US bid to poach State of Origin game from Victoria

[El Diablo]

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...me-from-victoria/story-fnca0von-1226346255237

US bid to poach State of Origin game from Victoria

by: BRENT READ
From: The Australian
May 04, 2012 12:00AM

A CONSORTIUM of influential US businessmen has moved to scupper Victorian plans to lock in an annual State of Origin game for the next six years - by taking a match to Los Angeles.

As part of its plan to revitalise rugby league in the US, Grand Prix Sports wants to stage an Origin game in 2014 at Home Depot Stadium - the ground where David Beckham's LA Galaxy team plays.

The group - chaired by former Olympic, World Cup and NBA executive Alan Rothenberg - has also outlined its desire to re-brand and revitalise the World Club Challenge by expanding it to eight teams, playing it over a week in Hawaii and Los Angeles and offering $1 million to the winner. The new competition would be called the World Series Challenge.

Grand Prix Sports recently became a big player in rugby union when it secured the rights to host a rugby sevens tournament at Home Depot Stadium next year. It now has its sights set on rugby league.

The move comes as the ARL Commission weighs up what to do with Origin next season. As revealed in The Australian in February, the Victorian government, which will host the opening game of this year's series in Melbourne later this month, has put forward a proposal to host an annual Origin game for the next six years.

It is understood Victoria has offered $2 million a year for the right to host Origin games, although that figure could increase. Auckland's Eden Park has also expressed an interest in hosting matches.

Talks with Victorian officials are expected to continue next week. However, Grand Prix Sports could become a major player should they succeed in piquing the interest of the commission.

As well as Rothenberg, the directors of Grand Prix Sports include some leading US sports administrators. Grand Prix Sports chief executive is William Tatham, a former owner of basketball team Utah Jazz. Other directors include a former president of CBS Sports and a former president of Caesars World Sports.

The Australian understands Steven Johnson, the head of the Ipswich-based consortium bidding to enter the NRL in 2015, is acting on behalf of the group in Australia. Johnson is the football manager of the US Tomahawks, the US national side that will play in next year's World Cup.

Moving an Origin game to the US would represent a significant decision, although there is a precedent. In 1987, Queensland and NSW played a game at Veterans Stadium in Long Beach, California. Maroons front-rower Greg Dowling took part in that game and believes rugby league can still be a hit in the US.

"That's always been a bit of a bugbear of mine, that they never followed up on it," he said.

"The Americans accepted it. They thought we were crazy. They loved it. There is a massive market over there. I have always said that."

It is understood the head of US rugby league, former St George halfback David Niu, has flown to England for talks with commission chief executive David Gallop and chairman John Grant over the proposal.

The two are attending a Rugby League International Federation meeting.

While taking Origin to the US would represent a leap of faith for the code, it could give the World Club Challenge the kiss of life.

Under the plan devised by Grand Prix Sports, the World Series Challenge would be increased to eight teams made up of three from the NRL, three from English Super League, a composite New Zealand side and a Pacific Island outfit made up of players from Tonga, Samoa, Fiji, Cook Islands and the US.

The tournament would be played in February with the winner collecting $1m.

The proposal would need the support of the commission, English Rugby League and the RLIF.

Australian clubs in particular have grown increasingly reluctant to take part in the World Club Challenge because it involves a pre-season trip to England for little reward.

The US proposal could revive the competition and spark new interest from Australian teams.

In turn, Grand Prix Sports hopes the Challenge - and an Origin game in Los Angeles - will provide a boost for the rugby league competition in the US.

 

[user_nat]

Don't like the origin idea. Plus they would need to pay a lot to make up for the decrease in TV broadcast revenue, since it would have to be played at a stupid time.

Don't hate the WCC part. One million dollars would help get the interest of clubs.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The best thing about this is that wealthy, influential and connected people are interested in rugby league and growing it. The only problem is that if Niu has anything to do with it, it won't happen.

 

[Dragon2010]

Do people not see its STATE of ORIGIN. Being QLD and NSW. It's bad enough a games played in Melb! It has nothing to do with the states! Yet alone the country. I say no. If they want to revitalize RL in the US do it their way not by taking Aus players for one game and chasing more fatigue and travel stress on the players.

 

[Joker's Wild]

How the f**k do the SOO teams fly 14 hours 1 way, train, play, then fly 14 hours back all in a mid week time frame. It wont happen unless we have a Stand alone weekend for Origin and thats not taking into account the massive timezone difference too.

The WCC idea intrigues me though. What is this NZ composite side he mentions? Would that be made up of players in the NZ comp?

 

[DC_fan]

I would rather see the game played somewhere in Asia, like Japan or China. That's where the games future lies and we need to develop league there.

