Quote ="shinymcshine"So what are the key areas that will guarantee a return on investment ?
Many other sports have had 'events' which attract a good one off number, but doesn't turn into sustainable growth (e.g. Saracens RU games at Wembley).
What should Wigan or Saints be doing to encourage growth outside their dormitory areas - if these two can't get 15k crowds week in week out then there's little hope for the rest.
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2021/ ... gby-league'"
You're bang right...crowds across the top teams are worrying. People point to catalan as the reason the crowd was down last night, but there were huge swathes of empty seats in the saints end...who took no more than 15-20k absolute max for a final
....that's awful.
The biggest challenge RL has is something I read a few weeks ago. Only 4% of the population are within an area with a SL side! Is it any wonder we struggle to attract broadcasting and commercial sponsorship with those figures? No wonder we're seen as a marginalised minority sport.
SL needs another breakaway. Another revolution IMO to make the game exciting / appeal to new fans in wider areas and bring in the commercial revenues it desperately needs. The game needs city and regional clubs at the top level if its to survive. Personally, i would bring some teams up from big population areas and also rebrand some of our clubs to represent wider areas.
ie/ you could quickly get to a SL of the following from existing clubs which would be much more commercially viable, exciting and bring in much wider interest;
Leeds Rhinos
Catalan Dragons
Toulouse Olympic
London Broncos
Newcastle Thunder ([iRenamed Tyne Thunder to appeal to the whole area)[/i
Liverpool Saints ([iStill playing in St Helens..still same fanbase, but a subtle rename and 2-3 big games in liverpool[/i)
Manchester Fords ([iSalford, same premise as St Helens[/i)
Then expand existing big clubs like Hull, Wigan and Warrington to represent wider areas;
Wigan Lancashire or Lancashire Warriors
Cheshire Wire
Hull East Yorkshire etc.
....Again still in existing League towns but appealing to wider areas
Yes the traditionalists would moan for a bit, but they'd learn to sap it up. If they don't we'd maybe lose 20% of fans max, for huge opportunities to bring in new fans and much improved commercial revenues.
Put that SL to sky/ BT or any other broadcaster and they'd be prepared to pay twice as much for it, as would any other sponsor. Get the money into the game and get the product back to the level it was 20 years ago and we'll start creating events which bring the fans back and new fans into the game.
....that's awful.
