Nevis Membership

[General Zod]

Anybody signing up for this? I’m kinda torn. It is clearly a money-grab, as are the ticket prices, but I’m also aware of the current circumstances in which we find ourselves. Well, I’m kinda aware. I’d be more aware if

1 - the SRU released the accounts, and

2 - the communication from the SRU were better. Why not just say why we are doing it this way? It would perhaps convince me to view the membership as more of a donation than anything else. We have to pay our Hagibis fines and Old Glory will probably need a jump start after all.

I’d also be more likely to stump up if it were clearly marketed as a one-off. However, I suspect that the reason it hasn’t been (as far as I, the potential consumer, can see), is that it gives them scope for seeing just how much they can take the piss next year.

When is the ballot anyway? I take it they don’t know?

Does the ballot mean the clubs will miss out on their cut or a significant percentage of it this year? I’d be disappointed if that is the case.

Also, how many members are there?

Anyway, I’m keeping my hands in my pockets for now. May just write this year off and go away to Europe for a long weekend or two instead (if possible by then, as it costs me pretty much the same.

[septic 9]

Anybody signing up for this? I’m kinda torn. It is clearly a money-grab, as are the ticket prices, but I’m also aware of the current circumstances in which we find ourselves. Well, I’m kinda aware. I’d be more aware if

1 - the SRU released the accounts, and

2 - the communication from the SRU were better. Why not just say why we are doing it this way? It would perhaps convince me to view the membership as more of a donation than anything else. We have to pay our Hagibis fines and Old Glory will probably need a jump start after all.

I’d also be more likely to stump up if it were clearly marketed as a one-off. However, I suspect that the reason it hasn’t been (as far as I, the potential consumer, can see), is that it gives them scope for seeing just how much they can take the piss next year.

When is the ballot anyway? I take it they don’t know?

Does the ballot mean the clubs will miss out on their cut or a significant percentage of it this year? I’d be disappointed if that is the case.

Also, how many members are there?

Anyway, I’m keeping my hands in my pockets for now. May just write this year off and go away to Europe for a long weekend or two instead (if possible by then, as it costs me pretty much the same.

there will be a ballot if and when they can have a match where spectators are allowed, and know how many. Absolutely no point until then.
Have a look at last years accounts. Assume 5% increase in costs (most expensive is staff costs and wage inflation for players is high), take c£4-5m per match behind closed doors (gate money, corporate money) and apply that to the net figure. IIRC we made about £1M surplus last time. Players have had wage cuts (as have all staff including Dodson) and more to come, plus although no redundancies yet they are inevitable

SRU are badly broke.

Its time to put aside all the conspiracy theory stuff. Broke and pro rugby is in real danger in Scotland.

Whether you want to pay for Nevis or not is of course an individual decision, but the SRU are doing because they are desperate for every penny. Its essentially a gift with the potential for a bit of reward if things go well AND if you then get lucky , but no guarantee

[Cameo]

Yeah, I think quite a few people are okay to see it as a gift. I would be more comfortable if they advertised it as a "support us in our time of need" thing though. I think some people will hold off because they don't want SR to get the idea these are realistic long term prices.

So frustrating after all the good work they have done on debt.

[ARM]

I signed up to Nevis a few weeks ago, eyes open, on the basis that this was a donation to sustain in some small part the ongoing future of Scottish rugby.

I have put forward a ballot entry to the 6N matches -even at the pricey top rate on a similar basis. I appreciate that many will find it steep (if the matches actually go ahead) given there is no concession rate.

On a separate note interesting to see the (UK) government stump up £135m to English rugby as part of a wider package of £300m support to sport in England. Can we expect something similar from the Scot Govt?

Ha ha ha
Ha ha
Ha

[General Zod]

On a separate note interesting to see the (UK) government stump up £135m to English rugby as part of a wider package of £300m support to sport in England. Can we expect something similar from the Scot Govt?

Ha ha ha
Ha ha
Ha

To provide a counterpoint, how did we get on out of the millennium grants?

Wembley Stadium?
Millennium Stadium?
A shitty stand with new offices for football blazers at Hampden?

Anyway, I won’t hold my breath either.

Right, I’ll stump up. Nevis membership and a name plate in the tunnel dedicated to Carole Baskin it is.

[septic 9]

I signed up to Nevis a few weeks ago, eyes open, on the basis that this was a donation to sustain in some small part the ongoing future of Scottish rugby.

