Perhaps some of those "self interested" clubs should take a long hard look at themselves, you know, those that wouldn't release players for the recent England game and those who seem to regularly fail to complete their fixtures.

Sorry, Adam. Just not paying enough attention.

A lot of bluster and big statements from Pearson but nothing of any real substance. Again there’s a focus on cosmetic stuff. I keep going back to it, the quality of the product simply isn’t as good as 10/15 years ago and because of that you’re gonna get less bums on seats, less viewers and less revenue. Finding a way to low key improve the quality on the field should be the base of decision making. No need for radical knee jerk changes but subtle things to gradually steer a better long term path.

rlhttps://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/jan/07/super-league-clubs-transformed-adam-pearson-hullrl

Great post. There absolutely isn't the need to panic. the crowds 15 years ago were 9K and that's down to 8K now but Bradford's demise is a big part of that and not a general malaise. If we keep going on about the "old days" being better, and talk about a "current malaise" we will create our own self fulfilling prophecy.

Just getting Bradford right again and relaunching SL2022 with the biggest and most ambitious clubs will do the trick as it's likely a lot of lapsed fans will fancy geting back out for regular live rugby league after this long lockdown.

Pearson is correct though in the sense other sports are growing and seeing money pumped into them but rugby league hasn't seen any growth and one could argue the sport has actually got smaller.

Also the way super League is governed needs to change. This continued nonsence letting the clubs call the shots will never work.

Comparing the 3 Major Football codes in the UK over 15 years.....

Superleague 2005 Att 3% down
Premiere League 2005/6 Att13% up
Union top flight. 2005/06 Att31% up

And before anyone bangs on about "event games" in Union boosting their attendances, that's the bloody point......they're proactive whilst the RFL pay their own wages with Magic Weekend and.....and....er...nope, that's about it.

There is absolutely a need to panic. The game is on less revenue from it's main source and is on a warning from that source to "buck up its ideas". In the meantime, The HULL FC owner is spouting more tripe about other 'quick fixes' less than 4 years after saying that SL taking control from the RFL would deliver a level playing field with Union.

As another poster has said. We're not a national sport, especially at elite level, so the game needs to decide what it wants....but I can assure you, 8 Northern English Teams and 2 French isn't going to get SKY or anyone else parting with more cash.

It's funny Pearson talking about mergers.
Didn't Hull F.C contrive a fake Merger of Convenience to keep themselves in Super League ?

I wonder if Pearson will be bold enough to volunteer F.C to merge with K.R & play out of Craven Park under the K.R name ???

Well, the KC lease is due to run out

.
no, its up for re-negotiation, lease is still another 30 year or something like that, same as the football club

I agree. I went to 20/20 cricket game at Trent Bridge this week. The ground was pretty much full, it was full of families and folk of all ages groups. The pre match was busy with lots to watch on the pitch, with lots of music, pre recored interviews with the captains on the big screen and other cricket news (the day India were bowled out for 7icon_cool.gif. Surely there is a media group that could produce similar short 'programmes' that could be put out at every game, prior to kickoff.

During the game there was lots of entertainment in the form of short bursts of music and replays on the screen. They had the 'flex (muscleman) cam, the dance cam, the bongo (drums) cam etc, where the crowd can interact with the entertainment. It was slick and fun. Again, the ground was nearly full.
I appreciate that cricket is not RL, but there is lots to learn in order to boost crowds and the sport as a whole. It reminded me of the Bulls (Bullmania) at the start of SL and that, in addition to the rugby our sport must be entertaining in order to bring families in. Lots of work to be done. The sport need to be focussed on being more professional and much more entertaining.

Fair enough on investment and governance, I do however think the fans will be back next season.......

To an extent Bradford have "Been there and done that" with a matchday experience that was more productive early on, before it ended up being dropped.

I love the 20 20 cricket as a novelty, but it's too soon to call it a success, we have to see whether their early crowds hold up or decline.....

We also have to see how our own new rules appeal to the fans next season when they return. I think the new rules sharpen the games up......

Think we need to reinvent with new competitions. This is what cricket does very well. What about addition cup competitions an Eastern and Western Cup as an early season competition. Could all be played as evening games. Combine this with the 2 SL leagues of 10 mid season internationals and magic weekend.