The biggest challenge at this end I could see is the perception that it is just a relocated failed Sydney club that would be looking to move back and take the license with them at the first opportunity.
WA is incredibly parochial, think Queensland then double it! We get behind our sports teams regardless of the sport. For this to work it will have to overcome that perception. Ownership make up will be critical. Maybe a 20% Bears, 20% NRLWA (though that is now complicated since the NRL took over the WARL and in effect would mean NRL owning a share in a club which could be seen as a conflict) and 60% local business consortium would be the way to go?
I'd hope we would have at the least a WA based SG Ball and NSW cup team in alongside a Bears Sydney based Hm, SG ball and NSW cup sides. Bears LC to fund the Sydney pathway set up as it does now and WA Bears NRL club to fund the NRLWA and Perth based pathway. In effect that would be putting $4mill plus into Jnr development pathways for the new club, pretty impressive and another tick in Vlandys box.
Then time to get WA Govt to put their money where their mouth is.
New WA Bears and NRLWA Centre of Excellence and HQ at Perry Lakes or Curtin Uni. - $25mill
New west stand and roof on South stand at HBF park - $120mill
Low rent for first ten years at HBF park - $1mill a year saving
Increased funding for NRLWA for participation increase - $1mill a year increase
Healthways sponsorship for WA Bears - $1mill a year
So what return would the WA Gov`t get on their ~ $150m investment.
* $15m annual NRL grant spent in WA every year. That`s a bloody good
annual ROI just for starters, the multiplier effect would also mean that`s the equivalent of a $40m+ annual economic injection;
* All the associated employment associated with a ~$30m professional sporting organisation;
* More likely to be able to hold Indigenous, Magic, SOO and other high profile matches on a more regular basis, this would be another big injection into the local economy;
* more TV exposure for WA through television i.e tourism.
Sounds to me like a winner.
Do you honestly think WA would get behind a League team enough to make it sustainable ? Is the `Bears` name a problem ? what relevance does a grizzly bear have to a WA sporting team ?
Having said that success could paper over a lot of these problems.