number 6 wrote:You want league to survive, grow and be on a par with union? Think big or would rather us moan about low salary cap, attendances, TV money and be a minority sport in the eyes of the media?


To grow big you got to think big, thank God there is someone like perez in our game now and not the chairman who hold us back knowing that they will never get more than 1500 at home games

The Dentist Wilf wrote:Well having seen this afternoon how far Toronto have come in a few months and the sponsorship deal they have done with an airline plus listening to Eric Perez their CEO talk about their plans, it is all becoming real and I can see them doing well. The great thing is everything including finance in place is phased over three years. in fact I think if the RL had grown some and put them in Bradford's place in the Championship they would have worried a lot of teams. If it works and I think at present it might, I can see the Florida thing happening and Toulousse coming through as well.

However I fear that if the big blue print comes to pass then it will be curtains for a lot of traditional clubs who have struggled year on year and the game could become unrecognisable. Or like so many other attempts in the past it could just collapse on the rocks of distance lack of progress and the amateurish way we organise the game. But I think that something has to happen to the game because it is now largely dependant on TV money and we desperately need new audiences. its an interesting one though isn't it?

Smiggs wrote:I want league to be healty and sustainable, growth is great but to be as big as union not a chance.

UllFC wrote:The current system of starting teams in League1 where overheads are low (so risk of investment is lower) is a much better strategy than plonking teams in SL and hoping for the best.

Also fans love to see winning teams, Toulouse walked League1 last year (slip up in Grand Final aside!) and I have no doubt Toronto will find League1 easy this year. Who knows what might have happened to London Bronco's all those years ago had this approach been taken back then. I'd also like to see the game focus on getting clubs set up in Manchester (proper Manchester not Salford) and Liverpool, as these are two massive untapped markets right on the M62.

the perennial problem with Rugby League is sticking to a long or even medium term strategy. They'll probably rip up the league format again in a couple of years, and teams have to change their business models again.

R.B.A wrote:Might be mistaken but didn't Fulham start life in division 2?

the artist wrote:out of interest what sort of crowds are toulouse getting?

ccs wrote:You're living in dream land.
So you'll be making 7 or 8 trips abroad every year? Don't make me laugh.
It's financially unsustainable.