The Dentist Wilf wrote:Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised that Toronto imploded when the club ran out of money and their owner stopped paying up or paying wages when you heard what went on or didn't go on before they were allowed in in the first place. Back then the due diligence needed to research the potential market TV deals etc to protect the game and the other clubs was down to the RFL and we were assured that it was done.
“Separately, it was also apparent that no assessment of the scale and accessibility of the commercial growth that might accrue to the sport from entering the Canadian market was ever completed prior to the club’s first entry into the sport.”
This is RL's perennial problem, decisions are rushed and the next big thing hyped up with no follow up.
Examples include: Celtic Crusaders started in the wrong place, Wrexham was always the far better option being away from the Union heartland and near our heartlands but the damage had already been done and the debts racked up. Then instead of backing them after a good season on the field and a decent fanbase built they were cast adrift.
Magic Weekend is another, started as an opportunity to make money from Cardiff and spread the game. Now just advertised to season ticket holders with discounts. We were told 10k Newcastle postcodes had booked tickets to the first one there but haven't heard numbers like that since, I bet noone has asked them did they enjoy the day? did they want to go back next year? etc
They bought Odsal to save Bradford but didn't do much due diligence on several owners and now they don't even play there.
Started SL in Paris when a team in South of France always made more sense.
Bristol got 7k to a dead duck midweek America-Cook Islands World Cup game but we haven't bothered going back with even a minor event. England had a great 2013 world cup then they didn't play at home for 2 years. They built up the Exiles but ditched it quick after a bad crowd or two when they didn't market it.
Most fans would like a 14 Team league but instead we getting Wigan - Warrington about 6 times a year.
And that's just off the top of my head...Would love to see the Union management swap places with League for a few years and see what happens.