At a very simplistic level Bradford Bulls isn’t working as a business. This must mean costs are higher than income so I thought I would start a thread with a couple of ideas and hopefully there may be some creative ideas out there which may help the to sustain the club.

IMO costs are what they are for the short term future and to be competitive we need to spend up near the cap so I think the best ideas to look at are how to increase income;

1) Work out how to make the most money from season tickets; it would appear that we don’t know at what price to set season tickets to maximise revenue, in depth research needed.
2) Have special event matches – in the line of the Leeds hybrid idea how about a rugby union 7s tournament like back in 2002 rlhttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/2183583.stmrl may help to raise our profile – helps with sponsorship
3) More exhibition matches in general in the off season, we don’t need to put out a full strength 1st team but invite the USA team, Italy team or a Queensland Cup team
4) Make more of our academy matches, play them to finish 10 min before the 1st team fixture hoping people will arrive early and spend more brass
5) In line with the above, the earlier you arrive the cheaper it is, knowing you will put more money behind the bar, at the burger vans etc.
6) Utilise the coral stand (I don’t know if this is always sold out but people just don’t turn up or whether it is always half empty)
7) Make players and coaches available for meet and greets after games or on an evening at the bar in an effort to keep people at the stadium and hence spending money on drinks etc.
8 ) Instead of warm weather training in Lanzarote go abroad and play friendlies in expanding countries, again raising the profile of the club
9) Add experiences to the gift shop. E.g. ’train with the bulls for £x’or ‘sports massage from the Bulls’ masseuse’ I’m sure it would be a pretty cool birthday present etc. and would be at no real extra cost to the club
10) And of course with everything the club does try to get a big spin on it utilising all different platforms of media to get the word out. I know this is at a cost but it is one that will see an increase in income.

As I say these are just a list of ideas that have come to mind and probably have many flaws in them but in order for half a million quids worth of supporters money to have not gone down the pan brainstorming sessions are needed to come up with ideas to make a sustainable business.

Somebody mentioned having a couple of young artists from the college come up and have them paint peoples name in a section of the ground, say like for £20 quid or something. I thought that was a good idea.

They really need a way of ensuring the ground is used more than it is at the moment. There aren't enough matches or cabinet meetings to sustain the club that to me is obvious. Virtually every other ground in the league is a multi-use facility in fact all the new/newish ones are in use every day of the week.

The only thing they could use would probably be the coral stand for functions which they do anyway. It needs some investment to get it off the ground.

Monster trucks and fireworks etc aren't something you can have every week either.

All that land and in that location you could take the stadium in whatever direction you wanted with some cash. Such a shame it really is.

How about a music event, say battle of the bands, or food festival, or even car boot sales.

I would offer 2 ideas.
1) Club merchandise. I work in an office and cannot wear the leisure items we sell. Why do we not do shirts with a small Bulls logo embroidered on the shirt pocket. Just a couple of colours would do to start, whiite and blue. I have suggested this several times over the years. Ties - decent quality at a good price many designs could be used. They did a tie which I bought a few years ago - the striped one - but the quality was awful it just "clicked" if you even looked at it. A basic choice of black or grey trousers with a discreet logo on the pockets or as a label/tag (Levi or Wrangler etc style) would also be great. Ties could be done not just on Bulls colours but in commercial colours branded, again, with a small logo on the bottom. I for one would be a regular buyer of these items for work wear.

2) The coral Stand should be a "Club" for the rest of the week. Somewhere between a sports club and a working mans club with a membership independant of the match membership. Open 6 nights a week with well priced alcohol entertainment, meals(restaurant) etc. This would be in use all year round then.

Anyway just a few thoughts, now I must get back to work.

Keep 'em coming, some good ideas there!

Or a proper music event.

Red Hot Chilli Peppers type of thing.

The problem with most ideas is that they cost money to set up. and its cash now that is our problem.

How much does it cost in wages/risk assessment/utilities to actually open a stadium??? I enquired to Bradford City if we could hold a 1 hour event for the school I work at where the kids will be seated in the stand, and we would staff it fully interms of supervision. I was quoted 4grand! when i asked how it was so expensive I was quoted at from a saftey certificate, and H&S legislation!
Touring sides from developing nations - how much will that bring in, once their costs and the costs of the club have been met.
There is a tiny full time staff at Odsal these days. probably in single figures. getting the stadium open and operational is costly!
the coral stand at the moment is not cheap to book, compared to similar locations in Bradford. perhaps a more realistic pricing structure could be found, but i terms of a club/bar what can it offer that isnt offered by cue gardens at the stadium gate???

Dont want to dampen people's enthusiaam, but what we really need is an expert on board. one person with a genuine knowledge of the leisure sector. Widnes' ipitch is a revelation. Imagine the possibilities if we could open odsal up as a venue for 5-a -side or touch rugby. However, the 500 grand it would take to install has just been given to the players and the tax man!

A carboot on the car park on stadium road would be a good start. Minimal cost.

what about getting the cheer leaders training in the coral stand? running classes here rather than hiring somewhere else? Zumba classes? having an open mike comedy, or jam session? what about special offers on hospitality on game days? I've been paying an extra £10 a game at Bradford city to have a meal and a pint in the chairman's suite. if its not full to capacity, sell it at a small profit and get bums on seats and let people see what they are missing.

Plant the seed. make it less about handing over cash now and make it more about creating new fans for the future! give loads of free tickets away to schools. fiver a game for a kid and a parent. get bull man out there even more! give the impression that you get something for your money!!!!
I usually come to games alone now, but for the leeds game, i brough my soccer mad sons. Guess what? they demanded a bulls shirt each, they wanted pop, donuts, chips etc... The admission saving can be quickly recouped when youve got people here for two hours feeling like theyve saved money!

Even versus Leeds we had almost 5000 empty places. lets get people here!

I know quite a few people who would pay big money for an event like that.

Public stonings. £100 per rock. Jeremy Clarkson, investment bankers, Tories, Stephen Jones. I'd remortgage the house.

I recall reading some time ago that the break-even point for opening Odsall for a game is 6000 paying fans. If that's true, it pretty much puts the mockers on most pre season games or minor rep rugby at Odsall.

Bring back speedway and the Bradford dukes

T'Pau!

Long memories there...vs Auckland 1197 IIRC? Best pre-show entertainment ever, that was IMO.

Bit before my time that mate. I'm from the inflatable ball era.