship ($2.5 million).
Concession at grounds such as beer and food ($1 million).
Merchandising ($1.5 million). But the Panthers will still post a $1 million loss.
Only three NRL clubs Brisbane, New Zealand and Newcastle made a profit last year without grants or loans.
"We've had a very successful season," Richardson said last night. "And things will only get better next year.
"We had 900 season ticket holders at the start of this season yet averaged crowds of more than 18,000.
"We're hoping we can get that figure up 3000 to 4000 next year. It will be the hottest ticket around.
"But it's only the beginning. We want to be in a position where we make a profit."
Penrith aim to make a profit next season through marketing their high-profile stars, including Craig Gower, Ryan Girdler, Luke Priddis, Luke Lewis, Trent Waterhouse and Joel Clinton.
Richardson also called for all NRL clubs to receive additional television revenue.
"The bottom line is we (rugby league) are the No. 1 TV sport," he said. "Yet we can't make a profit despite winning the premiership.
"We have improved $3 million since we (Richardson and coach John Lang's team) arrived in 2002.
"Rugby league is great TV sport and I think clubs need at least another $1 million revenue annually from TV.
"We need that extra money to come out square each year and make the game pay for itself."
In any one season only 1-3 of 15 clubs will make a profit. Clubs are heavily supported by their Leagues clubs commercial operations. The NRL as a whole only turns a small profit from year to year. It substantially reduced the number of teams to protect its revenue base a few years ago.
It's the premier RL Comp in the world.
Has the largest global TV market of any RL comp
The ESL is seen in AU but is usually a week behind and we don't get every game.
There is no NZ Bartercard Cup televised here or anywhere else and no French RL either.
So someone please tell me how a pro US comp is going to be financially viable? And FFS don't tell me there's a potentially huge US audience for RL who will want to watch a second rate pro comp on TV.
This is never going to fly unless you call jumping off a cliff flying before you hit the ground with a thud.
/ . Prime TV which is free to air and owned by Channel 9 gets all Warriors games delayed and with ads, it also has one or two other NRL games late at night on the weekends.
