Developing Rugby League in the USA

[England 3 Lions]

Introduction

The American National Rugby League (AMNRL), has developed a fledging semi-professional competition for adults since 1998. Over 300 players are registered with the AMNRL.

Heartland Areas of American Rugby League

The American National Rugby League's development of rugby league in the USA has focused on the north-eastern states and Jacksonville. The development appears to have been quite successful in Connecticut -- it fields two clubs in the AMNRL. Large cities such as Philadelphia and New York field their own terms in the AMNRL, thus giving the game a vital standing in two of the USA's most sought after markets.

Untapped Markets

Unfortunately, the AMNRL has failed to develop the game in the smaller rural states that do not have an NFL franchise. Gaining a foothold in these states is crucial, because the lack of an NFL presence in these areas means their sports market is more likely to accept a rival code of football that sells itself to the people's culture. Since rugby league possesses many similarties with American football, there is a chance the people may adopt it as their sport.

States that are potential goldmines for rugby league development, in order of highest population to lowest, include:

Alabama
Largest City: Birmingham (229,800) [Metro: 1,188,794]
Total Population: 4,661,900
Kentucky
Largest City: Louisville (713,460) [Metro: 1,233,735]
Total Population: 4,269,245
Oregon
Largest City: Portland (575,930) [Metro: 2,159,720]
Total Population: 3,747,455
Oklahoma
Largest City: Oklahoma City (547,274) [Metro: 1,262,027]
Total Population: 3,617,316
Connecticut
Largest City: Burlington (137,912) [Metro: 902,775]
Total Population: 3,501,252
Iowa
Largest City: Des Moines (196,998) [Metro: 554,659]
Total Population: 3,002,555
Mississippi
Largest City: Jackson (184,256) [Metro: 534,047]
Total Population: 2,938,618
Arkansas
Largest City: Little Rock (187,326) [Metro: 841,326]
Total Population: 2,855,390
Utah
Largest City: Salt Lake City (180,000) [Metro: 1,099,973]
Total Population: 2,736,424
Nevada
Largest City: Las Vegas (599,087) [Metro: 1,986,146]
Total Population: 2,600,167
New Mexico
Largest City: Albuquerque (518,271) [Metro: 835,120]
Total Population: 1,984,356
West Virginia
Largest City: Charleston (53,421) [Metro: 309,632]
Total Population: 1,812,035
Nebraska
Largest City: Omaha (390,007) [Metro: 829,890]
Total Population: 1,783,432
Idaho
Largest City: Boise (202,832) [Metro: 643,650]
Total Population: 1,523,816
New Hampshire
Largest City: Portland (64,249) [Metro: 489,343]
Total Population: 1,316,456
Maine
Largest City: Manchester 108,874)
Total Population: 1,315,809
Montana
Largest City: Billings (101,876) [Metro: 179,113]
Total Population: 967,440
South Dakota
Largest City: Sioux Falls (153,100) [Metro: 227,171]
Total Population: 804,194
North Dakota
Largest City: Fargo (99,200) [Metro: 192,417]
Total Population: 641,481
Vermont
Largest City: Burlington (38,889) [Metro: 198,889]
Total Population: 621,270
Wyoming
Largest City: Billings (53,011) [Metro: 81,607]
Total Population: 532,668

Development in the States That Do Not Possess an NFL Franchise

The cost of including most of these states in the AMNRL is probably beyond the AMNRL's reach, so another conference or league or governing body would need to administer the game in these states. A separate body could focus on conducting rugby league coaching clinics at schools, colleges and universities; set up teams for juniors and seniors, and; set up a working relationship with the media and potential financial sponsors. Over time, the states could compete against one another, and could capitalise on age-old rivalries that already exist by those who border one another or share something in common.

Competing Alongside American Football

The AMNRL's decision to play its season during the summer months is wise, as it prevents the sport from having to compete directly with American football. Promoting the competition as a summer-time variant for American football fans is a potentially beneficial marketing idea. The sport's major competition would come from the Arena Football League, and can easily topple this by playing its cards right.

[Druzik]

Saw you posted thin rlhq E3L... I think Jim will be the one that will enjoy discussing this with you, he has passion for the USA development.

[Druzik]

Well E3L, there are soem good ideas in there.

Like you say the AMNRL as it stands having to run and govern a whole country is beyond its financial needs.

I am thinking that a similar structure to the NRL with the CRL and state cups could be a way to go. Basically a feeder systm... Is this what you are advocating?

[England 3 Lions]

Jan 24, 2009 22:58:55 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Well E3L, there are soem good ideas in there.

Like you say the AMNRL as it stands having to run and govern a whole country is beyond its financial needs.

I am thinking that a similar structure to the NRL with the CRL and state cups could be a way to go. Basically a feeder systm... Is this what you are advocating?

A localised organisation, such as the QRL, can focus its energy, money and time on developing the game in a specific region. Similar organisations need to be set up across the USA's many states. They can start off as non-profit organisations run by a few volunteers, then develop into professional businesses as they develop a bond with the media, schools, local businesses, etc.

