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WA BEARS

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,515
Lot to unpack in that article

1. Pvl really wants nothing to do with Cummins rejecting his offer of a 20 mill license fee

2. Wa govt will pay ongoing money each year to help the club as pvl wanted

3. Rent free period at hbf park

4. Temporary coe will be in Fremantle

5. Wa govt to match any funds nrl wa invest into league

6. Wa govt to pay the 20 mill license fee
Not sure where you have got these ones from.

nothing in that article suggest WA govt is paying a license fee, they offered one on behalf of the western bears bid to own the club but it was turned down.

WA govt are not paying anything into the annual running of the club, NRL will front up start up costs through early grant payments before the club kicks off according to the article.

Effectively by dismissing the Western bears bid they have given up the license fee, cost tax payers $25mill for Ken Allen field and cost themselves $20-30mill in start up fees. They really didnt like the bid lol
 

Red&BlackBear

First Grade
Messages
5,416


NRL on verge of agreeing terms for Western Australia government to save expansion bid, Perth-based Bears to become 18th team

The NRL is on the verge of agreeing terms with the Western Australia government on a deal that has saved their expansion bid, paving the way for the Perth-based Bears to become the code’s 18th team.
Peter Badel
,
Brent Read
and
Michael Carayannis
2 min read
.

The NRL is on the verge of agreeing terms with the Western Australian government on a deal that has saved expansion and paved the way for the Perth-based Bears to become the code’s 18th team.

This masthead can reveal ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys held urgent talks with the WA government on Thursday, which included WA premier Roger Cook and treasurer Rita Saffioti.

There were fears expansion could collapse after the NRL rejected a slew of expansion bids a fortnight ago, including a proposal from a Perth-based consortium to form the Western Bears.

But well-placed sources say the NRL is set for an 18th team in 2027 after V’landys held positive talks with WA powerbrokers to ensure a Perth-North Sydney Bears alliance is not dead.

It is understood Cook and Saffioti found critical common ground with V’landys, heightening confidence at Rugby League Central that expansion to Perth will go ahead as planned.

The WA government had initially baulked at a $120 million grassroots funding request, but premier Cook wants an NRL presence in Perth and V’landys is on the brink of sealing the deal.

Peter V'landys held urgent talks the WA government on Thursday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Peter V'landys held urgent talks the WA government on Thursday. Picture: Richard Dobson

The development came as the existing 17 clubs backed a $60 million licence fee for Papua New Guinea. It means a strategic plan for a 19-team NRL competition by 2028, including the Perth Bears and PNG, is now back on track.

A faction of NRL outfits had raised concerns over whether the $60m participation levy was sufficient, but the 17 clubs are now on board in a massive shot in the arm for V’landys’ 20-team expansion masterplan.

It is understood the North Sydney Bears were informed of the fresh developments on Thursday afternoon in a huge fillip for their hopes of a premiership revival.

V’landys has already guaranteed that the Bears will be part of a team in Perth.

While the talks with Cook and Saffioti were positive, there is no guarantee that the deal will be done in time to include it as part of a joint expansion announcement with Papua New Guinea.

However, there is genuine hope that expansion to Perth and PNG as part of a long-term plan to expand to 20 teams can be confirmed before the end of the year, most likely early in December.

The final ARL Commission meeting of the year is scheduled to be held next week with expansion at the forefront of everyone’s minds as they race to get the process finalised before Christmas.

The Bears are firming for a return to the NRL in their alliance with Perth. Picture: Getty Images

The Bears are firming for a return to the NRL in their alliance with Perth. Picture: Getty Images
PNG is on the verge of being confirmed with negotiations in the final throes, but expansion to Perth looked in jeopardy before V’landys and Cook held talks on Thursday aimed at smoothing the waters for a Bears revival.

The clubs have been kept informed of negotiations via their newly-formed advisory group and are believed to be supportive of the NRL’s plans given they will be handsomely rewarded for backing expansion.

The NRL has reached an in-principle agreement with PNG on a $600 million funding deal to be bankrolled by the Federal government and successful talks with the WA government is now the final piece in the expansion puzzle.
It is understood former consortium boss Peter Cumins made a belated bid to get a seat at the table, even proposing a substantial licence fee to sweeten a deal that would involve his bid team.

However, the ARL Commission has put a line through Cumins’ involvement given the way his consortium handled the initial bid process.
The commission walked away from that process decidedly underwhelmed and made the decision to set up their own franchise in Perth - using the Bears moniker - which they plan to eventually hand over to the members.
Anyone got access to the News Ltd article ?


