Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sat Jul 14, 2012 5:47 am  

Did the expansion get put back from 2013? Or did I imagine that?

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sat Jul 14, 2012 6:20 am  

There was an opportunity in 2011 to call for expansion bids and announce expansion to commence in 2013 at start of new TV deal. Gallop and the NRL board decided to do nothing so the opportunity was lost and we have been speculating since if and when it will happen. Sadly the inaction and lack of confidence in our great game by Gallop means we will miss out on up to $150-200mill in income on the TV deal by not having a 9th game to sell with two new teams in desirable locations.

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sat Jul 14, 2012 10:24 am  

Here is the jist as it stands.

TV Deal sorted around Sept. Submissions for expansion in late aug. If TV money allows for expansion, then spot(s) given for 2014 season.

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sat Jul 14, 2012 4:20 pm  

2015 season though there is now talk of staggering entry so one team comes in 2015 and one in 2016, don;t see any logic to it.

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sun Jul 15, 2012 3:53 am  

HAte to say I told you so! Potential new franchises will soon get an answer on NRL expansion - but it's unlikely to be the one they're hoping to hear. Sin Bin has been told the ARLC is likely to make a definitive call on whether to expand in late August, around the time the television rights deal has been thrashed out. Should they decide to increase the number of teams, prospective franchises will be given four or five months to put in bids with a view to NRL entry in 2015. However, it's becoming increasingly likely the status quo will remain and they will have to wait longer still. While the broadcasters are always looking for more quality content, it's believed - at least in initial discussions - their appetite for more games isn't matched by a dollar commitment that would make new clubs feasible. The commission is also mindful that most existing clubs are running at a loss and extra teams would only further dilute the playing talent. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z20eyQgCBC

HAte to say I told you so! Potential new franchises will soon get an answer on NRL expansion - but it's unlikely to be the one they're hoping to hear. Sin Bin has been told the ARLC is likely to make a definitive call on whether to expand in late August, around the time the television rights deal has been thrashed out. Should they decide to increase the number of teams, prospective franchises will be given four or five months to put in bids with a view to NRL entry in 2015. However, it's becoming increasingly likely the status quo will remain and they will have to wait longer still. While the broadcasters are always looking for more quality content, it's believed - at least in initial discussions - their appetite for more games isn't matched by a dollar commitment that would make new clubs feasible. The commission is also mindful that most existing clubs are running at a loss and extra teams would only further dilute the playing talent. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... z20eyQgCBC

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:11 pm  

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6428483068

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/ ... 6428483068

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Wed Jul 18, 2012 2:14 pm  

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/06/28/pi ... t-fit-nrl/

http://www.theroar.com.au/2012/06/28/pi ... t-fit-nrl/

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sat Jul 21, 2012 2:40 am  

The QT has been told expansion is still an option, but no final decision has been made. "There has been no change to the position on expansion," an NRL spokesman told the QT. "It is a strategic consideration for the game and one that will be considered as part of the commission's strategic planning process. We've talked about the fact that plan will be released later in the year and that remains the case." Western Corridor NRL bid boss Steve Johnson said his team would continue with its plans. He said the current broadcast rights holders held the key to expansion, and if Channel Nine and Fox Sports had bid for an extra game in the upcoming TV rights deal, then there would be extra teams. Channel Nine and Fox Sports have made their secret bids for broadcast rights and when they are opened in early August it will become apparent whether they have put in extra funds for an expanded competition. Heavyweights at Channel Nine have made it clear they were prepared to pay an extra $100 million over five years for an expanded game with an extra team playing out of Suncorp Stadium. http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/07/21/t ... rl-battle/

The QT has been told expansion is still an option, but no final decision has been made. "There has been no change to the position on expansion," an NRL spokesman told the QT. "It is a strategic consideration for the game and one that will be considered as part of the commission's strategic planning process. We've talked about the fact that plan will be released later in the year and that remains the case." Western Corridor NRL bid boss Steve Johnson said his team would continue with its plans. He said the current broadcast rights holders held the key to expansion, and if Channel Nine and Fox Sports had bid for an extra game in the upcoming TV rights deal, then there would be extra teams. Channel Nine and Fox Sports have made their secret bids for broadcast rights and when they are opened in early August it will become apparent whether they have put in extra funds for an expanded competition. Heavyweights at Channel Nine have made it clear they were prepared to pay an extra $100 million over five years for an expanded game with an extra team playing out of Suncorp Stadium. http://www.qt.com.au/story/2012/07/21/t ... rl-battle/

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Sat Jul 21, 2012 2:44 am  

Pirates confident west will be won MANY sports fans in Perth haven't even heard of Darren Lockyer but one of the architects of a western bid for an NRL team insists they will catch on quickly. And you get the feeling the West Coast Pirates' bid boss John Sackson thinks it is nothing short of a sporting disgrace there is not a national league presence in the western frontier. "It is really hard to swallow to be honest. People in Perth are just like those in Melbourne; they absolutely love their sport,'' Sackson says. "The people of Western Australia just need a rugby league team to believe in.'' http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/p ... 6431280780

Pirates confident west will be won MANY sports fans in Perth haven't even heard of Darren Lockyer but one of the architects of a western bid for an NRL team insists they will catch on quickly. And you get the feeling the West Coast Pirates' bid boss John Sackson thinks it is nothing short of a sporting disgrace there is not a national league presence in the western frontier. "It is really hard to swallow to be honest. People in Perth are just like those in Melbourne; they absolutely love their sport,'' Sackson says. "The people of Western Australia just need a rugby league team to believe in.'' http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/nrl/p ... 6431280780

Re: West Coast Pirates NRL bid : Tue Jul 24, 2012 1:30 pm  

Here’s what comes to mind when I think of expansion. Strength, junior base, revenue and potential for growth. In my eyes, to truly move rugby league forward and grow the comp into a national brand, Perth needs to be given a team. It just makes sense. Rugby league was progressing nicely in Western Australia when the Reds were in town from 1995-97. They were getting plenty of bums on seats and grassroots footy was being cultivated nicely. But when the Super League war ended in ’97 and the two competitions became one, the Reds were sacrificed along with ARL franchise South Queensland Crushers. I think it shows a fair bit of ticker and determination to come back fifteen years later. Allowing WA to have a team also makes sense for TV, with the time difference meaning games can be shown live. Much better than some idiot sending you a text with the result, don’t you think? Also, the WARL was established in 1948, meaning it’s just a year younger than famous clubs like defending premiers Manly and the Parramatta Eels. http://www.nrl.com/in-touch-where-shoul ... fault.aspx

Here’s what comes to mind when I think of expansion. Strength, junior base, revenue and potential for growth. In my eyes, to truly move rugby league forward and grow the comp into a national brand, Perth needs to be given a team. It just makes sense. Rugby league was progressing nicely in Western Australia when the Reds were in town from 1995-97. They were getting plenty of bums on seats and grassroots footy was being cultivated nicely. But when the Super League war ended in ’97 and the two competitions became one, the Reds were sacrificed along with ARL franchise South Queensland Crushers. I think it shows a fair bit of ticker and determination to come back fifteen years later. Allowing WA to have a team also makes sense for TV, with the time difference meaning games can be shown live. Much better than some idiot sending you a text with the result, don’t you think? Also, the WARL was established in 1948, meaning it’s just a year younger than famous clubs like defending premiers Manly and the Parramatta Eels. http://www.nrl.com/in-touch-where-shoul ... fault.aspx