What would it take for Newcastle thunder to get to super league?

[Toon22]

So having enjoyed the Rugby league at st James Park, it got me thinking how could Newcastle thunder ever get to super league? 

 

Around 8 to 10k at the event where from north east postcode, I appreciate that some of this will be league fans of other clubs up here already but shoes there could be good support up here for a super league team. 

 

How much would it cost go run a side? 

 

What else would need to be done to make them successful in super league ? 

[newbe]

A Miracle 

[Ethereal]

Millions invested, over many years. Both in the team but also in growing the local scene enough to support it via development officers etc.

[Damien]

In a word money. They seemed to be doing fine when they had a backer of sorts to ramp that up though they probably need someone ploughing in a million a year to ramp up towards SL and meet the IMG grading criteria.

[PREPOSTEROUS]

Best thing for Newcastle if the NRL do end up investing investing in SL is to make a play for that funding. They're a strategic city who have shown an appetite for league given a favoured situation,and seemed to be making decent progress on the amateur scene until the money was pulled. 

[JonM]

The annual salary of one of NUFC's first team players would do it pretty comfortably. Or maybe a quarter of Bruno Guimarães annual wages.

You don't need the development officers etc. straightaway, that's more of a longer term thing. There's already more RL teams in the North East than say Salford. Mick Hogan and the Thunder community programme did a very good job while they were being funded. It's not going to be too hard to sign players from the North West, Yorkshire or Cumbria, given the distance.

You'd need somewhere to play, but presumably Falcons RU would be glad of the rent money (or would sell the ground for a few million). You'd need to fit it out with a big screen, LED advertising boards, tv studio space, tv gantry etc. if not already in place.

You'd need to buy a squad to win league 1, then win the championship 3 years running. £2 million per year would easily achieve that. Getting an average attendance over 3000 while in the championship would be very helpful in terms of IMG grading points, over 7500 even better. You'd need to build up social media following proportionately. Winning the 1895 Cup would help too. Turnover above £2.5m and an annual profit of £1 or more would really help.

Possibly, you'd need to wait for one of the existing SL teams to go pop, because it's quite difficult to overtake them on IMG ratings otherwise, but I suspect if all of the above were achieved, a way would be found to get you in. 

[creditwhereitsdews]

I don't get why they've never been given a Magic Weekend match at St James' Park for all these years. I can't think of a better way to promote the club and the sport in the city. For me it should be a central part of the event and it would raise the status of the club massively.

[Taffy Tiger]

With Eurovision next week , Abba summed it up perfectly - Money, Money , Money !!

[EggFace]

2 hours ago, JonM said:

The annual salary of one of NUFC's first team players would do it pretty comfortably. Or maybe a quarter of Bruno Guimarães annual wages.

You don't need the development officers etc. straightaway, that's more of a longer term thing. There's already more RL teams in the North East than say Salford. Mick Hogan and the Thunder community programme did a very good job while they were being funded. It's not going to be too hard to sign players from the North West, Yorkshire or Cumbria, given the distance.

You'd need somewhere to play, but presumably Falcons RU would be glad of the rent money (or would sell the ground for a few million). You'd need to fit it out with a big screen, LED advertising boards, tv studio space, tv gantry etc. if not already in place.

You'd need to buy a squad to win league 1, then win the championship 3 years running. £2 million per year would easily achieve that. Getting an average attendance over 3000 while in the championship would be very helpful in terms of IMG grading points, over 7500 even better. You'd need to build up social media following proportionately. Winning the 1895 Cup would help too. Turnover above £2.5m and an annual profit of £1 or more would really help.

Possibly, you'd need to wait for one of the existing SL teams to go pop, because it's quite difficult to overtake them on IMG ratings otherwise, but I suspect if all of the above were achieved, a way would be found to get you in. 

If I ever had Musk money I would have the ground more central based out of Leazes Park or Gosforth as kingston Park is a pain to get to also getting the Rugby Union lot to come and watch it over the summer would help.

[JohnM]

Simple solution. Get one of Thunders directors the position of Chairman of the RFL  Club-led review. I understand there is currently no one in position.

