Re: Toronto : Sun Sep 20, 2020 7:23 pm  

Redscat wrote:

Mmmmmmm! I see the clubs that are against them rejoining tend to be those that are possible fellow relegation candidates.

and they are also the ones likely to find the expense of travelling over there hit their club harder, proving that there's only a few rich enough to do it

Re: Toronto : Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:22 am  

Redscat wrote:

Mmmmmmm! I see the clubs that are against them rejoining tend to be those that are possible fellow relegation candidates.

I wouldn't say that re Hull FC.

Re: Toronto : Mon Sep 21, 2020 8:24 am  

snowie wrote:

and they are also the ones likely to find the expense of travelling over there hit their club harder, proving that there's only a few rich enough to do it

Agree with that snowie.
Although Hull FC is probably not in that specific situation.....
Also, if they were to receive money, then that would further dilute the funding for us and other clubs.

Re: Toronto : Tue Sep 22, 2020 9:39 pm  

I hope they dont let them back in not because i dont think they do add something but just for the simple fact of covid we may still be playing behind closed doors next year and restricted travel so their situation may be exactly as it is now and where does that leave the new owner financially if not able to compete again

Re: Toronto : Wed Sep 23, 2020 5:35 am  

If the current restrictions do last 6 months that as a result of the new measures yesterday I cannot see where the certainty is to let a Toronto team back into any part of the Rugby League family in the UK

Re: Toronto : Wed Sep 23, 2020 10:13 am  

Alchemist1 wrote:

I hope they dont let them back in not because i dont think they do add something but just for the simple fact of covid we may still be playing behind closed doors next year and restricted travel so their situation may be exactly as it is now and where does that leave the new owner financially if not able to compete again

I think this is a bit of a short-sighted view.

There's an excellent letter (1st one on the Letter's Page) in this week's LE staying how a North American company, Comcast, own Sky Sports and it's no coincidence that over the last year or so Sky's coverage of American football & basketball has increased significantly. The letter makes the point how a SL comp with 1, 2 or eventually 3 North American teams in would attract greater publicity and screen time than it currently does and I tend to agree - we have to look at the bigger picture to be in a better position to grow. If we don't how are we going to attract the TV revenue needed to keep the comp going on a full time basis...the BBC or any other provider, BT Sport, Premier etc, aren't gonna invest.

So I say let Toronto back in, give them a share of the Sky money but have SL/RFL monitor their books to ensure they don't run into a similar financial mess

Re: Toronto : Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:10 am  

steve1g wrote:

I think this is a bit of a short-sighted view.

There's an excellent letter (1st one on the Letter's Page) in this week's LE staying how a North American company, Comcast, own Sky Sports and it's no coincidence that over the last year or so Sky's coverage of American football & basketball has increased significantly. The letter makes the point how a SL comp with 1, 2 or eventually 3 North American teams in would attract greater publicity and screen time than it currently does and I tend to agree - we have to look at the bigger picture to be in a better position to grow. If we don't how are we going to attract the TV revenue needed to keep the comp going on a full time basis...the BBC or any other provider, BT Sport, Premier etc, aren't gonna invest.

So I say let Toronto back in, give them a share of the Sky money but have SL/RFL monitor their books to ensure they don't run into a similar financial mess

Whilst it would be great if RL did receive greater exposure on the back of Sky being owned by an American company, it's far more likely that RL will get shoved down the pecking order over here with an increase in American Football, Basketball and Baseball on our screens over here.
The letter is yet more wishful thinking, just like some people getting over excited when Hayne had a brief career in the NFL.

It's all about what will attract the most advertising revenue and much as we all think RL is a "big draw", the cold hard facts are that it just isn't, not even in the UK where we have been playing the game for over 100 years.

As for letting Toronto back in on the back of this ??

Toronto are a busted flush and without another billionaire coming in and bankrolling them, they will struggle like hell, which may well put the cost of travel / accommodation back to the other clubs in SL or, The Championship, depending which league that they end up playing in.
Their former owner has left them in dire straights and fundamentally, ANY club who has dropped from the comp shouldn't just be allowed back in. No UK club would be afforded the same leeway and would likely be told to pay their payers before they come to the negotiating table, never mind trying to use this as a lever for an automatic return to SL.
It's a real pity that there hasn't been a "full" Championship program this time, which would have enabled Toronto to be replaced more easily.
Leigh, Fev, London, Widnes and even Toulouse would all slot in nicely to SL

Re: Toronto : Wed Sep 23, 2020 11:37 am  

[quote="wrencat1873"]Whilst it would be great if RL did receive greater exposure on the back of Sky being owned by an American company, it's far more likely that RL will get shoved down the pecking order over here with an increase in American Football, Basketball and Baseball on our screens over here.


I just think that we stand more chance of increasing the amount of money Sky will pump into the game if we have a North American presence...Toronto + Ottawa next year - than if we don't & can't see how you'd think RL can get any lower down the pecking order with Sky than it already is...in fact with Toronto + Ottawa I think RL would go up the pecking order as far as Comcast are concerned, especially if the 2 teams had some sort of success.

Yes I agree Toronto were left high & dry because their owner's assets ran dry during the pandemic but this is why their finances should be stringently monitored and business plans thoroughly assessed, as should Ottawa's or any other club applying to join the RFL/SLE - I'm not saying let them in and give them carte blanche but let them in, monitor them closely and let's see if we can grow the game globally

Re: Toronto : Wed Sep 23, 2020 8:51 pm  

I think Toronto deserve to be in on merit. The events of this year are Covid-related. You can't "appoint" a Championship club to take their place, because it isn't fair on the ones who aren't appointed.

There isn't a season in 2020. There are a number of exhibition matches in order to get Sky money, with a couple of clubs playing an exhibition match in front of no fans but in a bigger stadium, and the records will show them to be champions, but we know it's a farce.

In reality, 2021 will be a reboot of 2020. Start again, with the same teams.

I'm not bothered about Toronto being in, and I'd prefer Bradford or Widnes were back in on merit, but Toronto earned their way into this year's league, so deserve to start again when we reboot.

Re: Toronto : Wed Sep 23, 2020 9:14 pm  

wrencat1873 wrote:

Whilst it would be great if RL did receive greater exposure on the back of Sky being owned by an American company, it's far more likely that RL will get shoved down the pecking order over here with an increase in American Football, Basketball and Baseball on our screens over here.
The letter is yet more wishful thinking, just like some people getting over excited when Hayne had a brief career in the NFL.

It's all about what will attract the most advertising revenue and much as we all think RL is a "big draw", the cold hard facts are that it just isn't, not even in the UK where we have been playing the game for over 100 years.

As for letting Toronto back in on the back of this ??

Toronto are a busted flush and without another billionaire coming in and bankrolling them, they will struggle like hell, which may well put the cost of travel / accommodation back to the other clubs in SL or, The Championship, depending which league that they end up playing in.
Their former owner has left them in dire straights and fundamentally, ANY club who has dropped from the comp shouldn't just be allowed back in. No UK club would be afforded the same leeway and would likely be told to pay their payers before they come to the negotiating table, never mind trying to use this as a lever for an automatic return to SL.
It's a real pity that there hasn't been a "full" Championship program this time, which would have enabled Toronto to be replaced more easily.
Leigh, Fev, London, Widnes and even Toulouse would all slot in nicely to SL

Toronto would also fit nicely. A club that didn’t have to lie about a new stadium to get a super league licence