Re-Branding of Leagues Clubs SMH

[Knuckles]

We definitely need a leagues club Gaz …. Especially as Ashfield is such a cash cow.

This is the first thing the Independant directors picked up on and wanted to include in the negotiations over the on going loan funding arrangement. But aside from that, rebranding is what will inevitably make us one club .... There is no real financial implication.

The next step after that is to have a football club where all the members can vote and have a real say in the running or who runs the club. I think currently we are only members in a manner of speaking. We aren't true members who can instigate real change.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

We definitely need a leagues club Gaz …. Especially as Ashfield is such a cash cow.

This is the first thing the Independant directors picked up on and wanted to include in the negotiations over the on going loan funding arrangement. But aside from that, rebranding is what will inevitably make us one club .... There is no real financial implication.

The next step after that is to have a football club where all the members can vote and have a real say in the running or who runs the club. I think currently we are only members in a manner of speaking. We aren't true members who can instigate real change.

That's right you are only season ticket holders.

Anyway identity is important that's why the way we and others perceive our club is important hence threads like this.

If Wests Ashfield changes its name most passsers by wont then remember a Wests connection in the WT which would be sad. If Rozelle re opens and calls themselves Wests Tigers most will still see a balmain legacy that's why we must get the balance right.

I have moved on to the Wests Tigers but want to feel I'm following a club with a Wests Balmain connection which is the only reason I took them on.

 

[Knuckles]

Yes, I share your frustration on that point. But if I see Wests up on the scoreboard I feel I'm in the right place. Plus they even threw in a Magpies on the sleeve for us ….. Although it is getting smaller every year !

I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for Rozelle to reopen .... That's something that may never happen because there is so much political opposition to it going ahead.

 

[LaT]

Hold on, I never snipe at Magpies…..I snipe at YOU and those like YOU on this forum because of your attitude, scoffing at attempts of unity, perceived victim hood, and general inability to move on.

You need to accept that this is not a club of Wests Tigers + Magpies.

No-one said the NRL club was Wests Tigers + Magpies. We are talking purely about the leagues clubs and how convenient it is for the bankrupt Balmain boys now wanting Wests to re-brand their clubs. No chance, where was this 10 years ago when Balmain Leagues Rozelle was trading. Wests Ashfield would never accept this and nor should they given our long history.
Any attempts to remove the Magpie from Ashfield will be met with brute force if necessary.
Leave the leagues clubs out of any NRL board re-structuring or prepare for much deeper divisions.

Spot on LM.

Stupid idea and will never happen. Some people are really easy with the idea of getting rid of over 100 years of history.

Time to move on champ, 1999 was a fair while ago.

 

[madunit]

Why not make Campbelltown the Wests Tigers Leagues Club and leave Ashfield as it is.

What would the Wests Magpies people say if a proposal was put forward along the lines of:
*The Campbelltown leagues Club is rebranded to be Wests Tigers Leagues. Once done, Campbelltown will get more home games.

I'm an old Balmain fan and I love Leichhardt oval, but looking forward, Campbelltown is where the juniors are going to be, its where the stronger leagues clubs are it's where we are most likely to get govt funding for a massive upgrade to one of our traditional home grounds.

Why sacrifice the potential to eventually have a new stadium at Campbelltown and possible even 10 home games a year played out there sometime down the track in the future to fight for a picture and a word on the wall of a building?

People who think this somehow delete's history is stupid.

And if they are so concerned about that, then they can move all of that gear to Ashfield and have their den over there.

Both sides are clinging on to frivolous shit under this thinly veiled cloak of concern about losing its identity or its history.

And in return they are killing the Wests Tigers, which would also mean the death of Balmain and Wests Magpies.

Why can they not see this?

Its so frustrating how these antiquated irrelevant morons are allowed to hold the Leagues Clubs and the NRL side to ransom over such petty squabbles.

I bet if they caused the NRL side to go under and were left with no team in the NRL or NSW Cup, none of them would step forward and claim responsibility.

They'd just continue blaming the other lot and carrying on like the petulant simpletons they are.

Do we just have to wait until a whole generation of Balmain and Magpies supportes die before we're able to take the Wests Tigers forward?

