He mike. If we stay at the hive it will be because we've had to pay top dollar to do so..........and the deal still isn't done yet.

By the way...here's a reminder of the first post in this thread.


I freely admit the topic title was provocative......and it's certainly proven a popular thread/discussion as its one of only a handful to over 100 posts on the Broncos board in while.

How difficult would it be to announce the plans for 2015 home games to the ever decreasing number of fans that the club has left, or is the plan really to just have David Hughes as the only supporter left?

Just this really. It says it all, fans don't want to know if Broncos are playing at the Hive or not 2015, they want to know they have somewhere long term and are looking to develop.

My understanding is that there is no reason to believe Broncos wont be at the Hive this season coming but there are negotiations for a new longer term deal that the Hive are very keen to switch to rather than a deal that ends in 12 months and is another last minute hash as to whether Broncos stay for another 1/2 years. I don't know the Broncos side of it so I can't say if they are keen on a new deal or not, I'd like to think they are but GFs tone suggests they are unhappy at TK wanting to renegotiate now and see it as a way of being screwed over, instead they would prefer the second year option on the existing deal.

The Hive stadium is far from complete and some of the decisions as to how it develops as a stadium will need to be taken in the next couple of months. TK wants a long term tenant and he wants Barnet FC to eventually move back to Barnet, he has made this extremely clear to me and has backed this up in public by devoting space to it in BFC match day programs. If Broncos stay then he has plans to lengthen the pitch and build a new north stand further back and in the same style as the west stand, if they go then he wont bother with the extra expense on what will be effectively a temporary stadium for Barnet and so will move the south stand from Underhill to replace the terrace. He also has plans to extend the west stand the length of the pitch, a new roof and balcony on the East stand and eventually to replace the South terrace.

I suspect one of the issues is as alluded to by GF and that is whether or not Broncos are still a championship side in 2016 and whether DH has decided to fund another year outside SL. I'm confused on this one, mainly due to my lack of RL knowledge, I'm being told that Broncos have no hope of getting back into SL as their players aren't good enough, I'm also being told that Broncos have signed these players for 2 years. Does this mean that even if by some miracle they get back into super league they will be lumbered with Champ quality players and if they don't make SL what then for these contracted players.

So my view is the same as TC, Broncos need to agree a long term deal somewhere and make it public. If it's not at the Hive then so be it, personally I will be disappointed as I've enjoyed my trips to games.

Mel mate, we are actually building a pretty decent squad for next year, so in reality there is no reason why this time next season we could not be sitting quite comfortable in decent position in the 8 and on our way back into the SL. What has historically happened over the many years of rugby league in this country, when a team go down, many of the quality players in that squad jump ship quite often to the team coming up. The worldhas not come to an end for london broncos as suggested. It is true we would benefit from a stable home for a decent length of time, tbh the Hive is at the moment the right size for us, attendence will improve when we start being competetive.
Other posters on here are just bitter and twisted and like to be the centre of attention with claims of this that and the other.
The arangement this season suited all parties, and in reality kept the club in one piece, or the number of pieces it's been in. However, IF the deal for us at the Hive is being re negotiated, fine by me, I just hope it'sa decent length deal. Despite all the pontificating the originator of this thread actually has no answer when asked what happens if DH walks as he seems to want!

For me yes ipreferred the stoop, I actually liked Brentford, but it's in the past, so pointless harping on. If TK gets to improve the facilities at the Hive, i hope we are sstill there to reap the benefits.

So are you putting yer money where you mouth is? Or have you become this forum's version of Garry Schofield, always bad mouthing Bronco's no matter what they do?

Frankly unless one cent or penny of this as yet unoffical (and frankly no one's business except the owner's) increase in "fees" is coming out of your wallet/bank account I'm not really sure it's any of yours or indeed anyone else's business.

Despite your continued Schofieldesque remarks on the subject, I personally couldn't see the sanctioning of the recruitment of players being allowed if we weren't playing next year, be that at The Hive or Elsewhere.

Maybe the current Hive leaseholders want to maximise their revenue's and from a business perspective who could blame them??

