www.channelnews.com.au
www.rnz.co.nz
www.rugbypass.com
www.stuff.co.nz
What the hell does this have to do with 3rd team??1. If this ChannelNews report is correct, Optus will not be bidding for the RA 2021- 2026 broadcast Rights for RU Tests, Super Rugby etc.
RA could be facing a major financial disaster since it relies very heavily on the Rights' $ to support all levels of RU in Aust.
Fox Sports would probably only offer a much reduced Rights' deal.
channelnews : Optus Won’t Bid For Rugby Despite Lions Tour Inclusion Claim Insiders
Optus will not take on Rugby Australia according to sources despite the inclusion of the 2025 British and Irish Lions tour in RA’s next broadcast deal. Sources at the carrier have told ChannelNews that Rugby is seen as being in decline and “does not make sense” and that what is happening right...
Or is Roberts' unnamed Optus source trying to whiteant RA's Rights' $ expectations?
2. NZ RU is experiencing a significant long term decline in GR male contact RU. This NZ decline has been accelerating in recent years- although RU still attracts easily the highest % of good athletes cf other NZ sports.
(Female contact RU & RL is having significant growth in NZ, as in Aust.).
This NZ male RU contact player decline has no direct impact now on GR or elite RU & RL in Australia.
There will, however, eventually be an indirect, negative impact in Aust. because:-
. c. 45% of NRL, Aust. Super Rugby, & Wallaby players are now either born in NZ, or Pasifika nations; or are born in Aust., but come from NZ (euro or maori) or Pasifica backgrounds. For elite jnr NRL & RU squads, the % is c. 50%.
As GR contact RU nos. continue to decline in NZ, there will be an eventual decline in the numbers & quality of NZ born players in elite Aust. RU & RL teams.
Aust. born players, of NZ or Pasifica background, in Aust. elite teams may not have the same quality, if fewer of their parents had the passion &/or played in NZ.
This will cause a decline in average skill standards in Aust. RU & RL teams- & will probably cause a negative impact on Aust. crowds & ratings, & broadcast $.
The Wallabies will also become less competitive- their success ("the showcase of RU") is crucial to RA's attempts to grow RU in Aust.
. the narrative of the male "antipodean retreat" from contact RU will become more anxious, obvious, & attract more MSM attention. A PR negative loop cycle.
This bad news will, probably, contribute to further demoralisation of RU & RL in Aust., & a further loss of players & interest in RU & RL.
. If NZ elite RU becomes weaker financially, it may be more difficult for it to assist Aust. RU- as it has done in previous decades, when Aust. RU had some severe problems.
. it is likely that GR AF will continue be a beneficiary of the male RU & RL decline. Many NSW/Qld./ACT, & even NZ males, who want to play a body contact sport, may be attracted to GR AF.
Examples of the NZ GR Decline
. NZ Radio H. Bidwell Sports' Journalist 14.2.20
Bidwell said
"Before long we will have First XV rugby...and the All Blacks, with next to nothing in between. Junior club grades are now going to 10 a-side...don't have the numbers. Talk is that adult club rugby will go the same way...clubs are dying. But the death of these institutions means the death of the game...".
Strong rumours are that South Africa will leave SANZAAR in c.5 years, to play in Europe.
"The South African TV network Super Sport effectively underwrites rugby in this country (& Aust., due to very strong European ratings, same time zone- my words)...already NZR have a forecast deficit of $30m over the next 5 years. Lose Super Sport...NZR (& RA- my words) are in real strife".
Rugby in worse shape than we thought - Bidwell
You hope New Zealand Rugby have plans in place to help the game prosper, or at least survive, but I'm not holding my breath, writes Hamish Bidwell.
. NZ Herald 24.1.20
"NZ Rugby has announced an extensive Review to future-proof the sport...rugby is under pressure...from participation, fan engagement, talent retention...".
'Rugby is under pressure': New Zealand Rugby's plan to futureproof game - NZ Herald
New Zealand Rugby has announced an extensive review to futureproof the sport.www.nzherald.co.nz
. RugbyPass website B. Smith 12.1.20
Smith said
" It has been predicted that basketball will become New Zealand's most participated youth sport by high school students this year, having overtaken rugby a couple of years ago".
(Soccer is also growing, & overtook rugby many years ago).
Re NZ Super Rugby TV viewers "The younger you were, the less likely you were to be watching rugby...Of the Super Rugby audience...alarmingly just 10% of Gen Z (1990- 2005)" watched. "Over 70% of the audience was 42 and older...with pre-boomers & babyboomers forming a large % of the viewership...the professional game in NZ will be a ticking time bomb towards extinction".
The costliest mistake in the history of Rugby
The failure to understand how the Internet could shape the sport and play a role in its future is one of the costliest mistakes in the history of Rugby by administrators.
. NZ Stuff Sports' website 29.9.19
"NZ Rugby...is introducing a new initiative from 2020 which will allow Provincial Unions to modify team size... There will also be more of a focus on non contact (my emphasis) Rip Rugby , and a 10-a-side format ...the initiative known as Game On has been designed to reduce the number of defaults due to lack of player numbers".
Rip Rugby "Non-contact...versions...are growing in popularity. Rip Rugby...enables kids to enjoy the game without... risk of injury (my emphases )".