I have put forward a ballot entry to the 6N matches -even at the pricey top rate on a similar basis. I appreciate that many will find it steep (if the matches actually go ahead) given there is no concession rate.

On a separate note interesting to see the (UK) government stump up £135m to English rugby as part of a wider package of £300m support to sport in England. Can we expect something similar from the Scot Govt?

Ha ha ha
Ha ha
Ha

if its real new money we (scotland) would get c10% via Barnet formula. In reality I think its actually loans, not grants, Short term salvation maybe but increased debt. Its another misleading here's a big number and pretend to be really helping

SRU better off acting as a PPE middleman and getting a £21M commission. Or better still find a Tory MP, set up a new company, sell PPE at 40% profit with n need to manufacture or even tender for the deal. This time next month we'd be billionaires Rodney

[ARM]

Barnett consequentials flow to Scot Gov but they can then decide what to do with it. Doesn’t have to flow to sport.

From the announcement on Gov.uk:

“The devolved administrations have been provided with an upfront guarantee this year of £16 billion above their Spring Budget 2020 funding to support their response to Covid-19. It is for the devolved administrations to decide how to use this funding irrespective of how UK government provides support in England”

And yes, does appear to be largely loan based. RFU was having financial challenges pre-pandemic so could well be a bridge through to PE-backed 6N deal which I suspect will still happen post pandemic. But at a lower value.

[septic 9]

Barnett consequentials flow to Scot Gov but they can then decide what to do with it. Doesn’t have to flow to sport.

From the announcement on Gov.uk:

“The devolved administrations have been provided with an upfront guarantee this year of £16 billion above their Spring Budget 2020 funding to support their response to Covid-19. It is for the devolved administrations to decide how to use this funding irrespective of how UK government provides support in England”

And yes, does appear to be largely loan based. RFU was having financial challenges pre-pandemic so could well be a bridge through to PE-backed 6N deal which I suspect will still happen post pandemic. But at a lower value.

not just the RFU who have financial challenges. We really need to cut the schadenfraud and understand the SRU are in trouble as well.

The Scottish Govt always has control over Barnet consequentials, but in this case it would be pretty daft not to spend it on sport. They ain't politically stupid. Our problem even if there is significant cash is that unlike england where the govt has said soccer at prem and championship levels is rich enough to look after itself, that can hardly be said for any but a couple of clubs up here, so I'd expect football to get a significant cut, Again if there is anything to cut, which I'm still not convinced about.

Loans issued by or guaranteed by Westminster. Scottish govt has no control over those

[General Zod]

Barnett consequentials flow to Scot Gov but they can then decide what to do with it. Doesn’t have to flow to sport.

From the announcement on Gov.uk:

“The devolved administrations have been provided with an upfront guarantee this year of £16 billion above their Spring Budget 2020 funding to support their response to Covid-19. It is for the devolved administrations to decide how to use this funding irrespective of how UK government provides support in England”

And yes, does appear to be largely loan based. RFU was having financial challenges pre-pandemic so could well be a bridge through to PE-backed 6N deal which I suspect will still happen post pandemic. But at a lower value.

I’d rather that we didn’t get into debt to get out of debt, if that makes sense. It sounds like there aren’t any significant Barnett consequentials to this money - it’s just mostly a loan which has been marketed well by UK Government. It would be nice to think that if they’re going to put any “free” money towards sport, the SG would put rugby above the shitshow that is the SFA, who shouldn’t get anything without strings attached about getting their house in order. However, if I were in government, I’d probably just put any extra money towards getting the vaccination over and done with. That will probably do more for taxpayers and society as a whole.

What about, after key workers and the vulnerable, members of local sports associations get the vaccine?!

For what it’s worth, I don’t really buy into any conspiracy theory about the accounts or the way tickets are being done this year, it’s just the communication of the whole thing that is poor. Surely they know this - I get the impression that the SRU is the sort of organisation where in the back office at least you go in really enthused, then after enduring micro-management of your output, you sacrifice job engagement and simply stay put for convenience (and tickets). See how HR were “involved” during the whole Keith Russell thing, not to mention how KR himself was treated. Maybe the comms team just think, “whatever” when someone else changes their work before it’s signed off, resulting in inconsistent messaging. An awful lot of companies are like that, so I don’t know why the SRU would be any different just because the brand has positive connotations for a lot of its external stakeholders. Or maybe they’re just struggling like most of us at the moment and my tuppence worth doesn’t help. I hope my £34 does.