Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"Frankly the damage done by giving the lead sponsorship away for absolutely feck all was so easy to predict (in the same vein as giving away cheap/free tickets to rugby league fans)'"
Correct. Those 9 SL clubs who voted for the Stobart deal (Wigan, St Helens, Warrington, Catalans, Widnes, Bradford, Huddersfield, Wakefield and London) ought to lower their collective heads in shame.
Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"Devaluing the product to such an extent as the idiots in charge have done will continue to ensure RL will struggle into the future to survive financially.'"
Indeed, Big Nige and the RFL do share some of the blame but let's not forget those 9 SL clubs who voted for the devaluation of sponsorship to it's current value of £0.
Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"That these overpaid buffoons running the game & those with only half a brain cell couldn't forsee what would happen is just another realisation our sport will always scrabble around the bottom of the barrel for sponsors.'"
I reserve special contempt for those 4 SL clubs who not only voted for the Stobart deal, but who also walked out of the meeting on restructuring last year whilst placing 100% blame on the incompetence of the RFL with regard to commercial management and governance. Those 4 clubs worthy of the contempt of everyone are... Wigan, Warrington, Catalans and Huddersfield.
Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"The long held view by the vast majority of the population (if they've heard of it at all) that the sport is run by whippet owning flap cap, chip on shoulder Northerner's and followed by such is alive & kicking and will never go away.'"
The vast majority of the population would not be far wrong either.
Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"We are so unatractive with regard to our 'stock' it makes me weep. We're small potatoes and always will be, we've had our chances to make an impact nationally as a sport and to increase the 'worth' but have been let down badly. Let down by the so called fans whom complain about spending a measly £20 or so to watch a game every other week (or less if god forbid buy a season ticket), let down as badly by those that run the sport.'"
Correct. The modern day fans of Super League love their discounted tickets, particularly season tickets. Ask them to shell out anything approaching full price for important knock out fixtures in the CC or important elimination SL play-offs and they stay at home en masse. That's how much they love their product. If it ain't discounted, they ain't interested.
Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"It was fantastic that we had great numbers at the World Cup but what would have been the attendances if the ticket prices had been full price?'"
Tickets for the RLWC were heavily discounted to begin with when they first went on sale, and the fans of the game still refused to purchase any. Of course, the usual excuses came to the fore... RL fans are notorious for purchasing at the last minute, blah, blah, blah. The fact remains that ticket sales for the RLWC were extremely slow and didn't take off until adult tickets were priced at between £5 and £7.50.
Quote knockersbumpMKII="knockersbumpMKII"You've no-where to go, you try to charge full price after the fact and people grumble and don't turn up because it's too expensive. There are some fans who would pay whatever but seemingly these are few and far between.'"
Indeed. Congratulations to the RFL for the further devaluation of the game by establishing future international fixtures and events at the bargain basement discount level. Good luck in your attempts to charge more realistic prices at future international RL events. RLWC legacy by plenty!