 

[innsaneink]

I think Cambo caries a stigma and the club wouldnt want to be seen as being based there.

People can pretend all they like it doesnt…but lets not forget the Magpies dropped the name ''Western Suburbs" in favour of "Wests" at one stage

Ive no problem with cambo myself but as someone who's never lived there I think I can assume that those that dont live there only have the games we play there as any relevance to the place

The location sucks somewhat.....its a long way from everything, everywhere and everybody except those that live there

 

[GNR4LIFE]

150 ,000 people live in C-town and its growing by the week. Completely idiotic and brainless that people wouldn't acknowledge its importance heading into the future.

 

[madunit]

I think Cambo caries a stigma and the club wouldnt want to be seen as being based there.

People can pretend all they like it doesnt…but lets not forget the Magpies dropped the name ''Western Suburbs" in favour of "Wests" at one stage

Ive no problem with cambo myself but as someone who's never lived there I think I can assume that those that dont live there only have the games we play there as any relevance to the place

The location sucks somewhat.....its a long way from everything, everywhere and everybody except those that live there

I think thats location is something that could be to the clubs advantage in the future.

So many teams play in the city, its not really a big difference from a home game. The beauty of having a home game a good distance from the majority of grounds is something that could be an advantage.

 

[Knuckles]

Why not make Campbelltown the Wests Tigers Leagues Club and leave Ashfield as it is.

What would the Wests Magpies people say if a proposal was put forward along the lines of:
*The Campbelltown leagues Club is rebranded to be Wests Tigers Leagues. Once done, Campbelltown will get more home games.

I'm an old Balmain fan and I love Leichhardt oval, but looking forward, Campbelltown is where the juniors are going to be, its where the stronger leagues clubs are it's where we are most likely to get govt funding for a massive upgrade to one of our traditional home grounds.

Why sacrifice the potential to eventually have a new stadium at Campbelltown and possible even 10 home games a year played out there sometime down the track in the future to fight for a picture and a word on the wall of a building?

People who think this somehow delete's history is stupid.

And if they are so concerned about that, then they can move all of that gear to Ashfield and have their den over there.

Both sides are clinging on to frivolous s*** under this thinly veiled cloak of concern about losing its identity or its history.

And in return they are killing the Wests Tigers, which would also mean the death of Balmain and Wests Magpies.

Why can they not see this?

Its so frustrating how these antiquated irrelevant morons are allowed to hold the Leagues Clubs and the NRL side to ransom over such petty squabbles.

I bet if they caused the NRL side to go under and were left with no team in the NRL or NSW Cup, none of them would step forward and claim responsibility.

They'd just continue blaming the other lot and carrying on like the petulant simpletons they are.

Do we just have to wait until a whole generation of Balmain and Magpies supportes die before we're able to take the Wests Tigers forward?

Agree with you mate ….. A really good and passionate post. It's all well and good to hang onto the past but its the future that really counts .... And the future is the here and now.

 

[NT_Tiger]

Firstly, 'madunit' hits the nail on the head (above) as far as I'm concerned. I'm a West Tigers supporter full stop and I don't want to see parochial squabbles continuously destabilise my club.

Living in the NT, and never having lived in either of the Wests Tigers heartlands, the parochialism that guides alot of this discussion is irrelevant to me. However, as a student of history, I fully understand the strength of desire to maintain links to heritage within both groups. But it is just that, heritage. Now is now and we all want to see the club Wests Tigers succeed.

Why don't we start to respect the fact that each parent club has a proud heritage, because they do, and find a way to acknowledge that in our advertising & logos. E.G. Wests Tigers incorporating the proud heritage of the Western Magpies and Balmain Tigers.

Move on.

 

[happy_tiger]

Why not make Campbelltown the Wests Tigers Leagues Club and leave Ashfield as it is.

What would the Wests Magpies people say if a proposal was put forward along the lines of:
*The Campbelltown leagues Club is rebranded to be Wests Tigers Leagues. Once done, Campbelltown will get more home games.

