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Post by borthwick on Aug 15, 2021 15:36:40 GMT
Was at Worcester Arena this weekend for GB Masters. First visit and boy what a great venue. It's really not good that BBL isn't going to be played here. It's a great statement venue for the league. The wolves are all over the place with their logo on all the university transport. Can't believe it's been allowed to go.
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Post by reallyoldfeenixfan on Aug 15, 2021 17:52:24 GMT
Money!!
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Post by Sporty on Aug 15, 2021 18:27:06 GMT
Just yo add:
And no consideration for the loyaly of the fans and the Worcester as a community. No interest in looking for possible avenues to continue.
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Post by notoriousbigz on Aug 15, 2021 18:30:41 GMT
Just yo add: And no consideration for the loyaly of the fans and the Worcester as a community. No interest in looking for possible avenues to continue. I think this is the bit that disappoints me the most. They had a decent fan base and overnight the ownership just stuck two fingers up to them. |
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Post by raiders92 on Aug 15, 2021 20:00:50 GMT
Just yo add: And no consideration for the loyaly of the fans and the Worcester as a community. No interest in looking for possible avenues to continue. I think this is the bit that disappoints me the most. They had a decent fan base and overnight the ownership just stuck two fingers up to them. Same as the turks in Plymouth! |
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Post by bagger on Aug 15, 2021 20:59:39 GMT
I think the Turks where going to move the Raiders from the Town. So amongst all the confusion Plymouth still have a team.
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Post by bballred14 on Aug 16, 2021 7:53:04 GMT
I was there too! First visit to Worcester,and you,'re right- great venue and set up, in a nice town. How did you get on?
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Post by leamrider2 on Aug 16, 2021 15:34:36 GMT
It's good forward planning. Anticipating the next time the Severn rises and the arena goes underwater. With improved flood defences at Bewdley and other places upstream, it will happen one day.
I jest. It is a great arena and a great shame that the club has disappeared on us.
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Post by hersey427 on Aug 19, 2021 9:24:46 GMT
Just yo add: And no consideration for the loyaly of the fans and the Worcester as a community. No interest in looking for possible avenues to continue. I think this is the bit that disappoints me the most. They had a decent fan base and overnight the ownership just stuck two fingers up to them. This seems common in education. The person at the top changes and there's the kind of "Year Zero" approach to thing that Pol Pot would be proud of. The fact that an arena was built at vast expense doesn't matter because that was before the current regime took over. a similar tale daveballblog.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/when-the-saints-go-marching-in/ |
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Post by allstring on Aug 19, 2021 11:39:20 GMT
I think this is the bit that disappoints me the most. They had a decent fan base and overnight the ownership just stuck two fingers up to them. This seems common in education. The person at the top changes and there's the kind of "Year Zero" approach to thing that Pol Pot would be proud of. The fact that an arena was built at vast expense doesn't matter because that was before the current regime took over. a similar tale daveballblog.wordpress.com/2021/08/19/when-the-saints-go-marching-in/That doesn't sound great. For me ignorance would you mind explaining the set-up (as it was) at Oaklands. I think I see Senior, Academy and Junior levels. What did Oaklands historically run themselves and what have they "acquired" through the Leopards. And maybe parts that aren't that black and white! The bit that hits quite hard is the significant rental increase which I assume is for the junior teams. In my ignorant world(!) I thought the junior program was effectively run (or at least supported by) Oaklands even if heavily resourced by volunteers and subscriptions. But reading your blog is the junior set-up effectively a separate organisation that uses Oakland as it's base. Whilst accepting Oaklands has commercial responsibilities, it does feel like they are trying to distance themselves from the junior set-up, which feels counter productive when they are running an Academy/Senior set-up. You alluded to this on player progression, but I wonder if they will get a negative outcome from general usage of their facilities (including senior games) by going out of their way to break links. And badminton is on a downward spiral after no medals in Tokyo! |
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Post by hersey427 on Aug 19, 2021 16:42:46 GMT
the WBBL team, academy teams and the U-18 boys (effectively an extension of the academy) are owned by Oaklands College. Leopards were owned by Leopards in the Community CIC, which I was the major shareholder. The ownership was transferred, with no money changing hands, 13 months ago. Oaklands College was effectively a title sponsor of the junior section, the juniors being registered separately with BE and have separate bank accounts. There was an overlap of people involved in both parts of what appeared to be a unified club. I thought it worked pretty well. The former Principle was very keen on community links, and a nationally successful basketball club that really only cost them a few lost bookings certainly made them look good. I agree it's counter-productive. they could have put prices up without cutting official ties. This appears to be down to the new marketing manager who arrived with the mew Principle and wants control over "the brand". If anything, I think we enhanced that brand, the lead story on the local rag's website for a few days last week was this. It would have looked good for them to have their name on it. But what do I know? Despite being better at getting reports in the local press than their (paid) PR people. I think you're right in that it will effect how people connected with the juniors view the D1 & WWBL clubs, I've heard enough comments already to back that belief up, I certainly won't be promoting senior games. Well, not unless they want to pay the market rate. Because that appears to be the trend. I doubt I'll book a game of badminton, either. Having given the college a D1 club, I feel pretty let down, mainly because it's unnecessary. |
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Post by borthwick on Aug 19, 2021 18:13:06 GMT
Well as a relative local I'm very surprised at this. I thought it was all part of one unified structure.it looks like you have traded a D1 club for a junior programme. I assume they have left you to run it? Given the academy set up it must make sense to have a talent pathway from the juniors. And we wonder why basketball doesn't progress over here.
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Post by hersey427 on Aug 20, 2021 6:26:47 GMT
I think most junior set-ups are registered separately to their seniors, if only to protect the parents' money from being spent on pro players.
Michael & Eszter Ball are still very much involved. I haven't had it dumped on me. But, yes, the talent pathway isn't quite as smooth as it was. Which is a shame, and may come back to haunt Oaklands in the future.
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Post by Deleted on Aug 20, 2021 9:13:45 GMT
I enjoyed having Worcester in the league, I can only speak from seeing them at the Emirates Arena but it's a shame they are no longer a BBL team
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Post by drivethebody on Jan 18, 2022 22:34:13 GMT
Really good piece on the news just about the new Worcester Wolves wheelchair basketball team - at the Uni I guess?
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Post by faz on Jan 19, 2022 18:15:04 GMT
I know how hard it is to find alternative venues. Effectively you’re partner has just screwed you who are also probably their biggest customer( I’m guessing)
Good luck finding an an alternate venue and saying good bye in some form.
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Post by hersey427 on Jan 20, 2022 7:53:25 GMT
Worcester weren't built to survive without the uni. Their whole model depended on handouts each year. We worked with three educational institutions during our 16 years and it's quite clear that, despite their claims to the contrary, they don't operate on a commercial basis, certainly not a form any real business would recognise. I doubt the impact on the arena's finances were properly considered when closing the BBL side.
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