Like the old "if a tree falls in a forest and no-one is around to hear it, does it make a noise?" thought experiment, I suppose.

The club's build up to the new season seems to revolve almost* entirely around sending out tweets. There's next to no sign of them in Ealing and I'd guess very few people living or working here even know the club exists, let alone plays matches here, or that we're in Super League, or that we kick off in 2 weeks time.

It's not only disappointing and frustrating (although sadly predictable) but it's also just downright bizarre. Do they actually want people to come and watch them play?


*I say almost, because they did take a stand in Ealing Broadway Shopping Centre on Friday, from 11-1pm. Although I'm not sure who was around at that time, mainly housewives and the unemployed, because office workers would have been popping out for lunch just as the Broncos team was packing up for the day. But it is 'something' I suppose.

Watch out Nadera78, you will have Northernbloke telling you that Ealing, is not really where the club should be promoting itself.

Very good opening post. Club really are missing the boat here

Obviously it isn't, especially as nad is saying they got it wrong.

We do exist but it's a secret, so don't tell anyone.

Are you say the club are not missing the boat here?? That they are doing really well in promoting themselves???

So, that means we are the Schrodingers cat of Super League?..

It is no surprise to me that marketing efforts are understated. In many respects, we have gone backwards from the days of Chris Warren when there was a broader match day experience. Some interesting thoughts in this rlblogrl on what clubs should be aiming to do in that regard.

Honky, for clarification bosty suggested I would comment on marketing in ealing. Should the club be promoting itself in ealing? From nads comment the promoting in ealing that they did was wrong! Take from that what you wish.

A fair suggestion given you'r views are documented on this topic
You have gone on record as saying that the club should market to the wider community but you are a tad light on suggestions of how to do so....
Sounds like it was the usual London Broncos fare....half ar53d and badly run

You have stated that Ealing isn't the market for us to target.......it would seem that you and Hughes agree because in the years we've been at the venue he's spent less than a pittance marketing to the new neigbours.
The reality is that the only ground we left with more fans than when we arrived was the one ground that we leaflet dropped the neighbours and had bus stop adverts near the ground......as much as I wondered about the abilities of Chris Warren, he at least gave it a go....and it worked. Every other ground we've called home has seen a decline in crowds......any increase this season will be down to the ex-pat community attending "their" home team game when they come south....the Likes of Wigan, Leeds and Saints games are always bolstered by london based northerners rocking up.

Well, do you think it was a good idea to host a stall at 11-1 on a Friday morning? Who, exactly, are they likely to be targeting at that time, on that day?

I'm not interested in the arguments about Hughes, it's all been said a million times, but I do find the club's attitude to this downright bizarre.

There were 8 London born players on the field at once yesterday. 8. That is massive.

Keep pumping investment into the academy. The other things will follow.

Clearly it is a good strategy to invest in the academy and develop local players as the foundation for the team.

It puts the club on a more sustainable footing but doesn't really address anything in terms of attracting new fans.

Nad, have you possibly thought that they were dictated to by the centre itself!? They are managed centres with lots of organisations and businesses wanting to be in there! It was something it could have been nothing. Ideally it should have been sat afternoon, but it wasnt. They can't just pitch up though!

Local players are more likely to bring local fans in!