Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:28 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Nor sure any of that is to do with IMG, they are only 2/3 years into a 12 year deal, all that damage was done well before they cane on board.

I know, but what improvements have they brought about to improve the situation?

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:35 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

I know, but what improvements have they brought about to improve the situation?

Far too early to say, but attendances looking good,improvements in grounds and quite a lot of new investment in clubs. All games are now on TV too.

Not sure how much is to do with them to be honest.

They have to help us get the right TV deal next time.

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:43 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

I know they're much criticised, but is IMGs work actually begging to pay off? 21k at Wigan last week, sell out at Wakey last night, over 14k expected at the kcom tonight, hype around Vegas next week, all teams now with wealthy owners, is the sport actually starting to go in the right direction?

Nothing to do with IMG
More to do with the start of the season once again.Optimistic fans who have missed the game for several months
Wigan was a local derby,Wakefields first home game plus a good away support and our match tonight is a bundle of things like our first home game following a great win at Catalan,ticket offers from the club and a good few from Wigan.
Wealthy owners though is good for the future of the sport.The sooner S/L pulls away from the RFL the better and nonsense decisons like appointing IMG a thing of the past

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 3:54 pm  

Dave K. wrote:

Far too early to say, but attendances looking good,improvements in grounds and quite a lot of new investment in clubs. All games are now on TV too.

Not sure how much is to do with them to be honest.

They have to help us get the right TV deal next time.

I'd maybe have more faith if they hadn't graded the likes of cas and wakey as grade A clubs

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:02 pm  

have they (wakey) raised the western terrace steps? judging by pictures last night, didn't look like it. Worst view in the game that terrace

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:16 pm  

number 6 wrote:

have they (wakey) raised the western terrace steps? judging by pictures last night, didn't look like it. Worst view in the game that terrace

Not yet, it was the stand behind the sticks they have done I think. TBF to their owners the ground looks massively better than it did a few years ago. I still have a lot of doubts about the IMG system but in the interests of balance forcing clubs to improve their facilities is a positive.

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 4:23 pm  

Jake the Peg wrote:

I'd maybe have more faith if they hadn't graded the likes of cas and wakey as grade A clubs

The problem is the stadium criteria rewards smaller grounds being full that tick boxes than actual standard of the stadium.

For example Catalans is an ideal size for SL but personally I find it shabby, seats bolted (and some not bolted down!) onto concrete. But it seems they don't actually go look at the stadiums they just review the number and tick boxes. I can see Odsal getting a good score next time because Bradford are playing the game, new TV gantry here, big screen there but it will still be a whole in the ground filled with stock car dust!

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:11 pm  

UllFC wrote:

The problem is the stadium criteria rewards smaller grounds being full that tick boxes than actual standard of the stadium.

For example Catalans is an ideal size for SL but personally I find it shabby, seats bolted (and some not bolted down!) onto concrete. But it seems they don't actually go look at the stadiums they just review the number and tick boxes. I can see Odsal getting a good score next time because Bradford are playing the game, new TV gantry here, big screen there but it will still be a whole in the ground filled with stock car dust!

Catalan getting a new stand built next year down the side of the litch with the temporary/smaller stands, will be a good ground when it's done, those steps are far too steep though when you've had a few beers!

Bradford will struggle on the fandom part, they only had around 3k there last week for their opener, even if they get back to SL, I don't think the supporter base at the height of bull mania is there anymore.

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 5:29 pm  

Steve0 wrote:

Catalan getting a new stand built next year down the side of the litch with the temporary/smaller stands, will be a good ground when it's done, those steps are far too steep though when you've had a few beers!

Bradford will struggle on the fandom part, they only had around 3k there last week for their opener, even if they get back to SL, I don't think the supporter base at the height of bull mania is there anymore.

Yes those Catalan steps are lethal after a few in the heat

Agree on Bradfords crowds it's 11 years since they were relegated and people have either moved on or are sadly no longer with us. It will take time to rebuild the crowds, but saying that they would probably still get better crowds than Salford and Hudds and I miss the airport derbies with Leeds.

Re: TV Games - Not Hull : Fri Feb 21, 2025 6:50 pm  

There was another story about the possibility of the NRL taking over SL this morning from V'Landis. It wont go away .