Harlequins

[rebus]

They got 10,843 for their game on Sunday - they are nicking our club's potential disposable income left, right and centre!

They also have 4,500 season ticket holders.

 

[Banana]

Did anyone unfurl a flag from Oldham

 

[Claire]

well quins are winning a lot at the mo...

a problem we seem to bee having

 

[JTofBFC]

a) It's a genuine family atmosphere there.
b) They have a brand spanking new stadium. (well some of it anyway)
c) They are top of the league, having won every game and scoring tries for fun.
d) They provide excellent after match entertainment with good quality music and not just in a grotty bar.
e) You can even have a pint while watching the game.
f) All round atmosphere is good - especially the cheerleaders
g) Season tickets are about half the price of ours.

I'm not sure they are exactly nicking our fans it's just different. Personally, I'd rather have football any day but it's just a question of what you want from your afternoon out.

Maybe one day when we get a new stadium we might see the sort of resurgence in interest that they have got (even though they've just been relegated).

Sadly, it isn't going to happen is it and we are stuck at grotty GP with grotty Stripes bar for ever.

C'est la vie. I can live with that.

Maybe the litmus test will be to see what sort of crowds London Broncos or whatever they call themselves now will get when their season starts. I'm fairly certain they will be getting far bigger attendances than they were when they played at GP.

 

[nocoat]

is it claire! :scratch:

good points jt

 

[Claire]

i know, you don't have to say it, im a genius right?

 

[Les Beeavinu]

They got 10,843 for their game on Sunday - they are nicking our club's potential disposable income left, right and centre!

They also have 4,500 season ticket holders.

I don't think that we're competing for the same audience. They'e one of the top sides in their sport with lots of internationals and a loyal fan base and that's their attraction. I'd be worried if we were losing fans to somebody like the London Welsh but Quins are in a different league as a Sports Club.

 

[Banana]

I'd be worried if we were losing fans to somebody like the London Welsh.

rofl rofl rofl

That massive Welsh fanbase that Bees have


and I know you know that they are not in different leagues - just different ends of the same league

 

[Les Beeavinu]

rofl rofl rofl

That massive Welsh fanbase that Bees have


and I know you know that they are not in different leagues - just different ends of the same league

You know what I mean. Big club vs little club etc. In Rugby terms London Welsh are more Brentford whereas the Quins are probably Tottenham. Anyway, I think you'll find there's a very strong Welsh contigent at Brentford. There's you and I for a start.

 

[GABS]

...the Quins are probably Tottenham...

Jewish rugby fans - interesting concept :scratch:

 

[Gibbee]

Jewish rugby fans - interesting concept :scratch:

Why?

 

[Garybaldbee]

They got 10,843 for their game on Sunday - they are nicking our club's potential disposable income left, right and centre!

They also have 4,500 season ticket holders.

:yes: I did make the point at the time of the euphoria surrounding the Rugby WC win that the downside was a strengthened Union club game which would increasingly encroach on our potential fan and sponsor base. Sadly I think that I've been proved right. I don't know the exact figures, but I'd bet that 20 years ago our crowds knocked those of Harlequins, London Irish etc into a cocked hat, regardless of the relative stature of the different clubs in their own sports.

I've got nothing in particular against rugby union (well, except that its supremely boring ) but we are in a crowded sporting market place and, speaking purely from a Brentford perspective, the extra competition is not welcome.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

I've got nothing in particular against rugby union (well, except that its supremely boring ) but we are in a crowded sporting market place and, speaking purely from a Brentford perspective, the extra competition is not welcome.

I'm a big fan of Rugby on TV because you can see all the subtletes that are going on. However, I went to Wasps on a freezing cold day last year and I can confirm that it is supremely boring live and the crowd (10k at Wycombe) generated about as much atmosphere as an LDV game. I shan't be going back.

 

[JTofBFC]

:
I've got nothing in particular against rugby union (well, except that its supremely boring ) but we are in a crowded sporting market place and, speaking purely from a Brentford perspective, the extra competition is not welcome.

