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#Post#: 130732--------------------------------------------------
Sarries V Quins
DIR By: Rob Buchanan
Date: November 27, 2024, 9:51 am
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I watched the highlights of both the Premier Cup mens game and
the PWR game both of which were played at Sarries StoneX Stadium
last weekend. For both games the ground didn't even look half
full! What can it be like for their players, and how do they
make ends meet?
#Post#: 130733--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sarries V Quins
DIR By: poorfour
Date: November 27, 2024, 9:54 am
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To be fair, Quins get lower attendances for PRC games and aren't
yet filling a whole stand for PWR games - but Sarries have a
smaller ground and IIRC bigger debts.
My understanding is that Quins should be able to break even this
year if Big Game and BSKO fill the Big Stoop, but it's not clear
how Sarries (and most other clubs) can get to the same point.
#Post#: 130738--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sarries V Quins
DIR By: Camquin
Date: November 27, 2024, 10:37 am
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Most clubs survive because they have a wealthy backer who is
willing to fund the losses - perhaps as a tax loss, as the money
would otherwise go to HMG. One of the things the administrator
at LI had to work out was how much of a loss Powerday were able
to claim in their accounts for that last season.
Some have a vulture backer, who is hoping to make a profit on
the land. Though as we know this can go pear shaped.
#Post#: 130761--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sarries V Quins
DIR By: Fearless Fred
Date: November 28, 2024, 2:42 am
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--- Quote from: poorfour link ---
>
> To be fair, Quins get lower attendances for PRC games and
aren't yet filling a whole stand for PWR games - but Sarries
have a smaller ground and IIRC bigger debts.
>
> My understanding is that Quins should be able to break even
this year if Big Game and BSKO fill the Big Stoop, but it's not
clear how Sarries (and most other clubs) can get to the same
point.
>
--- End Quote ---
I haven't tracked attendances recently, but from memory, when
the StoneX had a 10,000 capacity, they struggled to fill that on
a regular basis. Finding reliable attendances now is a lot
harder, as Premiership Rugby no longer publish them, but with a
capacity of 10.500 now, compared to our 14,812, even if they
consistently sell out their ground (which I doubt), they will
struggle to make an impact in their debts without the financial
backers.
#Post#: 130770--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sarries V Quins
DIR By: Grins
Date: November 28, 2024, 5:28 am
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Important to remember that a lot of these “debts”, for most
clubs, are owed to the shareholders. So they are essentially
equity. Press coverage of sports debt usually fails to
understand this.
#Post#: 130785--------------------------------------------------
Re: Sarries V Quins
DIR By: poorfour
Date: November 28, 2024, 6:30 am
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--- Quote from: Grins link ---
>
> Important to remember that a lot of these “debts”, for most
clubs, are owed to the shareholders. So they are essentially
equity. Press coverage of sports debt usually fails to
understand this.
>
--- End Quote ---
Quite. As long as the owner is prepared to back the club, they
can be rolled forward. The issue comes when you have debts that
aren't like that (such as COVID loans) or when an owner has had
enough and tries to sell up, but can't offload the debt at a
discount they cannot accept.
Those have been the trigger for clubs going under. Sarries and
Quins are both lucky to have patient, deep pocketed backers who
seem to be in for the long haul... But the question for Sarries
is whether they can see a route to an operating profit.
We know that Quins can, and have been agonisingly close for
several years only to be scuppered by factors outside their
control.
More broadly, it's been reported that viewership and attendances
are both up this year, and that the Christmas games could see a
record average attendance of over 30,000 (though a lot of that
is down to Big Game, which would provide an average of 16,000
across the 5 games if it sells out. That said, with Tigers as
the hosts, the one ground that could add meaningfully to the
average won't be in play, so I guess it is up to everyone else
to sell out their stadia)
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