Um... Is it just me?

[Fighter]

This handle is for the use of providing official Shark information - run and operated by the entire Sharks club.

We don't publicly bash anyone nor see the point behind it but if you want to know who runs this - check out our roster from last year.

Bucks County Sharks RLFC

Way to deflect, BCS. We don't bash anyone either, but I don't hide behind the team handle. People have questions and I answer them when I can and they know who they are talking to. Transparency never hurt anyone.

 

[Bucks County Sharks]

Your contributions to the game, USA team, youth development program, tours outside the USA and valuable efforts off field will be talked about for decades.

Thank you

 

[Fighter]

I know all about you guys, but it isn't my place to talk for you and I don't know virtually anyone on here since I don't know their names.
What others don't know or don't care to know is their prerogative. I try and stay off of here as much as I can, but we are getting to in season and I want everyone to know what is going on and answer questions that I can actually answer. I would go nuts if I went on here everyday.
I am proud to say I was a shark, as well as a Penn Raider, a PA Bulldog, a Wilmington Viking and a Fight member.
And I do miss the Friday night games, they were always my favorite. We looked at doing night games this year, but didn't work with the Casino and having after parties, etc. Starting at 8pm would drive our attendance down too much with the neighborhood people in Conshy not being fans of all the noise and lights being on so late.

 

[deluded pom?]

but come on, this is the professional USARL that you have all talked about on here. They are doing wonders for Rugby League in America. Yeah rorting visiting teams.

No agenda then south?

 

[deluded pom?]

I would go nuts if I went on here everyday.

Have you come across ECT yet Ryan? :lol:

 

[Fighter]

Have you come across ECT yet Ryan? :lol:

No, who is that mate? I am sure they will find me sooner or later.

 

[sharkies9]

You can tell the boys havent played footy in a while. They have to get their aggression out typing on a keyboard!

 

[100%green]

I know all about you guys, but it isn't my place to talk for you and I don't know virtually anyone on here since I don't know their names.
What others don't know or don't care to know is their prerogative. I try and stay off of here as much as I can, but we are getting to in season and I want everyone to know what is going on and answer questions that I can actually answer. I would go nuts if I went on here everyday.
I am proud to say I was a shark, as well as a Penn Raider, a PA Bulldog, a Wilmington Viking and a Fight member.
And I do miss the Friday night games, they were always my favorite. We looked at doing night games this year, but didn't work with the Casino and having after parties, etc. Starting at 8pm would drive our attendance down too much with the neighborhood people in Conshy not being fans of all the noise and lights being on so late.

Mate I purchased a jersey off you 2 years ago and i also have had previous contact with you for merchandise. Yourself and the Fight have always been great to deal with as have a few other USARL teams. To be fair the only 2 teams I have talked to from the AMNRL were the Raiders and the Eagles who were both great as well.

My point is, I for one love reading stuff from you and RIR etc on what is going on with the USARL. At least we hear about your plans and direction you want to go in.

I hope you guys are on here more often.

 

[pennpool]

Your contributions to the game, USA team, youth development program, tours outside the USA and valuable efforts off field will be talked about for decades.

Funny you should mention the highlighted part. I'm sure Fighter will agree that if it wasn't for two members of the sharks, the fight wouldn't have got such international publicity a couple of years ago.
You would do well to remember that two former sharks are integral in running the USARL.
Or maybe that Sharks have built a team over the last 5 years with out being dependent on any imports.
Let's not forget the sharks players that have traveled to Russia, Australia and the UK with the national team.
Or the fact that the sharks are a founder member team of rugby league in America.

I think the sharks legacy is fine.

Don't let the truth ruin a good story.


It would be interesting to hear some of your contributions why we are at it. If any that is.

 

[deal.with.it]

Funny you should mention the highlighted part. I'm sure Fighter will agree that if it wasn't for two members of the sharks, the fight wouldn't have got such international publicity a couple of years ago.
You would do well to remember that two former sharks are integral in running the USARL.
Or maybe that Sharks have built a team over the last 5 years with out being dependent on any imports.
Let's not forget the sharks players that have traveled to Russia, Australia and the UK with the national team.
Or the fact that the sharks are a founder member team of rugby league in America.

I think the sharks legacy is fine.

Don't let the truth ruin a good story.


It would be interesting to hear some of your contributions why we are at it. If any that is.

