Wakefield Trinity • IMG Announce Proposed Criteria for Super League 2025
There are three ways of looking at how to grow the sport.
There is the IMG commercial model, which is create an exciting and vibrant top-flight, with lots of fans and engagement, with millionaire owners and sponsorship and TV money. The extra interest in the game because of the vibrant top flight, will spread the game and increase interest, with a spin-off of more grassroots involvements.
This first option is aimed at the top teams in super league and growing the game.
There is the growth model, which is invest heavily in grassroots and create an even playing field amongst all the clubs.
This second option doesn't necessarily improve the top flight nor create extra business money or sponsorship or TV money, but does create a healthier growth in heartland areas.
The third option is to carry on as we are and see how it goes.
In reality, the first model has more chance to deliver what IMG have been instructed to deliver. The second model is a strong heartlands game, but IMG weren't instructed to make sure Fev and York have a good academy. The believe is that the survival of the game is dependent on TV money and sponsorship, with the growth lower down spinning off that success.
I agree with that approach, but the conflict sums up the problem of a largely regional game. The top clubs want big crowds and vibrancy. The smaller clubs, like us, want to be able to sit at the top table, even if we can't deliver the same. Is the future of the game dependent on Fev doing well? I hope not.
It is different in Aus, where the same local conflicts are not played out in the same way. Here, our strength is our strong local support. It is also our biggest weakness.
There is the IMG commercial model, which is create an exciting and vibrant top-flight, with lots of fans and engagement, with millionaire owners and sponsorship and TV money. The extra interest in the game because of the vibrant top flight, will spread the game and increase interest, with a spin-off of more grassroots involvements.
This first option is aimed at the top teams in super league and growing the game.
There is the growth model, which is invest heavily in grassroots and create an even playing field amongst all the clubs.
This second option doesn't necessarily improve the top flight nor create extra business money or sponsorship or TV money, but does create a healthier growth in heartland areas.
The third option is to carry on as we are and see how it goes.
In reality, the first model has more chance to deliver what IMG have been instructed to deliver. The second model is a strong heartlands game, but IMG weren't instructed to make sure Fev and York have a good academy. The believe is that the survival of the game is dependent on TV money and sponsorship, with the growth lower down spinning off that success.
I agree with that approach, but the conflict sums up the problem of a largely regional game. The top clubs want big crowds and vibrancy. The smaller clubs, like us, want to be able to sit at the top table, even if we can't deliver the same. Is the future of the game dependent on Fev doing well? I hope not.
It is different in Aus, where the same local conflicts are not played out in the same way. Here, our strength is our strong local support. It is also our biggest weakness.
Statistics: Posted by Slugger McBatt — Wed Apr 05, 2023 6:19 pm — Replies 79 — Views 8716