And something we are going to see for a few seasons I think.

-it's looking that way!!

Whilst the rivalry is great, the fact is that the city cannot support 2 top class teams. History has shown that both clubs have largely under achieved other than brief periods in their histories. wigan won twice as many challenge cups in one decade than Hull and rovers have combined in their total existence. Look at the wigan honours list and you'll see how poor our combined ones are.

Hull need to pull in 13k every match, sell over £1m in merchandise a year to barely make a profit whilst rovers lose £1/2m a year just fielding a semi competitive side. It's frightening

god help us if sky ever pulled out

frightening thought that jimmy, how many clubs would fold if sky pulled the plug??

If no alternative revenue stream was found it'd bankrupt the sport, as it is currently run. It could go semi-pro and survive for a while, but without the media interest that television coverage generated, it'd probably just mean a slow death.
There is an argument, I've seen, for giving coverage cheaply (or even free, if they guarantee it'd be shown nationally and prominently) to a terrestrial broadcaster, in the hope of greatly increased visibility and therefore sponsorship. Be a risk, but if Sky did pull the plug, there'd be little to lose. It'd maybe be worth the RFL informally sounding out alternative partners and sponsors even now.

I have been following this thread with interest. I was against a merger when it raised its head in 1995 when rovers were way down, now they have got into Super league on thier own merit I am even more against it. If SKY pull the plug we are all doomed, FC might be well run & in profit but if they have no one to play it wont be any good to them. If a merger went ahead I would not go. I support Rovers & I go quiet a few times to watch FC but otherwise I avoid Hull like the plague. I would go to York as I could visit my grand child & family after watching the game there. As for us fans deserving better ask Tigers,Cats,Salford & Quins fans if they would swap teams? They would snap your arm off.

most!!!!-quins,wakey,crusaders,hudds,salfordetc,etc.even our 2 clubs would struggle.

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edging over to the west are you???

Beverley is West of the river, I just edge over to the East to watch my team.I enjoy the odd game at the KC if rovers are not playing, I have always followed them I just consider myself a Rovers fan first. The ideal for me would Rovers to relocate to Beverley race course then I could have a pint or three on match days, but thats a dafter idea than a merger.

If Sky sports pulled funds and RL was to die .....The RFU (IRB) would alter the rules of union, drop 2 players, and invite an application from Kingston upon Hull to apply for a franchise (cos they are coming to RU too) in an expanded, all singing & all dancing Guinness National Premiership comp'.

God help us if that came to pass I have been involved with the snobs that run union all my life in one way or another(life ban & the rest) The only thing that might happen is that the north took over by winning everything with huge crowds all cashed up & the establishment lost controll of the game! But that is where we started in 1895, funny old game eh?

Pretty sure Beverley is North of the river

Thank God you dont navigate the north sea ferry or we would all end up in France, Beverley is west of the river hull.(north of the Humber)

Which is an estuary.

Makes me laugh how people still think that two elite division clubs from the same city doesn't work. Both are well supported and have seen their support rise since Rovers were promoted, both spend the maximum salary cap, both still have huge catchment areas to tap into for a much larger potential support base and both continue to thrive off field in areas such as merchandising and community projects. As others have said, the presence of, and rivalry between the two clubs plays a big part in this. Two clubs also give young players much better opportunities and choice when it comes to youth development.

The constant talk about finances is completely out of proportion. It's not 'scary' in any conceivable way - there aren't many professional sports clubs who make much notable profit, and any debts either club have incurred in recent years have being manageable and nothing out of the ordinary.

It's also part of the heritage of the city - Hull people have being supporting these two clubs for well over a century, and to remove one or 'merge' them for the sake of extremely debatable 'convenience' makes no sense at all to me.

I'd go watch a merged team. It wouldn't be the same but I'd still go.

well said

I think one set of supporters would disagree with spending to maximum cap, but agree with the rest of the post. Like someone has mentioned a merged team may be supported by some but inevitably both HKR and HFC would be reformed in their own identity and carry on, albeit at a lower level , probably both with decent support.

Could never do it personally, the thought of it makes me feel ill.

I'm with Robbo on this. I would go because I love Rugby League, but it wouldn't be the same. However, the next generation of supporters would be just as passionate for the merged club as we all are for our respective clubs.

Having one merged team would not guarantee success as some people seem to think it would, good and bad times would still come along and crowds would still go up and down depending on success, mediocrity or failure.
A great deal would be lost by just having one team in the City imo.

I wouldn't go, I'd have to start watching The Barracudas or maybe Rochdale, good heartlands club that. The only bright spot of that would be I'd be able to come on here with loads of original gags about the Hull teams away following.

Couldn't see me following another RL side, guess would just mean I'd put the cash towards getting to a few Newcastle United games.