WE all know Fulham RL/London Crusaders/London Broncos/Harlequins RL/London Broncos Mark 2 problem HAS ALWAYS been that they have or had no long term place to call home and we really don't need your continued postings on the subject to remind us all.

Could you kindly change the record/CD?? Thanks.

Or maybe even DH couldn't make the same mistake twice.

firstly, I think next years squad looks very competative for the division we will be in, so no, I do not criticise everything broncos. Secondly, you are correct about the club being nomadic, but this move to the Hive was trumpeted as the last one.....the CEO left happy we were at a level we could sustain and the HIVE WAS OUR HOME. Just because you swallowed that particular brand of bollox, don't get y when its pointed out exactly what it was.....bollox. Lastly, I dont dare to have the arrogance to tell other what and where to post, so kindly do one.

Michael.....you really do believe that a team will be promoted using this 888 system don't you? bless......I love your entusiasm even as I somewhat fear for your sanity.

Back to Chiswick Poly' anyone?

Could do worse!

No-ones using Leyton FC's old ground at the momment, can hold just on 4000 at a pinch. Bromley FC's retro Courage Stadium can hold 6k. Chesham Utd 5k, Dagenham & Redbridge holds over 6k too.

Actually forget Leyton FC, I doubt theres room for any in-goal area or run-off. Theres loads of smaller grounds and given how much DH has alreay "spunked" on the club you'd think he'd get his act together over a home.

Only if you're prepared to shift the posts - done my share! On a more serious note, the owners (Westminster University, to give the name the Regent Street Polytechnic's currently lurking under) were trying to offload it on a leasehold basis a while back - it'd make a marvellous HQ for developing the game in general in London, if it's still available and the dosh could be scraped together.

The reality is, as jolly old Gutterfax the former pro union playing netball marketer from new zealand says, we may well finish in the top 4 next year, we won't get promoted, our team will then be weaker the following year with the reduction in central funding, crowds will go down, and we'll find ourselves at the same level as Hemel / Skolars only without our own stadium.

Does anybody seriously see any brighter prospect than that as it stands?

So why will we not get promoted?

Because there's no automatic promotion, and our squad will be a lot weaker than the bottom 4 of SL, and we'll have been playing against weaker teams all season than the bottom 4 teams of SL who will be used to the speed, intensity and physicality of playing the likes of Wigan, Saints, Wire, Leeds all season long....and we won't.

No chance, absolutely no chance.

Don't forget as well its a once and for all chance for Bradford, and the one off parachute payment both the Broncos and the Bulls will be getting next year is more than they have received in Super League in the last two years! There may be a chance of one of the bottom four Super League clubs imploding, but two?
Interesting piece today that Karl Harrison and Lee Greenwood (ex Bronco) have left as coaches at Halifax because they missed out on a top two place this year and hence will get £250k less than Leigh and Fev. The shape of things to come?

What he said.

Never say never, but odds certainly don't favour the four lucky championship clubs that get the chance. And beyond the first year for us the odds diminish further.

Mind you given the leadership at the RFL 2016 may well be a different format once the other clubs realise the reality.

Spot on
I want good enough to be a paid amateur rugby player.....so not pro!

nothing like optimism is there boys!!!
That's it we are doomed!!!! doomed I say

Michael. I would love the London Broncos to win promotion to SL by finishing in the top 4 of the Championship then by finishing either in the top 3 of the middle 8, or at least 4th or 5th to be involved in and then win the million pound game.