Probably true up to a point. I'm not sure how many of Quins crowd turn up for the sporting spectacle these days it's more of a packaged day out. I mean how much fun can it be to see your team roll everybody over by 50 points every week. Yesterday was also their biggest ever crowd at the Stoop and it included about 2000 I think from Penzance.

Having said that if Quins get promoted as seems likely and then return to be a much stronger force in the Premierleague (as also seems likely) then they probably have to be regarded as competition - but probably not as much competition as Arsenal and Chelsea on the box every 5 minutes.

 

[chippendale]

I wouldn't think they are nicking BFC fans. How many did they get when they were in the top league and struggling.

Its because they are winning. Inow a member of the Quins staff and he reckons the numbers will drop if they get promoted and struggle again.

 

[Garybaldbee]

I wouldn't think they are nicking BFC fans. How many did they get when they were in the top league and struggling.

Its because they are winning. Inow a member of the Quins staff and he reckons the numbers will drop if they get promoted and struggle again.

Well, they were regularly getting 7-9,000 even in the season when they were relegated. The average in the Heineken(?) premiership is close to 10,000 these days. In other words considerably larger than third tier football and likely to challenge the 2nd tier soon. Good luck to rugby for growing its game, but if even 100 of those new Harlequins supporters might otherwise have come to Brentford thats valuable revenue lost.

 

[SmiffyBee]

a) It's a genuine family atmosphere there.
b) They have a brand spanking new stadium. (well some of it anyway)
c) They are top of the league, having won every game and scoring tries for fun.
d) They provide excellent after match entertainment with good quality music and not just in a grotty bar.
e) You can even have a pint while watching the game.
f) All round atmosphere is good - especially the cheerleaders
g) Season tickets are about half the price of ours.

I'm not sure they are exactly nicking our fans it's just different. Personally, I'd rather have football any day but it's just a question of what you want from your afternoon out.

Maybe one day when we get a new stadium we might see the sort of resurgence in interest that they have got (even though they've just been relegated).

Sadly, it isn't going to happen is it and we are stuck at grotty GP with grotty Stripes bar for ever.

C'est la vie. I can live with that.

Maybe the litmus test will be to see what sort of crowds London Broncos or whatever they call themselves now will get when their season starts. I'm fairly certain they will be getting far bigger attendances than they were when they played at GP.

An excellent post...perhaps our Commercial department could learn a thing or two about marketing from the Quins.

When they were relegated, they had a plan. That plan included a severe reduction in staff and tight budgetary controls, which they stuck to whilst re-building their West Stand.

Of course they are a much bigger organisation, but my point is they have very good and consistent management and management structures, and if you have ever worked with them or visited them behind the scenes, you would see an excellent set up, professionally and commercially. we can only dream.....

 

[California Bee]

Quins are cleaning up because so many clubs have either left London or fallen on hard times. Richmond merged with the Irish, London Scottish and London Welsh are third rate, so are Rosslyn Park and Blackheath. Wasps and Saracens have a differetn geography. All the London OLd Boys clubs are fifth rate now. There was a tiime when Old Boys clubs had several star England players e.g Douglas Baker (OMT), Jeff Clements (Old Cranleighans), Ian Beer(Old Whitgiftians), Johnny Williams (Old Millhillians). Old Boys clubs can't retain players of that cailbre today.

 

[LboroBee]

their balls are the wrong shape anyway

 

[rebus]

I'm a big fan of Rugby on TV because you can see all the subtletes that are going on. However, I went to Wasps on a freezing cold day last year and I can confirm that it is supremely boring live and the crowd (10k at Wycombe) generated about as much atmosphere as an LDV game. I shan't be going back.

But the thing is, you've seen football before - and know the atmosphere at GP can be rocking. People new to live sport and went there for the first time probably thought it was great.

My point is that for people new to the area with spare cash that live inbetween the two clubs, will go to Quins whereas ten years ago they would not.

JTofBFC is right :tongue: Quins now have a better stadium, refreshments, corporate facilities so will nick our potential new customers.

