Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:07 pm  

My hero is this guy. Seriously though we've all got to stop hoping that millionaires will come galloping in on white horses because very few of them are benevolent. The working class in country have built some great things in the past with the NHS and the welfare system. There's no reason why over time the working classes can't build rugby league into a product that is the envy of the world. Look at how some of the football clubs in Germany operate and at how FC Barcelona operates as prime examples of the working class building wealthy clubs. Finally I'm sure most of us are hoping that Marwan Koukash builds Salford into a combination of Chelsea FC and Man City of rugby league but knowing our sports luck we'll end up with a situation very similar to AS Monaco FC with top drawer players and small crowds..

My hero is this guy. Seriously though we've all got to stop hoping that millionaires will come galloping in on white horses because very few of them are benevolent. The working class in country have built some great things in the past with the NHS and the welfare system. There's no reason why over time the working classes can't build rugby league into a product that is the envy of the world. Look at how some of the football clubs in Germany operate and at how FC Barcelona operates as prime examples of the working class building wealthy clubs. Finally I'm sure most of us are hoping that Marwan Koukash builds Salford into a combination of Chelsea FC and Man City of rugby league but knowing our sports luck we'll end up with a situation very similar to AS Monaco FC with top drawer players and small crowds..

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:23 pm  

Not sure what planet some people are on but I was not referring to multimillionaire backers of clubs. I was referring to how to attract more middle class personnel to attend games.

I'm a wine drinker, is that therefore wrong to be associated with RL? Maybe when RL shrugs off it's deep ingrained culture of cotton/woolen mills, terrace houses and ferrets image the game will have a better hope of growth elsewhere in Britain?

What about those of us who are 'Middle England'. Are we banished or welcomed?

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:26 pm  

Damo-Leeds wrote: My hero is this guy. Seriously though we've all got to stop hoping that millionaires will come galloping in on white horses because very few of them are benevolent. The working class in country have built some great things in the past with the NHS and the welfare system. There's no reason why over time the working classes can't build rugby league into a product that is the envy of the world. Look at how some of the football clubs in Germany operate and at how FC Barcelona operates as prime examples of the working class building wealthy clubs. Finally I'm sure most of us are hoping that Marwan Koukash builds Salford into a combination of Chelsea FC and Man City of rugby league but knowing our sports luck we'll end up with a situation very similar to AS Monaco FC with top drawer players and small crowds.. NHS was built by specialist and business consultants who all earn well over six figures a year, it employs some working class people but thats as far as that goes. The welfare system is the reason i won't return back to the UK, its so flawed its beyond repair. I agree with you that Rugby League doesn't need millionaires to succeed it just needs hard working and honest people driving it. All super league clubs are run on a relatively small budget so its doesn't need massive investors but some projects what would benefit the game in the long do need that initial capital to get it going. Such as hiring the best event organizers for events such as magic weekend, grand final, challenge cup final and big international games. Also it would be fantastic for the RFL to be able to hire these guys and let them consult with clubs so they don't spend money they don't have but instead find new ways of making money.

Damo-Leeds wrote: My hero is this guy. Seriously though we've all got to stop hoping that millionaires will come galloping in on white horses because very few of them are benevolent. The working class in country have built some great things in the past with the NHS and the welfare system. There's no reason why over time the working classes can't build rugby league into a product that is the envy of the world. Look at how some of the football clubs in Germany operate and at how FC Barcelona operates as prime examples of the working class building wealthy clubs. Finally I'm sure most of us are hoping that Marwan Koukash builds Salford into a combination of Chelsea FC and Man City of rugby league but knowing our sports luck we'll end up with a situation very similar to AS Monaco FC with top drawer players and small crowds.. NHS was built by specialist and business consultants who all earn well over six figures a year, it employs some working class people but thats as far as that goes. The welfare system is the reason i won't return back to the UK, its so flawed its beyond repair. I agree with you that Rugby League doesn't need millionaires to succeed it just needs hard working and honest people driving it. All super league clubs are run on a relatively small budget so its doesn't need massive investors but some projects what would benefit the game in the long do need that initial capital to get it going. Such as hiring the best event organizers for events such as magic weekend, grand final, challenge cup final and big international games. Also it would be fantastic for the RFL to be able to hire these guys and let them consult with clubs so they don't spend money they don't have but instead find new ways of making money.

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:33 pm  

Worzel wrote:

Not sure what planet some people are on but I was not referring to multimillionaire backers of clubs. I was referring to how to attract more middle class personnel to attend games.

