Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 4:50 pm  

djcool wrote:

Imagine the world where a top 8 team is relegated as they are only grade B

I don't think that's possible. My understanding is that if a Grade B finishes bottom, they would go down, but not if it's a Grade A. That is, it's not a case of the lowest-ranked Grade B goes down. The Grade B still has to finish bottom (which would happen to is if nothing changes).

The advantage of Grade A is that you're more likely to get investment and backing, as your investment is safer.

I presume the goal is to eventually get everyone to Grade A, not get rid of the Grade B's.

Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:01 pm  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

I don't think that's possible. My understanding is that if a Grade B finishes bottom, they would go down, but not if it's a Grade A. That is, it's not a case of the lowest-ranked Grade B goes down. The Grade B still has to finish bottom (which would happen to is if nothing changes).

The advantage of Grade A is that you're more likely to get investment and backing, as your investment is safer.

I presume the goal is to eventually get everyone to Grade A, not get rid of the Grade B's.

But wouldn't any grade A teams in the Championship get promoted automatically, given we don't know the criteria yet

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Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 5:51 pm  

djcool wrote:

But wouldn't any grade A teams in the Championship get promoted automatically, given we don't know the criteria yet

That's an interesting point actually.
If 8th place is B and the rest below are all As and can't be relegated, and top of next league is A, who goes up or down?

I assume they would expand the league to accommodate all the As.
And possibly they only assess A status at certain times allow P&R to be independent.

Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 6:30 pm  

My understanding was that if a Grade A finishes bottom, no one comes up.

I suspect the criteria wouldn't allow a Championship Grade A, as there seems to be something about fan engagement and numbers, as that was included in the latest Trinity magazine. By default, they wouldn't have the numbers. Once they come up though, they could become Grade A.

From the last magazine, fan engagement on social media is the part that worries JM and MC about where we might slip up.

Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 8:03 pm  

Slugger McBatt wrote:

My understanding was that if a Grade A finishes bottom, no one comes up.

I suspect the criteria wouldn't allow a Championship Grade A, as there seems to be something about fan engagement and numbers, as that was included in the latest Trinity magazine. By default, they wouldn't have the numbers. Once they come up though, they could become Grade A.

From the last magazine, fan engagement on social media is the part that worries JM and MC about where we might slip up.

JM said yesterday that it was something that was being looked at to improve.
Said it had been tricky with the redevelopment as staff were concentrating on that.

Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:42 pm  

I just think all this grading stuff is doing nothing to increase, revenue or participation. Do you really think Sky are going to say now that teams are graded AB and C we will give them a new sky deal worth twice as much. IMG should be advising on marketing. If I lived in the South I wouldn't know superleague was starting next week and I wouldn't give a toss about grading but if I saw some TV or Social media advertising of some big hits or length of the field tries I might think I want to get into that

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Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Mon Feb 06, 2023 10:51 pm  

Hopwood wrote:

I just think all this grading stuff is doing nothing to increase, revenue or participation. Do you really think Sky are going to say now that teams are graded AB and C we will give them a new sky deal worth twice as much. IMG should be advising on marketing. If I lived in the South I wouldn't know superleague was starting next week and I wouldn't give a toss about grading but if I saw some TV or Social media advertising of some big hits or length of the field tries I might think I want to get into that

I think you are missing the point.
The grading is a target to get to that is agreed to be the standard that can build and grow the game. And those that do get the reward of sustainability by not being relegated.

Re: Start of the season 10 days away. Where are IMG? : Tue Feb 07, 2023 8:42 am  

Hopwood wrote:

I just think all this grading stuff is doing nothing to increase, revenue or participation. Do you really think Sky are going to say now that teams are graded AB and C we will give them a new sky deal worth twice as much. IMG should be advising on marketing. If I lived in the South I wouldn't know superleague was starting next week and I wouldn't give a toss about grading but if I saw some TV or Social media advertising of some big hits or length of the field tries I might think I want to get into that

There are some plus points if grade A clubs are required to have academies, strong presence in the community, supporting a number of amateur clubs ets and the assumption is that a number of clubs will strive to hit the A grade.
The difficulties come with the criteria and what points/priorities are given to which criteria.

London seem to have been flagged up as being important to the future of the game and therefore, do you get extra points for being outside the "heartlands", thus giving advantage to London, Newcastle, York and perhaps Toulouse and equally, would you be penalised if there are clubs already in your geographical area, which could hamper clubs like Fev.
Also, the criteria will never be set in stone and will no doubt change over time.