“Peter V’landys is often asked when the NRL will bring back the Bears. Now he reveals his thoughts on a proposed Western Australia-Bears joint venture, writes Phil Rothfield.
Peter V’landys is often pulled up in the street and asked about the old North Sydney Bears. “Wherever I go every third person asks me when are you bringing back the Bears,” V’landys said on Sunday when contacted in regard to a bold joint venture proposal between Western Australia and the Bears as the 18th team in the NRL.
While the two parties have a long way to go to reach any agreement, V’landys like the idea of an allegiance between one of the game’s most famous old clubs and Perth where there is huge government and corporate support.
“One thing I’ve learned in rugby league is that the Bears have an extremely popular brand,” V’landys said.
“However there’s already enough Sydney teams so doing it with an area like Perth makes sense.
“You’re getting the best of both. A great brand and a new supporter base.”
Chairman of the Australian Rugby League Commission Peter V'landys says its early days, but was excited by the idea of a Bears team in Perth. V’landys insists it’s early days and the NRL’s focus right now is on the Dolphins entering the competition next year as the 17th team.
However an 18th side would provide nine games each weekend and significantly increase broadcast revenue. It also opens up a new timeslot from Western Australia.
The fact the Warriors have struggled to make any real impact should rule out having a second team in New Zealand in the immediate future.
It would be worse having another struggling Kiwi team alongside the ordinary one we already have.
A WA-Bears joint venture will be judged very much on their business model rather than the emotion around the Bears.
V’landys knows the Bears remains a popular NRL brand, despite exiting the NRL in 1999 after merging with the Sea Eagles to become the Northern Eagles. “We went with the Dolphins for the 17th because they had a strong business case,” V'landys said.
“They were financially strong and we wouldn’t have to subsidise them.
“It’s about bringing in fans that aren’t currently engaged in rugby league because you don’t want a new team taking supporters from the current clubs.
“The Dolphins proved to us they weren’t going to take anything away from the Titans or Broncos.
“They did a significant analysis that showed they could bring 200,000 new fans to rugby league.
“We used that to generate more money from the broadcasters.
“Whoever gets the 18th team has to do the same. They have to engage new people to the sport.”
Rugby league lost tens of thousands of fans when the Bears folded in the late 90s.
To have that famous old logo and red and black jersey back would be enormous, even if the Bears were only to host four games each year at North Sydney Oval.
Their army of old supporters would still turn up in droves to watch away games at other venues across Sydney.
Put the right foundations in place and this is a no-brainer.”
This is a rothfield article from two years ago lol