The NRL isn't the Queensland Cup. An Ipswich or Brisbane, or even a Sunshine Coast club would all be preferable to CQ because they all can tap a much bigger market. Hence the media interested in a South Queensland side.
Answer this, what percentage of Rockhamptons population will have to show to get a 20k crowd? 1/5? This is why it won't happen.
Financial viablility also includes things like generating national sponsors, media broadcasters and advertising. A small segment of the regional Queensland market is not more viable in that context to a second Brisbane side. Just because you have the backing of a mining magnate and QR National needs to be MASSIVE to make up for the losses with Internet and Broadcast revenue.
You then slightly hint at the "fear" card of past expansions. Well, look at the markets we have expanded into in the past 30 years - all major centres, NOT small regional towns. What next, give Coffs Harbour a side? how about Albury? Or Dubbo?
And it has already been pointed out by Cowboys fans - your bid has designs on areas already covered by a club, ie Mackay.
CQ won't happen, especially when a South East Queensland team is just about over the line with TV rights negotiations.
It's a CQ team, you may not be able to understand fans from outside just Rocky will attend. This is backed up from NQ Cowboys and their fans outside of Townsville.
Based on the market and other such reports from cq nrl bid, including the EIA (Economic Impact Assessment) or AEC Report:
http://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=cq%20nrl%20bid%20report&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CCQQFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cqnrlbid.com.au%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F15905_CQ-NRL-Bid_Final.pdf&ei=MiaaT6XNCaeuiQfYoJTBDg&usg=AFQjCNGJNvnBYQPkX1_c2SsdfDKxFIotbg&cad=rja
It basically says on one section one third of supporters or 4,800 fans (at an average of 15,000 for CQ home games) would come from outside the Fitzroy region, ie. from Central West, Mackay/Whitsunday, Widebay/Burnett mostly
so about 10000 will be expected to come from the Fitzroy Region, which is from Yeppoon to Gladstone and west to Emerald.
QLD Government says 210,000, which includes not only Rockhampton Regional Council, but Central Highlands, Woorabinda, Gladstone and Banana Regional Councils
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Community-and-environment/Regional-information/Fitzroy-Region.aspx
Rockhampton Regional Council is about 120,000 alone, even if the 10,000 fans had to come from Rocky, it would only be 8% and the rest from Gladstone, CH, banana, Issac, Bundy, Burnett, mackay, CW etc.
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CQ NRL Bid won't have a problem generating exposure for big companies, considering they already have Multi-National/National and Large (QLD) Sponsors or support PUBLICLY announced from QR national, Stanwell Power Plant, JM kelly (one of the largest construction companies in QLD), Australian Publishing Network (APN), Telstra Country wide, WIN TV etc.
Than 3 large coal companies donated 440k+ funding toward business plan late last year, with COMPANIES in BHP (BMA) than Cookatoo Coal and Jellidah Group.
600,000+ in CQ (from Mackay to South Burnett) says plenty of advertising and exposure for sponsors and other club's sponsors. 500,000 people from CQ's catchment area watched SOO 2 last year (this figure even being claimed/backed by former GCT Chairman Paul Broughton at CQ Bid season launch this year). CQ will increase the PAY TV subscription (if Fox/Nine actually win the TV rights) with such a large rugby league fan base and low subscriptions rate with their own national sporting team will naturally increase the subscriptions. Including myself.
Geoff Murphy is an owner of a construction company and also a Beef Baron, although has an abundance of contacts all over QLD.
"needs to be MASSIVE to make up for the losses with Internet and Broadcast revenue."
Denis Keeffe recently said this "Our CQ NRL Team will be by far the most viable bid and have the most comprehensive development and community engagement programs in the NRL"
Wait to see before July/August to see how his quote becomes into fruition.
