With the NRL increasingly confident of expansion in 2013, I thought it timely for a quick update of the progress of the leading contender – the Central Coast Bears.
The NRL has increasingly stressed that they are not looking to just place pins on a map but rather are looking at the quality of each individual bid and its strategic impact.
So to be successful, a bid must be highly advanced and add value to the game.
So how do the Bears stack up?
The Bears are without question the most advanced bid of the contenders – 3,300 financial members with no team to support is an incredibly powerful statement.
In a recent meeting, the NRL expressed their delight at the bid’s progress. The bid team has targeted 5,000 financial memberships by 31 March 2011 – an incredibly high target, but one that looks possible with the ever-increasing momentum the bid is generating.
The WA Reds have just commenced a financial membership drive with a target of 3,000 by end of 2010. CQ are not attempting to attract financial memberships while the Western Jets bid is still being crafted, hence there model is unknown, but financial memberships are currently on zero.
In terms of Facebook fan sites, the Bears are about level with the Newcastle Knights at over 20,700 fans. These numbers compare favourably with Cronulla Sharks (14,500), Penrith Panthers (13,130) and Canberra (8,220). Central Queensland’s bid has 8,240 fans, WA Red’s 700 and the Ipswich Jets have 47.
Innovative ‘Bears @ Work’ corporate drives have reaped an outstanding array of diverse sponsors – finance for this bid is not in question.
An innovative private capital raising model will allow fans to buy shares in the Bears – the first community owned team of its kind in Australia. Combined with merchandise and membership sales, the Bears are budgeting for an excess floating capital reserve of approximately $5 million – the envy of all NRL teams with the exception perhaps only of the Broncos.
The success of the bid can be put down to a grassroots campaign in effect on the Central Coast over the past 5 years which has been ramped up over the past 12 months. Participation at untold community events, shopping centres, fundraisers, charity and school support have proved to the Coast that the Bears are committed to the community and here to stay forever. The majority of members are now Coasties, and by March will comprise around 2/3 Central Coast, 1/3 northern Sydney.
This mix is crucial – it goes to the heart of the Bears’ strategic appeal for the NRL/ARL. David Gallop has expressed his desire for this bid to prove by financial memberships that both Central Coast and northern Sydney will support the Bears, which would allow the NRL/ARL to reconnect with northern Sydney at the same time giving a heartland area a team it desperately needs.
The 2010 success of St-George-Illawarra, the closest geographic model to the Bears’ bid is very timely.
The NRL/ARL, like any army at war, attempts to build fortresses in heartlands to prevent incursions by the enemy. With the heartlands secure, the army can go on the offence, and secure new territories. These new territories are obviously Perth in the short term and perhaps another NZ team in due course.
The only heartland area in Australia requiring a fortress is northern Sydney, with the new Western Sydney AFL franchise on the doorstep in the Hills district of North Sydney’s junior league district.
Add to that the threats from strong private school support for Rugby and traditional soccer support.
So not only do the Bears have a bid that’s the most advanced and muti-faceted ever to be submitted, there’s an urgency to reestablish support among the 750,000 people on the northside of Sydney disenfranchised when North Sydney were lost to the competition.
Admitting the Bears will indeed expand the game into a wealthy demographic, which is why sponsors are so eager to jump on board this model.
Key selling points for the Bears, of course, are the propaganda triumph for the game in re-establishing a Foundation Club, thus healing the wounds of the Super League War (particularly in combined with a return of another victim, the WA Reds).
Add to this the huge tribal rivalries that can be promoted between the Central Coast Bears and Newcastle and Manly (plus other Foundation rivalries with Roosters, Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers) – clashes that will benefit all clubs enormously in stimulating interest/pride in the local community and hence merchandise/member/attendance revenues.
The final point of course is the Club’s access to perhaps the two most attractive grounds to watch rectangular sport at in Australia – Bluetongue Stadium and North Sydney Oval.
Perhaps the final and most significant advantage for the Bears is that they were the second most watched team on free-to-air TV in the 1990’s – of massive importance that can be used to leverage for an increased TV deal, particularly if the NRL/ARL (as appears likely) choose to add WA Reds as a higher risk play to offset a sure winner in the Bears.
Two teams equals one more free-to-air game, possibly on Saturday night.
Hopefully within ten years all four regions will have teams. All hopes now rest on the NRL/ARL’s ability to secure an enhanced TV rights deal.
