Trust Meeting Part 2 : Q&A

By Slick
May 27 2005

During a fascinating Q&A session, just about every aspect of the club was discussed. Questions came from many sources and rather than list every question, some of which overlapped each other, here is a summary of the replies given:

Ashton Gate
There is no intention to play at AG. If possible all games will be played at MG. Will only happen if there are fixture clashes with Rovers e.g. last game of season, when all games have to be played on a Saturday at 3pm. Rover’s fixture list out on June 20th and any congestion will become clear then.

A League and United games
We will be in southern section with Glos, B**h, Irish, Wasps. 12 fixtures home & away, played on Monday evenings at Combination clubs. Not to be included in STs, but modest charge will help the clubs who host them

Season Tickets
A 2 stage payment scheme is in place, but John Portch will be looking into stage payments to enable STHs to purchase over a year. There is no discount for ST renewals, but you can get a 10% discount by introducing a new STH. Secure your existing seat by 30th June. Aiming to post forms by the end of w/c 30th May, waiting for Sue to return from holiday. Due to the potential of sell-outs, a ticket exchange is not possible. There will however be a ticket sell back scheme where, assuming there is demand for the tickets, STHs will receive 50% of the value back and each time they do so will be entered into a draw for tickets to an England international at Twickenham
It appears there will be league matches, an Anglo Welsh competition and a “Powergen something”, though Twickers have yet to confirm. The ST will include at least 13, possibly 14 games.

Share Ownership
It’s already held by “supporters” in the form of the board. There will hopefully be a possibility in the future for others to buy shares, if the club is as successful as we want it to be.

Ground/Assets
The MG is our home, there is an excellent relationship with Rovers and the MSC, as is the one with the University at Coombe Dingle. Purchase of a training ground may be possible sometime in the future.
The planning application for the Clubhouse Stand (4000 – 5000 seats, 11 boxes and a 400-seater restaurant) will be heard at a special planning meeting in the middle of June. The rugby club will be very much involved and will be proposing inclusion of a “rugby room”. When the stand build commences, loss in capacity will be offset by additional space at the southern end of the ground. Apart from John Portch blocking off surrounding streets with cones before matches, there is little hope.
We currently get 50% of bar takings, but negotiations are underway as revenue will increase again this year with bigger crowds. The board would encourage everyone to drink at the club rather than outside (eg The Welly), as this maximises income to Bristol Rugby Club. Beer will be much more available next year, with additional bars, beer sellers with portable tanks. Supporters need to be assured that beer is readily available and then they’ll drink in the ground. Access between areas of terracing is an HSE matter and so must unfortunately be restricted.

Marketing
There is a “significant budget” in place. Thanks to the EP and Matt Cain for their support, looking forward to increased coverage due to promotion to Premiership. There will be posters and other methods of marketing, but the board would also ask supporters to contact them if marketing material is required to encourage friends and colleagues to come to matches. In addition data capture will be improved to disseminate information better.

Premiership Ring Fencing and Playoffs
The board is totally against ringfencing. The final day of the Premiership season shows the huge interest in the relegation battle rather than who finished top. The current agreement appears to be in place for a further 2 years, but with the ambition shown by a number of NL1 clubs, the club not only opposes ring fencing, but would also encourage increased funding to NL1 to reduce the huge inequality.
The club feels for Gloucester and Leicester who both finished the regular season as top team and. The playoffs offer clubs whose players may have been away during international weekends to field their best side. They are also a big revenue generator. All in all the club would go with the consensus.

Merchandise
Kooga chosen after pitch including CT, Canterbury and Samurai. 10000 shirts will be manufactured and shipped by air from Dubai. Major outlets will be distributing, but the club only earns a royalty. If shirts are bought direct, the club earns far more money. The shop at the ground will be a brand new professionally-run facility, there are discussions with City and Rovers about the shop in town and the online eshop will be completely overhauled. Combination clubs will be offered excellent discounts for Kooga equipment. All stock has now been sold (except for “4 mouse mats, 5 dodgy watches and some small bears” – check with John Portch if you’re interested in any of those!)

BrisTrust
Regular and increasingly close contact between club and Trust cements this as the main avenue between club and supporters for input and investment. And to show how highly the club value the relationship, John Portch presented both the Trust and the Supporters Club with medals identical to those given to the players for winning NL1, a gesture warmly welcomed by all those present.

Preseason Friendlies
Aug 13th - The club has accepted an invitation to the Middlesex 7s, even though it might disrupt RH’s preparation “in beating Bath in the opening match”. Alan Morley - “7s is just having a couple of quick guys on the wing and that’s the end of it really isn’t it. That’s how I used to do it anyway.”
Aug 16th – United fixture at Coventry
Aug 20/21st – Viadana (H)
Aug 24th – Clifton (A) (United/Academy fixture)
Aug 27th/28th – TBC (a Celtic League side)