I'm an old Balmain fan and I love Leichhardt oval, but looking forward, Campbelltown is where the juniors are going to be, its where the stronger leagues clubs are it's where we are most likely to get govt funding for a massive upgrade to one of our traditional home grounds.

Why sacrifice the potential to eventually have a new stadium at Campbelltown and possible even 10 home games a year played out there sometime down the track in the future to fight for a picture and a word on the wall of a building?

People who think this somehow delete's history is stupid.

And if they are so concerned about that, then they can move all of that gear to Ashfield and have their den over there.

Both sides are clinging on to frivolous s*** under this thinly veiled cloak of concern about losing its identity or its history.

And in return they are killing the Wests Tigers, which would also mean the death of Balmain and Wests Magpies.

Why can they not see this?

Its so frustrating how these antiquated irrelevant morons are allowed to hold the Leagues Clubs and the NRL side to ransom over such petty squabbles.

I bet if they caused the NRL side to go under and were left with no team in the NRL or NSW Cup, none of them would step forward and claim responsibility.

They'd just continue blaming the other lot and carrying on like the petulant simpletons they are.

Do we just have to wait until a whole generation of Balmain and Magpies supportes die before we're able to take the Wests Tigers forward?

I don't think the issue is with the diehard fans MU , I think the issue is at board level and this is where the issues all begin and end with

If the board can lead the WTs forward all will follow and the ones that don't can go twiddle their thumbs for all I care

 

[madunit]

I was speaking entirely about board members.

 

[Jerry_Seinfeld]

Why not make Campbelltown the Wests Tigers Leagues Club and leave Ashfield as it is.

What would the Wests Magpies people say if a proposal was put forward along the lines of:
*The Campbelltown leagues Club is rebranded to be Wests Tigers Leagues. Once done, Campbelltown will get more home games.

I'm an old Balmain fan and I love Leichhardt oval, but looking forward, Campbelltown is where the juniors are going to be, its where the stronger leagues clubs are it's where we are most likely to get govt funding for a massive upgrade to one of our traditional home grounds.

Why sacrifice the potential to eventually have a new stadium at Campbelltown and possible even 10 home games a year played out there sometime down the track in the future to fight for a picture and a word on the wall of a building?

People who think this somehow delete's history is stupid.

And if they are so concerned about that, then they can move all of that gear to Ashfield and have their den over there.

Both sides are clinging on to frivolous s*** under this thinly veiled cloak of concern about losing its identity or its history.

And in return they are killing the Wests Tigers, which would also mean the death of Balmain and Wests Magpies.

Why can they not see this?

Its so frustrating how these antiquated irrelevant morons are allowed to hold the Leagues Clubs and the NRL side to ransom over such petty squabbles.

I bet if they caused the NRL side to go under and were left with no team in the NRL or NSW Cup, none of them would step forward and claim responsibility.

They'd just continue blaming the other lot and carrying on like the petulant simpletons they are.

Do we just have to wait until a whole generation of Balmain and Magpies supportes die before we're able to take the Wests Tigers forward?

Agreed.Let campbelltown be renamed wests tigers leagues club.And in a show of faith from balmain sign all licences for the poker machines they currently have over to wests(tigers) campbelltown.So Campbelltown can get about another 100 poker machines.

 

[Magpie_Magic]

Firstly, 'madunit' hits the nail on the head (above) as far as I'm concerned. I'm a West Tigers supporter full stop and I don't want to see parochial squabbles continuously destabilise my club.

Living in the NT, and never having lived in either of the Wests Tigers heartlands, the parochialism that guides alot of this discussion is irrelevant to me. However, as a student of history, I fully understand the strength of desire to maintain links to heritage within both groups. But it is just that, heritage. Now is now and we all want to see the club Wests Tigers succeed.

Why don't we start to respect the fact that each parent club has a proud heritage, because they do, and find a way to acknowledge that in our advertising & logos. E.G. Wests Tigers incorporating the proud heritage of the Western Magpies and Balmain Tigers.

Move on.

Spot on mate.

I think if your ideas were mire fully adopted ie on heritage board members and diehards will move on.

At the end of the day I for eg jyst want to feel that the WT us a new club which represents me and the heritages of both Wests and Balmain. Same with board members.

