Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:04 pm  

BroncOnIon wrote: ... or that they've told us that they don't want us there after this season? Opinions are like ar53holes mate....we all have one, but I am yet to hear any conclusive argument or reason as to why Harlequins Rugby would want us off their pitch 13 to 15 times a year and be happy to see a drop in revenues as a result? This move is Gus IMHO. He has singularly failed at 99% of the stuff he's tried and covered his tracks admirably with name changes, blaming the team and now this saga of finding a new home. His bollocky statement last year about OTR games delivering higher than average crowds is farcical. 1998 average was 3,842...the OTR game was 7,000 1999 2,952 with OTR delivering 8,233 2000 ave was 3,430 with OTR delivering 4,174 2001 ave 3,232, OTR 5,259 2002 ave 3,803 OTR 3,000 2003 ave 3,545 OTR 3,128 2005 ave 3,918 OTR 6,500 and 3,775 Gus's experiment has delivered 1 above average gate...the first game at Gillingham v Hull who were averaging 3,614 before that game. The other 2 games have delivered 1,706 (37%) fewer fans for Bradford than their SL average and 690 (19%) fewer for Wire this year. They did deliver better than that seasons average....but given the hatchet job he's done on these, it's hardly the stuff to worry Donald trump! 24 "home" games on this guys watch and he's delivered a 2,537 average. The previous 2 seasons under the other Cricketer gave us 3,408 average.......that's the level of incompetence we are looking at when it comes to: http://www.londonbroncosrl.com/news/3031.php#.UdH7e7IuDIU "I am looking forward to joining Harlequins Rugby League. I am aware of the significant challenges which we face with this sport in London, however, I am confident that we can make a real impact and build on the good work and strong base which exists." ...he has trimmed 34% off our average gates. BTW, if it is Harlequins RU that are kicking us out (if it were by the way, why did they let us stay for another year after the farce at the end of last year?), then all of the above is still valid, as they will have seen a reduction in residual revenues as a result of Gus's strong commercial background with a wealth of sports management experience having worked as Managing Director of Surrey Cricket, Chief Executive of Sussex County Cricket Club and Operations Manager of Leicestershire.

BroncOnIon wrote: ... or that they've told us that they don't want us there after this season? Opinions are like ar53holes mate....we all have one, but I am yet to hear any conclusive argument or reason as to why Harlequins Rugby would want us off their pitch 13 to 15 times a year and be happy to see a drop in revenues as a result? This move is Gus IMHO. He has singularly failed at 99% of the stuff he's tried and covered his tracks admirably with name changes, blaming the team and now this saga of finding a new home. His bollocky statement last year about OTR games delivering higher than average crowds is farcical. 1998 average was 3,842...the OTR game was 7,000 1999 2,952 with OTR delivering 8,233 2000 ave was 3,430 with OTR delivering 4,174 2001 ave 3,232, OTR 5,259 2002 ave 3,803 OTR 3,000 2003 ave 3,545 OTR 3,128 2005 ave 3,918 OTR 6,500 and 3,775 Gus's experiment has delivered 1 above average gate...the first game at Gillingham v Hull who were averaging 3,614 before that game. The other 2 games have delivered 1,706 (37%) fewer fans for Bradford than their SL average and 690 (19%) fewer for Wire this year. They did deliver better than that seasons average....but given the hatchet job he's done on these, it's hardly the stuff to worry Donald trump! 24 "home" games on this guys watch and he's delivered a 2,537 average. The previous 2 seasons under the other Cricketer gave us 3,408 average.......that's the level of incompetence we are looking at when it comes to: http://www.londonbroncosrl.com/news/3031.php#.UdH7e7IuDIU "I am looking forward to joining Harlequins Rugby League. I am aware of the significant challenges which we face with this sport in London, however, I am confident that we can make a real impact and build on the good work and strong base which exists." ...he has trimmed 34% off our average gates. BTW, if it is Harlequins RU that are kicking us out (if it were by the way, why did they let us stay for another year after the farce at the end of last year?), then all of the above is still valid, as they will have seen a reduction in residual revenues as a result of Gus's strong commercial background with a wealth of sports management experience having worked as Managing Director of Surrey Cricket, Chief Executive of Sussex County Cricket Club and Operations Manager of Leicestershire.

