Sure it should be the imperative, but they aren’t mutually exclusive. that’s my point and why everyone was taken back by your initial comment.. needing a sponsor shouldn’t stop an organisation going about their business in other departments.
I think this is one of the key viewpoint that needs to change in rugby around marketing. The Rebels and Rising like Super Rugby and the NRC are different products run separately. A quick look at both product shows distinct differences in supporter basis. We can see that simply through attendence numbers.
Why are we marketing to the converted, or via the converted who are at a distance? Not only are you telling people what they already know but showing them a game that is for a different team after the fact ( post Super Rugby season)?
It begs the question of why locate a team in the middle of a population of 4.6Mil when the key marketing is done outside of this catchment?
Have a look at Daz"s comment at #3012. This is what is at the heart of my comment but rugby seems to think that showing off the game will get people to attend. Have a look at the BBL. Lots of support and good ratings. A lot of non playing previously non attending supporters. Once it's done the are few that give a crap about cricket for the rest of the year. That marketing produces it's income. Good marking for a specific product. You don't see supporter transference between other cricket. You don't see BBL team support transfer to the Sheffield teams.
Going back to the NRC as a marketing vehicle, the Brumbies / Vikings serves as a good lesson that they are different products attracting some common supporters but also each has its own distinct supporters group. The SYD NRC supporter base does not wholly transfer in to the Tah supporter base .
But stripping this back to the key issue, bums on seats and sponsors you have to question the plan when you are announcing long term strategic arrangements when your immediate financial viability (which is we know as precarious) seems not to be the priority.
The Rebels have been at this 8 years and still can't find the basic local supports.
If the support is 90 mins away why are the Rebels so far away from their supporters?
If you had a core group of supporters like the Brumbies, Reds and Tahs looking at new markets makes sense.
The question still stands, if the priority is bums on seats and sponsorship what's does NRC games and pre-season camps next year do than commit you to obligations and potentially close off opportunities (via commitments) if you did get a sponsor?
The other part of the question, with a few weeks away from the season commencing and the bums on seats and sponsor needed, how much time was consumed on things that can be dealt with later while a key priority remains unresolved?