Large financial and emotional investments have been made by parent clubs fans etc and this cant be just wiped out for a new "franchise".

When old investors and fans are happy that former investments are continuing in new club things will move forward mire readily.

Wests Ashfield wants to feel this for eg before handing over their business name to the Wests tigers.

 

[Abraham]

Wests Tigers supporters are unlikely to travel to patronise the club at this point and changing the name would not change that because games are not played in the area anymore.

Actually I am one of those that would immediately join a Wests Tigers Leagues Club, regardless of where it was located.

The fact that 'my' team doesn't have a proper leagues club, and instead has 4 clubs around Sydney that don't represent the NRL side, is a sore point for me.

And once your a member of a club, you're likely to visit the joint more often. Not specifically after games, but just for general socialising/meals/drinking, because you know your hard earned it going to be put back into the club at some point.
\

Why don't we start to respect the fact that each parent club has a proud heritage, because they do, and find a way to acknowledge that in our advertising & logos. E.G. Wests Tigers incorporating the proud heritage of the Western Magpies and Balmain Tigers.

I think there are NRL rules in place whereby you cannot include in the NRL logo, more than one club's logo. So you cannot have a tiger and a magpie on the one NRL logo for example. This was discussed way back in 1999/2000 if I recall correctly.

 

[Yossarian]

Why not make Campbelltown the Wests Tigers Leagues Club and leave Ashfield as it is.

What would the Wests Magpies people say if a proposal was put forward along the lines of:
*The Campbelltown leagues Club is rebranded to be Wests Tigers Leagues. Once done, Campbelltown will get more home games.

I'm an old Balmain fan and I love Leichhardt oval, but looking forward, Campbelltown is where the juniors are going to be, its where the stronger leagues clubs are it's where we are most likely to get govt funding for a massive upgrade to one of our traditional home grounds.

Why sacrifice the potential to eventually have a new stadium at Campbelltown and possible even 10 home games a year played out there sometime down the track in the future to fight for a picture and a word on the wall of a building?

People who think this somehow delete's history is stupid.

And if they are so concerned about that, then they can move all of that gear to Ashfield and have their den over there.

Both sides are clinging on to frivolous s*** under this thinly veiled cloak of concern about losing its identity or its history.

And in return they are killing the Wests Tigers, which would also mean the death of Balmain and Wests Magpies.

Why can they not see this?

Its so frustrating how these antiquated irrelevant morons are allowed to hold the Leagues Clubs and the NRL side to ransom over such petty squabbles.

I bet if they caused the NRL side to go under and were left with no team in the NRL or NSW Cup, none of them would step forward and claim responsibility.

They'd just continue blaming the other lot and carrying on like the petulant simpletons they are.

Do we just have to wait until a whole generation of Balmain and Magpies supportes die before we're able to take the Wests Tigers forward?

Agreed.Let campbelltown be renamed wests tigers leagues club.And in a show of faith from balmain sign all licences for the poker machines they currently have over to wests(tigers) campbelltown.So Campbelltown can get about another 100 poker machines.

Well for one thing it would need to approved by the State Govt (the transfer of polies licenses). Secondly I don't think Campbelltown needs another 100 pokies. I think I'd have a bit of a problem with our ongoing financial success being dependant on bleeding dry the Macarthur District. Possibly some of those licenses are floating around Five Dock and Flemington anyway.

 

[MightyMaggy]

While I have the misfortune of choosing "MightyMaggy" as my user name, please believe me when I say I am a Wests **Tigers** supporter.
May I point out some facts about Wests Ashfield, which I think many are unaware of. Whereas most other Sydney Leagues Clubs(if not all) had written into their constitution that the majority of their Directors were nominated by the Football Club. This meant that the Football Club virtually controlled the Leagues Club and it's modus operandi and money grants.
Western Suburbs Leagues Club had no such stipulation in their constitution. However, up until 1964, the majority of the Directors were members of the Football Club. As a result, the Leagues Club's grant to the Football Club was a high percentage of their profits. You may recall the Western Suburbs Magpies were nick-named 'The Millionaires' from 1958 through to 1963 and they "purchased" many big name players, during this period. During this period, Leagues Clubs like St. George built large Taj Mahals, while Wests building hardly changed from the original building.
In 1964, there was an undertaking by a group of prospective Directors to cut back the grant to the Football Club and to invest more into improving the Leagues Club facilities. They were successful in the election, so that they had five Directors to the Football Clubs two directors(as best I remember). From this date, the Club premises improved dramatically, as the Football Club grant dropped.
Therefore, I think it is wishful thinking to assume Wests Tigers Football can demand that Wests Ashfield change their name to Wests Tigers. The members of Wests Ashfield and their Directors may NOT be impressed by the returns they get for the grants they make to Wests Tigers.
I would be willing to bet that the NRL Management are not aware of the unique set up of Wests Ashfield.

