33 replies to this topic

[Dave T]

No-one seems to be bothered to comment on the main part of my original post which just shows that this forum is fast becoming one just occupied by fanatics who believe that everything in the RL garden in the UK is nothing but rosy:(CM

Have you read this forum? There is plenty of negativity and complaining about the RFL and the state of the game, so let's not make out you are some kind of lone-ranger hero.

In terms of your original post, I'm not that sure what you wanted us to comment on. It sounds like a different world tbh - even events like the FA Cup don't have some of the things like you quote, although it doesn't sound a million miles from some of the Fanzone activities that have seen plenty of sponsors stands over the years.

We know that RL is struggling for sponsors.

[Johnoco]

You are 15 years out of date with this.The CFL tried to expand to the USA in the mid-90,s it failed,apart from Balitimore which did quite well and was re-located to Monteal after the world league finished.Ottawa are coming back in 2014 in a new state of the art stadium,i suggest you log onto the CFl site www.cfl.ca and look at the crowd figures for the season (and every match was LIVE on TV)Your quote is well past its sell by date and does not bear any reality to what the commissioner Marc Cohen and his team have managed to achieve over the last 5/6 years in Canada where the grey cup final is without doubt the major national event (Even bigger than the stanley cup)No-one seems to be bothered to comment on the main part of my original post which just shows that this forum is fast becoming one just occupied by fanatics who believe that everything in the RL garden in the UK is nothing but rosy:(CM

Ah, that's convenient, its out of date. Seems this forum is populated by fanatics who believe EVERY OTHER SPORT IS DOING REALLY WELL EXCEPT RL.....ITS TRUE MAN.

Why do you never answer me when I ask you about the time when RL was sponsored by top companies and huge corporations? I know there was such a time because you said RL is becoming uncool with the top companies these days, so when was it?

[Amber Avenger]

That this forum is fast becoming one just occupied by fanatics who believe that everything in the RL garden in the UK is nothing but rosy:(CM

Yep, can't move for threads saying how great RL is over here and everyone basically agreeing!

The quote was taken from an article published this very month by the way, so take it up with them. I think you'd find it interesting, I think both sports can learn from each other, but for someone suggesting people think everything in RL is a-ok are deluded, it does imply the CFL isn't exactly sunshine and lollypops you might lead us to believe.

Also do you have any (non-anecdotal) evidence that the CFL final is bigger than the Stanly Cup? Quite the claim if true.

Edited by Amber Avenger, 29 November 2012 - 11:06 AM.

[Johnoco]

Good work. After you get real, you can GET REAL. Not sure how that is different, but you definitely can't have your head up your a rs e. That's a no no for get-realers.

My apologies. After lunch, I will GET REAL pronto. REALLY

[Johnoco]

Yep, can't move for threads saying how great RL is over here and everyone basically agreeing!

The quote was taken from an article published this very month by the way, so take it up with them. I think you'd find it interesting, I think both sports can learn from each other, but for someone suggesting people think everything in RL is a-ok are deluded, it does suggest everything in the CFL isn't exactly sunshine and lollypops.

Yes it was and the article certainly wasn't knocking Canadian sports, just drawing a few parallels.

The OP is like someone attending the GF and telling all their mates in, say, Austria that RL is huge in the UK and (insert sport of attendee) should learn from it.

[RP London]

I'll try and cover some of the original post, just out of interest..

its almost impossible as your not comparing apples with apples but more apples with water baloons. Canada and the UK are not the same place the CFL and the SL is not the same so its not very easy. Now i know that this is all quite obvious but i point it all out for a good reason.

You list events etc that go on at the same time. In no sport do they really do this over here, in the US and Canada all these "big events" are events, all of them have quite a lot going on around them during the weekend leading up to it, the Super Bowl "party" goes on for weeks in the run up to it in the city that hosts it with all sorts of events going on. Now firstly there would be little to no interest in that if it was done for the FA Cup final or for even a Premier League 1st v 2nd to win the league match.. we just dont get that excited about it all and people over here get bored with the event by the time it comes around so i just dont see it happening.
the biggest thing to consider with regards these "events" and the build up etc is that in North America people can travel for days to get to the city that is hosting it, as such said city needs to have something to make them all come for the weekend rather than stay outside the city, and for people to complain that there is nothing to do in the city etc etc.. over here you can get everywhere within a day if you put your mind to it so why would people want to spend the extra money to stay over just to get up early and go to some sort of indoor weird fest (by the sounds of what you have described) where you can saw a log, drive a car similutor or meet some poker players (none of which i would cross the street to see/do)... so what exactly would you put in over here to encourage people to go in? and would it encourage them to spend more money on hotels etc to be able to go?

