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Rumours that the Norths Group is willing to partner stakeholders and rescue the Gold Coast Titans solve many headaches for the NRL. Since the…
The success in 2014 of foundation and reinstated club South Sydney, with the accompanying surge in TV ratings, has highlighted the benefits of reinstating…
Greg Florimo, CEO of the Central Coast Bears, has made a direct appeal to the rugby league community for assistance in bringing the question…
So who runs the game, anyway? David Gallop constantly says it’s the fans. That being the case, the fans have spoken. Overwhelmingly, in any…
The current tangent taken by opponents of the Central Coast bid, that there are already a surfeit of teams in Sydney that Central Coast…
The strengths of the Central Coast bid have been enunciated clearly over the past year and last week the Bears were promised $3.5 million…
In a massive tick for the Central Coast Bears NRL license bid, the target of 5000 financial members, submitted to an initially sceptical administration,…
The report that many of the Sydney Club CEO’s are not in favour of a Central Coast Bears team in the competition is predictable…
With the NRL increasingly confident of expansion in 2013, I thought it timely for a quick update of the progress of the leading contender…
With the build up to the Independent Commission and television rights deal in full swing, I've taken a not-so serious look into the future…
Last week was full of good news for the Central Coast Bears bid team. On Thursday, David Gallop was very upbeat after being presented…
The past week has seen much focus on the NRL's future expansion plans. Currently there are bids in play from the Central Coast, Perth…
For the NRL to grow and ward off increased competition from AFL in heartland areas, there are only two options: either the NRL cuts…
But the kids followed St George before that, and next year they will follow Canterbury or Rabbitohs. Agree manly due to proximity will have a higher % than most, but unless the parents are engaged with the game (and most long term nth shore residents aren’t without the Bears), the kids support won’t be bolted on.
If the Bears bid is rejected, agree in 20 years time what tiny remnants of RL support on the north shore remains will predominantly support the Sea Eagles IF they are still in Sydney. But we’re talking inconsequential numbers – 99% of kids here will be supporting the Swans or Waratahs or Sydney FC or CC Mariners.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
I have no doubt you’re right that the BEars supporters got on and voted, as they ahve for every other poll. the sample was 22,000 for the Telegraph poll and unsure re RLW, but its normally 4-5,000. Surely sufficent sample sizes to remove much bias, though I’m sure we skewed the data a bit!
But isn’t a passionate and committed supporter base exactly what the ARLC should be looking for? Do they want to disengage these people?
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Your missing a few points!
1. The Bear were guaranteed survival by Arthurson who assured them their position was guaranteed if they stayed loyal in the Super League War, when everyone could see that as soon as Manly stayed, the Bears should have gone Super League. They stayed out of loyalty.
2. The Bears were guaranteed survival if they relcoated to Central Coast. A rich club, they spent their dough on that assurance by building the stadium at Gosford. That guarantee was also reneged on.
3. The Bears were told after the Norhtern Eagles fiasco they’d be in next…again, reneged on.
The Bears are financially stronger now than they were back then, in fact they’re stronger than most NRL Clubs, unlike all those clubs you mention who have gone…and those clubs didn’t face the disgraces mentioned above. Proves we are resilient and determined to right a wrong.
This is why Flo is calling on all people who feel the Bears were treated unfairly to sign the petition http://www.change.org/petitions/arl-commission-bring-back-the-bears-2
they deserve at least the chance to state their case. If thats rejected, so be it. But if they don’t even let the Bears present their bid, then the game can go to hell.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Excecpt they’ve come out saying they wont. Any expansion must be 100% self-funded. meaning only low-cost models with proven support and low costs for existing teams. Add Bears crowds boosting Sydeny away games and the game will be better off with the Bears in.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Couldn’t agree more, npollard, you’ve put it better than I could. People seem to have not read the recent ARLC comments regarding expansion being possible only without NRL founding. This simply knocks out non-heartland areas, meaning only CC and a Brisbane team out of Suncorp are possibilities within this TV deal cycle.