Let's not forget the continual snubbing of sharks players over the last 2+ years for national team honours. Sharks management have been vocal on this matter too, showing their disappointment in the selectors.
Sharks players missed out on WCQ matches, games against canada and ireland, and now have f**k all chance of WC selection.
Has it all been worth it? To have players who deserve selection missing out when it matters? Seems like the Sharks are the odd one out. They didn't switch to the USARL, they didn't get tomahawks selection, and now they're not able to commit to the USARL 9s.
Oh well, i heard War at the Shore is going to be massive this year - big cash prizes, televised matches and international teams!!!

 

[Fighter]

Funny you should mention the highlighted part. I'm sure Fighter will agree that if it wasn't for two members of the sharks, the fight wouldn't have got such international publicity a couple of years ago.
You would do well to remember that two former sharks are integral in running the USARL.
Or maybe that Sharks have built a team over the last 5 years with out being dependent on any imports.
Let's not forget the sharks players that have traveled to Russia, Australia and the UK with the national team.
Or the fact that the sharks are a founder member team of rugby league in America.

I think the sharks legacy is fine.

Don't let the truth ruin a good story.


It would be interesting to hear some of your contributions why we are at it. If any that is.

That is correct, without Shark players and Former Fight players Phil Shipos and Steve Thompson, we would never have made the tour happen, it was all them and our name was on it. Our guys loved it and want to do more tours as a result.

I still don't understand why the Sharks don't come to the USARL, you get treated like we do, you might as well get on board. We are going to conferences this year, so it will lighten the burden on travel. You would just need one big trip to Jax as you would be in the South with the Fight, DC, Balt and Jax.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Hi Fighter,
I am new to this forum. I would like to ask why are you charging $350 for a team to enter? Does the USARL and AMNRL charge fees to enter their competitions?
I am not saying whether any of this is right or wrong but would like to be able to see the reason for it.
Thank you

I think it is unacceptable to have teams pay to play in this tournament. I could accept it if it were maybe $100 per team and that the team organizing it didn't have any money from sponsors but come on, this is the professional USARL that you have all talked about on here. They are doing wonders for Rugby League in America. Yeah rorting visiting teams.
If the profits of the day were split evenly then that would be fantastic and I would think this tournament is a huge step forward.
I'd like to know what sponsors they have for the tournament and how much they have tipped in.
Plus, what the remaining $1,750 is actually being spent on.

Gee South, changed your opinion in just a couple of posts, obviously your posts questioning costs were just a pretense in trying to disrepute the USARL but Fighter certainly put you in your place quickly.

 

[Bronco Rob]

Your contributions to the game, USA team, youth development program, tours outside the USA and valuable efforts off field will be talked about for decades.

That's below the belt Lone Ranger, bit uncalled for. It's their governing body that's the hinderence for these teams to move forward and they have no control over selections.

I try and stay off of here as much as I can, but we are getting to in season and I want everyone to know what is going on and answer questions that I can actually answer. I would go nuts if I went on here everyday.
I am proud to say I was a shark, as well as a Penn Raider, a PA Bulldog, a

Fighter, love the transparency that you and RIR have shown and I hope that continues.

 

[druzik]

AMNRL website is back up.

http://www.amnrl.com/

 

[Clarke]

South - this is common and accepted practice in North America. It is a non-issue.

Not just North America. It happens everywhere. You can't even play Junior footy in Australia without paying cash.

 

[south]

Gee South, changed your opinion in just a couple of posts, obviously your posts questioning costs were just a pretense in trying to disrepute the USARL but Fighter certainly put you in your place quickly.

Put me in my place? Are you all there Bronco Rob?
I have been off the forum for quite a few days which is why I have not replied. And, I am not going to reply in full as obviously you will turn it into "my agenda".
I do not care who puts on Rugby League competitions or tournaments in North America, any Rugby League being played in the US is good for the game. But, spending $18,500 to host a 10 team amatuer 9's tournament in Philadelphia is absolutely ludicrous!

I would like to thank Fighter for replying to my post. I really do hope the tournament is a huge success and you can recover the funds you have put out there.

 

[gyallop]

Shuttle service to and from field to hotel for players (day) - $1500
Field Rental $2000
Police on site for day (required) $1500
Referees - $1000
Beer truck rental and beer $2500
Caterer/Food on site $1000
Insurance for event $350
After party costs food/drink $2500
T shirts/merchandise -$1500 approximate
Print/ Tv Advertising - $3500 (hoping to advertise at USA7s) which would make this considerably more
HD Video and Editing of event - $1000

A lot of these are "profit"costs. The real costs are ground and insurance $2350 , the rest are mainly expenses that you will recover and hopefully for your sake make money. Good work with the tournament but if you want to be transparent you have to show dollars in and dollars out.

