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#Post#: 152119--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: never sleep
Date: March 31, 2026, 5:54 am
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--- Quote from: Narbia link ---
>
> lose only one game every second year
>
--- End Quote ---
Slightly off topic - but this is something I don't understand.
The great thing about watching a team is the highs and lows. The
unexpected loss against the bottom club, or the equally
unexpected win against the top team. The worry about been
relegated or the elation of winning a cup.
If you always win, then you don't get any of this experience.
#Post#: 152120--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: Camquin
Date: March 31, 2026, 6:16 am
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Ealing do not even attract 2,000 to a game, but are funded by a
wealthy investor putting in millions a year - why do they need a
stadium capable of holding 10,000 that would be even emptier.
In the premiership they could probably fill there ground, by
brining in more away fans and gaining some extra neutrals that
become home supporters.
That and some TV money and central league sponsorship and
perhaps some more sponsors attracted by the TV would probably
let them increase their spending to the new Premiership floor.
OK, having 5,000 fewer seats means so 80,000 places they cannot
sell over a year, so potentially a couple of million in income -
which is a fraction of the cost of running a Prem outfit. And it
comes with increased costs and no guarantee the seats would all
be sold.
#Post#: 152122--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: March 31, 2026, 8:03 am
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i live in a road next door to Trailfinders, it is not a great
little ground, it was the GWR sports ground and became
Trailfinders when Mike Gooley took over Ealing Rugby club in
1999, i have lived here since 1988.
Trailfinders have little real connection with the previous club,
wearing green and white being about the only real
connection,which though founded in 1869 missed the RFU
foundation meeting in 1871 due to a mix up.
The ground had a new 3g pitch and broadcast tower as part of the
requirements for the PWR, and the PWR side are linked to Brunel
university, womens rugby seems to be the priority at present,
you often see Meg jones and other female players in a coffee
shop on Pittshanger Lane, or jogging past my front garden.
There is zero chance of being able to increase the ground beyond
6000 as it has a single access road, which restricts emergency
service access, railway on one side, two schools on the other
and housing estate on other, front is residental housing.
The club is a foundation as the owner is 89 years old, they have
a shirt deal with Trailfinders that is worth more than any prem
shirt sponsorship and a ground naming agreement with
trailfinders, there is provision for funding the club past his
death.
They have argued with the prem regarding the 10001 seat rule and
have presented documention that showed the club was viable with
the present stadium in the prem.
My own opinion having watched them a number of times, they would
struggle without massive investment to win a single game, and
the stadium would be not suitable for the prem, it looks awful
on tv if you watch PWR games, if the cameras were on the other
side it would look even worse.
The womens team is a different story, and the ground if ugly is
suitable and the club sustainable.
#Post#: 152160--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 1, 2026, 2:23 am
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Why the obsession with 10,000 seats? Why can't they allow clubs
with smaller grounds to be involved?
#Post#: 152163--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: Rugbycat
Date: April 1, 2026, 2:28 am
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--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> Why the obsession with 10,000 seats? Why can't they allow
clubs with smaller grounds to be involved?
>
--- End Quote ---
To help raise standards, the Minimum Standards Criteria (MSC)
were put in place over 20 years ago. The MSC are now set by the
Men’s Professional Rugby Board. The MSC help ensure that clubs
meet legal obligations, help improve playing facilities, the
experience of customers, the facilities for broadcast, and more
generally improve the governance of clubs. The requirements of
the MSC include an ability for a club’s ground to achieve a
capacity of over 10,000 so that the stadiums become governed by
the Safety of Sports Grounds Act
HTML https://www.englandrugby.com/run/rules-governance/rfu-rules-and-regulations/minimum-standards-criteria#:~:text=To%20help%20raise%20standards%2C%20the,Safety%20of%20Sports%20Grounds%20Act.
#Post#: 152166--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: T-Bone
Date: April 1, 2026, 2:34 am
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Another odd article from Moore. The draft system is great in
theory, but ignores the fact we don't have a vast, more or less
professional college set up
Our university sports system isn't comparable to the US college
system
He suggests the champ clubs fund university degrees for players.
With what money?
Seems he's just picked a successful system elsewhere and said
why don't we copy itz with no further thought given
#Post#: 152173--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 1, 2026, 3:42 am
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--- Quote from: Quinky link ---
>
> Why the obsession with 10,000 seats? Why can't they allow
clubs with smaller grounds to be involved?
>
--- End Quote ---
I think its all about the money from bums on seats, merch and
f&b which is somewhat less if the oppo are only bringing 1 man
and his dog.
#Post#: 152178--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 1, 2026, 3:47 am
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--- Quote from: deadlyfrom5yardsout link ---
>
> I think its all about the money from bums on seats, merch and
f&b which is somewhat less if the oppo are only bringing 1 man
and his dog.
>
--- End Quote ---
Like when Sarries visit?
#Post#: 152179--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: Quinky
Date: April 1, 2026, 3:48 am
---------------------------------------------------------
--- Quote from: Rugbycat link ---
>
> To help raise standards, the Minimum Standards Criteria (MSC)
were put in place over 20 years ago. The MSC are now set by the
Men’s Professional Rugby Board. The MSC help ensure that clubs
meet legal obligations, help improve playing facilities, the
experience of customers, the facilities for broadcast, and more
generally improve the governance of clubs. The requirements of
the MSC include an ability for a club’s ground to achieve a
capacity of over 10,000 so that the stadiums become governed by
the Safety of Sports Grounds Act
>
>
HTML https://www.englandrugby.com/run/rules-governance/rfu-rules-and-regulations/minimum-standards-criteria#:~:text=To%20help%20raise%20standards%2C%20the,Safety%20of%20Sports%20Grounds%20Act.
>
>
>
--- End Quote ---
Sounds like a well intentioned idea that ends up strangling
growth.
#Post#: 152183--------------------------------------------------
Re: Prem is a dead-duck league without relegation
DIR By: deadlyfrom5yardsout
Date: April 1, 2026, 3:53 am
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It would be interesting to have a comparison between Ealings
efforts to increase their crowd size and other pro clubs?
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