i think it would be fair to assume that for the first season quite a lot of locals will not buy season tickets but will turn up and pay on the day for 1 game to see whether they like the sport or not. they could well get a couple of really big crowds first up, the trick will be to tempt people back. the second season might well be when season tickets really take off

knowing how canadians watch sports, i assume the club will be making big efforts to turn the matches into a full days experience, with lots of things going on apart from the main game.

Maybe for some, but I think for the majority, the way that Rowley left just before the season started and went on the radio to talk about ethics, which led to all sorts of mud being slung at the club, only to take another job and tap up a fair number of players, has led to most of the resentment.

As for Toronto club in general, this season will be all about how they handle the logistical side of things. So sorting out travel, accomodation etc... while still more than likely winning most if not all their games. I reckon their longer term feasibility will be tested by 2 things 1) what happens if/when the Toronto club decide to stop paying for clubs to travel there 2) what happens if/when they earn promotion to SL, or even middle 8s. Will SL clubs have to vote them in, does it change from SLE to SL northern hemisphere? What exactly is the remit of SL and the RFL on the world game?

Quote: LeythIg "Maybe for some, but I think for the majority, the way that Rowley left just before the season started and went on the radio to talk about ethics, which led to all sorts of mud being slung at the club, only to take another job and tap up a fair number of players, has led to most of the resentment. As for Toronto club in general, this season will be all about how they handle the logistical side of things. So sorting out travel, accomodation etc... while still more than likely winning most if not all their games. I reckon their longer term feasibility will be tested by 2 things 1) what happens if/when the Toronto club decide to stop paying for clubs to travel there 2) what happens if/when they earn promotion to SL, or even middle 8s. Will SL clubs have to vote them in, does it change from SLE to SL northern hemisphere? What exactly is the remit of SL and the RFL on the world game?'" The Americas are under the jurisdiction of the RLEF (along with Europe, Africa and the Middle East). www.rlef.eu.com/index.php The RFL only have a remit over the game here in the UK and SL/the league structure I believe, and it's their choice to allow Catalans & Toronto to join it. As for the travel & accommodation to other clubs, who knows. I imagine whilst in the Championship/League 1 they'll have to cover the costs as part of the terms of them joining the leagues (which possibly is a condition for them to join SL too). All 'what ifs' at the moment though.

Quote: LeythIg "Maybe for some, but I think for the majority, the way that Rowley left just before the season started and went on the radio to talk about ethics, which led to all sorts of mud being slung at the club, only to take another job and tap up a fair number of players, has led to most of the resentment. As for Toronto club in general, this season will be all about how they handle the logistical side of things. So sorting out travel, accomodation etc... while still more than likely winning most if not all their games. I reckon their longer term feasibility will be tested by 2 things 1) what happens if/when the Toronto club decide to stop paying for clubs to travel there 2) what happens if/when they earn promotion to SL, or even middle 8s. Will SL clubs have to vote them in, does it change from SLE to SL northern hemisphere? What exactly is the remit of SL and the RFL on the world game?'" The Americas are under the jurisdiction of the RLEF (along with Europe, Africa and the Middle East). www.rlef.eu.com/index.php The RFL only have a remit over the game here in the UK and SL/the league structure I believe, and it's their choice to allow Catalans & Toronto to join it. As for the travel & accommodation to other clubs, who knows. I imagine whilst in the Championship/League 1 they'll have to cover the costs as part of the terms of them joining the leagues (which possibly is a condition for them to join SL too). All 'what ifs' at the moment though.

And when they win this prodigious award what the blinking heck will that prove apart from they are playing at a level well below their ability.

Oh yes and the thrill of all the clubs trying to establish themselves or re-establish get a good hiding every week.

Signed 3 trialists after their game with Brighouse, every game on premier sports, on TV in Canada, fantastic squad built so far, very active social media account. And I'll tell you what, some of their gear is decent rlhttp://www.buysportskit.com/toronto-wolfpack-967-c.asprl

This could go a lot smoother than I imagined it would.

This is rl it simply will not go as smoothly as you want.
Personally speaking I hope this club is stronger in 2019 Onwards than it is now

there are 100s of cast offs every year from the guys who dont get drafted into the NFL. If Toronto can sell theirself to these players then they are for sure to become a well known and heavily followed team across the waters.

Im excited about it all and hope it works out.

Great post, great to see actual positivity for expansion!

As you say, this one seems like its been very well thought out, and theyre doing it the right way- we havent just chucked a load of money at them and thrown them into SL. If they get there, it will be on merit, as a Fax fan I can swallow that far easier than watching Celtic Crusaders in SL!

Cheers, although, the game of RL should be thinking about where it wants to be in 10 or 20 years time.
I dont think that anyone at Red Hall actually knows where the game is trying to aim for.
Sure, there are lots of positive things happening (if you look for them) but, the domestic game is floundering.
Crowds are falling, the TV deal was accepted far too quickly and cheaply (especially compared to Union) and nobody has a flipping clue what to do to improve the game's profile and increase revenue.
Sadly, in pro sport, cash is everything and there just isn't enough brass coming into the game.

Toronto may help a little with profile but, what happens next.

Even if they romp the third tier comp, which many expect, making the next step (into SL) will be extremely difficult and this may be where the "experiment" falls flat on its back side.

So the national team pulls in more fans than any other nation bar Australia, NZ and England? That's impressive

Regards

King James

In fairness Celtic Crusaders got to the NL1 grand final in 2008 so even if the two teams to join Super League were decided based on league position then they would have still been in.

The marketing of the Wolfpack has already (in my opinion) been far and away superior to anything that any UK rugby league club has ever done, with Keighley Cougars being the closest I can think of. But the scale of this is very impressive. Several thousand season tickets sold before a ball is kicked. Will it succeed? There will be many hoping it will not, because there will be a few clubs (including my own) who will suddenly find themselves very small fish indeed in the pond. At the very least I hope UK clubs pay close attention to the professionalism of the set-up and the marketing that many clubs could only dream of. Other than some dubious action in the transfer market, they don't seem to have put a foot wrong - yet.

I did all my schooling in Toronto, so I hope it takes off for them. UP the CANUKS.