[Eddie]

Last season, after years of years in the top flight and success, Newcastle Falcons averaged 6.1k, despite the presence of some rugby league diehards (which is fabulous) I doubt there’s a great appetite for either code rugby in the NE, much as there isn’t in football mad Liverpool or Manchester. 

Edited May 7 by Eddie

[turn it in]

Either a relocated super league club like Salford or Huddersfield or teaming up with the NRL’s Newcastle Knights pumping untold millions into the club.

[JohnM]

Oops ..wrong topic .

Edited May 7 by JohnM

[graveyard johnny]

2 hours ago, Taffy Tiger said:

With Eurovision next week , Abba summed it up perfectly - Money, Money , Money !!

"does your mother know" you post on here TT? someone might "take a chance" but it wont be "one of us" I hope they make it to SL  one day though  "I do, I do, I do , I do"

[OriginalMrC]

5 hours ago, Toon22 said:

So having enjoyed the Rugby league at st James Park, it got me thinking how could Newcastle thunder ever get to super league? 

 

Around 8 to 10k at the event where from north east postcode, I appreciate that some of this will be league fans of other clubs up here already but shoes there could be good support up here for a super league team. 

 

How much would it cost go run a side? 

 

What else would need to be done to make them successful in super league ? 

A conservative estimate would be £25m just to get to Superleague from their current position. 

[Gooleboy]

5 hours ago, newbe said:

A Miracle 

You beat me to it!

[DEANO]

Money but most of all interest 

[Eddie]

How about they merge with Hull?

[Anita Bath]

7 hours ago, Toon22 said:

So having enjoyed the Rugby league at st James Park, it got me thinking how could Newcastle thunder ever get to super league? 

 

Around 8 to 10k at the event where from north east postcode, I appreciate that some of this will be league fans of other clubs up here already but shoes there could be good support up here for a super league team. 

 

How much would it cost go run a side? 

 

What else would need to be done to make them successful in super league ? 

More chance of me getting a phone call from the conclave.

[Phil W]

Either the NUFC owners create a sporting club and buy Thunder, Falcons, the Eagles basketball and a potential Hundred franchise.

An NRL owner with vision thinks they can do something.

Or given you don't actually need any money to buy a club these days our group of volunteers could go and buy Melbourne Storm or Newcastle Knights. We bring the best players to Blaydon and go from there! 

[gingerjon]

3 hours ago, Eddie said:

Last season, after years of years in the top flight and success, Newcastle Falcons averaged 6.1k, despite the presence of some rugby league diehards (which is fabulous) I doubt there’s a great appetite for either code rugby in the NE, much as there isn’t in football mad Liverpool or Manchester. 

And yet, in football mad Newcastle, Newcastle Eagles basketball have managed to get the support and funding together to build a dedicated basketball arena and fund a whole suite of community programmes.

It takes money, yes. But it also takes money and patience - and security.

[Hopie]

Just stick around long enough, we keep losing clubs so we could end up at one division eventually.

[Eddie]

1 hour ago, gingerjon said:

And yet, in football mad Newcastle, Newcastle Eagles basketball have managed to get the support and funding together to build a dedicated basketball arena and fund a whole suite of community programmes.

It takes money, yes. But it also takes money and patience - and security.

Agreed it does, but how many people watch Newcastle eagles, who’s funded it and how sustainable is it? 

[Eddie]

43 minutes ago, Hopie said:

Just stick around long enough, we keep losing clubs so we could end up at one division eventually.

Ideally all close enough to Stott Hall Farm that all games can be played on a pitch there, magic every weekend. 

[turn it in]

8 hours ago, Phil W said:

Either the NUFC owners create a sporting club and buy Thunder, Falcons, the Eagles basketball and a potential Hundred franchise.

An NRL owner with vision thinks they can do something.

Or given you don't actually need any money to buy a club these days our group of volunteers could go and buy Melbourne Storm or Newcastle Knights. We bring the best players to Blaydon and go from there! 

Wasn’t that the original plan/model of sir John hall owning the football, rugby, basketball and ice hockey teams?