Many thanks for that update, much appreciated. I was hoping to attend, but couldn't make it, so this is a welcome report!

Nice to see some relative positive news in there...I notice on the other forum that someone mentioned an a little more depth the situation regarding the "announcement" on the stadium in a few weeks time, hopefully that will go through positively.

The recurring theme to me is the money we need to break even. Clearly we, along with 90% of other Super League clubs run to a stringent budget, and I'm sure this explains the reason we are relying on juniors and younger players coming in/re-signing as opposed to paying out big contracts on players we can't really afford. Unfortunately most fans want the latter, but we've got to appreciate that it's not something we can really afford to do with an expected 300k loss! I can definately see why we put our vote towards the Betfair cash option now. A good cup run and the play offs would be nice to help swell the coffers too.

I guess this reiterates the importance of trying to attend home games for the casual/non season ticket holder fan...I think with the financial position, along with the new stadium on the cards, we could really do with getting down and taking as many friends/casual supporters along to hit that average figure (which does seem a little optimistic to me). The 10,000 figure for the proposed Glasshoughton is also quite optimistic too. The first season there I'm sure we could achieve that due to the "new factor" tied with the curiosity of away fans, though after that, we'd definately be relying on on-field success to hit figures like that.

Good post, was thinking along similar along similar lines myself, i wonder if he break even figure is just relying on ticket sales, are corporate sales included? presumably we will host some international games, cup semis and nl grand finals so has that been included?

Is the break even figure for if we spend full cap (most times when this sort of figure is mentioned it is)?

I wonder how much info we can get from salford about costs as they dont own the ground and dont make money from beer sales etc, so our income should be much larger (how much money are salford losing?

).

Good news that we should be getting a signature from the buyer soon, would guarantee us another licence after this one if we get our stadium by 2014.

Brian Ashworth spoke to me at the bar and told me that the basic grounds overheads per game at Salford is £18k per game.

I would have thought that corporate sales and beer (and food) income will make up a big chunk of that (money salford wont get but we will).

I seem to recall it being mentioned a while back that we would have a bar open 7 days a week to gain income from the xscape location 7 days a week is this still the case?

Interesting news that, few obs for what my opinion is worth:

The Stobart deal is a bad deal, innovative, eye catching, but ultimately in business terms it is a bad deal. Unless the RFL who went to pains to point out they could bring other things in, are going to unveil a cash deal with someone else - The Budweiser Play-offs or something equally Americanised.
The deal actually only serves to make the division a 2 division split between the people who spend the cap anyway and the clubs who need that money.

The stadium; that is realistic, the operating and running costs are going to be higher, it may be more efficient environmentally, but the upkeep and management is always more expensive. Not to mention the business rateable values. I think it is a good move by the club to show the business projections, it shows the inherent risk of moving as well as the risk of not. It is not a magic bullet and the financial risk to our business will be greatest in the three seasons after we move. That is true of everyone - if you ask the Salford chairman, if they struggle, get a negative spiral, finish bottom 2 for the next 2 seasons - then their franchise is hugely in danger, the stadium is just one factor - so it is risky moving as not.
Anyone who feels even remotely connected to Cas needs to show their support now and right through the process and stick with it through THICK and thin. The additional opportunities for corporate revenue's don’t just magic themselves up either; a larger footfall in the crowds and programme purchases makes us more attractive to corporates and that creates a cycle - look at Hull since their move to the KC - but it has to be sustained. It is risky but can be done with momentum.
They key to finanical success is to have revenues on NON-match days so the extras we strip out, might be the thing that makes it viable.

Any money spent on Wheldon Rd is a waste of money, so not fussed about that. £300k loss, well to be honest considering the operating costs related to stadium and planning we have put in, I am not surprised and couple that with the downturn in leisure spending of the public, it is to be expected. I think there will be a lot of families this season or couples if you look at a season ticket bill of £400 say, or a summer holiday of £600 for a week away, it is a real choice people are making in the world at the moment, not to mention those who are unemployed or at risk of losing their jobs.

Injuries, can't be helped, I would rather take time and bring people back slowly than press people into coming back sooner. We all know that the risk of re-injury is more likely in the comeback phase.
I can’t wait to see Youngy, Huby, Jacko and Millington in the 18, add those in to the side from last weekend and there is some depth there. But the challenge for them is to work their way back in to the 17, they won’t walk in.

On the whole, not much to say - but I do respect Richard for explaining the parts that we can play, we do put a lot of responsibility on the club, rightly, but similarly what responsibility the public and fans have to make it sustainable and how many people we need.

Feel free to ignore and disparage.

It was generally a very positive evening as you can see from the information. Always well worth the entrance fee.