Personally I will pay the fee and watch the matches on the new channel. The casual fan who UR need to attend a match or two per season won't bother their hoop and will become disconnected - attendances will drop.Columbo wrote:I agree with 1, not with 2 (it's cheap and sounds like it's going to be very comprehensive - and you can't argue with the additional money coming across to the clubs..)ColinM wrote:How to rip the heart out of rugby in Ulster...
1. Appoint Logan as CEO and sanitise the provincial matchday experience beyond all recognition
2. show provincial matches on an unheard of PPV channel
3. create three superclubs in order to dispense with domestic rugby
4.......
on 3 to play the devil's advocate, domestic rugby is in the doldrums right now in Ulster. I'm not sure why - at least in part from Logan's talk > action attitude, but that's how it is. Hardly any representation at the top end of the UBL, crowds of 2 men and a dog, generally poor facilities etc etc ( I speak as someone who enjoys watching a fair bit of UBL btw) - so the status quo is little interest / engagement from the Ulster rugby community in any case.
Also I can understand the IRFU being frustrated with the UBL - it seems to be irresistible, no matter what rules and regulations are in place, for clubs to try to sneak money onto the table for players, and that can end up very messy.
I personally would be interested in seeing a 'superleague' and back to amateur provincial leagues, with an all Ireland play-off..
With the semi pro league, I think it sounds fine on the face of it as well but when you start to think of the detail it unravels quickly.