Would the Gold Coast licence be better off used elsewhere?

[herbert henry1908]

I’m sure we all know the history of professional sport on the Gold Coast. I’ve thought for a while now that the expansion to the Gold Coast in 2007 was a mistake.

For whatever reason, clubs just don’t seem to be embraced by the community. I presume a major part of it is many people are new to the area and already have another club? But that would be the case in most possible Queensland locations.

Not sure what the answer is, but I would’ve thought the current owners should be the last throw of the dice.


If it fails I think the licence would be better off used for a second Brisbane team.

This would allow the 17th & 18th teams to be in new rugby league territories.

 

[Tronald Crump]

If they can't make a go of it this time around then yes.

 

[King hit]

I would much rather see a second Brisbane team come in and take the Gold Coast license or the Bears to get admitted on the central coast in Gosford. No offense to Titans supporters but the Gold Coast delivers nothing but heartbreaks sporting wise. Every sporting franchise there bombs badly.

For whatever reason, clubs just don’t seem to be embraced by the community. I presume a major part of it is many people are new to the area and already have another club? But that would be the case in most possible Queensland locations..

I believe the reason why is because nobody there is really interested in sport. The vast majority of people on the coast are retirees/tourists or people on short stays. Also the lifestyle there offers so much socially and add the best beaches in the country, rain forests, nightclubs, theme parks, pacific fair, surf etc etc etc sporting events seem very boring in comparison.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I would much rather see a second Brisbane team come in and take the Gold Coast license or the Bears to get admitted on the central coast in Gosford. No offense to Titans supporters but the Gold Coast delivers nothing but heartbreaks sporting wise. Every sporting franchise there bombs badly.



I believe the reason why is because nobody there is really interested in sport. The vast majority of people on the coast are retirees/tourists or people on short stays. Also the lifestyle there offers so much socially and add the best beaches in the country, rain forests, nightclubs, theme parks, pacific fair, surf etc etc etc sporting events seem very boring in comparison.

Yeah good point about the lifestyle issues. I honestly think the GC is never going to work.


Can’t agree on Gosford though, that ship has sailed. Only way Gosford gets a team is if a current Sydney team relocated there.

It’s not that I think the bears on the central coast wouldn’t work, but it would be taking up a licence that could go to a frontier team, and rugby league needs to grow.

 

[titoelcolombiano]

Good question and in the short to medium term, yes.

In the long term possibly not.

The licence in the short term should be in Brisbane - Brisbane 2 is a no brainer.

Thinking long-term the Gold Coast is Australia's 6th large city in Australia and South-East QLD (is a massive region population-growth-wise).

That being said, it is better that we are there than not because AFL would have the sixth largest market in our own heartland to itself and we would be missing the boat on a generation of kids that could turn the city over to them. Like what the Raiders did for RL in Canberra in the 80's.

 

[jim_57]

Let's all throw stigmas at a wall and see what sticks.

Nope, I think Gold Coast needs sticking with. They've had their ups and downs but they're in to their 11th year and people want to drop them which I find ridiculous, luckily (I think) the NRL know better than to "give up" on Australia's 6th biggest city.

If they start to string together some on-field success I think the crowds will come back, they showed signs with Hayne, but that didn't equate to good results so the crowds dropped off. I think they could really help their own cause by trying to go for a more 'QLD' angle, and aiming to grab some State of Origin regulars that come off contract and/or better yet develop one or 2 of their own genuine stars.

Definitely not dead in the water, I would agree if they continue to struggle look at options but the potential is definitely there. There are teenagers on the Gold Coast/Tweed who would have grown up supporting nobody else but the titans, getting the younger generation on board is where the future is.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Good question and in the short to medium term, yes.

In the long term possibly not.

The licence in the short term should be in Brisbane - Brisbane 2 is a no brainer.

Thinking long-term the Gold Coast is Australia's 6th large city in Australia and South-East QLD (is a massive region population-growth-wise).

