Wellington launch NRL bid!!

[The Great Dane]

No that's your opinion. Don't assume everyone thinks like you.

The Bears are the only defunct brand that has a retentively large supporters base still in Sydney (though admittedly rapidly shrinking) to be able to create a significant Sydney supporters base, so with the Bears you could potentially create a strong home support base and strong away support base.

Through the natural attrition of time the Jets support base has shrunk so much that at this point you couldn't effectively use this method, at which point the only reason that a club outside of Sydney would be using the Jets brand would be simply for the sake of it being an old brand, but what would be the point of doing that when they could almost certainly create a new brand that would be more effective in this different market!?

 

[Martin Bella's Luvhandles]

Care factor

 

[alien]

The Bears are the only defunct brand that has a retentively large supporters base still in Sydney (though admittedly rapidly shrinking) to be able to create a significant Sydney supporters base, so with the Bears you could potentially create a strong home support base and strong away support base.

Through the natural attrition of time the Jets support base has shrunk so much that at this point you couldn't effectively use this method, at which point the only reason that a club outside of Sydney would be using the Jets brand would be simply for the sake of it being an old brand, but what would be the point of doing that when they could almost certainly create a new brand that would be more effective in this different market!?

how do you know that "melbourne jets" wouldnt have been as effective as "melbourne storm"?

 

[Perth Red]

Group bidding for Wellington NRL franchise stumped at Warriors' change of heart
The backers of a bid for an NRL team based in Wellington are pleased at the response to their proposal but question the lack of support from the Warriors.
Since details of the plan for a second Kiwi team were revealed by Fairfax Media four weeks ago, the bid has gained momentum. Organisations in other areas of New Zealand have expressed interest in becoming involved or seeking to host matches.
A big boost to the chances of success was the combining of rival bids from a private consortium and the Wellington Rugby League. They are working together to convince the NRL to admit a team from the New Zealand capital after the current television rights deal expires in 2017.
Spokesman for the bid team Robert Picone said Doyle's stance appeared to be at odds with comments he made during a meeting earlier this year when he was in the position of chief operating officer for the NRL.
"Jim was very excited about a new NZ team entering the NRL competition when I met him in early 2014. He was very passionate for the need for another NZ team. He made the point to me that NRL is the highest rating sport on TV in New Zealand."
The Wellington bid group is considering matches in Rotorua, and possibly in South Island.
"It is disappointing now upon taking his new role he seems to have adopted such a negative attitude," Picone said. "There is plenty of room in New Zealand for two clubs so the Warriors should not be worried. I would really like to sit down with Jim and try to understand his seemingly sudden change of heart."
The interest in Wellington is proven by the fact the Warriors attracted crowds of 30,112 for last year"s match against Canterbury and 22,512 for this year's clash with Wests Tigers. Also, 25,183 fans turned up to watch New Zealand beat Australia 22-18 in the recent Four Nations final at Westpac Stadium.
Picone said the interest generated from the recent media announcement had only strengthened the bid and there were likely to be further developments early next year.
"It is very exciting and the bid is gathering further momentum by the day," he said.

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/...warriors-change-of-heart-20141220-12b6ym.html

 

[Perth Red]

Whether those comments around expansion not really coming to New Zealand until 2022; whether that's just talking as the Warriors CEO or come as having previously being an NRL guy, I don't know? Possibly a mixture," said Jason Hemson, who forms part of the Wellington bid team.
Hemson, also general manager of the Wellington Rugby League (WRL), said he'd had a long relationship with Doyle, built on mutual trust. That hasn't changed but nor has it halted the progress being made by Hemson and the rest of his bid team.
He and the bid's Sydney-based face Robert Picone, have been meeting with prospective sponsors on both sides of the Tasman in recent weeks and plan to disclose the extent of those discussions after Christmas. But Hemson said yesterday that momentum was growing and a strong and detailed bid for a Wellington-based team would be placed in front of the NRL next year.
But based on the comments made by Doyle this week, Hemson said his team was also likely to talk to existing clubs about the possibility of relocation.



"The main thing for us is that over the next couple of months we will continue to engage with the the NRL and keep them updated on our sponsorship plans and agreements with various parties around New Zealand regarding stadiums,"Hemson said.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/64340452/wellington-nrl-bid-stands-firm-says-consortium

 

[Perth Red]

This is going to be Wellingtons best hope of getting a club in the next 15 years.

But based on the comments made by Doyle this week, Hemson said his team was also likely to talk to existing clubs about the possibility of relocation.



"The main thing for us is that over the next couple of months we will continue to engage with the the NRL and keep them updated on our sponsorship plans and agreements with various parties around New Zealand regarding stadiums,"Hemson said.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/league/64340452/wellington-nrl-bid-stands-firm-says-consortium

 

[Diesel]

The article PR posted was doing the rounds last week on stuff.co.nz and there is several a comments made in the article that when they look at expansion, they'll look at the whole comp with a blank canvas, whatever that exactly means it's anyones guess but reading this article and another one also around the Wellington bid was mentioned so stating they were going to take a blank canvas when looking at expansion heavily makes me think that one or two relocations are on the horizon for bid locations that really want a NRL team. Perth and NZ2 would more likely accept a relocated team than say, a Brisbane team

 

[TheRam]

This is going to be Wellingtons best hope of getting a club in the next 15 years.

The thing is, I think all new area bids have missed their chance for unforced relocation options now that the Sharks are doing their development thingy.