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:10 pm  

BroncOnIon wrote:

... or that they've told us that they don't want us there after this season?

My understanding was we had an option for another year. I actually don't see how we could have had a licence application without arrangements in place for the duration of the licence.

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Mon Jul 01, 2013 10:17 pm  

gutterfax wrote:

This move is Gus IMHO.

Exactly, the move is a smokescreen for the unwillingness or inability to attract a crowd. The ground was basically the least of our issues when applying for our licence. It has only become an issue because our crowds have become increasingly pathetic and we have burnt the bridges withour landlords.

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Mon Jul 01, 2013 11:11 pm  

jbuzza wrote:

Exactly, the move is a smokescreen for the unwillingness or inability to attract a crowd. The ground was basically the least of our issues when applying for our licence. It has only become an issue because our crowds have become increasingly pathetic and we have burnt the bridges withour landlords.

\

pathetic is actually being quite polite. F**king Disgusting is a phrase I would use.

Here's so more Pre-Gus/Post-Gus stats with regards to average attendances before 2011 and after.

Celtic C's = 2,313 / Gus's Average = 1,766 24% Down
Catalans = 2,864 / Gus's Average = 1,678 41% Down
Salford = 2747 / Gus's Average = 1,851 32% Down
Wakefield = 2,870 / Gus's Average = 2,313 19% Down
Huddersfield = 3,321 / Gus's Average = 2,297 30% Down
Castleford = 3,301 / Gus's Average = 2,773 15% Down
Hull KR = 3,537 / Gus's Average = 2,429 31% Down
Widnes = 3,485 / Gus's Average = 2,486 28% Down
Hull FC = 3,648 / Gus's Average = 2,949 20% Down
Warrington = 3,638 / Gus's Average = 3,048 16% Down
Bradford = 4,669 / Gus's Average = 2,846 39% Down
Leeds = 4,530 / Gus's Average = 3,434 24% Down
Saints = 4,871 / Gus's Average = 3,770 22% Down
Wigan = 5,325 / Gus's Average = 4,108 23% Down

36,927 FEWER FANS over nearly 3 seasons.....at 30 quid a pop that's over a Million Quid in lost revenue.

The Hive? If we filled it for all 13 games it would take us 1 season and 1 home game to get back the revenue we've lost on Gus's watch......curry income aside!

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Tue Jul 02, 2013 7:32 am  

gutterfax wrote:

FEWER FANS

At last!

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:00 am  

Colly2 wrote:

At last!

No.......it's been on the cards for years

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Tue Jul 02, 2013 10:34 am  

jbuzza wrote:

My understanding was we had an option for another year. I actually don't see how we could have had a licence application without arrangements in place for the duration of the licence.

But we don't know what the cost of exercising the option would be and we don't know the terms of our agreement with Quins. I don't anyway, maybe you do have some inkling?

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Tue Jul 02, 2013 1:11 pm  

I've been told by two different, and independent, sources that Wealdstone FC believe they have rights to first refusal on sharing The Hive. (It's all a bit complicated but they basically started building what is now The Hive but ran out of money if my memory is working correctly.) This could well explain why it seems to be taking so long to sort out whether or not we will be there next season.

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Tue Jul 02, 2013 2:42 pm  

Halfdan of t'wide embrace wrote:

I've been told by two different, and independent, sources that Wealdstone FC believe they have rights to first refusal on sharing The Hive. (It's all a bit complicated but they basically started building what is now The Hive but ran out of money if my memory is working correctly.) This could well explain why it seems to be taking so long to sort out whether or not we will be there next season.

I've just trundled over to the Barnet forum and as you say, Wealdstone did begin to develop the ground but after the money ran out the council got fed up with waiting for them to carry on and cancelled the lease. Barnet's owner apparently gave Wealdstone the lowest offer he could afford without losing money for them to use the ground, but they can't afford it and unless they change their minds that would appear to be that. The reason it's taking so long for us to sort things out is, in my (un)humble opinion just our owner and CEO's habitual incompetence and stupidity

Re: The Hive - Real Prospect? : Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:31 pm  

BroncOnIon wrote:

But we don't know what the cost of exercising the option would be and we don't know the terms of our agreement with Quins. I don't anyway, maybe you do have some inkling?

The figure that has been mooted in the past is around £250k per year I believe.