 

[Joker's Wild]

Seriously? I cant see Asia producing the kind of athletes to play RL mate. The US would be perfect

 

[Goddo]

Not origin - tv in Australia wouldn't like. Although I have no problem with the occasional Origin being shopped around to Auckland, Melbourne, Perth (when they build a new stadium)

WCC though - but the pacific and NZ team ideas are stupid. Say the Warriors make it. Who do the Warriors Kiwi players play for?

Make it 2-3 NRL and SL teams, then use a top 4/6 format. Keep it as simple as possible.

 

[madunit]

I like their thinking, but they've picked the wrong game.

I wouldn't be opposed to there being a RL World Cup in the US. Not a bad time either if their dollar stays shitcanned. Plenty of time to promote it and put together package deals etc to get people to go over there to watch the games.

If done right it could be brilliant.

But it'll never happen.

I'd prefer to see a WC played in France very soon moreso than any other nation.

 

[Fire]

Really like the WCC idea (with a few tweaks of course). Good to see some entrepreneurs and venture capitalists getting in on the act and providing fresh ideas. Too many crusty old c#nts call the shots with Rugby League in Australia at the moment.

 

[docbrown]

While it's good to see people with money getting into the game and trying to develop it, it's got to be realistic.

State of Origin - we should be using our strongest asset to grow the game - put bidder into competition for the rights to host one game every 2nd or 3rd year. So yes - I have no problem with Melbourne or Auckland or LA or London trying to bid.

As for the World Series thing. In principle its okay but I have my reservations, might make a post on the main board about this.

 

[Bronco Rob]

The best thing about this is that wealthy, influential and connected people are interested in rugby league and growing it. The only problem is that if Niu has anything to do with it, it won't happen.

Exactly what I thought, as soon as I saw Nui's name I just shuddered.

Do people not see its STATE of ORIGIN. Being QLD and NSW. It's bad enough a games played in Melb! It has nothing to do with the states! Yet alone the country. I say no. If they want to revitalize RL in the US do it their way not by taking Aus players for one game and chasing more fatigue and travel stress on the players.

It's about showcasing our great game to new markets, we have to move with the times and not just make decisions based on tradition if the game is to survive. While Sydney continues to struggle to sellout their Origin games why shouldn't we take the game to new markets and try to expand the growth of RL?

If you were an administrator of another code, what would you least like the ARLC to do? Dare say it would be to take their showcase game to new markets to expand the popularity of the game.

 

[madunit]

8 teams in a world series like comp.

hmmmm, it would work, but its the logistics of it that need to be refined.

If it involves club teams from different nations, then it'll be essentially nothing more than the usual WCC game with a few 'tour' games and some exhibition games.

Not sure how it would work, considering the gap between club comps in Australia and England and the rest of the world is just immense.

 

[Tonearm Terrorwrist]

I'll be done with SOO if this happens.

 

[***MH***]

I'll be done with SOO if this happens.

I'll be done with SOO if this doesn't happen.

We have three rubbers a series? Why do we have to have "Home" "Away" "Home" format every year when we can have "Home" "Neutral" "Away"

Our game has so much potential. I'm so sick of this Sydney centric-insular attitude towards our game. Neutral hosted games give Rugby League the chance to showcase our talent across the nation and the world. The Origin is League's biggest international televised event on the planet.

I'm sure the players won't mind an all expenses paid trip to LA for a game of footy and I would be wide awake at 5:00am in the morning to watch this live on TV, just like any other important game on at that time of the morning.

 

[Karl]

SOO in the USA - dumb idea

 

[I Bleed Maroon]

Seriously? I cant see Asia producing the kind of athletes to play RL mate. The US would be perfect

Japan already has a thriving Rugby culture, albeit Union.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The other thing no one has mentioned is that in 1987 the game in LA was a fourth SOO game that didn't count in the series. They could, perhaps, do the same again. Although I don't think players these days would be too keen on playing a game that didn't count. Plus there can't just be extra Origin games thrown in every time a new market wants to host a game. We'll end up with five or six games. That might sound good in some ways but there has to be a limit to it all.

 

[LESStar58]

I would fly to Los Angeles for this. No shit. If its in June/July I could do some summer festivals while I'm there!

Of course it won't eventuate but there's some big names at that table. You can guarntee Rusty will be buying up the tickets and doleing em out to his Hollywood mates. He was instrumental in getting Fox Sports US to show Origin and if the game eventuates he'll promote the shit out of it...

 

[LESStar58]

And let us not forget the immortal words of a happy punter at Long Beach in 1987;


"That makes American football look like a John Denver concert!"