London Broncos (Merged Threads)

[WN83]

Let's hope it's going to be the start of a bright future for the club and the sport in London. The sport hasn't had the finances (or the people) to make a real go of it in recent times but with NRL backing, you'd like to think it can really start to move forward. 

[LeytherRob]

Great news for the game and couldn’t have come at a better time before any rash decisions were made on leaving the current stadium. Would be great to see some long term stability and also return to SL at some point soon.

[WN83]

7 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

Great news for the game and couldn’t have come at a better time before any rash decisions were made on leaving the current stadium. Would be great to see some long term stability and also return to SL at some point soon.

Running before walking stuff but long term it would be great to think they could get their own stadium/training facilities. Easier said than done in London though I guess. 

It sounds like the Dolphins are involved in the takeover. I wonder if we could see the London Dolphins sooner rather than later. 

[Whippet13]

10 minutes ago, WN83 said:

Running before walking stuff but long term it would be great to think they could get their own stadium/training facilities. Easier said than done in London though I guess. 

It sounds like the Dolphins are involved in the takeover. I wonder if we could see the London Dolphins sooner rather than later. 

Re-launch in April might well mean London Dolphins:

Breaking Leeds Rhinos news as chief executive Gary Hetherington reportedly set to step down

[The Daddy]

43 minutes ago, WN83 said:

Running before walking stuff but long term it would be great to think they could get their own stadium/training facilities. Easier said than done in London though I guess. 

It sounds like the Dolphins are involved in the takeover. I wonder if we could see the London Dolphins sooner rather than later. 

There are no Dolphins in London

[The Daddy]

Interesting that the Dolphins are involved. They are a very cash rich sporting organisation so won't be short of a few bob

[fighting irish]

1 minute ago, The Daddy said:

There are no Dolphins in London

There's not many Bronco's either mate. 

[Archie Gordon]

Delighted with this news.

[burnleywelsh]

10 minutes ago, The Daddy said:

There are no Dolphins in London

Just saying.......

 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn0902zgv3do

[LeytherRob]

20 minutes ago, fighting irish said:

There's not many Bronco's either mate. 

London Jellied-Eels it is

[fighting irish]

4 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

London Jellied-Eels it is

All jokes aside Rob, what do you think would be an apt name? 

[Pen-Y-Bont Crusader]

13 minutes ago, fighting irish said:

All jokes aside Rob, what do you think would be an apt name? 

Broncos - keep it Broncos but I’m happy to be convinced if a name change becomes a game changer.

[LeytherRob]

7 minutes ago, fighting irish said:

All jokes aside Rob, what do you think would be an apt name? 

I prefer Broncos to Dolphins for London - I don't think Lon-don Dol-phins rolls off the tongue particularly well. I'm also not sure the Dolphins would want to go this route anyway as they've dropped the Redcliffe part and having another Dolphins would take away from their uniqueness of branding.

I personally think the bigger debate long term for London is whether they continue as London or align themselves to a borough or subsection of the capital, much like football clubs do. That would need some research on their market and what will give the greatest likelihood of bums on seats though. I have absolutely no idea what the answer to this question will be, but I think it's a question that should be asked.

[Archie Gordon]

If it were possible, I would switch to Dolphins straight away and import all of the NRL club's branding, infrastructure, SOPs, philosophy, culture, etc., that is portable.

But I am not convinced the Dolphins are going to be the major backer from the outset - they'll probably start with a watching brief.

[Henson Park Old Firm]

I don't think another name change is what is needed.... stability and a permanent location with finances are in order.

 

Fulham, Crusaders, Broncos, Harlequins, Broncos and now maybe Dolphins.... I think it needs to stop. At least under Broncos they had some decent history making the the Challenge Cup Final.

Edited March 13 by Henson Park Old Firm

[Henson Park Old Firm]

And besides if this is happening... and people want a name change it really should be named the London Seahorses  (closest thing to merging a Dolphin to a Bronco)

[SixSet]

Seahorses!

Don't think it would matter too much if the Broncos tag went west. If funding and support necessitates a rebranding then rebrand that Bronco!

