widnes for sl

Quote: gutterfax "
Quote: gutterfax "But getting back on subject a bit, doesn't this whole thread just show what a pile of e this whole franchise thing is?'"

...if you're predisposed to think that way this thread could show that yes.'"

I am.

Quote: gutterfax "
Quote: gutterfax "I don't see any evidence that it has improved SL,'"

I don't see any evidence that it has been detremental to SL either. Apart from the Cas/Wakey derby relegation decider, pretty much every relegated team has known their fate with 4 weeks to go to the end of the season. This year, their are 2 teams who can still finish last.....'"

So I think it's done nothing to improve SL, you think it's done nothing to damage SL. That rather suggests that the effect of franchising on SL is largely neutral. Therefore I would argue whether it's "a good thing" or not is all about it's effect outside SL.

Quote: gutterfax "
Quote: gutterfax " but there's plenty of evidence that it's damaging the Championship.'"

...what, in that clubs can't be automatically promoted so therefore they will just die........not a very good business model to operate on if you ask me.
Unlike my club, the majority of heartland clubs have a deep and rich history and heritage. Regardless of what league they are in, they should still be trying to attract the community back to games, re-immersing themselves into the fabric of the community......not bitching about SL, not getting a licence and moaning that they can't get a better stadium or better players without BskyB's money.
Licencing will take a few years to "bed down"...but all in all, it's good for the game IMO.......just like the cap.'"

Falling crowds, clubs going bust, lacklustre Championship GF, I'd say there's plenty of evidence of damage being done outside SL.

It's all very well saying that the clubs need to market themselves etc, but it's very difficult to persuade people to watch a losing team or a team that is perceived as having "nothing to play for". You can argue that the perception is irrantional, but watching team sport is irrational. A lot of us turn up to watch teams who realistically only have the slimmest chance of winning a prize, but we still do it because there is a chance, however small.

Whether you like it or not, in the lower leagues the prize is promotion. Imagine if we turned up to watch Quins but were told at the start of the season that even if we topped the league and won the GF we wouldn't get the trophy, how many fans would keep turning up? (and by the way this isn't a cue for another of your rants about marketing, we all know that Quins couldn't market free booze to an alchoholic). I'm willing to bet that even the die hards who are turning up now would start to dwindle in number.

What franchising has done to the Championship is take away that slim little chance of the prize that every club starts the season with. That irrantional hope that fans hang on to. The denial of that hope is what's causing the damage.