Quote ="Ave It!"So your classing Manchester as a rugby league heartland
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Manchester United RL = Salford + Swinton + Oldham + ....
That is almost a rugby league heartland, not quite because of the decrepit stadium called the Willows, and the lack of dynamic clubs in neighbouring towns and suburbs. But with the new stadium at Barton it could become a heartland -- one that would possibly rival Perpignan in terms of fan attendance in 2015 (15,000 +).
A good modern stadium, with good views of the playing field from every vantage (like KC), good toilets, and good food, can do wonders for a club.
Once you have a good stadium, all you need is a good front office, esp. the marketing manager, and a capable team of youth development officers.