Stuff
the afl don’t own or have a a copyright on the word football that would never legally be allowed to happen anyone that thinks that is extremely gullible
I have asked you, numerous times in this Thread, to answer my questions in posts #1722 1789 1917 1978 1995 - by addressing the issues in the questions, which expose your many lies. You have continuously refused.
Nothing. Entirely about rugby in New Zealand.
player.whooshkaa.com
www.bigfooty.com
www.forbes.com
www.sen.com.au
If club could draw a home crowd there would be no talk of usa gameSEN Melb. Radio T.Watson & G.Lyon program 5.3.20
They briefly discussed the purpose of the proposed GWS (home game) vs. Essendon match in LA or San Francisco from 2012 or 2022. The US-initiated proposal is that GWS would play this game every year- either a week before Round 1, or during the bye round, so both teams have a 14 day break.
Watson then asked Lyon
"What if a couple of really well heeled businessmen came to GWS, and said 'we want to buy the club, we want to have private ownership'. Do you think the AFL will entertain this?".
Watson did not claim, nor imply, he had direct information about such a takeover.
(then click on "SEN Breakfast Full Show 5.3.20"; then scroll to 1 hour 46 mins. 4 second mark - 1 hr 47 min 40 secs.)SEN Breakfast
SEN Breakfast delivers more analysis and insights on the stories that matter the most to the Melbourne audience. The benchmark when it comes to football experience, Garry, Tim, Bucks, Kane and Kingy's expertise and insight sets the agenda each morning.
EDIT:
Essendon keen to play game for premiership points in California
Essendon are keen to play a ground-breaking game in California against the Greater Western Sydney Giants for premiership points within the next two years.www.theage.com.au
Well there won't be any tickets for away fans if this is true about membership numbers1. GWS has just reached 25,392 members- this is a 51.5% increase cf. the same date in 2019. Extraordinary (in NSW) for a club that has been in the AFL for only 8 years, based in Sydney's previously barren for AF WS.
The 2019 final tally of 30,108 (which included c. 5500 from the ACT) will be easily broken in 2020.
30,000+ easily surpasses virtually all non-AF pro sporting clubs in NSW & Qld. (Swans in 2019 had 60,000+; Broncos & South Sydney also reach 30,000+).
Many pro clubs (a few in existence for 100+ years) in NSW & Qld. well under 20,000 final members in 2019.
GIANTS Reach 25k Members in Record Time
The GIANTS have recorded 51.5 per cent membership growth compared to the same time last year.www.gwsgiants.com.au
2. GWS CEO D. Matthews said on 9.2.20, on Radio 1017AM Sky Big Sport Breakfast, GWS will reach c. 35,000 members in 2020, & possibly 50,000 the next few years.
I suspect the majority of Sydney memberships are less than a full 8 game season for Giants' Stadium matches. For the 3 Canberra games, only 3 game memberships exist.
To count as being an Official member in the AFL, one must be a minimum 3 game member, having paid at least $50.
50,000 would be a stunning achievement for GWS.
All Matthews' early membership predictions in the last 7 years (when he made a prediction in every year) has been vindicated by the final years' tally.
Asked about membership in 5 years time, Matthews replied
"...I would like to see 50,000...35,000 members this year, get to 50,000 in 2 to 3 years ...17 other clubs, most about 100 to 150 years old...we want to be as robust as we can be...our absolute priority is western Sydney...Essendon, under Sheedy, was once the second most supported club in the rest of Australia... This (Essendon) example is set for us. There is no limitation for us. We want to grow our fan base in any way we can".
(go to 4 minutes 20 secs. - 6 mins. 55 secs.)Whooshkaa Shows
EDIT:
3. GWS has some very wealthy supporters from Pimco Bonds in the US (who control over $300 billion in assets). These US supporters, some of whom regularly visit Australia to watch GWS games, have taken over the sponsorship Rights from Spotless- & are paying GWS $2.5m. pa to rename their stadium "Giants Stadium".
(go to post #1162; & post#1174- P.Williams 27.9.19 tweet, for the full Pimco Bonds GWS article in The Australian).A Third Team In Sydney - It's Only a Matter Of Time !!
I don't think you know what "over the very long term" means. GWS should be reviewed after 30 years of existence. If support is strong (20k average) and NSW continues to produce more players, then this sets the 3rd team in motion. If not, more time is obviously required so any plans should be...
About 5.5m. people live in the USA who are immigrants from India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka & Bangladeshi- but most are from India.
How A $1 Billion Investment Into American Cricket Will Kick-Start A Professional U.S. T20 League
American cricket is gaining serious momentum after the historic $1 billion investment to develop the sport highlighted by the development of a professional T20 domestic tournament set to start in 2021.
When asked about the AFL game that GWS has recently stated it wishes to play in the USA, Matthews said
"There will be a meaningful 20-20 competition established across America...with facilities (cricket grounds, with large accomodation for fans etc. -my words)... We have a lot of partners (ie GWS & AFL supporters- my words) in the US, we have a lot of people who are encouraging us to take a game".
(go to 7 mins.2 secs. - 8 mins. 30 secs. of Radio 1017 link above)
