: Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:22 pm  

We need to 'buttonhole' both the Chairman & the GM about this.

Think we do have a PR but he certainly needs to be more 'pro-active'. The least he should do is 'advise' his Chairman and GM that they have a problem
with Perpignan bound supporters.

However, should mention that my experience of dealing with 'internal' PR cum Press Officers - as a now retired partner in Corporate Communications firm - is that they are often 'clueless' about the need to be 'proactive' & sometimes even aggressive in advising internal management. Thus would feel that one really should not kick the young man to hard!!

Might add I've sent a follow up e-mail to the RFL asking he a reply to our e-mails if even only as a matter of politesse!!

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 1:48 pm  

Must take issue with 'Rooster, Roster' and all other's who have cited NRL games.

Please note the following:

1. The majority of fans are 'local' and it's not that difficult to get to games even on Friday and Monday night. So they do not 'howl' if dates/times are changed

2. Those that need to fly to 'away' games normally have at least two or three airlines to chose from and quite a number of flights to select.

No, am of the view that with Perpignan you have a special case as you are maily 'hog-tied' by the restrictifve 'polices' of [color=red][b]RYAN AIR AND EASYJET [/b][/color]Who might add are no longer 'cheap' to use.

Also Eurostar?TGV are also not that easy to 'rebook' because of the heavy local Holiday i.e. 'frog' traffic.

To be fair the longer terms loser's are going to be the Dragons, the local establishments in & around the town and the local Maries and regional authorities. Forecast there will be at least a 30/40 percentage drop in fan visits from next season.

[color=red]Edit BG: Do not use racial terms like that on this board again, understand?[/color]

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:14 pm  

To be fair, the club and the RFL have effectively no say on this matter - what Sky says, goes and if we don't like it we do without them and their money. The only people who can spike their guns over re-arranged fixtures are the police and local authorities.

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 2:26 pm  

The Chronicler of Chiswic wrote:

To be fair, the club and the RFL have effectively no say on this matter - what Sky says, goes and if we don't like it we do without them and their money. The only people who can spike their guns over re-arranged fixtures are the police and local authorities.

Not the point. AND I AM GETTING TIRED OF THIS!
What is at stake here is the fact that in future, RL fans will be unable to book cheap trips due to this uncertainty....now that SKY have proved they can do it.

Catalan have NEVER had a home fixture moved.......Catalan have always played on their, their local police, their local council and the best day...Saturday.
I suspect, that SKY decided to move this because of logistics getting truck down there and the fact it was little old quins....
all i want is for the people I have contacted to shake SKY's cage and let them know that if they do it again to a Warrington or Leeds, they will not increase their popularity along the M62 corridor.

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:15 pm  

Bikefan wrote:

... With Ryanair ...

And that was your first mistake.

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:15 pm  

Here is the reply I got from the RFL - sod the supporters welcome to armchair viewers:

Thank you for your e-mail regarding the change of date of the Catalans Dragons versus Harlequins RL fixture.

We appreciate the disruption this may have caused you and would like to apologise.

All fixtures published by the RFL at the start of the season are subject to change and as host broadcaster Sky Sports has the right to choose any game to show live and at this time in the season must give clubs involved at least four weeks notice. In this case they gave both clubs involved six weeks notice.

In previous seasons Sky Sports has initially chosen 11 Friday games and

22 Saturday games, however this season they have chose the first 14 rounds at the start of the season. This is so that they can choose games which are more competitive and a spectacle for TV viewers.

Once again, apologies for any inconvenience this fixture change may have caused.

Kind regards

Craig Spence
RFL Communications Manager

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:17 pm  

daftdad wrote:

It is time to consider fans who are live than armchair viewers.

Yeah, Sky should think about the fans who travell and don't watch the matches on Sky ... ah.

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:20 pm  

daftdad wrote:

snip

everyone got the same email.
I now hope, given the distribution list of my letter (see the VT) that we may get something slightly different......but I wouldn't hold your breath.

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:20 pm  

amlomax1991 wrote:

This is an accurate reflection of what happens in most sports, is far more than in some, and a great deal more than in the NRL.

1- b*ll*x, they would never do this for wendyball.
2- better than the NRL? hardly setting your sights high.

: Wed Jun 03, 2009 4:22 pm  

belgianxiii wrote:

1- b*ll*x, they would never do this for wendyball.
2- better than the NRL? hardly setting your sights high.

Easy general Only a few weeks to go until "NCP MAYHEM IV"......the return of the paddock puncher
Sky or no Sky....the tear up is still on