Col the bear
Guest
Ah I have to put it up. Well done to ccbears supporters mark and Duncan from the show the block who for 8 weeks kept the bears high profile wearing their bears gear and last night 1.7 million people tuned in to watch the finale with mark wearing his central coast bears training t shirt and Duncan wearing the bears nsw cup jersey. All this on rugby league loving channel 9. Well done guys great exposure and great response thus far for the mighty Bears. publicity you couldn't buy.
Col the Bear
Guest
we're not the money people but we now have the money people behind us to make this a success..and more coming on board to be apart of the Bears brand..thats what they want to be apart of the Bears brand..and to say we don't do anything for the CC clubs is also an insult..we had academys set up on the CC during the 90s.. just so the CC clubs would have an NRL club to go to and thats what the North sydney Bears were, until they were unceremoniously removed from the competition.. now we are rebuilding that so the kids on the CC and the NS will have an NRL team to play for..the central coast, get the name and they get the team on the Coast.. the North Shore get their colours and their heritage plus rep juniors from both districts will have somewhere to aspire too in their own district..plus it's another U/20s side.. from the heartland of rugby league.. If it was all about money Gary.. then the Bears would have been in in 2004 when singo led the charge.. the CCBears are a community team/club.. and the majority of people realise that, in the Daily telegraph this week the poll was asked , should the CCBears be back in the comp.. 82% in favour.. this grows bigger and bigger all the time..I know you are going to say,so what it's just a poll. but it's a trend which is continuing.. more and more are "coming on board.". Gary I hope you guys do get a licence some time I have made no bones about that,but this time it's the Bears time..
Tim
Guest
Surely as a Souths Logan fan you know Canberra is NOT in NSW?
beowulf
Guest
Col hasn't said it, but he has been devoting his spare time over 10 years as a volunteer, along with other volunteers such as Ros our merchandising star. That means giving up their weekends over 10 years on merchandise stands, membership drives, fundraisers, charity days, commenting on sites such as this. They have been doing this only for the love of the CC Bears brand. To pay them would be an insult, though richly deserved. Its called volunteering, giving back to your community. In return you get pride and satisfaction in doing good, nothing else. And the franchise model you bitterly complain about is EXACTLY WHAT THE NRL ASKED THE BEARS TO DO.
Territory Terry
Guest
What's wrong Gary, have you had a bad experience with a Bear in the past? I think somebody needs a hug...
Col the Bear
Guest
PRIDE; PASSION ;PERSISTANCE.. GARY AND BLOODY HARD WORK..THATS WHY THE BEARS WILL MAKE IT 4 GENERATIONS BEHIND US...
Col the Bear
Guest
PRIDE ;PASSION; PERSISTANCE AND BLOODY HARD WORK GARY..THATS WHAT IT IS.. GO THE BEARS.
Col the Bear
Guest
PRIDE; PASSION; AND PERSISTANCE..OH AND BLOODY HARD WORK GARY.Go the Bears..
beowulf
Guest
Gary, You have absolutely no idea what you're talking about and this post proves what a bitter and twisted, glass half empty soul you are.. I am 41 years old, live on the north shore and my first job was selling ice creams at North Sydney Oval in 1985 when the Bears weren't very successful. I have followed them since I was 6 (1975) when I won a colouring in competition and received a Bears jersey. I was lost to League from 1999-present, and have only shown interest in the past year because of the hope that the CC Bears will be admitted so that I will one day be able to take my children to watch their local team in the NRL, as my father did with me. What you are witnessing is PASSION. The same as when Souths rallied to return. Its what makes this bid superior to any other contender...Bears fans know what its like to have your team and then have it torn away from you. We're still angry as hell after 11 years. I can give you a gold-plated guarantee on my children's lives that mine and the other pro-Bear comments are from volunteers and supporters only. For one, the Bears are running on a shoestring until a license is granted and two, that is so anti the culture of the Bears and CC Bears bid. We may not have won may comps but the Bears are an honourable Club. It may be the way things are done where you live, but not with the Bears. That is one of the most contemptible comments I've ever read on the Roar. So what are the bs stats? FACTS - nearly 22,00 Facebook fans, more than 4 NRL teams. Financial members - over 3,700, more than 2 NRL teams. 60% of the members are from the Central Coast, the rest from northern Sydney and interstate/overseas. Corporate support guaranteed, including a $10m undewrite. Population of the catchment 1.1 million (biggest unrepresented RL heartland area in Australia). Junior teams - 23 (3rd most in NSW). Support of NSW State Govt and Opposition, support of Joe Hockey MP, Gosford mayor and all the councils in the districts, support of C.Coast Tourism, 2 magnificent stadiums, a 102 year old Foundation Club with a nationally recognised logo. Do I need to go on? The Bears have been part of the Coast physically since 1999, and were trying to be there since 1991. They are involved in charity work, fundraisings, job creation - all to help the community. All polls over the past 2 years show overwhelming support for the team. We're coming in and everyone on teh Coast will have an NRL team to play for or watch. Why is that so difficult to swallow? Only someone hating RL could oppose it, because its the only option the Coast has.
