2023 Summer Bash is going to be...

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

38 minutes ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

Featherstone has more pubs than York? 

TBF Cas, Leeds, Pontefract, Wakefield and Xscape are all within 30mins travel by public transport

[meast]

On 30/05/2023 at 09:16, kiggy said:

That aged well!

My wife's nephew tried to book 3 tickets together and couldn't. So I have no idea what planet the stadium booking software was on as it wasn't planet earth. We got him 3 tickets with us in corporate hostility in the end, so he didn't even need to buy the tickets.

Corporate hostility doesn't sound worth paying extra for.

[David Shepherd]

10 hours ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

Featherstone has more pubs than York? 

Wouldn't be shocked if Ponte (5 min drive) had a similar amount in it's centre.

[overtheborder]

10 hours ago, Fevrover said:

It was said tounge  in cheek lol,it WAS supposed to be a weekend away and many did at Blackpool.  We love York great City and visit regularly but it was a Bank Holiday, York races and the cost of accommodation in York especially Saturday night is really expensive. It was extremely badly advertised and even round the ground there were no advertising the fan zone and you wouldn't have thought there was a game/s on it was that quitet.  No programme either it was as if the Rugby  League didn't care. Surely this is the death of the Bash  ?

I think the point about it being more expensive than for argument's sake Blackpool could be a big thing here - if like people have said the point is for fans to have a weekend away, then hosting it somewhere people just can't afford will be a barrier to attendance. I do think Blackpool has a lot going for it - cheap and cheerful, more affordable potentially, with a good tram network and the ground itself not far from the hustle and bustle.

I'm definitely not saying any future Bashes need to be in Blackpool by the way, but I think it needs to be affordable - as stereotypical as it might sound, we're a sport that caters mainly to northern working class folk who want a decent-value weekend away rather than an expensive trip to somewhere that is more well-known for its culture. That might change with the addition of more expansion clubs, but at the moment that's how it is (in my experience at least).

[overtheborder]

10 hours ago, Fevrover said:

 

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Edited June 2 by overtheborder
Double post

[crashmon]

58 minutes ago, overtheborder said:

I think the point about it being more expensive than for argument's sake Blackpool could be a big thing here - if like people have said the point is for fans to have a weekend away, then hosting it somewhere people just can't afford will be a barrier to attendance. I do think Blackpool has a lot going for it - cheap and cheerful, more affordable potentially, with a good tram network and the ground itself not far from the hustle and bustle.

I'm definitely not saying any future Bashes need to be in Blackpool by the way, but I think it needs to be affordable - as stereotypical as it might sound, we're a sport that caters mainly to northern working class folk who want a decent-value weekend away rather than an expensive trip to somewhere that is more well-known for its culture. That might change with the addition of more expansion clubs, but at the moment that's how it is (in my experience at least).

for me it needs to meet two criteria

1) Needs to be somewhere different (ie not at an existing RL ground).  This is 2nd tier event (not SL), so on this one I would hold it in the north, and it needs to be a place where you have non rl activities available as well (why Blackpool made sense).

2) Needs to be cost effective.

So I would aim for a cheapish seaside town which has some form of amusement park, crazy golf. cheap food, and then the actual stadium the game is played in near the town.   You only need a stadium with 10K max attendance tbh.

But personally I would just kill it. In todays world where there is so little cash in the game, is an elephant we can't afford anymore

 

[David Shepherd]

27 minutes ago, crashmon said:

for me it needs to meet two criteria

1) Needs to be somewhere different (ie not at an existing RL ground).  This is 2nd tier event (not SL), so on this one I would hold it in the north, and it needs to be a place where you have non rl activities available as well (why Blackpool made sense).

2) Needs to be cost effective.

So I would aim for a cheapish seaside town which has some form of amusement park, crazy golf. cheap food, and then the actual stadium the game is played in near the town.   You only need a stadium with 10K max attendance tbh.

But personally I would just kill it. In todays world where there is so little cash in the game, is an elephant we can't afford anymore

 

It needs to go if it's not making money.

It seems to me that the only time it can have possibly done that is in Blackpool.  Much as I can't stand the place, it's really the only suitable place up north.

The only other option I can think of is to incorporate it into Magic and have that as a three day event (4/5 games per day) over a bank holiday weekend.

[kiggy]

11 hours ago, meast said:

Corporate hostility doesn't sound worth paying extra for.

It's not....it's not quite the same as a corporate box at Old Trafford !

But we got the tickets free anyway so I can't complain.