Next cycle, I’d love to see WA and CQ join.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
All done JZ, though we only have 8,000 financial members, same as some existing NRL clubs! Gallop said if we could get 5,000 he’d become a fan. Mt Penang has been set aside and partly funded by the State Govt as best-in-state facilities. Think Centre of Excellence but viable. Already sold 1000’s of Bears jerseys/training shirts etc. Support is the easiest thing to prove and its where we are light years ahead of other contenders.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Think St George Illawarra as the closest model, though everything will be based on the Coast aside from 1 game NS Oval and thousands of fans and major corporates located in northern Sydney who are financing the bid – these corporates won’t sponsor anyone but the Bears, so there can be no claims of cannibalisation by existing teams.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
If you think the Bears were dudded, add your voice to the following – http://www.change.org/petitions/arl-commission-bring-back-the-bears-2
In 4 days, so far over 3,500 league fans from all clubs have joined – the Bears deserve at the leasst the chance to state their case for admission.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Sure, Q.1 I’m involved with a junior League team on the lower north shore and volunteer for the Central Coast Bears.
Q.2 Build forts in your own territory to secure your territory before crusading in enemy territory is the thinking….
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
All polls in whatever format, whatever media proprietor have the same results over 5 years. The Bears have the popular support – not sure how even our opponents could deny that.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Trouble is JonD that Manly are quite willing to let the 3 junior clubs on the lower north shore die – they only want Asquith and the rest can fall, as they don’t have any traction on the north shore. As for the Central Coast, we shall just see the drift away from league in junior numbers continue while ever there is the Mariners only to support. With reduced junior numbers playing league, all teams that cherrypick the area will suffer in the end, especially Manly.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
I see Tasmania is next in line for AFL franchise, as well as perth 3, so there is hope!
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Gosford plus north shore = 1 million. Thats why its called the BEars, and no, they don’t watch NRL as much as they should, hence they add value.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
The ARLC has three options with the Bears – admit them, extinct them or encourage a ‘relocation’ a la Sydney Swans….only if they were told you will be extinct obviously would the concept of a rebadged interstate Bears be even looked at – its a distraction only until the ARLC make a strategic decision on direction.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
All the points you raise are the reasons the Bears should be included – or at least ahve the chance to present their bid. The mantra ‘there are too many teams in NSW’ is absurd. If a product can add value then there’s no limit. Look what happened to the highly congested inner Sydney area when Souths were readmitted against the Roosters wishes……crowds went up, memberships went up, merchandise sales went up…for the Roosters! Rivalries are what drives the game in NSW, and a Foundation Club that has pre-built rivalries with Manly and Newcastle can only be positive.
Guess what – FTA and Fox viewership is below East Coast averages on not only the north shore but Central COast, and they are down on what they were before the Bears were kicked out. Gallop himself said over 40,000 fans were lost when the Bears were punted – add them and their kids and you have instant growth, not manufactured franchises with no natural development.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC
Im a Bears fan first, a RL fan second. I dont have Fox because they were partly responsible for the Bears being punted. I watch Ch9 rarely because they arent proactively pushing for the Bears.
Should the BEars be denied, I will follow AFL, and so will y family. I’ve invested too much emotion as my family have over 3 generations supporting the BEars to put up with all the hatred and barriers to entry being put in their way when tehy did the right thing moving to Gosford.
With me will go 1000’s more who gave the NRL one last chance, and the coast and north shore will never get a league team. manly will suffer long term as RL dies on the north shore.
Add teh BEars or the game is screwed from the bridge to Wyong long term. And its our 3rd largest junior nursery. its vital they be added.
Are the Bears finally to come out of hibernation?
Look at every expansion poll – Bears win hands down. A sample size of 20 doesnt cut it.
Are the Bears finally to come out of hibernation?
More like its soul – does RL have one or not…we’ll soon find out.
Are the Bears finally to come out of hibernation?
Can’t comment on perths bid as I haven’t seen their document, but BHP sponsored the Steelers then came a mining slump. The mining boom has ended, so things may change re sponsors/owners. Twiggy Forest lost $300m today for example, Tinkler is having problems also. There are lots of millionaires behind the Bears also, just behind the scenes, but the corporates are more insurance, finance, banks, FMCG’s that have been around for 30+ years and are hence sustainable and not subject as directly to boom/bust cycles.
NRL expansion must still be considered by ARLC