I can't see any other Sydney team volunteering for relocation anytime soon.

It would only come about if it was forced upon a team by the ARLC. They are to piss weak to do anything as hardcore as that. No balls NRL.

 

[TheRam]

The article PR posted was doing the rounds last week on stuff.co.nz and there is several a comments made in the article that when they look at expansion, they'll look at it with a blank canvas, whatever that exactly means it's anytime a guess but reading this article and another one also around the Wellington bid was mentioned so stating they were going to take a blank canvas when looking at expansion heavily makes me think that one or two relocations are on the horizon for bid locations that really want a NRL team. Perth and NZ2 would more likely accept a relocated team than say, a Brisbane team

Don't hold your breath mate. It's the NRL you're talking about. When it comes to making the tough decisions they are as tough as custard.

 

[Perth Red]

yep they dont have the balls to take a "clean slate" approach. In fact the way they are giving hand outs to St George, Wests Tigers etc would suggest that reloaction is not something they are interested in at all. Sharks have saved their bacon flogging off their assets, for now. IF there is to be new clubs it will be via expansion not relocation.

 

[Diesel]

But would clubs be willing to split their grant 18 ways instead of 16? Or still be willing to split it 16 ways if Perth, Brisbane (wherever) meant a huge boost in grants for the next tv deal without having to expand?

 

[Perth Red]

Clubs wont get a say, hopefully. These strategic decisions should be made by the NRL not self interested clubs. The good thing is the NRL has massively grown its income base in two years, more than doubled it whilst only increasing the club grants by a fraction of the extra income. that means it can afford to invest money in new clubs without it having an impact on grants of existing clubs. With the drop in TV audiences it needs something to attract a big pay out at the next TV deal. New tv audiences, new TV times and an extra game a round could well be what it needs if it is to get any increase on this TV deal.

The AFL was smart, it brought in grant equalisation and tcket tax on the wealthy clubs meaning its expansion isnt really costing it anything.

 

[East Coast Tiger]

The only thing for sure is the Nrl have no direction and no clue. They still seem to be publically talking expansion but privately pushing relocations that will never happen and blocking real expansion. They're all piss and wind.

 

[TheRam]

The only thing for sure is the Nrl have no direction and no clue. They still seem to be publically talking expansion but privately pushing relocations that will never happen and blocking real expansion. They're all piss and wind.

About the only thing they seem to do consistently is stand down wind.

 

[BuffaloRules]

The AFL was smart, it brought in grant equalisation and tcket tax on the wealthy clubs meaning its expansion isnt really costing it anything.

It is costing them plenty for the Giants and Suns and you know it.

Probably around $40 million a year.

I thought you were saying that the ticket tax props up all their weak teams in Melbourne- Bulldogs, St Kilda, Demons...

Isn't it strange that they are under no pressure from other codes unlike Sydney, yet they pump millions a year into these deadbeat teams that haven't done anything in 50 years just to keep their stranglehold intact in their strongest area....

 

[Perth Red]

its costing them nothing in reality, the Eagles, Carlton etc pay a $1 per ticket tax and the grant equalisation means that they can afford to chuck $10-20mill a year at those clubs without any detriment to the others, to their marketing, to their jnr programs etc. Of course they are spending money but it is money they are getting from elsewhere predominantly and not at the detriment to other expenditure areas.

 

[BuffaloRules]

its costing them nothing in reality, the Eagles, Carlton etc pay a $1 per ticket tax and the grant equalisation means that they can afford to chuck $10-20mill a year at those clubs without any detriment to the others, to their marketing, to their jnr programs etc. Of course they are spending money but it is money they are getting from elsewhere predominantly and not at the detriment to other expenditure areas.

I don't think the wealthy AFL clubs are selling 40 million tickets a year...

Plus the millions more going to the weak Melbourne clubs...

It's coming out of the AFL's revenue...

 

[Nerd]

I agree with BuffaloRules. At the end of the day the $10-20 million + per year being used to prop up the dire financial positions of the struggling AFL clubs is still millions not spent on juniors, marketing etc.

 

[oikee]

I still think it is madness to bring in Wellington, a city in the cold bleak south, which does not have a rectangle ground, which is open to the elements and only has a couple hundred thousand population.
It will turn ugly very fast having to prop up a team that sucks the best part of 15 million out of your system before you make a penny.

The best option is another Auckland team.
Build up a rivalry and it will help the city get a new fully purpose built rectangle stadium for this city. Not the round Eden park, not the moving of the Warriors to a place where they will lose their fanbase.

If they get this wrong, as they did the Titans, it will set the code back another 20 years.
Forget Wellington, it does not have the fanbase or clout to warrant a team, or stadium.
Have we not learnt anything by having to use white elephant round grounds in Sydney.
It does not work, it never will work, and is why they now need another 600 to 700 million or more to make things right in Sydney.
That is your lesson, right their.

 

[BuffaloRules]

Auckland isn't yet such a rugby league mad area that you need to play an NRL game there every week( and certainly not before it happens in Brisbane..)...

I do want NZ2 but I have some doubts about Wellington after going there for the Tigers game this year...

I would be in favour of them having a team that plays some games a year there - perhaps sharing with Chch and other places...

Would this work though? I don't know if there is anything that Wellington has in common with the South Island to make them united through a mutual footy team?

I don't buy the hating Auckland thing either as every NZ2 fan would support the Warriors as their second team...

The hatred is not the same as in Australia where NSW and QLD loathe each other...