[DEANO]

17 hours ago, Fevrover said:

It was said tounge  in cheek lol,it WAS supposed to be a weekend away and many did at Blackpool.  We love York great City and visit regularly but it was a Bank Holiday, York races and the cost of accommodation in York especially Saturday night is really expensive. It was extremely badly advertised and even round the ground there were no advertising the fan zone and you wouldn't have thought there was a game/s on it was that quitet.  No programme either it was as if the Rugby  League didn't care. Surely this is the death of the Bash  ?

Hope so

[N2022]

Scarborough too far out of the way? North Wales?

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

12 minutes ago, N2022 said:

Scarborough too far out of the way? North Wales?

Scarborough Athletic's ground, The Flamingo Land Stadium, has a capacity of 3250.....

[Jughead]

Bring back the Northern Rail Cup. 

[N2022]

6 minutes ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Scarborough Athletic's ground, The Flamingo Land Stadium, has a capacity of 3250.....

Thanks for sharing. Honestly, as a fan of a football team that have spent many seasons at about Scarborough's level, hadn't realised the ground was that small. The cricket ground is more central and bowl might (?) make for an atmosphere ... (?) Or maybe Wrexham FC and lots of coaches to and from Rhyl.

[Stirlin]

10 minutes ago, N2022 said:

Thanks for sharing. Honestly, as a fan of a football team that have spent many seasons at about Scarborough's level, hadn't realised the ground was that small. The cricket ground is more central and bowl might (?) make for an atmosphere ... (?) Or maybe Wrexham FC and lots of coaches to and from Rhyl.

It was bigger but Fev broke in one night and pinched the stands.  

Edited June 2 by Stirlin

[N2022]

1 minute ago, Stirlin said:

It was bigger but Fev broke in one night and pinched the stands.  

Was this the ground formerly known as the McCain, or was that the old ground? Maybe my Wrexham-Rhyl joint bid then...

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

18 minutes ago, Stirlin said:

It was bigger but Fev broke in one night and pinched the stands.  

 

12 minutes ago, N2022 said:

Was this the ground formerly known as the McCain, or was that the old ground? Maybe my Wrexham-Rhyl joint bid then...

Different ground

[Les Tonks Sidestep]

29 minutes ago, N2022 said:

Thanks for sharing. Honestly, as a fan of a football team that have spent many seasons at about Scarborough's level, hadn't realised the ground was that small. The cricket ground is more central and bowl might (?) make for an atmosphere ... (?) Or maybe Wrexham FC and lots of coaches to and from Rhyl.

Not a chance one, never mind seven in 2 days, game of RL would be allowed to be played on the cricket pitch.

[N2022]

9 minutes ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Not a chance one, never mind seven in 2 days, game of RL would be allowed to be played on the cricket pitch.

No, I appreciate that. Shame, though, as it is a nice setting in a lovely, affordable resort. 

 

[DEANO]

Toronto?

[wilsontown]

15 hours ago, Les Tonks Sidestep said:

Scarborough Athletic's ground, The Flamingo Land Stadium, has a capacity of 3250.....

So it's about the right size, then.

[georgeb1]

After watching yesterday's opening day at magic , we , the summer bash really are the poor relation, attendance of just under 37,000 compared to 3,700 , magic weekend has been rammed down our throats by sky the RL and general media plus a stadium with instant access to a great city with plenty to do for all pockets, IF the RL really want the bash to continue please give it a chance , Blackpool as said achieved 15000 + so with a bit more effort (marketing , sensible ticket pricing, club offers ) it could be viable .

[Phil W]

Personally don't think The Bash has a place going forward.

However, if it does then the marketing has to improve locally wherever it is. I've said elsewhere about Magic that the marketing of it up here in Newcastle has been very low profile until this week. 

As a theme it's something rugby league has to be better at is when there's major events marketing it in that area just has to be better. If that's a Challenge Cup Final, Magic Weekend, an England international, Summer Bash. There's good stuff last minute but not very much before then.

[Mumby Magic]

Was talking about this last night. Fleetwood or Morecambe anyone?

[Leyther_Matt]

1 hour ago, Mumby Magic said:

Was talking about this last night. Fleetwood or Morecambe anyone?

Fleetwood is a hellhole and Morecambe not much better. Not sure the pitches would be big enough either (Fleetwood in particular).

Much as there’s a comment on the attendances thread that Magic only really works in Newcastle, the same argument very much applies to Blackpool and the Bash.

However, as @Jughead mentions above, I’d bring back the Northern Rail Cup with the final at Blackpool. Went to a good few of them (not just involving Leigh) and they were proper occasions. 

[fighting irish]

Cardiff (please).

Working with the WRL to benefit the game here, as Newcastle RL benefits from Magic.