 

[innsaneink]

NEVER apologize for being proud of your heritage MightyMaggy….just because some dropkick thinks members shouldnt remember and cherish their past and show it in their name

No misfortune there

Great post too....very informative, I assume your are talking about the club going from the old white (I think it was) building to the red brick four or five story building that I walked past every day for years and years

 

[Knuckles]

While I have the misfortune of choosing "MightyMaggy" as my user name, please believe me when I say I am a Wests **Tigers** supporter.
May I point out some facts about Wests Ashfield, which I think many are unaware of. Whereas most other Sydney Leagues Clubs(if not all) had written into their constitution that the majority of their Directors were nominated by the Football Club. This meant that the Football Club virtually controlled the Leagues Club and it's modus operandi and money grants.
Western Suburbs Leagues Club had no such stipulation in their constitution. However, up until 1964, the majority of the Directors were members of the Football Club. As a result, the Leagues Club's grant to the Football Club was a high percentage of their profits. You may recall the Western Suburbs Magpies were nick-named 'The Millionaires' from 1958 through to 1963 and they "purchased" many big name players, during this period. During this period, Leagues Clubs like St. George built large Taj Mahals, while Wests building hardly changed from the original building.
In 1964, there was an undertaking by a group of prospective Directors to cut back the grant to the Football Club and to invest more into improving the Leagues Club facilities. They were successful in the election, so that they had five Directors to the Football Clubs two directors(as best I remember). From this date, the Club premises improved dramatically, as the Football Club grant dropped.
Therefore, I think it is wishful thinking to assume Wests Tigers Football can demand that Wests Ashfield change their name to Wests Tigers. The members of Wests Ashfield and their Directors may NOT be impressed by the returns they get for the grants they make to Wests Tigers.
I would be willing to bet that the NRL Management are not aware of the unique set up of Wests Ashfield.

I'd take that bet ….. I am certain it would be within the independant directors charter to be cogniscent of the structure as a whole and not in isolation. That aside, the football club is so called in a manner of speaking only. It's funding comes mainly from the Leagues Club hence are the ones calling the shots.

There is no doubt the leagues club is a success story and the issue of rebranding would do little, if anything, to improve profitability. But the issue here is moving away from the Joint Venture convoluted structure to a single unified Leagues/Football club. A prospect that still rancours with some Wests Tigers fans who today claim they have fully moved on.

 

[LaT]

Therefore, I think it is wishful thinking to assume Wests Tigers Football can demand that Wests Ashfield change their name to Wests Tigers. The members of Wests Ashfield and their Directors may NOT be impressed by the returns they get for the grants they make to Wests Tigers.

Hi Maggy, first two paragraphs of this thread it was made very clear where the supposed re-branding was coming from.

**The Magpies' two leagues clubs at Ashfield and Campbelltown would be renamed ''Wests Tigers'' if an NRL proposal was accepted**, ranking it among the worst rebranding ideas ever to come from the headquarters of a corporation, akin to Coca-Cola's decision to launch ''New Coke''.
>
**The NRL sought to rebadge the licensed clubs controlled by Wests and Balmain with the Wests Tigers logo during talks to settle the dispute between the co-owners of the NRL club.** Wests' palace at Ashfield, whose foyer has giant portraits of the Magpies' rugby league and cricket teams of the century, would have had the magpie on its roof replaced by the tiger which has been caged since Balmain's Victoria Road club closed with debts of $7 million.