The Australian Aboriginals , is that an Australian team or simply a team of aboriginals if so which team, we have some exciting teams that play regularly in carnivals.

 

[deal.with.it]

It's quite clear that many of you questioning the costs of the tournament do not know enough about Event Management to come to your conclusions.
There is another thread going about the USARL 9s and potential world series of 9s.
If you want to attract international teams, then the costs stated by fighter that are apparently "profit" costs are essential. If you can't guarantee a crowd, can't guarantee services for visiting teams, they are not going to fly to the US for the tournament.
If you want to attract a crowd, you need to supply things such as food and drink, merch, ground announcements, entertainment, security etc.
Now just because you have these things on offer doesn't mean they are going to make a profit - that's ridiculous to think so.
If you want to expand in future years, and gain government/council grants and sponsorship, then you have to run a legitimate event that is going to benefit the city - this can't be done with simply ground hire and insurance.
That is how you run an amateur tournament, and a tournament that will stay amateur for years to come; an idea central to the conservative thoughts of rugby league fans in the so called heartland (not accusing anyone in particular of such thoughts)

 

[Fatwing15]

South I don't come on here enough to keep up with all the stuff you are all talking about, but the tournament is going to cost the Fight about over $15,000. So you are clear, just a few things we need to pay for (approximates) and why we need to charge and also find sponsors:

Shuttle service to and from field to hotel for players (day) - $1500
Field Rental $2000
Police on site for day (required) $1500
Referees - $1000
Beer truck rental and beer $2500
Caterer/Food on site $1000
Insurance for event $350
After party costs food/drink $2500
T shirts/merchandise -$1500 approximate
Print/ Tv Advertising - $3500 (hoping to advertise at USA7s) which would make this considerably more
HD Video and Editing of event - $1000

If we break even we will be ecstatic but unless a big sponsor comes through we know we will lose money. But the exposure is worth that to us both domestically and internationally. That way more teams from everywhere will want to come and it can grow bigger, and then we can possibly get a TV sponsor involved and make this like the USA 7's. You have to start somewhere to make it big.
We want to play the best competition possible and you guys should too. So if $350 is too much for you, I guess we won't see you guys. Can you afford the $10 admission and then beer costs for the day? Then you should be able to find 10-12 guys to put their hand in their pocket to play. When is the next time the Australian Aboriginals will be in your back yard?

And yes the USARL charge all USARL teams a membership fee to play, plus referee fees up front for the year for NAMOA, insurance costs and a surety bond. All told about $2500 per year to participate in the league per team.

There was a fee last year for when Rhode Island hosted. I know nothing about the event in Vegas, that was AMNRL, I think.

I don't remember who asked, but:
It costs each Fight player $350 dues to play for us each season. We don't like charging it and wish we could have everything paid for but we try our best to have sponsors take care of it all, but we never get there. Each player can find a player sponsorship for $350 and never be out of pocket. Many do, many don't. If they can find one or don't try, then they are out of pocket.

$1500 for a shuttle? Wow, that seems steep.
Beer truck rental and beer $2500
Caterer/Food on site $1000
Insurance for event $350
After party costs food/drink $2500
T shirts/merchandise -$1500 approximate
Those would probably yield a profit in the end, but would it be enough to cover other costs? Small fee is definitely a must, there is a fee for every tournament I've been too. There is also a big risk in any amature team fronting that kind of money.

Is there a fee for War at the Shore?

Out of curiosity, did teams like West Chester University, Utah and Orange County Outlaws pay anything the first year(if there was even a fee)? I hope that one day soon this tournament will be very profitable for the Fight.

Also $350 is an awful lot to pay to play for the Fight, do the Aussies pay that as well? Do you have any trouble with college students paying that? (not taking a jab, just trying to get an idea of the best ways to draw local college talent as well as import talent, and you guys have been successful doing both)

Man all that money and hard work, and the Sharks would still beat the Fight by 12+. (OK now I'm taking a Jab)lol

 

[IowaRL]

Also $350 is an awful lot to pay to play for the Fight, do the Aussies pay that as well? Do you have any trouble with college students paying that? (not taking a jab, just trying to get an idea of the best ways to draw local college talent as well as import talent, and you guys have been successful doing both)

Well, if you can get a sponsor for the player for even part of that, it makes it more affordable. If you have player profiles on the website, have the sponsor posted there. I know we used to do that where I was playing when in Australia, and it's something I want to do here when we're big enough.