For on the day events lets say (and my manchester geography is poor so forgive the fact it is miles away and assume it is next door) that they hire the MEN Arena at the same time as Old Trafford, what exactly would be put in it.. and would people rather travel early and get there to do all this or get there on time for kick off?

Our "Events" are doing ok.. maybe the challenge cup needs work but lets be fair you are talking of a one off championship so the only one comparable is the grand final and that is getting bigger and better each year and may well become an event with more surrounding it as more people want to get a peice of it, i am sure the CFL final has grown of its own with some of the sponsors wanting to do things to keep people around and show off their wares.. this may well happen here but it doesnt need to be forced.

Moving around the country? yeah that would work.. have you seen the threads about millenium magic etc on "why are they hosting it in xyz city and not the heartlands" "why do we have to go to xyz" etc etc.. it wouldnt be popular and it doesnt need to be done, if you want hte Grand final to grow as a spectacle having it in the same place where they can embrace it works.. again we are not Canada where one year its in Toronto and expensive and hard for those in BC or Alberta to get to, and so the next year shoudl be in Vancouver to balance it out.. same with the US and the Super bowl.

Its very much not all rosy with relation to Super League.. the attendances at many grounds is low, there are club owners/directors who cant see to run on basic business principles and so go bust, there are all sorts of issues in the game but the one thing that seems to be working at the moment is the Grand Final. We dont need to get our sport excited about it everyone always is.. yes it would be great to get those outisde the sport interested and excited but that isnt going to happen with any of the methods you list..

all in its interesting to find out what other sports in other countries are doing, and fankly if you think those in the RFL dont do this then i would suspect you may want to think again... but you have to take on board what is relevant and pertentant and for what its worth i dont see much from this as what you are suggesting and what is "so good" on the Grey cup final has to an extent been done out of necessity of the state and size of the country. Here i just dont see much of what you suggest working..

(oh and by the way 8,000 fans taking part in the indoor event... thats probably 8,000 who are already there for the final anyway so its just more stuff for the same people to do rather than getting new people involved.. in the UK we go to the pub, same thing really littel gained except money in non RFL pockets)

[Wiltshire Rhino]

My apologies. After lunch, I will GET REAL pronto. REALLY

I'm in town and I need to GET REAL Madrid's home kit for son. It's his birthday at the weekend.

[CANETMAN]

I'll try and cover some of the original post, just out of interest..

its almost impossible as your not comparing apples with apples but more apples with water baloons. Canada and the UK are not the same place the CFL and the SL is not the same so its not very easy. Now i know that this is all quite obvious but i point it all out for a good reason.

You list events etc that go on at the same time. In no sport do they really do this over here, in the US and Canada all these "big events" are events, all of them have quite a lot going on around them during the weekend leading up to it, the Super Bowl "party" goes on for weeks in the run up to it in the city that hosts it with all sorts of events going on. Now firstly there would be little to no interest in that if it was done for the FA Cup final or for even a Premier League 1st v 2nd to win the league match.. we just dont get that excited about it all and people over here get bored with the event by the time it comes around so i just dont see it happening.
the biggest thing to consider with regards these "events" and the build up etc is that in North America people can travel for days to get to the city that is hosting it, as such said city needs to have something to make them all come for the weekend rather than stay outside the city, and for people to complain that there is nothing to do in the city etc etc.. over here you can get everywhere within a day if you put your mind to it so why would people want to spend the extra money to stay over just to get up early and go to some sort of indoor weird fest (by the sounds of what you have described) where you can saw a log, drive a car similutor or meet some poker players (none of which i would cross the street to see/do)... so what exactly would you put in over here to encourage people to go in? and would it encourage them to spend more money on hotels etc to be able to go?

For on the day events lets say (and my manchester geography is poor so forgive the fact it is miles away and assume it is next door) that they hire the MEN Arena at the same time as Old Trafford, what exactly would be put in it.. and would people rather travel early and get there to do all this or get there on time for kick off?

