Pro game in trouble

[higgik]

Reporting today how much financial trouble the premiership is in.

Seven Premiership clubs are balance sheet insolvent, finance report warns | Premiership | The Guardian

Seven of the 10 English Premiership clubs are balance sheet insolvent, according to an independent financial industry report

amp.theguardian.com

This is the outcome of individual clubs fighting against each other with salaries and sponsorship.

If they got together and worked out a combined programme of sponsorship and salaries we might be in a better place.

Looking at TRP on Sunday and stated that original plan for league was to have centrally recorded salaries at HQ, with money paid through one agency.

Interesting how that never got through.

 

[Which Tyler]

Not helped by Covid loans coming due, and CVC being... exactly what everyone knew they'd be before the contract was ever signed.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

Is there anything new in this as we've known for a while about the sugar daddy reliance.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Is there anything new in this as we've known for a while about the sugar daddy reliance.

No, but it brings it all together and hasn't got the backing of the RFU or Prem Rugby who might be tempted to put a more positive spin on it.

Says average Twickenham attendee is a 55 year old (guilty, give or take a few months), white male (guilty), who works in financial services (guilty). Nice to know I'm Mr Slap Bang Average.

 

[McTallshort]

Wasn't it down to selling out for 25% of their total commercial takings,?

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I know that the international game is the cash cow, but against that backdrop it's still hard to reconcile hundreds of millions being spent to revamp Twickenham yet again. It's a poorly located** unnecessary vanity project of its time in an era of multi purpose stadia.


**unless you're a 55 year old white male working in financial services in London.

 

[Geordie]

Build a New HQ stadium in Rugby.

Fairly central, good transport links, rugby history and rugby heartland...

 

[Saintjay]

I know that the international game is the cash cow, but against that backdrop it's still hard to reconcile hundreds of millions being spent to revamp Twickenham yet again. It's a poorly located** unnecessary vanity project of its time in an era of multi purpose stadia.


**unless you're a 55 year old white male working in financial services in London.

The restrictions on concerts etc holds it back.

Plus it's competiting with Spurs, Wembley and the London Stadium. All newer better facilities and used for numerous different things.

It's just old and tired.

 

[pagliaccio_euforico]

I know that the international game is the cash cow, but against that backdrop it's still hard to reconcile hundreds of millions being spent to revamp Twickenham yet again. It's a poorly located** unnecessary vanity project of its time in an era of multi purpose stadia.


**unless you're a 55 year old white male working in financial services in London.

Isn't the issue that the international game is what makes the money in England?

If the sport is only profitable a few weekends a year how is it going to work? The club game dominates the calendar (which it always will) how is rugby in England going to operate?

The clubs have even less revenue since they burned through the CVC money in about 3 minutes.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

Isn't the issue that the international game is what makes the money in England?

If the sport is only profitable a few weekends a year how is it going to work? The club game dominates the calendar (which it always will) how is rugby in England going to operate?

The clubs have even less revenue since they burned through the CVC money in about 3 minutes.

Totally is. But it doesn't have to be played at Twickenham. Or in London. Or in a single use stadium.

 

[Saintjay]

Build a New HQ stadium in Rugby.

Fairly central, good transport links, rugby history and rugby heartland...

True that it's a heartland. The good fans of the sport in Rugby follow Saints the more misguided ones unfortunately follow Tigers.

 

[Don't Skip Leg Day]

I know that the international game is the cash cow, but against that backdrop it's still hard to reconcile hundreds of millions being spent to revamp Twickenham yet again. It's a poorly located** unnecessary vanity project of its time in an era of multi purpose stadia.


**unless you're a 55 year old white male working in financial services in London.

I'm guessing the stupid location of twickenham, the cost of the tickets and the bits they lay on extra to just the game are all reasons that almost force more 55 yr old bankers etc to go watch the rugby.

I'm 38 and take me 9 year old lad but, it's hard travelling with him. They don't always have kid friendly things to do. The ticket prices are stupid and they seem to not want to encourage younger fans to be there.

 

[Saintjay]

I'm guessing the stupid location of twickenham, the cost of the tickets and the bits they lay on extra to just the game are all reasons that almost force more 55 yr old bankers etc to go watch the rugby.

I'm 38 and take me 9 year old lad but, it's hard travelling with him. They don't always have kid friendly things to do. The ticket prices are stupid and they seem to not want to encourage younger fans to be there.

Yeah I try to go once a year and it does get stereotyped. Unfortunately it really is a haven of tweed jackets, Barbour and chino's. It's like a gig at the Royal Albert Hall minus the roof.

 

[Vieux Talonneur]

I'll fess up to owing a Barbour (my excuse is quite useful for dog walking), but not a tweed jacket and I'd never wear Chinos unless forced.

I used to go a lot, and had some great fun along the way, so but don't really bother now. I'm not a banker and while I'm lucky enough to be able to afford it, it's still an expensive day out for what it is, the travel's a shocker, unless you've paid zillions for a prime seat you're totally detached from the action and the onfield product mostly hasn't been great. The atmosphere can also be pretty soulless.