 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,512
Not sure where you have got these ones from.

nothing in that article suggest WA govt is paying a license fee, they offered one on behalf of the western bears bid to own the club but it was turned down.

WA govt are not paying anything into the annual running of the club, NRL will front up start up costs through early grant payments before the club kicks off according to the article.

Effectively by dismissing the Western bears bid they have given up the license fee, cost tax payers $25mill for Ken Allen field and cost themselves $20-30mill in start up fees. They really didnt like the bid lol
“The government’s revised proposal included a revised offer of payment for a $20 million licence fee from the Western Bears consortium that was rejected by the NRL last month”

Yeh looking at it now that’s ambiguous
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,512


NRL on verge of agreeing terms for Western Australia government to save expansion bid, Perth-based Bears to become 18th team

The NRL is on the verge of agreeing terms with the Western Australia government on a deal that has saved their expansion bid, paving the way for the Perth-based Bears to become the code’s 18th team.
Peter Badel
,
Brent Read
and
Michael Carayannis
2 min read
.

The NRL is on the verge of agreeing terms with the Western Australian government on a deal that has saved expansion and paved the way for the Perth-based Bears to become the code’s 18th team.

This masthead can reveal ARL Commission boss Peter V’landys held urgent talks with the WA government on Thursday, which included WA premier Roger Cook and treasurer Rita Saffioti.

There were fears expansion could collapse after the NRL rejected a slew of expansion bids a fortnight ago, including a proposal from a Perth-based consortium to form the Western Bears.

But well-placed sources say the NRL is set for an 18th team in 2027 after V’landys held positive talks with WA powerbrokers to ensure a Perth-North Sydney Bears alliance is not dead.

It is understood Cook and Saffioti found critical common ground with V’landys, heightening confidence at Rugby League Central that expansion to Perth will go ahead as planned.

The WA government had initially baulked at a $120 million grassroots funding request, but premier Cook wants an NRL presence in Perth and V’landys is on the brink of sealing the deal.

Peter V'landys held urgent talks the WA government on Thursday. Picture: Richard Dobson

Peter V'landys held urgent talks the WA government on Thursday. Picture: Richard Dobson

The development came as the existing 17 clubs backed a $60 million licence fee for Papua New Guinea. It means a strategic plan for a 19-team NRL competition by 2028, including the Perth Bears and PNG, is now back on track.

A faction of NRL outfits had raised concerns over whether the $60m participation levy was sufficient, but the 17 clubs are now on board in a massive shot in the arm for V’landys’ 20-team expansion masterplan.

It is understood the North Sydney Bears were informed of the fresh developments on Thursday afternoon in a huge fillip for their hopes of a premiership revival.

V’landys has already guaranteed that the Bears will be part of a team in Perth.

While the talks with Cook and Saffioti were positive, there is no guarantee that the deal will be done in time to include it as part of a joint expansion announcement with Papua New Guinea.

However, there is genuine hope that expansion to Perth and PNG as part of a long-term plan to expand to 20 teams can be confirmed before the end of the year, most likely early in December.

The final ARL Commission meeting of the year is scheduled to be held next week with expansion at the forefront of everyone’s minds as they race to get the process finalised before Christmas.

The Bears are firming for a return to the NRL in their alliance with Perth. Picture: Getty Images

The Bears are firming for a return to the NRL in their alliance with Perth. Picture: Getty Images
PNG is on the verge of being confirmed with negotiations in the final throes, but expansion to Perth looked in jeopardy before V’landys and Cook held talks on Thursday aimed at smoothing the waters for a Bears revival.

The clubs have been kept informed of negotiations via their newly-formed advisory group and are believed to be supportive of the NRL’s plans given they will be handsomely rewarded for backing expansion.

The NRL has reached an in-principle agreement with PNG on a $600 million funding deal to be bankrolled by the Federal government and successful talks with the WA government is now the final piece in the expansion puzzle.
It is understood former consortium boss Peter Cumins made a belated bid to get a seat at the table, even proposing a substantial licence fee to sweeten a deal that would involve his bid team.

However, the ARL Commission has put a line through Cumins’ involvement given the way his consortium handled the initial bid process.
The commission walked away from that process decidedly underwhelmed and made the decision to set up their own franchise in Perth - using the Bears moniker - which they plan to eventually hand over to the members.
Sounds like the wa govt has agreed to put in that extra 120 million into grassroots and not into the club directly

Wonder where we first heard the arl had problems with the Cummins bid
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,515
“The government’s revised proposal included a revised offer of payment for a $20 million licence fee from the Western Bears consortium that was rejected by the NRL last month”

Yeh looking at it now that’s ambiguous
They were asked by the Western Bears bid to make the offer as part of this meeting. Sounds like NRl had already decided to forego on it (probably already got the ok from clubs the $60mill from PNG was enough) and take ownership of the club at the start before going to either a private sale later or a members ownership model (they may use this as a way of testing the waters to see if that model can work in NRL).

