Well as you would hope some of the market for say an eng aus game would be the aus community it’s not really a shock that half the tickets are from a community that is predominantly london. But does that do anything for expansion or to grow the game outside the heartlands
Yes it lets people know there is a team in London as we have never seen any advertising of southern games whether Broncos or other. Concerted efforts are needed to get the information our there and a big game should help. SKY and the RFL are as guilty as each other for not helping to spread the word. Championship teams get one game a year in Blackpool on TV which does nothing to spread the word.
Joined: Mar 09 2002 Posts: 5130 Location: Twickenham
northernbloke wrote:You can measure the results of bringing international games to london though pretty easily. After the last Stratford game or the last Wembley game how many more people started playing or watching rugby league in the area? It’s a simple equation to measure. The reality is the pro game has gone backwards, and that’s not just us! Hemel are based in Yorkshire, broncos are 2nd tier and skolars are no further ahead. Oxford are gone. So numbers watching are down. Open age local has stayed stable ish, london junior league probably slightly healthier. Only growth is schools Rugby. Numbers playing probably slightly up. So despite games previously being brought to london there has been no perceivable rewards. Aus NZ community in london bigger than up north so maybe there games should be used in london, can’t see Point in dragging England core support 200 miles down the road for no perceivable gain.
The RFL's own strategic vision includes the aim to be a growing sport, available throughout the country. The underlying guiding principles include geographic expansion (in a proportionate and sustainable manner). Yet 80% of investment is targeted at Core Affinity Areas (the existing heartlands) with only 20% for 9 Emerging Affinity Areas (of which only 3 areas: London, the 'Coventry, Oxford,Gloucester Triangle' and the North East) really seem to be outside of the heartlands.
The question that has to be asked though is how long do you keep plugging away at one area before maybe going, well that’s not going to work let’s see if we get better results elsewhere! If it’s not taken off after 37 years of trying one or two internationals will not change that. And how or why try to expand something that is struggling to sustain its established base. It’s harsh but Leigh are in trouble, salford are in trouble, until the game has the radical change it needs worthwhile expansion is never going to happen sadly.
That’s quite an interesting article, I don’t think it really says anything in regards to london venues, suitably vague. Don’t get me wrong, I would love games closer to home, but I just get the feeling london is not going to get much. Hope am wrong and it’s a double header semi and final down here. I still can’t get the argument that the big game have to be in london for the growth of the game though!
Joined: Mar 09 2002 Posts: 5130 Location: Twickenham
northernbloke wrote:The question that has to be asked though is how long do you keep plugging away at one area before maybe going, well that’s not going to work let’s see if we get better results elsewhere! If it’s not taken off after 37 years of trying one or two internationals will not change that. And how or why try to expand something that is struggling to sustain its established base. It’s harsh but Leigh are in trouble, salford are in trouble, until the game has the radical change it needs worthwhile expansion is never going to happen sadly.
As above, the RFL is focusing on the Core Affinity Areas (the heartlands) but still sees the value of investing in emerging areas. What radical change do you think is the solution ?
Rugby league is a minority parochial sport. My views are just that, my views. London is not an emerging area for the sport though! If so it’s th3 slowest emergence ever. For rugby league to ever expand properly it has to let go of the small town status. Regional teams fed by the traditional teams is the only way it could ever become a national sport, that is not going to happen in my lifetime.
jbuzza wrote:The RFL's own strategic vision includes the aim to be a growing sport, available throughout the country. The underlying guiding principles include geographic expansion (in a proportionate and sustainable manner). Yet 80% of investment is targeted at Core Affinity Areas (the existing heartlands) with only 20% for 9 Emerging Affinity Areas (of which only 3 areas: London, the 'Coventry, Oxford,Gloucester Triangle' and the North East) really seem to be outside of the heartlands.
As someone who spent 5 years as joint Broncos/Oxford season ticket holder and has been to Gloucestershire and Coventry for both pro and semi pro, if that is the RFL's definition of supporting an area we may as well give up now. Seriously. This is the organisation that persuaded the Oxford funders by promising two full time development staff. Three days after they were publicly announced as joining they got a phone call telling them the RFL couldn't afford the development officers. Speak to the folks at Gloucestershire too, worth a listen. Not aware of any broken promises is CV postcode yet but give them time....
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