Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 3:55 pm  

I don't think it's a case of being cast aside as you say. It's down to making it worthwhile doing it! If people just stopped coming should a team continue to play in the professional arena. In an ideal world taking us as an example, we would be pulling crowds that made us self sufficient. Reality not many clubs Dan claim that, and all rely on a benefactor to keep them afloat. Rugby league as a sport in this country struggles, why? Not sure, in my view it's a much better game than yawnion! So how can wasps up sticks from there traditional support Base move 60 miles and flourish?
If RL takes off in n America as it well could it could be the re birth of the sport, but it would have to be a radical re birth.

Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 4:04 pm  

In my view for example Toronto take off and storm up the leagues, then say florida and or another n American team start you then need to look at the franchise thing again, a total revamp the sport could not continue as a village based sport. Fev cas wakey etc hull and kr worky and haven would all have to seriously think about forming bigger more viable clubs or it will never grow. It will not happen though as history is seen as too important

Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 6:10 pm  

don't think for a second all will but sadly one or two failures seems very possible.

But thats natural with business. Nokia and Canon were big not to long ago but things move on. The game has to expand and modernise and old antiquated grounds are not the future.

Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 8:32 pm  

The only problem is for the game to realistically grow then history has to go out the window, clubs would have to merge, Cumbria Humberside south Yorkshire West Yorkshire n lancs etc create big clubs with the actual realisation that if N America is where the game is going to expand then NRL system of big money franchise with smaller feeder clubs is the way ahead.
But that's not going to happen in the foreseeable future.
What I would hope in the short term is Toronto in 5 years time fielding a mainly N American born squad

Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 8:38 pm  

wire-quin wrote:

But thats natural with business. Nokia and Canon were big not to long ago but things move on. The game has to expand and modernise and old antiquated grounds are not the future.

As an ex Prescot Panthers fan I'm well aware of that!

Prescot were effectively folded as the RFL thought the central funding could be used better elsewhere. Even if money doesn't get some of the lower level teams some serious thinking is going to have to be done shortly as to whether they are the best way of using RFL money at a time when the central budget is under real pressure.

Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 9:19 pm  

Bostwick wrote:

I can see a club, like Hemel Stags. Who do have a few issues, being swept aside to make room for this expansion.

The sad thing is that Hemel were considered an expansion club not too long ago

Re: Florida anyone? : Mon Jan 23, 2017 10:33 pm  

Maybe if Hemel expanded. Stuck to be Hemel instead of a northern training squad.
Hemel started off really well with a good pathway for kids . Since they tried to go semi pro the junior set up has lost its way, last year in particular.