That being said, it is better that we are there than not because AFL would have the sixth largest market in our own heartland to itself and we would be missing the boat on a generation of kids that could turn the city over to them. Like what the Raiders did for RL in Canberra in the 80's.

I’m not too concerned about leaving the GC for AFL. I think they’re having the same problems at the Titans are with connecting to the community. Obviously no Titans would help them though.

Rugby league needs to make decisions for what’s in its best interests. There’s actually some evidence that the trickle down effect of professional sport is lower than you’d think. Kids more readily take up a sport that’s out in front of them, not one their hero’s play.

Whilst not exactly the same, this study looked at the influence the olympics had on sports participation.


http://theconversation.com/will-the-olympics-really-inspire-more-people-to-play-sport-8913

This one too

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/23750472.2015.1010278

 

[herbert henry1908]

Let's all throw stigmas at a wall and see what sticks.

Nope, I think Gold Coast needs sticking with. They've had their ups and downs but they're in to their 11th year and people want to drop them which I find ridiculous, luckily (I think) the NRL know better than to "give up" on Australia's 6th biggest city.

If they start to string together some on-field success I think the crowds will come back, they showed signs with Hayne, but that didn't equate to good results so the crowds dropped off. I think they could really help their own cause by trying to go for a more 'QLD' angle, and aiming to grab some State of Origin regulars that come off contract and/or better yet develop one or 2 of their own genuine stars.

Definitely not dead in the water, I would agree if they continue to struggle look at options but the potential is definitely there. There are teenagers on the Gold Coast/Tweed who would have grown up supporting nobody else but the titans, getting the younger generation on board is where the future is.

If they had further financial problems in the next 5-10 years though? To me that was signal the end.

I’m pretty pessimistic about the potential. Teams located in heavily growing areas have a history of struggling for roots in the community. Even my panthers have a heap of people who live in the area who support other teams. Combine it with the other social factors there and I don’t think it’s going to work.

 

[jim_57]

If they had further financial problems in the next 5-10 years though? To me that was signal the end.

I’m pretty pessimistic about the potential. Teams located in heavily growing areas have a history of struggling for roots in the community. Even my panthers have a heap of people who live in the area who support other teams. Combine it with the other social factors there and I don’t think it’s going to work.

I don't think switching allegiances of established fans is the main goal, like I mentioned those teenagers who grew up supporting only the titans are the future as cliche as that sounds. If I were the Titans I'd even be looking at very very cheap tickets and membership options for under 18's.

Again on field success will obviously help too, if the Titans can get themselves back to a regular top 8 team I think people would be surprised, but that is just heresay until it happens.

I don't really buy the social element either. Sure there are plenty of options as you listed, but I'd suggest most of them would be more frequented by tourists and nobody is going to the beach, movie world or a rainforest at night when a lot of games are played. I don't really think Gold Coast is any more disadvantaged by this than any other "city" team. Take Brisbane for example, pretty much every major concert tour plays there, decent nightlife, shopping and all the "popular" daytime activities like you listed are an easy drive on the freeway to either Gold Coast or Sunny Coast.

There are a lot of things the Titans could have done or could be doing better, but I don't think it's as dire straits as the media might like to make out. The club is definitely still salvageable IMO.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I don't think switching allegiances of established fans is the main goal, like I mentioned those teenagers who grew up supporting only the titans are the future as cliche as that sounds. If I were the Titans I'd even be looking at very very cheap tickets and membership options for under 18's.

Again on field success will obviously help too, if the Titans can get themselves back to a regular top 8 team I think people would be surprised, but that is just heresay until it happens.

I don't really buy the social element either. Sure there are plenty of options as you listed, but I'd suggest most of them would be more frequented by tourists and nobody is going to the beach, movie world or a rainforest at night when a lot of games are played. I don't really think Gold Coast is any more disadvantaged by this than any other "city" team. Take Brisbane for example, pretty much every major concert tour plays there, decent nightlife, shopping and all the "popular" daytime activities like you listed are an easy drive on the freeway to either Gold Coast or Sunny Coast.

