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Grand Prix Entertainment sell NY franchise for $10 million

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WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
Grand Prix Entertainment (the sanctioned USAR pro 7s developer) have followed a slue of announcements .i.e. venue, broadcast partner and board with an announcement that they have sold their first franchise licence for a tidy $10 million USD.
 
Nusadan

Nusadan

Chilla Wilson (44)
WR (World Rugby), was only fishing there, mate...

Just read the article, it's a big leap of faith...but could easily go in the way of IPL...
 
Lee Grant

Lee Grant

John Eales (66)
It will be only Sevens but if it gets going it will raise the profile of US rugby just like their interest in soccer spiked for a while back in the day when they started a league and recruited Pele.

That will do world-wide rugby no harm. Another upside is that it could get the skills of any recruited Oz Sevens players up to speed permanently, for when they get to play for Oz.

The downside for us is that they may recruit too many Oz players who would otherwise be playing XVs.

Very interesting though.
 
p.Tah

p.Tah

John Thornett (49)
If they are looking for talent I think they'll look to NZ, Fiji and Samoa before us. If they did come here I wouldn't be surpsied if they picked up a few from League (u/20s)
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
Lee Grant said:
It will be only Sevens but if it gets going it will raise the profile of US rugby just like their interest in soccer spiked for a while back in the day when they started a league and recruited Pele.

That will do world-wide rugby no harm. Another upside is that it could get the skills of any recruited Oz Sevens players up to speed permanently, for when they get to play for Oz.

The downside for us is that they may recruit too many Oz players who would otherwise be playing XVs.

Very interesting though.
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It will certainly be an interesting 12 months or so. Will do the profile of Rugby in the US no harm whatsoever. I'll keep everyone appraised as it develops.
 
p.Tah

p.Tah

John Thornett (49)
Nusadan said:
Read a couple of the first few comments for more rumors about other teams coming into the fold...
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Chicago and San Francisco rugby 7s teams. Interesting.
after the initial news interest I'm now a bit skeptical about the Grand Prix 7s, but I guess time will tell
As for the Fox article on Rugby League SOO going to the US and The Australian mentioning a World RL club series with NZ, Aust, England, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and
the USA there is no mention of it on the Grand Prix Entertainment website. I think David Nui may be trying to ride on Rugby's coattails again...
 
C

Cave Dweller

Guest
You think the IRB is going sit back without protecting its investment in the World 7 Series?
 
Nusadan

Nusadan

Chilla Wilson (44)
They can't do anything about it, methinks, just like the Indian Premier League in cricket...but am sure stakeholders outside of USA will ensure their own player contracts would make it difficult for international players to play in the USA league...
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
p.Tah said:
Chicago and San Francisco rugby 7s teams. Interesting.
after the initial news interest I'm now a bit skeptical about the Grand Prix 7s, but I guess time will tell
As for the Fox article on Rugby League SOO going to the US and The Australian mentioning a World RL club series with NZ, Aust, England, Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and
the USA there is no mention of it on the Grand Prix Entertainment website. I think David Nui may be trying to ride on Rugby's coattails again...
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From my guy with contacts within GPE has asked the question about their interest previously and they have stated that at this point in time they are devoting all their energies to getting the GP7's up and running before even considering anything else.
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
Cave Dweller said:
You think the IRB is going sit back without protecting its investment in the World 7 Series?
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As part of the terms in their sanctioning deal they are not allowed to compete with the IRB's Circuit. Their entire series will likely run across the North American Spring/Summer.
 
Nusadan

Nusadan

Chilla Wilson (44)
WorkingClassRugger said:
As part of the terms in their sanctioning deal they are not allowed to compete with the IRB's Circuit. Their entire series will likely run across the North American Spring/Summer.
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Be like the IPL in cricket, it will create a situation where a lesser nation like Fiji and Samoa but full of sevens talent, will suffer losses from their 15 a side set up due to sevens players eschewing such opportunities to become full time sevens players.

We have seen the likes of Gayle and Pollard of the West Indies missing the test series against Australia recently due to wanting to earn their full complement of their auction monies by playing all the games for their respective IPL clubs. Clarke and others who played in these tests only get a portion of their auction monies for missing the early part of the IPL series.

There will be as a result ongoing structural changes in the rugby set up of some certain countries with long lasting effects, and the lesser nations, and perhaps some of the top tier ones too, will suffer as a result.
 
p.Tah

p.Tah

John Thornett (49)
This is a very strange development. Grand Prix who have the rights to have rugby7s in the states have bought the US Rugby League competition. They now have Union and League in their stable. Not sure what this means for Union 15s in the States.

http://www.grandprixentertainment.c...nal-rugby-league&catid=25:featured&Itemid=280

I think the most interesting point is:
Former President of CBS Sports Neal Pilson, endorsed the move, stating, “While maintaining the independent integrity of the Rugby Union and Rugby League operations, yet folding them under one production umbrella, we at Grand Prix felt from a broadcast perspective this transaction was a smart move to avoid unnecessary confusion in a U.S. media market at a very critical time in rugby’s growth.” Pilson, a veteran sports dealmaker sits on Grand Prix Sports’ executive committee and exclusively represents Grand Prix’s U.S. Broadcast TV rights, concluded “Grand Prix’s new unified broadcast strategy will only help to expand Grand Prix’s already compelling broadcast opportunities and further the growth and popularity of the sport of rugby in the U.S.”
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I guess they bought out the competitor to ensure that their investment in 7s doesnt get diminished by a rival league, whilst consolidating their position as the leading 'rugby' marketer in the US. Interesting to see how this pans out
 
WorkingClassRugger

WorkingClassRugger

Michael Lynagh (62)
p.Tah said:
This is a very strange development. Grand Prix who have the rights to have rugby7s in the states have bought the US Rugby League competition. They now have Union and League in their stable. Not sure what this means for Union 15s in the States.

http://www.grandprixentertainment.c...nal-rugby-league&catid=25:featured&Itemid=280

I think the most interesting point is:


I guess they bought out the competitor to ensure that their investment in 7s doesnt get diminished by a rival league, whilst consolidating their position as the leading 'rugby' marketer in the US. Interesting to see how this pans out
Click to expand...

This seems to be the general consensus.
 
Lindommer

Lindommer

Simon Poidevin (60)
Staff member
There's been talk in Septica of running a league of professional rugby clubs, sometimes they confuse "league" with table, or competition. It's not perfectly clear to other rugby supporters if they know what they mean about the sport of rugby.

I haven't seen mention in US media about rugby league getting anything worthwhile up and running.
 
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