Pro12 looking to expand to the East coast of North America (New York)

[Groundhog]

Well well this is interesting
http://www.punditarena.com/rugby/adrumm/two-billionaire-american-financiers-set-invest-pro-12/

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

In the same paper USA rugby say they don't want a Pro 12 team and that pro 12 should expand into somewhere like Spain.

 

[Groundhog]

In the same paper USA rugby say they don't want a Pro 12 team and that pro 12 should expand into somewhere like Spain.

Yeah sure look, I dunno about the general interest in the Pro 12, but those two guys have a pretty varied sport portfolio so interest in the Ospreys I could see.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Don't think they've got a very good reputation, those two.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

In the same paper USA rugby say they don't want a Pro 12 team and that pro 12 should expand into somewhere like Spain.

Glad to hear it. Couldn't agree more. We need to capitalise on the recent surge in popularity in Spain. I find this whole episode with the US baffling and don't think it reflects well on the judgement of those in the Pro12 pursuing it.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

SRU joining the Irish calls on this.

http://www.planetrugby.com/news/pro12-a-bleak-prospect-dodson/

I can see a cracking tournament getting completely ruined here. At least with Super Rugby's controversial expansion into Argentina and Japan it makes sense from a quality and/or TV revenue perspective. I'm not convinced either of those things apply to the US market at this stage.

Yes the TV money gulf is huge and ruinous by there are only so many players that the English and French top leagues can pinch from all over the world. I think we'd hold on to more top players in the Pro12 than some think. If only we'd actually supported the massive potential Italian market in being competitive this could have been oh so different.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Toronto wolf pack will be an interesting viewpoint for this, although it sounds like Pro rugby don't want to wait.

(Who have a pretty cool logo).

Thing is Toronto are being put in league 1 so have plenty of chances to win and develop naturally. (With the signing they have made should def be competitive ATM)

I feel the biggest failings for expansion in Super is the lack of a 2nd tier which could have allowed teams like Jags and Sunwolves chances to win and get confidence.

 

[Groundhog]

Well a lot more specifics and facts about the Pro 12's intentions in this article
http://www.the42.ie/pro12-usa-expansion-plans-2016-2944771-Aug2016/

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

So Pro12 going the super rugby route.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

I've no problem with the prospect of conferences, but why then not just go the whole hog and speak to Super Rugby directly? If the 6N got pushed back then it'd be possible to accommodate the Super Rugby season (summer rugby) and it would reduce the issue of timezones in SR with more games played at times that fans of a team playing can actually watch. I sense that US rugby were warming to their native Pro Rugby (e.g. turning up at the final) so I could see them not giving consent to this. Interesting times ahead anyway. The mere mention of conferences suggests to me that they are interested in continental Europe too.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Would a USA team playing in August - May work?

It would be up against the 3 of the 4 biggest US sports in NFL, NBA, NHL.

There is a reason that pro rugby are targeting the summer sports.
New/New Jersey area has like 6 teams playing in that time frame for example.

 

[profitius]

Would a USA team playing in August - May work?

It would be up against the 3 of the 4 biggest US sports in NFL, NBA, NHL.

There is a reason that pro rugby are targeting the summer sports.
New/New Jersey area has like 6 teams playing in that time frame for example.

The time of day would be an advantage. Rugby would be on early in the day, not clashing with the main American sports and filling a few hours of valuable TV time.

 

[riffraff]

Would a USA team playing in August - May work?

It would be up against the 3 of the 4 biggest US sports in NFL, NBA, NHL.

There is a reason that pro rugby are targeting the summer sports.
New/New Jersey area has like 6 teams playing in that time frame for example.

It's not just about competing with other sports that appeal to the same market. It's also about having half of the best sports markets in the dead of cold winter for December to February and quote iffy in November and March. Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Seattle, Denver, Ohio, St Louis, Indianapolis, Boston, etc.

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

The time of day would be an advantage. Rugby would be on early in the day, not clashing with the main American sports and filling a few hours of valuable TV time.

But that wouldn't work for the USA home games would it unless they want to play @ early o'clock.

It's not just about competing with other sports that appeal to the same market. It's also about having half of the best sports markets in the dead of cold winter for December to February and quote iffy in November and March. Chicago, New York, Philadelphia, Washington, Seattle, Denver, Ohio, St Louis, Indianapolis, Boston, etc.

true true.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

But that wouldn't work for the USA home games would it unless they want to play @ early o'clock.



true true.

it would work with usa home games in the sense that nba and nhl games are played at night even on the weekends

playing on a saturday would be great in the northeast cause no one up here really cares about college football cause most of us went to or go to schools that care more about academics than football, therefore we only care about nfl
it wouldn't work in the south cause they don't have pro football teams

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

it would work with usa home games in the sense that nba and nhl games are played at night even on the weekends

playing on a saturday would be great in the northeast cause no one up here really cares about college football cause most of us went to or go to schools that care more about academics than football, therefore we only care about nfl
it wouldn't work in the south cause they don't have pro football teams

Isn't Michigan (Both of them), Notre dame, Wisconsin, Penn State in the North east?

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

All of them are Midwest, even though pa is on the east coast that only extends about an hour and a half west of Philly

I'm in the penn state area (best friend goes to Law school there, my ex went there, and I ref there quite a bit) and it is not part of the northeast

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

MidWest? but it is nowhere near the West coast?

Mind blown.....

Saying that I still think it would be pushing it a bit in terms of attendances.

 

[Bruce_ma gooshvili]

Vancouver and Houston have been thrown out there as options with suggestion that their climate would be more feasible during the Pro12 months. Reading up on Pro rugby I sensed some tensions between them and whatever passes for a rugby authority in Texas. To be honest if it is two clubs introduced at the same time it makes more sense than just one, at least teams can go over for a mini-tour.

When talking about ethnic Irish and Italian communities in North America I can't say those two cities came to mind. Plus Houston has major sporting franchises so is a bit of a saturated market. I'd have thought Austin would have been better if we are going to Texas.

http://m.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/37170428

 

[LeinsterMan (NotTigsMan)]

Vancouver? Yeh let's pick the city furthest away from us in Canada.

Houston makes no sense either.

Portland/Seattle and Vancouver would make more sense as a pairing surely?