New Italian franchise set for Parma

[Feicarsinn]

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3825_7790039,00.html

I haven't been able to find mention of it anywhere else, but if it's true it's not a bad move. Parma has the advantage of being a great deal more accessible than Viadana for travelling fans, and also has a larger population while still being close enough to Italy's rugby heartlands. Hopefully the next franchise can go about building a stronger squad than Aironi for a lot less money.

They're going to get mullered next year.

 

[SelimNiai]

Parma eh?

Let's hope the management aren't as ham-fisted as the previous lot.

 

[Nielsch]

I still think a team in Rome would have been a better decision but we'll have to wait and see how this one will turn out.

 

[greybeard]

Looks like the new "franchigia" will be playing at the Moletolo stadium near Parma. While it is logical to think that a move to a big city will bring more bums on seats, it's not necessarily the case. Treviso and Viadana had the biggest crowds over the last few years in Italian rugby, in large part because of all the work done and progress made over the last 15 years, meaning that Viadana could get – on a good day – around 2,000 spectators, Treviso more. (Other teams in Top 10/Eccellenza couldn't come near this). This led to an average of around 3,000 in the Celtic. One Parma supporter posted on an Italian Forum that he hoped the new team would not be coming to Parma "as there is no love for rugby here" …..
The Moletolo stadium is at the moment below standard for the Celtic, but the Council (who own the ground) have promised to do the neccesary work which will take….. 2/3 mths. Maybe it will be ready in time!
Certainly the new team will get mullered next season. They have lost front rows Aguerro, De Marchi, Romano and Staibano. Locks Del Fava and Geldenhuis. Back row Favaro. Wing Toniolatti. Perugini and Ongaro towards France or retirement. Dondi has said they will only use foregn players where absolutely neccesary……….
Finally, I can't agree that Aironi's financial maagement was ham-fisted. Any team who loses their major sponsor 1 mth before the start of the season is going to have big problems; but Aironi closed the season without being in the red. This is an achievement and one of the reasons they felt so bad over the loss of their Celtic licence! (They are still waiting for a detailed explanation for their "bocciatura")

 

[Nielsch]

Why aren't they gonna play in the Stadio XXV Aprile? Seems nice and big enough (2.500 spectators).

 

[greybeard]

Why aren't they gonna play in the Stadio XXV Aprile? Seems nice and big enough (2.500 spectators).

It is the same place! http://it.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stadio_XXV_Aprile

 

[greybeard]

We finally have the name in Black and White" ZEBRE! ( Zebras!). They will need more than 4 legs.... And it seems Viadana will play in Eccellenza!! See below for both pieces of info. At least I will have somewhere to go on Sunday afternoons! http://ilgrillotalpa.com/

 

[danit]

ZEBRE, the new italian franchise

Name: ZEBRE, in honour of the former invitational team founded in 1973 and based in north-west Italy
Based in: Parma
Venue: XXV Aprile Stadium - Moletolo (3 km from Parma center), 5,000 seats

Staff

Manager: Roberto Manghi

Director of rugby: Christian Gajan

Coach: Vincenzo Troiani, Alessandro Troncon

Team Manager: Fabio Ongaro

Athletic Trainer: Massimo Zaghini

logo

 

[Nielsch]

Stadium looks good enough. Like the Galway Sportsground.

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

Stadium looks good enough. Like the Galway Sportsground.

The Galways sportsground has almost four times the capacity though!

 

[danit]

The Galways sportsground has almost four times the capacity though!

is maths an opinion?

Sportsground Capacity: 7,500
XXV Aprile capacity: 5,000

 

[psychic duck]

Zebre will get thrashed horribly, more than Aironi

 

[Tribesmen-ce-123]

is maths an opinion?

Sportsground Capacity: 7,500
XXV Aprile capacity: 5,000

When the temporary stand is set up the capacity in the sportsground is over 9500 . It said on Wikipedia that the XXV held 2500, maybe its wrong though.

 

[greybeard]

Zebre will get thrashed horribly, more than Aironi

True, but to FIR this is not an issue! They are busy trying to sign players from Eccellenza clubs, including Aironi rejects. What is certain is that when the extra seating is installed, a lot of it will be empty. A city that doesn't care overmuch about rugby + a losing team = low gates. FIR (i.e. Dondi) is happy, I'm not going to get bothered.

 

[Nielsch]

The Galways sportsground has almost four times the capacity though!

Counting terraces and temporary standings.

 

[danit]

It said on Wikipedia that the XXV held 2500, maybe its wrong though.

2,500 is the only Central Stand, from the press release on Pro12 website you read "Zebre will be based and will play in Parma, at the "XXV Aprile" Stadium, which is currently being refurbished and expanded", the capacity will be 5,000

I agree this team will be thrashed, no doubt

 

[Tonga_rugby]

Why the new franchise aren't set in Rome or Milano? These cities are biggest and richest than Parma... the Stadium is nice but very small. It's a big error and next year the FIR will move this franchise because Zebras will not have more fans than Aironi.

 

[welshglory]

This is going to be an absolute disaster again. What's really the point?

Go with Rome/another big city franchise or go back to clubs.

 

[scarlets-fan]

View attachment 1783

Really don't like that logo, looks like a slinky going down stairs. And the font is exactly the same just not in Italics. Much preferred the Aironi one. Unimpressed! <_<

 

[Me 1]

Really don't like that logo, looks like a slinky going down stairs. And the font is exactly the same just not in Italics. Much preferred the Aironi one. Unimpressed! <_<

Especially seeing as the rugby ball on the zebra looks suspiciously like it's arse