[lvnknights]

True E3lions.. I read from spinnerH on RLHQ that the hardest thing to get was volunteers and money.. I know what he means by that.Volunteers are hard to come by these days.Seems as though people are too busy to volunteer their time..Only th e passionate ones give up their time. It happens at all levels of sport.

[jim]

Jan 24, 2009 22:53:53 GMT 10 Druzik said:

Saw you posted thin rlhq E3L... I think Jim will be the one that will enjoy discussing this with you, he has passion for the USA development.

Aww jeez put the pressure on me.

You know it's true I am passionate about the USA development but lately I seem to be split on which way it should go.

Something needs to be done about the total mis-match of opponents that seems to be happening ATM. What I would suggest are conferences to save on travel costs and to make the national comp more prestigous by only allowing the top teams from each conference to compete. Ok so to start we could only be able to have 3 or so conferences but we could expand on it for sure. Let's think of the teams we have currently in the USA: 12 in total, the 10 AMNRL teams from last year plus Boston who I have heard are making a re-appearance and Bradenton.

I would work it something like this, 3 conference to start top of each plays a tri series with the 2 winner playing off in a GF.

South West
Jacksonville
Orlando
Atlanta
Bradenton

North West
Boston
Connecticut
New York
Northern Raiders
New Haven

Mid-West
DC Slayers
Fairfax Eagles
Philladelphia
Aston

Ok that might be a bit off but you get the drift.

The advantages of this are that it would cut down on travel costs, the most sucessful club had to pull out of a semi last year because of costs. A short distance to travel to every away game will be a big help for the less wealthy teams and would hopefully eliminate forfiets. Another advantage as stated earlier is it makes the top comp more elite and competitive.

Expansion also needs to happen, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando are all cities I've heard mentioned and they seem sensible targets although with a conference system new teams from non-heartland areas would have to have atleast 1 close oppontent so extra work would need to be done. I also think Texas should be a target for expansion, alot of people to target and alot of centres for team bases. Texas could have a conference all to itself easily.

I see no reason why clubs based in bigger cites like New York and Philli couldn't follow in the footsteps of Jacksonville and Host big events. Graig Bellamy visited New York last year and it was either him or the New York Knights guy but I remember there was a quote something liker "we would be honoured to host a storm game sometime in the future" so as far as I'm concerned that's a relationship started that should be jumped upon by the Knights.

Internationals are possibly the most Important, organise a few a year and play them in big population centres and promote them. That's a simple way to get people to RL games, they are a very patriotic bunch the Americans and I would imagine would be more inclined to watch the USA play then Leeds Rhinos or Salford for example. Also it will make them stronger on the international scene which is something everyone would like, well except for maybe Union and AFL fans ;D.

I thought the most obvious choice would have been to put them in the Pacific Cup with Tonga, PNG, Samoa and Fiji. There was a rumour that this comp would be held in USA this year but havn;t heard anything on that for a long time. I seem to recall the did OK against a fairly strong Samoan side in the repegchare so I think they could handle the level of play. I'm not saying they'll win it anytime soon but I don't think they'd get flogged 70-0 every week either. I think of it like Italy in the 6N RU, France in the 4N and Serbia and Russia in the Euro Cup. It seems the RLIF and RLEF seem keen to take a risk with those but not with the USA which is absurd to me.

[England 3 Lions]

Jan 31, 2009 11:09:00 GMT 10 lvnknights said:

True E3lions.. I read from spinnerH on RLHQ that the hardest thing to get was volunteers and money.. I know what he means by that.Volunteers are hard to come by these days.Seems as though people are too busy to volunteer their time..Only th e passionate ones give up their time. It happens at all levels of sport.

I'd like to see the AMNRL develop a "Big Brother" type program, with its main purpose being to help children from single-mother households spend quality time with their fathers. The program could reach out to following groups of fathers: the ones who are cut out of their children's lives by their children's mothers, (this happens more often than people realise) and; the less involved fathers who never bonded with their children as much as they should have. Children and fathers involved in the program would spend one-on-one time with each other performing basic skills such as passing, taking turns at tackling a tackling bag, place-kicking at goal, drop-kicking the ball, running down the sideline of the field while they pass the ball to each other, etc. Over time, the children would play against each other in a junior rugby league competition, and have their fathers involved on the coaching staff.

The amount of American children not living with their fathers is quite high, so the program would have the potential to tap into a fairly large community. A program like this would gain a lot of national attention because of its controversial nature, thus helping the sport gain more exposure in the USA. The best thing about this program is it'll not only help rugby league grow in America, but it'll help many children and fathers bond with one another. If the AMNRL can pull this off then it could end up being revered world-wide.

[Druzik]

$$$$$$$$$$$$$


Thats what it comes down to and its not there at the moment.

[England 3 Lions]

Feb 1, 2009 21:45:04 GMT 10 Druzik said:

$$$$$$$$$$$$$


Thats what it comes down to and its not there at the moment.

True. I suppose an AMNRL type "Big Brother" program could gain funding from the Government and/or charities. The National Coalition for Free Men (NCFM) might endose it.