The English Rugby Stadium/Attendance thread

[Peat]

Google says there's a 20 minute distance on a drive to Coventry as opposed to Leicester from Sutton Coldfield. That's not enough to persuade people to change club and, in the long run, not local enough to persuade people they should be a Coventry team over Leicester because of local loyalties.

All of Wuss, Northampton and Leicester are an hour or less from Coventry. All of them have been putting down roots for a long time.

I don't want to categorically state that there are no potential fans or that long term they couldn't carve something out of that catchment area. Just there are clearly some major obstacles to success there and that any success they do gain will in all probability be gouged out of existing elite clubs. Someone is going to lose if Wasps move there and its pretty ballsy of them to go for that.

 

[TRF_Olyy]

Apparently the Ricoh deal will be done today, so I guess the proof will be in the pudding!

I imagine it might be a Welsh type situation - initial numbers will be OK (probably similar to Adams Park) due to the novelty, then they'll drop off afterwards. Just a matter of whether Wasps stay there long enough to build up a real local base, as that could take a few years of poorer attendances.

 

[ratsapprentice]

I have a feeling we're going to find out that Wasps have been used in order to take control of the Ricoh and/or CCFC.

Read this: http://www.rugbynetwork.net/boards/read/s96.htm?98,14932234

 

[goodNumber10]

that's an incredible post.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Watching the council meeting now... can't see it not happening.

Absolutely ****ing disgraceful frankly.
I'm fuming.

 

[Patchey]

That post is spot on...

I'm incredibly, incredibly angry that this is going to happen.

 

[Peat]

From here on I propose that they be referred to as the Coventry Cockroaches (thank you PR)

 

[ratsapprentice]

Cockroaches it is.

Gotta be the end of the Stinger and LDH, surely?

 

[Patchey]

From here on I propose that they be referred to as the Coventry Cockroaches (thank you PR)

Seconded.

I wouldn't be too surprised if they tried to keep the LDH etc...

 

[ratsapprentice]

Sarries and Quins must be licking their lips.

 

[Patchey]

Aye. If I was a cynical Quins fan I'd be very excited about he idea of lapping up rugby fans west of London.

 

[Peat]

London Irish must be rejoicing as well. I wonder if someone like LW or LS might appeal for an RFU academy when they're next reviewed (which is soon iirc).

I would love to be a fly on the wall when Wasps argue for a West Midlands recruiting area for their academy, that's really going to put noses out of joint at some clubs...

 

[Patchey]

Wuss, with all their newly opened regional academy centres (or whatever they're called), will fight tooth and nail against it for sure.

By the sounds of it though, I don't think much of the commercial strength of the club will be out into lobbying for an academy etc. I'm sure they will but it sounds like once the Ricoh move happens things will go South, in terms of support for the club being grown from the money men, very quickly.

 

[ratsapprentice]

Got to feel sorry for the players.

I believe the players genuinely knew nothing.

 

[goodNumber10]

So is it official?

 

[ratsapprentice]

Yes.

Council approved unanimously.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rugby?src=hash">#Rugby</a> NEWS: At tomorrow's <a href="https://twitter.com/EPCRugby">@EPCRugby</a> England Tournament Launch, <a href="https://twitter.com/WaspsRugby">@WaspsRugby</a> are only club not sending Head Coach or Captain, only VCs</p>&mdash; RugbyUnplugged.com (@RugbyUnplugged) <a href="https://twitter.com/RugbyUnplugged/status/519527469922406400">October 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Tony Manx]

Yes.

Council approved unanimously.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Rugby?src=hash">#Rugby</a> NEWS: At tomorrow's <a href="https://twitter.com/EPCRugby">@EPCRugby</a> England Tournament Launch, <a href="https://twitter.com/WaspsRugby">@WaspsRugby</a> are only club not sending Head Coach or Captain, only VCs</p>â€" RugbyUnplugged.com (@RugbyUnplugged) <a href="https://twitter.com/RugbyUnplugged/status/519527469922406400">October 7, 2014</a></blockquote>
<script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Would only add that no contracts have yet been signed and there are many a slip between cup and lip!!!

I have seen many done deals break down when it gets down to the, usual all night, completion meeting!!!

 

[ratsapprentice]

This has been in the works for 2 years supposedly.
It's as close to done as you can get.

 

[Peat]

Looks like its Quins if I want a London club. Well, at least I've picked the right time not to be a glory hunter...

 

[TheSaffycen]

Wonder what the players are thinking of all this ? I know we are interested in Launchbury and he wasn't signing a new contract, I can't see this being a massive drawing point for him to actually stay.