No Return for Toronto
Posted: Mon Nov 02, 2020 3:34 pm
A site for fans of Wigan Warriors RLFC. News, views, statistics, profiles and more all contributed by supporters of Wigan RL.
https://www.wiganwarriorsfans.com/
was thinking that myself when i read the articleDaveO wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:11 pm Just read the BBC report.
I think this bit beggars belief
“Separately, it was also apparent that no assessment of the scale and accessibility of the commercial growth that might accrue to the sport from entering the Canadian market was ever completed prior to the club's first entry into the sport."
So basically it was a monumental cock up to let them join in the first place.
the pieman wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:52 pmwas thinking that myself when i read the articleDaveO wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:11 pm Just read the BBC report.
I think this bit beggars belief
“Separately, it was also apparent that no assessment of the scale and accessibility of the commercial growth that might accrue to the sport from entering the Canadian market was ever completed prior to the club's first entry into the sport."
So basically it was a monumental cock up to let them join in the first place.
I think there is an element of being sold the dream of the money tree and Toronto being self sufficient, own TV deals etc, and then breaking into the North American market. What it appears the RFL have done (or not done more to the point) is actually do any due diligence and understand the sustainability of a Canadian club being based over here and playing blocks over there and not having the money they said they have.
Whilst there is no doubt that there is a massive market in North America / Canada and RL could be a massive success over there, it looks like the RFL have scored an own goal and chances are may have missed the boat
the pieman wrote:Well they clearly didn’t look into the sustainability of Toronto the first time and I get the impression the clubs that voted against did so because they were fearful of a repeat performance next season as they didn’t believe the financial projections by the new Toronto owners.
The fact the new owner said he’d underwrite the clubs expenditure isn’t really good enough because he could simply walk away not unlike what happened to Wigan Athletic.
There may well be a huge market for RL in Canada but the RFL/SL backed the wrong club the first time and enough clubs obviously didn’t believe it was feasible second time around.
This is all before you consider whether it’s right to readmit a club that went bust as well as failing to complete fixtures. Most clubs in that position would be relegated. While you could argue this year is one of exceptional circumstances I don’t see next year being that much different.
Far too many people in the media certainly to begin with allowed them a free ride, all bar John Davidson,that there doesn't seem to have been due diligence on them isn't a surprise is it where the RFL is concerned surely?DaveO wrote: ↑Mon Nov 02, 2020 8:11 pm Just read the BBC report.
I think this bit beggars belief
“Separately, it was also apparent that no assessment of the scale and accessibility of the commercial growth that might accrue to the sport from entering the Canadian market was ever completed prior to the club's first entry into the sport."
So basically it was a monumental cock up to let them join in the first place.