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Yeah - hard working Central Coast bid team people being paid to push their business agendas on Internet blogs. These blog entries aren't from Bears fans - they are from paid Bears business associates pretending to be 'from the people' rather than paying for advertising. The amount of bs stats, rewriting of history and general propaganda on this string is pathetic! Every true rugby league fan on the Central Coast knows the Bears business is stealing their right to have a presence in the national comp. It's a disgrace. I bought a North Sydney Bears jersey two years ago for my son who was born on North Shore. My parents have lived on the Central Coast for 23 years. The Bears represent my son, not my parents!
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Yeah - relentless promotion as previously stated. The Bears have suddenly got supporters in some of the Central Coast club committees - after some changes to elected positions with a few extra votes... It's amazing how some clubs have done an about face. The Bears now turn up at junior games and give the impression that Bears are as much part of the Central Coast as bad traffic flow. Local junior clubs are "getting n board"... Nice one...
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Yeah, I agree with that. The Bears will be in the comp again as the Central Coast thanks to "shrewd business", a lot of money and a lot of effort by the people who have pushed this for the past few years. The relentless promotion efforts will make / have made the bid successful. And I also agree that this is the way things are done now - and how things will probably be in the future under the current Independent Commission proposal. In fact, it will probably be even more financially driven. But that doesn't make it respectful to the heritage of Central Coast rugby league - it doesn't make those involved honourable in any way - and it doesn't make the bid exist in the best interest of the game. It simply makes it a business deal - by "shrewd business people" as you put it. Nothing more than that. Please thank the owners for issuing shares for the benefit of the community - I can't wait to see what the market price does for all those loyal Bears fans.
Col the Bear
Guest
3715 financial CCBears members now after the success of the weekends membership drive..plus there is only 5 weeks to xmas so get your CCBears merchandise and memberships now, makes great xmas presents..
beowulf
Guest
And thanks also to all the fans of rival Clubs who are joining the CC Bears for two reasons - 1) Because they are impressed by the work done by the bid team in giving the Central Coast a team it richly deserves, and 2) Because everyone comments how the Bears were completely shafted 10 years ago - they want the Bears to get a fair go. This bid's impending success is possibly unprecedented in modern professional sports, at least in Australia.
col the bear
Guest
another successful weekend for our membership drive.. another 70 at Hornsby westfield alone.. but the BIG news is the 10 million coming from Mortgage House, as in the Sunday telegraph today.. this had a massive positive effect on the potential members today at our membership drives, supporters who might have been sitting on the fence yesterday, become members today.. but wait there's a lot more to come, we are just getting started.. ;-)
Gary Magpie
Roar Guru
Yep - Broncos wanted to dominate SEQLD - they were looking out for themselves as most clubs do (such as Manly in that fantastic joint venture). That's why clubs shouldn't have a say in the structure of the comp (but that's the Independent Commission argument). My point is that it was the league - the ARL - who shafted SEQLD as a compromise to the Broncos. The ARL board were/are the NSWRL board - and that is why the compromise was made so easily. How many clubs are in Sydney? It's a simple concept.
Col the Bear
Guest
"The North Sydney Bears have always been an intricate part of the growth and success of the game since it's formation in 1908.The rebirth of the Bears as the Central Coast Bears is an exciting venture and I have no doubt the professionalism,expertise and forsight to carry this through will complete the NRL as Australias premier league competition." Quote Bradley Clyde..
AdamD
Roar Rookie
Thanks Col. and as my first act. I shall Ban the Bears from ever entering the NRL again!!!! lol jokes if a Sydney team falls over than the Bears shall be readmitted.
Col the bear
Guest
Oh ok then Adam congratulations on your newly appointed head of the IC.
AdamD
Roar Rookie
Col. The Bears are not going to happen..... So get over it!!!!