During the past week, that solution has emerged on the Central Coast. Following last night's historic resolution, Cronulla will now host five games over the next five years at Bluetongue Stadium, which offers teams a minimum $100,000 guarantee per match. At their present crowd average, the Sharks are losing about $25,000 a game at Toyota Stadium.

"We need to expand our brand and get into new markets to generate new revenue streams," Zappia said.

5 games and 1 in adalaide www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

During the past week, that solution has emerged on the Central Coast. Following last night's historic resolution, Cronulla will now host five games over the next five years at Bluetongue Stadium, which offers teams a minimum $100,000 guarantee per match. At their present crowd average, the Sharks are losing about $25,000 a game at Toyota Stadium.

"We need to expand our brand and get into new markets to generate new revenue streams," Zappia said.

5 games and 1 in adalaide www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

North Sydney Bears and Cronulla Sharks exchange barbs over Gosford move
If they think they can play five games and get 15,000 people, well it ain't going to happen. It is just destabilising rugby league in the area. As I said, they have stated this is purely a revenue-raising move."

North Sydney continue their push to start up a franchise playing out of Bluetongue Stadium. It is understood the Bears are close to announcing some corporate sponsorships.

"It's the same as the Northern Eagles. They played one game here a month and the Central Coast people voted with their feet and it all went downhill," Florimo said. "Everyone has recognised since day dot that this is a rugby league heartland area."

But Zappia was furious with Florimo's comments - saying Norths' concerns should be tossed aside given they aren't in the NRL.

"I find those comments disrespectful," he said.

"I find it astonishing that someone would make those comments when they aren't even part of the NRL."



www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

North Sydney Bears and Cronulla Sharks exchange barbs over Gosford move
If they think they can play five games and get 15,000 people, well it ain't going to happen. It is just destabilising rugby league in the area. As I said, they have stated this is purely a revenue-raising move."

North Sydney continue their push to start up a franchise playing out of Bluetongue Stadium. It is understood the Bears are close to announcing some corporate sponsorships.

"It's the same as the Northern Eagles. They played one game here a month and the Central Coast people voted with their feet and it all went downhill," Florimo said. "Everyone has recognised since day dot that this is a rugby league heartland area."

But Zappia was furious with Florimo's comments - saying Norths' concerns should be tossed aside given they aren't in the NRL.

"I find those comments disrespectful," he said.

"I find it astonishing that someone would make those comments when they aren't even part of the NRL."



www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html

NRL knocks back Sharks Gosford plan
THE NRL has knocked back a request from Cronulla for funding for the club to play five home games on the Central Coast from 2010.
An NRL statement said the league "is not prepared to embrace" the proposal, reportedly asking for $250,000-$350,000.

The NRL has $8 million on the table for any club prepared to make a permanent move to Bluetongue Stadium.

Thursday's decision shows the league is not prepared to fund a part-time move to the Coast.

"The partnership executive committee has only had the opportunity to look at Cronulla's proposal on a preliminary basis," NRL chief executive David Gallop said in the statement.

"It is not prepared to embrace the idea at this stage.
full link here --

www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html Great move for the future of the NRL. The team has to be there full time. If we put one there on part time basis and keep using the central coast league fans as 2nd rate people that should just accept and embrace what we give them, the NRL will lose its strong hold there. They want there own team and most of them are already full blown Bears fans waiting for the NRL to get them in there when the next TV deals are done. We must put the bears up there for the survival of the whole NRL along with a 4th Queensland team. We cant save the sharks and kill the league. Majority rules, so long sharks!

NRL knocks back Sharks Gosford plan
THE NRL has knocked back a request from Cronulla for funding for the club to play five home games on the Central Coast from 2010.
An NRL statement said the league "is not prepared to embrace" the proposal, reportedly asking for $250,000-$350,000.

The NRL has $8 million on the table for any club prepared to make a permanent move to Bluetongue Stadium.

Thursday's decision shows the league is not prepared to fund a part-time move to the Coast.

"The partnership executive committee has only had the opportunity to look at Cronulla's proposal on a preliminary basis," NRL chief executive David Gallop said in the statement.

"It is not prepared to embrace the idea at this stage.
full link here --

www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/s ... 66,00.html Great move for the future of the NRL. The team has to be there full time. If we put one there on part time basis and keep using the central coast league fans as 2nd rate people that should just accept and embrace what we give them, the NRL will lose its strong hold there. They want there own team and most of them are already full blown Bears fans waiting for the NRL to get them in there when the next TV deals are done. We must put the bears up there for the survival of the whole NRL along with a 4th Queensland team. We cant save the sharks and kill the league. Majority rules, so long sharks!