Makes perfect sense for Denver ( just about in the west of the US) to choose "a wild or half-tamed horse of the western US" as their mascot/brand.
But London? At least Brisbane has got the alliteration.
Yes, we've seen more dolphins in the Thames than broncos or mustangs but we've seen even more Boris bikes!
As for zoning in on where they are based in this vast capital, if they remain at Plough Lane they could become the Merton Marauders or the Merton Magicians ( actually, maybe not that one - ripe for all sorts of teasing).
Merton Magpies? (could yield a black & white kit?)
Mastiffs...Mavericks...Meteors ...Metropolitans...Mighty Dons...
Stuff it. Move to a new stadium less than half a mile from AFC Wimbledon's home and become the Wandsworth Warriors!

Such encouraging news though. Makes sense of what Mike Eccles hinted at a while back. Here's hoping...

[Deadcowboys1]

7 minutes ago, Henson Park Old Firm said:

I don't think another name change is what is needed.... stability and a permanent location with finances are in order.

 

Fulham, Crusaders, Broncos, Harlequins, Broncos and now maybe Dolphins.... I think it needs to stop. At least under Broncos they had some decent history making the the Challenge Cup Final.

Agree, utilise the Broncos history, also 2 Million Pound game wins, introducing Northern fans to the fun of playing in Carcassonne & Perpignan. 

Don't think we need to be Dolphins despite many more being seen up as far as Richmond. Sadly their little flippers can't get them over Teddington Lock. If the name did need changing, then back to Crusaders because it is like a crusade down here. 

[Archie Gordon]

Not sure the Dolphins would fund a team called - checks notes for name of their local rivals - the Broncos for very long.

There is anyway zero capital left in the London Broncos brand. You may upset 30 supporters - and tbh it would be the correct 30 to upset!

[WN83]

I think a rebrand will help with a really fresh start for the club. I really hope Mike Eccles is going to be the man to take the club forward. I'd like to see what he could do without his hands tied behind his back. 

[burnleywelsh]

London Ravens RLFC.......they can keep their black strip.

[RP London]

In terms of a name change there does have to be a question mark around "london". is it necessary? does it work? There is a big amount of work that could be done on that, probably several doctorate thesis on the subject to be fair. I would be wary of going for a borough because you never know whats next around the corner. The Dolphins, lets be fair, have history on this getting rid of redcliffe and not wanting to take on Brisbane or anything similar so perhaps you just lose the reference to an area completely. Arsenal to be fair have made it work in football, even the likes of Saracens and Harlequins get it to work (to an extent). Just being the Broncos could be interesting, or find something that is unique and really "brand it up"... its an interesting one for sure. 

[LeytherRob]

4 minutes ago, RP London said:

In terms of a name change there does have to be a question mark around "london". is it necessary? does it work? There is a big amount of work that could be done on that, probably several doctorate thesis on the subject to be fair. I would be wary of going for a borough because you never know whats next around the corner. The Dolphins, lets be fair, have history on this getting rid of redcliffe and not wanting to take on Brisbane or anything similar so perhaps you just lose the reference to an area completely. Arsenal to be fair have made it work in football, even the likes of Saracens and Harlequins get it to work (to an extent). Just being the Broncos could be interesting, or find something that is unique and really "brand it up"... its an interesting one for sure. 

that's going to be key if a change is made, it has to be done with full commitment or not at all.

[RP London]

4 minutes ago, LeytherRob said:

that's going to be key if a change is made, it has to be done with full commitment or not at all.

absolutely right or wrong its go at it 100% and make the most of it.. 

[gingerjon]

1 hour ago, Archie Gordon said:

Not sure the Dolphins would fund a team called - checks notes for name of their local rivals - the Broncos for very long.

There is anyway zero capital left in the London Broncos brand. You may upset 30 supporters - and tbh it would be the correct 30 to upset!

Pretty much this. I would be sad to see the name London Broncos go but I was still there during the Quins days and will be behind whatever comes next, assuming something does come next as it appears to be doing.

A relaunch has to be a clean break and a proper fresh start.