I've been catching up on a pile of reading and am pretty sure it was one of (many) articles in 40-20. They didn't give any workings out though, just said "estimated to cost in excess of".
I think its safe to say it will cost the clubs a lot. If I was trying to do a fag packet costing, what about the sale of season tickets, in a league where the big dogs of Hull KR and Bradford Bulls will (or now won't) be coming to town?
Then there is stuff like sale of advertising, hospitality and sponsorship which is a lot easier when there are tasty fixtures. Whatever it ends up as, it is major bad news for them
"Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid."― Albert Einstein "Everybody gets so much information all day long that they lose their common sense." ― Gertrude Stein "Don't believe everything you read on the internet" ― Abraham Lincoln
In other words, a bit less than £100K each. That sounds much more realistic.
Im not even sure that is realistic to be honest. 1500 fans paying £18 each is only 27K and given the average entrance price is significantly less than that I reckon maybe £17k each for Hull Kr and Bradford. Take in to account some more expenses to do with having a larger number of people in the ground and the figure tumbles again. For a team like Fev though who make every penny from their ground I would say it could cost them maybe £40K or so. It is still a significant number to a small team though but nowhere near as big as some people would want you to believe. Leigh coming in to the Championship will cut some of that as they have a traditionally large following but Widnes and Catalan that bring very few away fans would not help the same as Toronto although as a gimmick I think the first season will see decent crowds when Toronto are away.
Not sure who on earth "would want you to believe" figures that are not correct. But it is a modern compulsory feature that there's a conspiracy behind everything, I suppose.
The point is, it is a big financial hole for the Championship clubs, on any view. It's just unfortunate timing that KR go up as we go down, but it's the double whammy that worsens it.
Worst case scenario is if Catalan replace us (Rovers). As a division with Catalan, Tolouse & Toronto offers not only very little with regards away fans. But problems and expenses with the games at there venues that clubs won't be able to get back. So you would imagine that that's 6 games that most Championship clubs would be at best breaking even. Without counting the split to the 8's.
Faced with that scenario it's no wonder championship clubs are looking for ways to get in extra money.
Worst case scenario is if Catalan replace us (Rovers). As a division with Catalan, Tolouse & Toronto offers not only very little with regards away fans. But problems and expenses with the games at there venues that clubs won't be able to get back. So you would imagine that that's 6 games that most Championship clubs would be at best breaking even. Without counting the split to the 8's.
Faced with that scenario it's no wonder championship clubs are looking for ways to get in extra money.
I thought the Catalans deal for the SL clubs was that the RFL paid for expenses. Flights, accommodation, food, training facilities for a playing & coaching squad of 25 for 2 days in Perpignan. Paid for by RFL every 2 weeks. I'm sure the championship chairmen will be making sure that deal continues in the championship if Catalan come down. I wonder if the same deal is set up for Toulouse? Toronto have a separate deal I think.
Toronto agreed to pay the travel for all visiting clubs. It must still cost a lot, what with accommodation, loss of earnings for part time payers breaking time, and what have you but the air fares must be costing them a medium fortune. What would anybody's guess be - maybe 40-50k a week? Shows how minted they are, whatever it is
Toronto agreed to pay the travel for all visiting clubs. It must still cost a lot, what with accommodation, loss of earnings for part time payers breaking time, and what have you but the air fares must be costing them a medium fortune. What would anybody's guess be - maybe 40-50k a week? Shows how minted they are, whatever it is
I believe their sponsors pay for the flights, part of the deal to sponsor the shirts. But your point is still totally valid, I would expect RL has to take off in a big way in Toronto in order to ever recoup the money they must be shelling out to get to that point.
I thought the Catalans deal for the SL clubs was that the RFL paid for expenses. Flights, accommodation, food, training facilities for a playing & coaching squad of 25 for 2 days in Perpignan. Paid for by RFL every 2 weeks. I'm sure the championship chairmen will be making sure that deal continues in the championship if Catalan come down. I wonder if the same deal is set up for Toulouse? Toronto have a separate deal I think.
I forgot about that sorry. I think Tolouse during the regular season is pretty similar, but I remember both Rochdale and Sheffield having problems during the 8's. As Ferocious said Toronto is more to do with the private sector than the RFL.
I also forgot to add London to the home games with little away support. 4 out of 11 games in a division were clubs are struggling is a problem.
And with most clubs being part time, How many players would be willing to take basically enforced holidays to play on those 3 (should Catalan go down of course). And that's before the 8's, which in my opinion will definitely end by 2019.