Leeds' turnover is about £10million, more than double most clubs, yet you roughly break even. you cant spend more than other clubs on players due to the salary cap, can someone please explain to me what you spend all the money on. i know leeds has a history of investing more in youth than most other teams, but that surely cant account for the difference. any ideas?

That'll be turnover for 'Leeds Rugby' and not just 'Leeds Rhinos' won't it?

Ironically the question we used to ask every time we visited the crumbling toilet that was home to the "Cup Kings" of the early 80's.

When you own your own ground there are a lot of drains on your capital.

hopefully for a new drainage system and pitch!

or maybe hair growth lotion for big Keef : )

To generate these revenue streams requires capital and human investment - high turnover invariably results is higher cost bases. Given our profitability is low it would suggest the club have been unable to find revenue streams where they can extract greater economies of scale ie trip to Wembley

We also own our own training facilities - this will cost plenty to maintain and it is unlikely that the RU will chip much into the pot to cover this, upkeep of the stadium, admin functionality etc

Surely not more than when you rent your ground like a lot of other clubs do?

Think of it this way, what are you liable for when you rent a house? The rent, 95% of the time the bills, and minor things such as lightbulbs.

Owning a house, you pay a mortgage usually, bills, minor and major repairs, improvements, etc... and these add up to a hell of a lot more.

You also have the non-playing staff to pay for, the club employs several hundred people, even at only £10k, that could be several million.

Travel to and from matches, and warm weather training will cost a fair amount, as will policing / stewarding.

Then long term loans have to be paid, such as mortages etc

Are we still paying off the Carniege Stand too? Wasn't sure if there were still payments on that. Also we had the safety work on the Southstand to pay for too. It all adds up. But then take football clubs, they usually make an initial profit but 150% of that goes out in costs and puts them into debt.

Crystal Palace...Portsmouth....Leeds of yesteryear. Looks like RL clubs are far more sensible when it comes to running it as a business. Then again, without the salary cap, there would be this problem in RL too I guess with teams (why does Wigan shoot to mind?) spending far more than they can afford on players wages.

If we are honest Leeds also springs to mind back in the day

No idea, why are you so concerned?

Very true, at least Wigan got something to show for it.

Why is there only one poster who's responded to the opening post with the actual fact about the southsand improvements?

Leeds Rugby does make money. This year was break even purely because of the £250k of improvements to make the Southstand fit.

That's all the OP needed to be told.

(Mr. spock mode)That's illogical cap'n (/Mr. spock mode)

You seem to be losing the fact that the owner (we're talking a house here) expects a profit when it is let, so the rent he charges would equal ALL the "mortgage, bills, minor and major repairs, improvements, etc..." PLUS his profit. Leaving the rentee to pay the other things you mention on top.

A sports ground is a little different it must be said, particularly when it is owned by a 'sugar daddy' who is happy to let the ground at a loss as part of his sponsorship, say. I wouldn't expect many clubs to be in that favourable position though.

Youth hosteling in Cumbria in January should redress that particular expense in next year's accounts.

I thought Leeds made an operating loss in ther last set of accounts and it was only the on-going sale of the cricket side of the complex to Yorkshire CCC that allowed them to post a profit?

Could be mistaken mind.

No you're right but so is Gotcha. there were significant costs that year from the Southstand remedial work as well.

Also, IIRC, that year was the last year we had the historical debt to service. We should have a year or two decent profit on our turnover until we plunge back into debt to fund the new South Stand.

Why should any of us care that the club isn't making a profit? I hope the club continues to turn over in excess of £10 million and breaks even every year. profit only goes to shareholders and taxman. If no profit it means big sums are being invested into the business.

That is OK provided the shareholders are not looking for a return on their investment in the form of either capital growth or dividends

I was discussing the profitability of rugby league clubs with my housemate, leeds came up in the conversation, and neither of us could think of how leeds could have double the expenditure of most clubs, i assumed that someone on here would know, so i asked.


No that isnt all i need to be told, because wouldnt answer my question at all, 250k spent on the southstand doesnt explain how Leeds spend 5 million more than other clubs. some of the other posts, however, do explain it.

How about.... everyone spends the same but Leeds can actually afford to without being bailed out by a sugar daddy

I think it was all explained in the first reply to your question.

Straight, straight up her nose....

Two words that often go together.