One of RL's biggest negatives is that most of the games are played in half empty (and in some cases nearly empty) stadia with no atmosphere and as such very little excitement. Regardsless of the quality of the game on Saturday there will be a full stadium and an electric atmosphere. If a random viewer tunes into a game with all the atmosphere of a Sunday league game what is the initial view, even the clubs real fans can't be bothered.



The local 'grudge' matches are the ones that generate viewers, like someone said earlier, clubs not being nice to each other generates the viewing figures and the interest, ultimately column inches.



One big management learning is that to get on you need 10% perfomanace 60% image and 30% exposure.. RL has all its eggs in the performance bucket. The 100 did well because it had a good image and high exposure, the games average but people will watch because others are watching and the media are telling them to. We need to get to that whilst not alienating the current fan base.

Derbies are good, but you can have too many of them.

Bizarre. I didn't even say we needed more derbies. But let's not wilfully destroy our existing valuable properties.

For my money, you're absolutely spot on!

Yes, yes, yes! And your last sentence is so pertinent because a lot of the current fan base won't like the necessary changes.

The 100 cricket has been perceived a success (I’d like to know how many discounted tickets and merchandise has been given out though) because Sky has a vested interest in it being a success. They, and the ECB, have spent millions on it, and pushed a lot of resource at it.



They’ve also thrown a lot at it production wise, while we get Bill, Baz and Tez.

Pearson sells the club or you just quietly fade away.

I went down to Lords for one of The Hundred games the other week. Adult tickets were £30 each, Double Header, six hours entertainment; in front of a crowd of 23,000.



As I’ve said previously, Cricket has created a new competition out of nothing. All App based, you get alerts each evening telling you what games are on and asking who you think is going to win. I love Test cricket, but have found myself tuning in most nights for sometimes 10-15 minutes to watch The Hundred while I am having a cup of tea.



One sponsor, KP, with all teams having a different brand of crisps. We should try and get United Biscuits to also sponsor RL, with different McVities brands on shirts; or McDonalds, or Coca Cola. All recognisable brands and better than having some unknown company on your shirt that no one has heard of.

..... what's an App?

But you did?

I also love Test cricket, county cricket, one day internationals, and even a bit of T20, but each to his own I suppose, I just find The Hundred a little too gimmicky, and the organisers are gilding th Lilly, a step too far for me.



In a different era in our game, we managed the floodlit trophy, the John Player, the premiership trophy, and still played Rovers twice, no crappy loop fixtures, contrived Magic weekends , good competitions which generated cash and a fervour to watch our game, sorry I’m on the wrong thread, but AP concerns of changing direction regarding private investment should be heeded.

I've followed cricket all my life, but I only managed a couple of minutes watching the IPL and the "Hundred" before turning over.



The razzmatazz is not for me.



I watched the ManU v Benfica 1968 European Cup Final a few months ago, I really enjoyed it - even the memory of 'A' level chemistry the following morning.



The difference from now is quite simple, absolutely no replays, so you actually had to watch the game.



Now every wicket and every run is show a hundred times from a hundred different camera angles - not for me, I'm afraid.