Red And Black Bears Have A Bluetongue | Thebigtip

The announcement of a major sponsorship signing by Bluetongue Stadium further enhances the prospect of the Central Coast Bears getting a long overdue NRL license.

The outcome has four major ramifications:

1. With Bluetongue Stadium now involved as a major sponsor, it gives the NRL further certainty over the long term prospects for the franchise – Bluetongue Stadium needs this team for its long term viability, while the team needs Bluetongue Stadium. It’s a unique situation in Australian sport having a great stadium without a team! Having John Singleton involved in Rugby League again is great for the code due to his passion. The man is a winner and his business acumen, contact network and media links will open many doors in corridors of power – combined with the political support of Barry O’Farrell and Joe Hockey, the Bears will have some muscle to flex. This will give the NRL extreme confidence regarding the long term prospects and sustainability for the franchise.

2. The heavy involvement of Singo & Bluetongue Stadium will engage the Central Coast community even more so. Cross-promotion opportunities with the Mariners are an obvious start. It also provides a further differentiation from competing bids.

3. The new mix of sponsors instantly ensures no club can claim the Bears are taking away potential sponsors, the major complaint of Sydney Clubs. Bluetongue Stadium will obviously only support a full time team based at Gosford as will Fortunity, based at Erina in offices shared with the Bears. From North Sydney, the key sponsors will only ever sponsor one RL NRL club…..the Bears. The Norths club at Cammeray, JJ Lawsons (multi-generational Bear sponsors/fanatics) and of course the historic ‘Big Bear’ shopping centres at Neutral Bay/West Gosford, who have the ultimate linkage to the Bears, being responsible for the mascot.

4. With Bluetongue Stadium to gain a stakeholding in the Bears, the single ownership model that many fans and possibly the NRL had reservations about will be superseded with a diversified ownership structure that accordingly reduces risk to all parties.

The Bears continue to increase their membership base, which currently stands at 7,000. 85 of these members have paid a non-refundable $5500 as a sign of confidence in the bid team and the NRL.

As business leaders, the IC members will look to bids for commitment, passion and long term viability. The Bears bring this in spades, will have no negative impact on other teams given their new financial package and will add value to the game (and TV ratings) by:

-igniting huge rivalries with Manly and Newcastle which will benefit all 3 teams

- reconnecting with former North Sydney Bears fans (estimated by the NRL at over 40,000) and other league followers who abandoned the game post Super League. Those still residing in Sydney will form the core of the supporter group for Sydney ‘away’ games, adding to all Sydney club coffers, unlike interstate alternatives.

- removes a barrier to entry by providing an NRL venue to everyone from the north shore through to Lake Munmorah who have difficult public transport access to current stadiums (combined population 1 million +)

- providing a pathway to the NRL for 23 teams and helping impede the encroachment of AFL in the catchment area

- providing the NRL with attractive timeslots on weekends (late afternoon/early evening) due to the huge family demographic on the Central Coast

- allowing the NRL to market another foundation club with an already established brand and fan base

- healing the wounds of the Super League War

The interest on the north shore due to the prospect of the Central Coast Bears being granted a license has led to increased player participation at junior clubs. The North Sydney District Rugby League are seriously investigating the creation of 2 more teams (1 lower, 1 upper north shore) to cope with anticipated demand following a successful license application. This would increase the junior teams in the catchment to 25, rivaling Penrith and Newcastle and dwarfing almost all other team catchments in the NRL. Yet they have no team…..yet.

The Central Coast Bears have in effect done the NRL’s hard work for them in establishing a zero risk 17th licensee - this will allow them to concentrate their resources on assisting a higher risk start-up franchise elsewhere for the 18th license.