I do wonder how much of a part the clubs play in this.
I didn't go on the night but apparently, Leeds practically handed over the entire floorspace of the club store to RLWC on Friday night, on top of the usual vans outside the south stand (and I've seen similar at Cardiff and Huddersfield).
I didn't see any official merch at Fax. Which was a shame because I'd forgotten my scarf and it was bloody chilly.
The merchandising for the WC has been horribly bad. This isnt something new that has been tried and failed, this has been pure and unarguable incompetence.
The absolute bare minimum we should demand from merchandising at the WC is that each and every jersey was available to buy on line, from a central RLWC shop at least 3 months before the WC started
I have had money ready and waiting to buy some of the smaller nations jerseys, especially the US jersey but they have made it so hard and inconvenient to do so that that money has found other uses. It really is unacceptable.
These aren’t small sums we are talking about either, at £50 a pop 1000 extra shirt sales is £50k, that’s two development officers, that could probably repay the air-fares of the players who have had to pay out of their own pocket.
To see such an exciting and successful world cup failing to capitalise on it because of such a failing on such a basic level, on such an obvious thing is unforgivable.
Every game I've been to, they have had some kind of small merchandise stand and it's had a few t-shirts, hoodies and balls, but I've never seen a replica shirt for any of the competing teams as of yet. Poor show.
AMybe the jersey releases were due to the nations still confirming sponsors? They could have released a pre tournament one without sponsors but same design I guess?
I would have thought the RLWC would be in control of merchandise and sales, in which case they should have had the online store much better prepared and also merch caravans at every ground that was hosting games during the SL season or at the leat sections in club shops with those nations merch and given the clubs a % cut of takings.
Still it is 10 times better than previous RLWC's so hopefully the next one will be ten times better again.
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