Will be interesting to see A) who they appoint to the board B) If they invest properly in the club to make it a success from day 1 and C) what they eventually do with it in a few years.
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,515
Sounds like the wa govt has agreed to put in that extra 120 million into grassroots and not into the club directly

Wonder where we first heard the arl had problems with the Cummins bid
actually reads like on top of the original offer of a CofE, stadium improvement and some grassroots funding for schools program (all still in this) they are now agreeing to cover the $25mill temp accommodation costs the bid was going to fund and are offering a 1:1 funding to NRLWA depending on how much the NRl put in plus some extra development officer salaries.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,512
They were asked by the Western Bears bid to make the offer as part of this meeting. Sounds like NRl had already decided to forego on it (probably already got the ok from clubs the $60mill from PNG was enough) and take ownership of the club at the start before going to either a private sale later or a members ownership model (they may use this as a way of testing the waters to see if that model can work in NRL).

Will be interesting to see A) who they appoint to the board B) If they invest properly in the club to make it a success from day 1 and C) what they eventually do with it in a few years.
Agreed no license fee paid

Nrl should transfer ownership to nrlwa once it’s set up

Set up costs shouldn’t be a lot since coe is covered by the govt and no lic fee is to be paid

Incentive for nrl to increase funding to nrlwa to get matching govt funds
 

Perth Red

Post Whore
Messages
69,515
Agreed no license fee paid

Nrl should transfer ownership to nrlwa once it’s set up

Set up costs shouldn’t be a lot since coe is covered by the govt and no lic fee is to be paid

Incentive for nrl to increase funding to nrlwa to get matching govt funds
NRLWA is the NRL so they cant own it. Sadly when we lost the independent WARL we lost that opportunity.

yes very pleased with that, after decades of NRL neglecting grass roots funding to WA I'm glad the WA govt is going to hold them accountable and expect a partnership approach to grassroots funding.

Set up costs were estimated by the Western Bears bid to be in the region of $10-15mill before season kick off.

Just had a text from my inside source and still a few hurdles to overcome but the meeting was very positive and both parties are very comfortable with where it has landed. The Premier has insisted the club be WA based, WA run and will eventually look to go to a membership owned model once established. NRL will be hands off other than oversight and appointing the initial board and providing the start up grant funding.

Sounds like we ended up with a win-win and the Rugby league over here is going to benefit enormously. Fingers crossed there's no last minute glitches.
 

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
33,512
NRLWA is the NRL so they cant own it. Sadly when we lost the independent WARL we lost that opportunity.

yes very pleased with that, after decades of NRL neglecting grass roots funding to WA I'm glad the WA govt is going to hold them accountable and expect a partnership approach to grassroots funding.

Set up costs were estimated by the Western Bears bid to be in the region of $10-15mill before season kick off.

Just had a text from my inside source and still a few hurdles to overcome but the meeting was very positive and both parties are very comfortable with where it has landed. The Premier has insisted the club be WA based, WA run and will eventually look to go to a membership owned model once established. NRL will be hands off other than oversight and appointing the initial board and providing the start up grant funding.

Sounds like we ended up with a win-win and the Rugby league over here is going to benefit enormously. Fingers crossed there's no last minute glitches.
If the nrl do cover set up costs they won’t be getting those back which is fair enough
 

Maximus

Coach
Messages
13,653
Not sure where you have got these ones from.

nothing in that article suggest WA govt is paying a license fee, they offered one on behalf of the western bears bid to own the club but it was turned down.

WA govt are not paying anything into the annual running of the club, NRL will front up start up costs through early grant payments before the club kicks off according to the article.

Effectively by dismissing the Western bears bid they have given up the license fee, cost tax payers $25mill for Ken Allen field and cost themselves $20-30mill in start up fees. They really didnt like the bid lol

Yep no licence fee and no funding of operations, the things that they rejected in the first place, and the things most of us were saying they shouldn't be spending money on.
 

Diesel

Referee
Messages
23,750
Perth Reds reaction to this news
Arnold Schwarzenegger Smile GIF
 

Bukowski

Bench
Messages
2,641
Is there another club that is members owned thats not also aligned with a league club. Most clubs need a cash injection every now and then. Where would the money from if there's no league club grant or private owners to put money in?
 

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