The Problems I have with this optimism are:

The name "Million pound game" should give you an idea of the gap in finances between the team from SL involved and the team from the championship.
Income wise, the SL lot will be on at least 60% more than ourselves.....that gap widens further in 2016.
The Team from the SL will have a bigger cap by some 800k or 55%......bigger cap = better players
The Team from the Championship will have less overseas imports.....we've a retired player turned miner on our books for next year.
The Championship team will be made up of players not good enough for SL.....I am struggling to think of 1 player we have signed for next year that a SL club has "missed out on".
The team from SL will be battle hardened from faster and harder challenges against top teams.
The weather has less chance of playing a part in the "results" of the middle league or million quid game as it's late summer/autumn.
The last championship side to defeat a SL one was HKR in 2006' challenge cup. They then got nilled in the next round.....a Championship side will have to win 2 of 5 games against SL opposition to go up......we have currently won 1 of 25.
As it stands, this year Leigh and Fev would join us and Bradford in taking on The Hulls, Wakey and Salford.....this year to date in the 7 games v these teams we've shipped 312 points and scored 92. That's 44-13 loss. And then we've lost to Bradford already away too.....so that's 0 points with a -233 points difference from 8 games v potentially 5 of next years middle 8 opponents.. AND THAT'S WITH A SL STANDARD TEAM. We could murder Leigh and Fev.....it won't matter.
Did I mention finances? Salford (4,741), Hull FC(10,989), Hull KR (7,96icon_cool.gif and Wakefield (4,340) with half a stadium closed have between 9,700 and 3,050 more fans, 13 times a year to sell shirts, beer, food and other stuff to AFTER they have paid for their tickets. Next year, London's average will not be boosted by the visits of Wigan, Leeds and Saints......we will struggle further to match these SL teams financially.


You mistake a healthy dose of Realism for negativity.

HIVE UPDATE: Interesting that this weeks e-mail from the club was entitled "We'll be back".....but didn't divulge "back where" or "when".......Given it's the last Home game of the season they are promoting, surely confirmation of ticketing etc will be forthcoming soon??????

Always though it to be a membership rather than a season ticket and prices were already set. With regards promotion to SL at the end of next season we can't do any worse than in the past six years being optimistic.

Is promotion to SL the only way to judge whether the season has been good or bad?

I'd like to see Broncos win some home games and look competitive against the opposition for a whole game. Top 4 in champ and a few home fans coming back sounds pretty good to me right now. I don't care whether the away support is lower (Was it that much fun being surrounded by away support while the team was battered?) and I'd suggest watching a demoralised Broncos get battered each game turned some fans off coming in the first place.
They may never get back to SL but I still think you can enjoy watching them try to achieve it and who knows where things will be in another 6 years time. If the claims about the middle 8 turn out to be true then I can't see it lasting as a system for very long.

Season tickets for the Crusaders next season on sale from the Leigh game on Sunday, with £5 off if you pay on the day. Given that we know where we are next season, surely we could manage the same thing? Er, on second thoughts.......

Unless something changes then there is no Season Tickets to sell. Any more news on Members being told their direct debit are being cancelled and the Hive are not accepting new memberships GF?
I've already suggested to the Hive that they need more of a push on memberships on match days and to waive the joining fee on production of a full price ticket, the response was favourable but I haven't heard\seen anything since (For Bronco or Barnet games). I certainly think it would help persuade those who come to games to consider joining up as I see the joining fee as a major stumbling block to the scheme.

Obviously, we are very much up against it re. promotion. However, the point of being a fan is that you suspend realism. I do. Every game I attend, I think the Broncos are going to win.

Clearly, realism is important for those running the business. But nobody on these boards runs the business so why anybody would come on here and try to correct *fans* because they overrate the team's chances on the field is slightly bizarre IMO. The more hopelessly optimistic fans we have, the better. I see absolutely no value in dosing these people - like me - with reality.

I don't expect us to be in the 'Million Dollar Game' next year because we'll be top of the middle 8. COYB!

There might not be season tickets to sell but there certainly are memberships for the Broncos season next year to be sold to people. Whether you call them memberships or season tickets is irrelevant what people actually want to see is the price of membership for next year, price of individual seats or in standing areas. Is it going to work out cheaper or more expensive as a member for example? Will the issue raised previously about point at which OAP became available, will that change. How much will it cost s junior member as they transfer into a full member? The usual launch at a club of next years season tickets and ground prices usually answers all these questions.

And the whole thing is not just to those currently coming through the door but starting to sell next season to the wider world, to the corporates and the public. If you joined now before a certain date for next year do you get an attractive discount ie no joining fee perhaps?

That is probably what most people want to know.