 

[rebus]

I wouldn't think they are nicking BFC fans. How many did they get when they were in the top league and struggling.

8000 average with 4500 ST holders.[/

 

[Banana]

Nicking our potential sponsors rather than our spectators I'd imagine

 

[Wise old Bee]

How can they be taking our fans? There's always been a reasonable fanbase for rugby union in this part of the world and as CB says, there has been some consolidation of teams over the last decade or so. God knows where our missing fans are, I like to think that they are involved in useful and constructive pursuits having forsaken GP but I expect they are in Matalan or Primark trying on fleecy zippers.

 

[rebus]

How can they be taking our fans? There's always been a reasonable fanbase for rugby union in this part of the world

Rugby's profile in London is so much bigger after the World Cup win. Quins were getting 1,500 to 2000 10-15 years back with London Scottish, Welsh and Richmond averaging less.

God knows where our missing fans are

They're dead mate or down at the Quins - this is the point I'm making!

 

[Sweepy]

But the thing is, you've seen football before - and know the atmosphere at GP can be rocking. People new to live sport and went there for the first time probably thought it was great.

My point is that for people new to the area with spare cash that live inbetween the two clubs, will go to Quins whereas ten years ago they would not.

JTofBFC is right :tongue: Quins now have a better stadium, refreshments, corporate facilities so will nick our potential new customers.

So WHY don't WE share the ground with them and Broncos then?

Oh yes, I forgot, our 5,000 regulars will increase traffic congestion and disruption much more so than those 10,000 Harlequins.

 

[California Bee]

their balls are the wrong shape anyway

that's OK so long as they are handled properly :blush :looks:

 

[Les Beeavinu]

So WHY don't WE share the ground with them and Broncos then?

Twickenham residents won't put up with 'orrible football fans. Those Rugby types are far better behaved Which of course is total bollox.

 

[California Bee]

Twickenham residents won't put up with 'orrible football fans. Those Rugby types are far better behaved Which of course is total bollox.

Well the people who are fans of both are worse.

 

[Caucaunibuca]

Twickenham residents won't put up with 'orrible football fans. Those Rugby types are far better behaved Which of course is total bollox.

That is total b***ocks. Rugby fans are far better behaved.

 

[Les Beeavinu]

That is total b***ocks. Rugby fans are far better behaved.

The level of drunkeness seen at Twickenham wouldn't be allowed at a football match.

 

[rebus]

That is total b***ocks. Rugby fans are far better behaved.

You are joking right? The lads and I give 'nam a wide berth on rugby days due to the amount of idiots wondering about. As Les says, the level of drunkeness is way beyond what would be considered "normal", with people baring their arses and urninating publically left, right and centre - but it's okay - they are rugby fans and that's just "larks".

Twickenham should have been the natural venue for the F.A. Cup final while Wembley was being re-built but a few snobby Councillors and local NIMBYs saw to that.

 

[West Ealing Bee]

That is total b***ocks. Rugby fans are far better behaved.

Rugby fans seem to think it's ok to drink as much as humanly possible, **** on the floor everywhere, wreck trains, throw up all over the place and barge around all day.

Football fans aren't angels, I'm sure I've upset a few people at the end of long away trips, but to suggest rugby fans don't cause mayhem in their own way in nonsense.

 

[rg12bee]

Rugby fans.............drunken yobs.
You try getting home on SWT via Twickenham on a match day!!
No respect for proper sports` fans!

 

[California Bee]

in my experience the vast majority of spectators at both sports are perfectly well behaved with both codes having their share of a few idiots who over-imbibe or otherwise find ways to make themselves a nuisance and/or spectacle.

 

[nocoat]

That is total b***ocks. Rugby fans are far better behaved.

lol 24 of my 27 years have been spent within a 15 minute walk of the ground, therefore I feel I am qualified to say that is total b***ocks!!!



Agree with WEB and The Chapmeister

 

[Ace Face]

Rugby fans are a pain in the arse and I know as I lived near Twickers for 5 years. The only joy I got from them was charging them a £10 to park outside my house with my visitors permit - allegedly.