Gallops confident about NRL's future

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Gallops confident about NRL's future
November 29, 2006 - 7:14PM

Chief executive David Gallop is optimistic the NRL has finally shifted from an era of crisis. management after almost a decade of instability.

Speaking at Wednesday's NRL chief executive conference, Gallop said the new era would be one of identifying opportunities and building on success.

The NRL has battled to rebuild rugby league since 1998, post-Super League, and has been riddled with controversy.

The Bulldogs' rort of the salary cap in 2002 and the club's dismissed Coffs Harbour rape allegation in 2004, are two of the more prominent controversies.

But that is all behind the competition now, and the new No.1 concern is getting more bums on seats.

Gallop said new broadcast timeslots and revenues would herald the start of an aggressive drive for club members and a campaign to boost game attendances.

As of next season, an extra game will be broadcast on free-to-air TV on Friday night, the usual Sunday afternoon game will be shown, and an additional Monday night match will screen.

On the back of this, the NRL will have a club membership drive in 2007, with promotional campaigns circling around Monday night football in particular.

There will also be a renewed sponsorship model that sees key match day naming rights handed over to nominated charities.

"The game is moving into a position of strength in terms of its revenues and its broadcasting timeslots and we need to make use of that position," Gallop said.

"We are already preparing advertising campaigns promoting game participation and club membership and they will be in the market place next month, well ahead of previous years.

"Asking fans to go that extra yard and become a club member is a concept that is strongly supported and it will be a focus for the 2007 season.

"It is important that the game now builds even closer ties between the fans and their team."

The meeting also examined the construction of the new NRL draw and whether there was an alternative to the pool-based idea.

As it stands, next year each club plays every team once with the remaining nine games coming from two eight-team pools. The pools were based on finishing positions for 2006.

After some debate, it was determined that the CEOs would look at possible alternatives to the pool system, but there would be no immediate change.

The issue of revenue sharing for gates was also discussed but dismissed with clubs favouring the present home game system.

Thursday's conference agenda includes the outcomes from the football operations conference, the judiciary, a referees cadetship, a national youth competition, the salary cap, sports betting, and the illicit drugs policy.

Source: www.theage.com.au