A New Era, our roadmap to NRL readmission
On Thursday 27th October, we released our initial roadmap to readmission to the NRL as the 18th team, this is something we have been working on this year and it’s exciting to share this with all of our Members and fans. The first step on this journey was the unveiling of our refreshed Club logo. Please click on the video below to watch the story of the logo creation come to life.
The media attention since the announcement has been extremely strong and there is a real rumbling within wider rugby league circles to see this plan come to fruition.
Follow the media coverage:
The Big Sports Breakfast click to listen HERE
2GB with Ben Fordham click to listen HERE
Mornings with Matt White click to listen HERE
Wide World of Sports click to listen HERE
But what does this all mean?
Our Chairman, Daniel Dickson, takes us through the initial proposed roadmap in the below video, please take the time to listen to our vision.
We are ready to step into a new era of the Bears!
Bears Roadmap to the NRL
Tribalism: the behaviour and attitudes that stem from strong loyalty to one’s own tribe or social group.
Proposal:
Reintroduce the Bears as the 18th commercially viable team and inject 220,000 avid fans and members back into the NRL, whilst also engaging with rural and regional heartland.
Summary:
The Bears national brand have a rich 113-year heritage and heartbeat following of die-hard Rugby League fans. A re-introduction into the NRL will engage the loyal club followers to invest their support back in the NRL after 20 years without a home team. Tribalism runs deep at North Sydney Oval with fans from Mt Isa to Wagga Wagga breathing red and black, with the chance to attract new fans nationwide. With such a strong brand and following, there will be obvious excitement for all Rugby League fans to hear the Bears aim to be in the NRL ranks once again.
This NRL goal has seen the structure of the club change, with the above model and astute group of people ready to deliver the NRL’s greatest story in the last 20 years. All the stakeholders have been considered and the time is now to bring all these passionate, loyal, and absolutely “tribal” fans on the journey.
Proposed on and off field season structure:
1. 24 games – 4-6 at NSO (grass roots tribalism), 12 games away and 6-8 games at regional destinations (Wagga, Tamworth, Dubbo, Coffs Harbour, Central Coast (as examples). The NRL to assist with direction to target large regional areas for Rugby League development.
2. Develop and initiate a clear program for country player pathways.
3. Marketing plan to target 220,000 avid Bears fans to attend games and get involved.
4. Media strategy to reintroduce well-known former playing legends to the Rugby League community.
5. Appointment of key social and cultural leader to shadow and guide players, whilst also having a strong presence in the public and player mentoring.
6. 2-4 players per year/per region to be awarded a scholarship to live in Sydney for 12 months and play football after school to further their Rugby League career.
Further information will be released in the coming months regarding Target Areas, Financial Positioning and Key Stakeholders.