Our "Events" are doing ok.. maybe the challenge cup needs work but lets be fair you are talking of a one off championship so the only one comparable is the grand final and that is getting bigger and better each year and may well become an event with more surrounding it as more people want to get a peice of it, i am sure the CFL final has grown of its own with some of the sponsors wanting to do things to keep people around and show off their wares.. this may well happen here but it doesnt need to be forced.

Moving around the country? yeah that would work.. have you seen the threads about millenium magic etc on "why are they hosting it in xyz city and not the heartlands" "why do we have to go to xyz" etc etc.. it wouldnt be popular and it doesnt need to be done, if you want hte Grand final to grow as a spectacle having it in the same place where they can embrace it works.. again we are not Canada where one year its in Toronto and expensive and hard for those in BC or Alberta to get to, and so the next year shoudl be in Vancouver to balance it out.. same with the US and the Super bowl.

Its very much not all rosy with relation to Super League.. the attendances at many grounds is low, there are club owners/directors who cant see to run on basic business principles and so go bust, there are all sorts of issues in the game but the one thing that seems to be working at the moment is the Grand Final. We dont need to get our sport excited about it everyone always is.. yes it would be great to get those outisde the sport interested and excited but that isnt going to happen with any of the methods you list..

all in its interesting to find out what other sports in other countries are doing, and fankly if you think those in the RFL dont do this then i would suspect you may want to think again... but you have to take on board what is relevant and pertentant and for what its worth i dont see much from this as what you are suggesting and what is "so good" on the Grey cup final has to an extent been done out of necessity of the state and size of the country. Here i just dont see much of what you suggest working..

(oh and by the way 8,000 fans taking part in the indoor event... thats probably 8,000 who are already there for the final anyway so its just more stuff for the same people to do rather than getting new people involved.. in the UK we go to the pub, same thing really littel gained except money in non RFL pockets)

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE 8000 ALL PAID Can $ 300.00 TO GO THATS AN AWFUL LOT OF EXTRA REVENUEAlso ALL the events were paid events ranging from Can$50.00 to Can$ 800.00 a head to attend a VIP event at the top of the CN tower on friday evening (over 800 there)I am just off to Moscow tonight so will have some free time on my hands on sunday and will post a break down.1/Income on season tickets compared to SL2/Sponsorship3/TV viewers/TV deal based on a per match basis4/VIP income at each club compared to SLEvents in London/Dublin/Edinburgh/Cardiff and Paris are no more than a 4 hour car ride (Except Paris) or 1 hour by plane so i really do not buy into excuses on this,as i said in the original post SL needs a massive boost and i consider a yearly change of venue a step forward.CM

[slowdive]

Jesus what a reaction to a post which seemed to be reasonably following up an interesting article in Forty20. A bit over the top I think.

[Manx RL]

THE DIFFERENCE IS THE 8000 ALL PAID Can $ 300.00 TO GO THATS AN AWFUL LOT OF EXTRA REVENUEAlso ALL the events were paid events ranging from Can$50.00 to Can$ 800.00 a head to attend a VIP event at the top of the CN tower on friday evening (over 800 there)I am just off to Moscow tonight so will have some free time on my hands on sunday and will post a break down.1/Income on season tickets compared to SL2/Sponsorship3/TV viewers/TV deal based on a per match basis4/VIP income at each club compared to SLEvents in London/Dublin/Edinburgh/Cardiff and Paris are no more than a 4 hour car ride (Except Paris) or 1 hour by plane so i really do not buy into excuses on this,as i said in the original post SL needs a massive boost and i consider a yearly change of venue a step forward.CM

Can you check with Roman how long is Raffa in charge for? I'd like to get a bet on the right number of days.

[Johnoco]

Can you check with Roman how long is Raffa in charge for? I'd like to get a bet on the right number of days.

He'll ask him over lunch most likely.

[faithfulbyname]

Depends if he can get a word in - with Maria being there as well

[Dave T]

Jesus what a reaction to a post which seemed to be reasonably following up an interesting article in Forty20. A bit over the top I think.

I think it is CM's style which people are tired of.

I actually find some of his posts really interesting as he clearly has some contacts and knows about some of these things, but the chip on his shoulder and his 'RL is dying' attitude means that much of his point is lost.

His approach of using capitals to state facts, and aggressively telling people who don't agree with his extreme comments that they need to GET REAL and stop burying their head in the sand doesn't lend itself well to discussion and debate.

[Griff]

There are always things to learn from other sports.

The trick is to pick out the things which suit your conditions, your target market, your game.