There are a lot of things the Titans could have done or could be doing better, but I don't think it's as dire straits as the media might like to make out. The club is definitely still salvageable IMO.

Not the goal, but it’s an obstacle to widespread community support. Makes it harder for the club to establish roots.

Remember a lot of those kids will also follow the team their dad does.


Same thing won’t happen in a new rugby league market, but it would also be a problem in Brisbane.

 

[mongoose]

no.

They still had a higher average crowd than 7 other clubs in 2017, 6 of those being from Sydney.

I am not anti-Sydney but the Titans still have more upside than most of the sydney teams. If they have a few years in the top 4 they will be up near 20k average again.

 

[herbert henry1908]

no.

They still had a higher average crowd than 7 other clubs in 2017, 6 of those being from Sydney.

I am not anti-Sydney but the Titans still have more upside than most of the sydney teams. If they have a few years in the top 4 they will be up near 20k average again.

It’s not necessarily one or the other, Sydney rationalisation is probably coming too, although it’ll be more difficult.

 

[Marlins]

Gold Coast & Logan City Titans

 

[Perth Red]

Despite a crappy few years their attendance last year was better than:
Cronulla
Manly
Penrith
Auckland
Souths
Wests
St's

This notion that they have far fewer fans than everyone else therefore should not have a license is a nonsense as proven by the attendances stats. If we are going on their crowd avg as the bar for inclusion half of Sydney would lose their licenses!

 

[jim_57]

Not the goal, but it’s an obstacle to widespread community support. Makes it harder for the club to establish roots.

Remember a lot of those kids will also follow the team their dad does.


Same thing won’t happen in a new rugby league market, but it would also be a problem in Brisbane.

Persistence is the key, kids are impressionable at a young age but that can work both ways. Without being a child psychology expert I won't attempt to go any further on that matter.

If I were the Titans, seeing as they have the lowest membership base I would be looking at ways to "sign up" a lot of younger fans. Best ways I could think would be a strong push in the community and schools.

• Very very cheap memberships for kids under 16.
• Discounts for adults who sign up together with their child.
• Discount family packages
• School visits/clinics by players where every kid gets handed membership forms and/or game ticket vouchers to take home with discount codes.
• Free or very cheap one game memberships for all Junior RL players in the Gold Coast/Northern NSW area upon application, with an option to upgrade at a discounted rate.

 

[Canard]

The area is heartland for our sport, and they average bigger crowds then half the comp.

If there is a arguement for relocating a team it's not on the Gold Coast.

 

[Dragon Slayer]

Of course going to the Gold Coast was a huge mistake. Everything sporting code dies there.

We should of had a second Brisbane team instead.

If the NRL hadn’t propped them up they would have already gone broke.

Total failure.

 

[herbert henry1908]

The area is heartland for our sport, and they average bigger crowds then half the comp.

If there is a arguement for relocating a team it's not on the Gold Coast.

Not one or the other, Sydney needs rationalisation in some form too.

Crowds are also only one factor. Look at membership numbers, the Titans are stone motherless last. This is key to a clubs viabilty.

If the club failed again should the NRL prop it up?

 

[adamkungl]

Despite a crappy few years their attendance last year was better than:
Cronulla
Manly
Penrith
Auckland
Souths
Wests
St's

This notion that they have far fewer fans than everyone else therefore should not have a license is a nonsense as proven by the attendances stats.

* This proof does not apply to Roosters

 

[Canard]

Not one or the other, Sydney needs rationalisation in some form too.

Crowds are also only one factor. Look at membership numbers, the Titans are stone motherless last. This is key to a clubs viabilty.

If the club failed again should the NRL prop it up?

Can you explain to me why that one criteria (membership) makes them less viable then 15 other NRL teams?