I'm a wine drinker, is that therefore wrong to be associated with RL? Maybe when RL shrugs off it's deep ingrained culture of cotton/woolen mills, terrace houses and ferrets image the game will have a better hope of growth elsewhere in Britain?

What about those of us who are 'Middle England'. Are we banished or welcomed?

"I hate all Tory's!!" haha. I think it needs to start in the schools allow people to get familiar with it and grow a natural interest in rugby league, then it won't matter what the most narrow minded heartland fan thinks. What is you general opinion when going to matches at wembley or Cardiff? have you ever felt out of place?

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 4:43 pm  

dubairl wrote:

I agree with you that Rugby League doesn't need millionaires to succeed it just needs hard working and honest people driving it. All super league clubs are run on a relatively small budget so its doesn't need massive investors but some projects what would benefit the game in the long do need that initial capital to get it going. Such as hiring the best event organizers for events such as magic weekend, grand final, challenge cup final and big international games. Also it would be fantastic for the RFL to be able to hire these guys and let them consult with clubs so they don't spend money they don't have but instead find new ways of making money.

I agree with all of that and especially the bit about hiring the best event organizers. I would love to see what the Bestival guys could do with the magic weekend.

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:05 pm  

Worzel wrote:

Not sure what planet some people are on but I was not referring to multimillionaire backers of clubs. I was referring to how to attract more middle class personnel to attend games.

I'm a wine drinker, is that therefore wrong to be associated with RL? Maybe when RL shrugs off it's deep ingrained culture of cotton/woolen mills, terrace houses and ferrets image the game will have a better hope of growth elsewhere in Britain?

What about those of us who are 'Middle England'. Are we banished or welcomed?

My friends who I regularly socialize with on a weekend could be considered as middle class and don't find rugby league appealing one bit and have declined my offer to see a live game many times. To them it's just men running about aimlessly on a field for eighty minutes. That and they don't like watching sport in general anyways.

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:14 pm  

Damo-Leeds wrote:

My friends who I regularly socialize with on a weekend could be considered as middle class and don't find rugby league appealing one bit and have declined my offer to see a live game many times. To them it's just men running about aimlessly on a field for eighty minutes. That and they don't like watching sport in general anyways.

You will never be able to cater to everybody. But there is a massive market being missed out on for the stupid reason grass roots rugby isn't set up correctly in that market.

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:44 pm  

Let's be realistic here - RL will NEVER be a national sport and will NEVER be anywhere as big as Rugby Union... There simply isn't the demand or interest in it.

Before I get shot down for my comment, I do think we have a great product, BUT our roots are too deeply entrenched in the working class, northern population that presently follow our sport.

I think we will always have our moments (recent World Cup semi, the odd domestic final) when sporting neutrals will acknowledge what a good product we have when it is played at a high standard, but the vast majority of those neutrals will just go back to following RU, cricket, cycling, sailing, etc, simply because the game at domestic level is not of the quality that can attract these people to go full time in following a side.

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:49 pm  

dubairl wrote:

You will never be able to cater to everybody. But there is a massive market being missed out on for the stupid reason grass roots rugby isn't set up correctly in that market.

Spot on. Amateur and schools rugby is the entry point for both future fans and players. At least 6 of my friends regularly go to Twickers to watch England. Only because they played Union at school. That's why I get so annoyed at the backwards attitude at so many amateur clubs.

Re: What is the RFL doing to attract the affluent classes? : Fri Jan 17, 2014 5:56 pm  

Dita's Slot Meter wrote:

Let's be realistic here - RL will NEVER be a national sport and will NEVER be anywhere as big as Rugby Union... There simply isn't the demand or interest in it.

Before I get shot down for my comment, I do think we have a great product, BUT our roots are too deeply entrenched in the working class, northern population that presently follow our sport.

I think we will always have our moments (recent World Cup semi, the odd domestic final) when sporting neutrals will acknowledge what a good product we have when it is played at a high standard, but the vast majority of those neutrals will just go back to following RU, cricket, cycling, sailing, etc, simply because the game at domestic level is not of the quality that can attract these people to go full time in following a side.

And a Defeatist attitude won't change that. The reason there isn't a BIG demanded (there is a demand) for it down south because there is not affinity to rugby league and the best way to change that is develop it in to schools with incentives. Majority of people who i know who like to watch union sociably only watch it because they played it in school. To be honest they wouldn't be able to tell you which players came from which amateur clubs unlike most league fans can.