We've been at the Stoop for 3 seasons, heartland clubs have been in their current locations for decades and are still getting pathetic crowds. Expecting crowds to turn up overnight is impossible and naive. Again, many teams in the North have 100+ year histories and associations, yet can't even break 10k. I'd settle for very small growth every year. As few as 500 people. Aiming for 10k crowds within 5 years is ridiculous.

End of argument.

so your argument is to stay where we are for decades like heartland clubs and get pathetic crowds? very well thought out . not end of argument

Pathetic relative to their histories. I think 2.5k after 3 years is pretty decent going. See the rest of my post, I edited it. Let people get used to the club, bring people in gradually, and it'll work. We can't force it on people suddenly.

2.5k after 3 years is not decent going its pathetic,where do you get this bringing people in gradually,we are losing people.
my point is we have an opportunity to get us on the map by moving to this new stadium or carrying on as we are and watch us disaappear up our own ar$e in time

Yawn. Yes, lets just move to another random location and then moan again in 3 years time that our attendances are pathetic and we should be attracting 10k+ crowds. Well done for ignoring all the points I made in my other 2 posts btw.

i thought i had answered your edited responses re 10k crowds in 5 years,bringing in people gradually(so gradual they go down)
random....the building of a world beating stadium in a heavily populated area with a working class non ru watching area, essex on the border youth rl played in brentwood schools hornchurch rlfc not far away....ok small in size but there nonetheless.
cant you see we are going nowhere fast.we are all in agreement we want to see league flourish.i just think we are in a crap area to attract people to watch it... sorry to anyone from twickers.....jeez even that name gives me the hump.

You seem to ignore the fact that the only season we got good crowds was actually at the Stoop. The missing factor now is a decent side with some known names. The thought of moving again is frankly laughable.

Your obsession with classes is ridiculous. You think that Stratford is a "working class area", so automatically they will sympathise towards Rugby League? Utter rubbish.

You think a move away from being Harlequins RL, to a brand new identity with no foundations whatsoever, will be a success? Utter rubbish.

We are in an excellent area for people to watch Rugby League, great access, pleasant area, people everywhere.

I can't believe people moan about GF's suggestions, yet there is very little complaint about someone suggesting we should uproot the team, again, after only 3 years, with no justification. Barmy.

Spot on.

It might take time, but hopefully the club and DH will be patient and one day someone will see the potential and make a serious long-term investment in the club. The club and our small base of supporters have to stick it out and make the best of what we have, rather than calling for yet another move away.

rubbish.what about the valley we got good crowds there.
the thought of staying at the stoop is laughable.i also note you are posting from twickers.nuff said

your obsession with staying in twickers is by now plainly flawed.you say "excellent area to watch league"-not backed up by crowd figures."great access"-your joking.no tube , engineering works to br , pleasant area(?), people everywhere-yeah everywhere other than in the ground
you mentioned new identity ,your good at putting words in peoples mouths.our harlequins identity is really working for us.how many fans wont buy a home shirt...me included.
as for justification,moving to the stoop has not been justified.what are your views on publicity generated by a move to e.15

im afraid you are dreaming mate.maybe a move to e.15 might bring about serious investment.whos gonna bother with us in our current situation.

We didn't get good crowds at the Valley at all. Would you like to make any stereotype about me?

Excellent investment opportunity: brand new Rugby League side in area with no proven fanbase whatsoever. History of moving around and supporters moaning because crowds are too low for their liking after only a few seasons. Change the record, its getting boring.

What don't you understand about the fact that we have only been there for THREE SEASONS, compared to ONE HUNDRED years of other teams, who only get 2 or 3 times as many supporters for their home games? Still waiting.

I imagine that move would get no publicity whatsoever, and the football team would want nothing to do with it either, so stop bleating.

its a shame that when people post views that differ from lister,he brings it down to an unpleasnt level which i dont wish to stoop to(pardon the pun)
i have my views which i wanted to bring into this forum,unfortunately a sensible discussion is nigh impossible when we have the likes of wet behind the ears playground bullies armed with pc`s...adious

Unpleasant? Where have I been unpleasant? You have aired your views, at least 2 people think they are ludicrous, and now you are getting your knickers in a twist and getting upset because someone disagreed with you? What do you constitute being a sensible discussion, everyone agreeing with your dire idea?

Speaking of dicussion, have you intentionally chosen to swerve my latest post, or have you realised how rash the move would be?

Unfortunately there's no precedent for a succesful top level RL franchise in an area where there's not already been a semi-pro or a very strong amateur presence previously. Generally it doesnt work, which is why the NRL have only been putting new franchises in areas with a strong RL presence. Auckland, Gold Coast, North Queensland. Dumping them in new areas never results in good crowds. Gateshead, Sheffield, Wales, London. To be honest its a small miracle and a testament to DH that we're still here when so many others have failed. Melbourne are the only exception and they've had a massive financial corporate backer and have bent the rules here and there!

Catalans get good crowds because there are 1000s of treizistes in the area. We need to survive best we can for another 5 or 10 years and really push forward the amateur and semi-pro game in the south east. Moving to anywhere else in London will not increase crowds. I think we could get 4-5k crowds and a better long term stadium deal in a big town outside london. And also less competition for sponsors/local businesses. But if we are staying in London then The Stoop is the best bet. 20 mins from Waterloo, great stadium and we dont have to move again.

Moving outside London would be a disaster. It would really put all our eggs in one very small basket. With regards to sponsors, on the flip side, in a "big town", there is far less money floating around than in London.

Well it wouldnt, we would still have the South East catchment area, not many of our fans live in SW london. And having a normal town, with normal newspapers who just want to support their local sports teams and a normal town centre to market in would be much easier and cheaper. Big fish in a small pond and a more grateful population who are looking for a team to support with their family. Why do you think S*racens play in Watford, W*sps play in Wycombe, *rish play in Reading? Smart business decisions.

I can see what you are saying, and I realise this is obviously a hypothetical discussion, but the RU teams could play anywhere and draw a crowd. I think our current location is perfect, with only one professional RL team in the South, we have to represent and draw from London as best we can. The prospect of a day out in Wycombe, Reading or Watford hardly inspires me tbh.

Quote ="sweeney"rubbish'" www.slstats.org/t12/London+Bronc ... mmary.html www.slstats.org/t12/London+Bronc ... mmary.html Struggling to see the positives there.

Quote ="sweeney"rubbish'" www.slstats.org/t12/London+Bronc ... mmary.html www.slstats.org/t12/London+Bronc ... mmary.html Struggling to see the positives there.