Quote ="ChiswickWire"But I thought today was quite a dispiriting experience in comparison to the Stoop. The crowd was more like 800 I thought and was relieved when I heard it called at 1300 odd. It reminded me of going to watch an Ice Hockey game a few years back for the London Kings or whatever they were called at a sports centre over in Walthamstow Forest.
The ground isn't bad but there was just no feel that you were watching top level sport in a top level environment. I used to really enjoy going to the Stoop as you had the band afterwards, the players coming in and you were able to carry on into Richmond etc. The last London game I went to was Leeds at the end last season and the difference in atmosphere etc. was marked. That had 2,300 which was considered a poor crowd at the time.
The main thing that came across to me is that there is no plan to grow the club or the attendance. DH has basically abdicated responsibility to TK and thinking that the marketing team for a small non-league football club is going to suddenly starting growing and marketing the Broncos to a mass audience is nuts. I'd be interested to see a presentation of the marketing plan split out per event (match). But I think we know there probably isn't one. I've seen comments on here such as - it'll be a great atmosphere with 3k in etc. But that's more than double today's attendance - how is that going to happen?
There's a great business / sales book called "Hope isn't a strategy" - Gus should read it.
It's really sad - I always thought at the Stoop you had a chance but I just don't see how the club will grow at The Hive. The attendance at The Hive puts paid to the myth that people didn't go as you played at The Stoop / were in Union territory etc.'"
This is a very eloquent articulation of my problems with the Hive move.
Unfortunately it has been done, there's no going back. I have absolutely no confidence in the people running the show any more but I still want to watch top flight rugby league and have a few beers with my mates. I'm left with no choice. And ironically, because there's no expectations and we're low on the underperforming Aussie factor, this season might just be the most enjoyable in years.
Which just goes to show what a shambles it's been.
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