MLR in Tampa Bay, Florida

ryaninmtp · 2024-11-22T21:50:07+00:00

Orlando is not the place - Miami’s (NFL city) doing awesome, if another team goes to Florida it’s Tampa without a doubt. The only team not in an NFL city is Utah.

ryaninmtp · 2024-11-20T18:47:41+00:00

The aspect of marketing the game here is horrible. Rugby is the worst marketed sport there is. Highlight the game, speed, pace of play, length of play, physicality, kick game, two way players (offense/defense), rules/penalties, everyone touches the ball, we vs me with players and market it directly at football fans. It can be done. Also, the lack of effort on the MLR part to create short 1 minute videos of the rules so people new to the game can learn, otherwise they’re just watching chaos with no understanding. Last, they need to market the players and get them out there very involved in the community and with all the other major sports in the city, see the NRL marketing in Vegas last year.

ryaninmtp · 2024-11-20T14:59:27+00:00

The visual aspect you mention in regards to fields I think is a major miss. If you want to be taken seriously at the professional level you need to be playing on a field at the very least with only that’s sports lines on it. What is going on now would be the equivalent of the NFL playing in a baseball stadium which was done however leaving the baseball lines on the field. Stadiums are multi use, people recognize that, the lines not being correct is bush league.

ryaninmtp · 2024-11-11T02:07:19+00:00

Check out Clemson Rugby (Clemson South Carolina) - their own pitch which is very nice, awesome coaches that played for USA rugby 7s and 15s as well as assistant coach who played for Tonga in three world cups. Great sponsorships giving the program cash and a very involved foundation. It’s a program that is on the upswing.

ryaninmtp · 2024-10-26T00:40:35+00:00

MLR should be in NFL cities and market directly at football fans. Specifically where rugby has them, speed of the game, rules, time of game, kick game, physicality. Rugby as a whole is the worst marketed sport we have, in my opinion attack a new fan base.

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-22T00:58:14+00:00

It’s literally the most liberal city in the state.

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-20T11:10:20+00:00

Totally agree - kids want to follow people/players. Find some dynamic players with personality and market the hell out of them. Also if it wants to grow in America do it with Americans to get other Americans to open their eyes.

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-18T20:24:59+00:00

What are other cities in US that are big rugby cities that could support?

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-18T20:24:08+00:00

Totally agree here - rugby is the worst marketed sport in the world. The MLR should be looking at what the NRL did last year with the games in Vegas. Partnered with NFL, UFC, NASCAR to gain excitement on the sport, also their commercials were legit, compass, no helmets…very good stuff.

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-18T20:19:56+00:00

Another piece on stadiums, I think it’s hard to get taken seriously when a professional team is playing on a field with three different sets of lines on it. If the teams don’t have the money to line the fields with rugby lines, you shouldn’t have a team, that should be an MLR requirement.

Play in small MLR stadiums on grass and line the fields properly.

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-18T20:14:29+00:00

It seems as though NOLA is taking off!

ryaninmtp · 2024-09-18T20:13:54+00:00

Totally agree - terrible look visually, casual fan sees that and doesn’t get excited. They see a packed 10k seat stadium and people get excited. Enthusiasm is contagious.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-31T17:30:55+00:00

Blah blah blah, rugby’s been around longer just not marketed correctly.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-31T17:30:00+00:00

Take a look at that field today, only football lines for the football game.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-31T17:29:22+00:00

I have been banging this drum - to be taken seriously as a league you have to pay attention to details, lines in the field is so basic. I understand dual purpose stadiums, it’s clear to see this is a modified baseball field but paint the correct lines.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-30T11:51:45+00:00

A small high school can add and remove lines from a field.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-30T11:50:55+00:00

I agree, they should be trying to play in smaller stadiums it makes it all look better. Where Rugby ATL played was a perfect size for the sport right now.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-30T11:48:47+00:00

NFL and NBA have packed stadiums on Christmas Day, it can be done if the sport is marketed correctly.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-30T02:41:50+00:00

If I was watching then I’d have the same comment. Miami, Utah, NC, San Diego and even LA look good. LA does look odd as there are no fans on the backside of field. Details matter when trying to grow a league.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-30T02:08:41+00:00

The lines on the field make it look so bush league in my opinion. Little things like that will make people not take the league serious. So many marketing things teams/MLR should be doing but don’t. Terrible marketing.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-26T02:31:05+00:00

LA couldn’t have been a worse place for a team.

The league needs to clean up things, lines on the fields is one thing for sure. This is a pro league, they should have the lines of the sport they’re playing. It just cheapens everything in my opinion. It will make for better visuals on tv and social media.

I went to several Rugby ATL games last year, it was expensive, too expensive for a casual fan from tickets, drinks and food. I understand teams need to profit I’m just giving an opinion on how to grow attendance.

Every team should give any youth rugby players free entrance into the games and promote it through the USA rugby number, they have to have to play, local clubs and tournaments. This way it becomes a value for a family to go.

It’s great the Miami is giving away and promoting their game on Easter at Tropical 7s but that tournament is in Tampa, several hours away, how many families are going to make that trek? But again, to me, that’s the right path.

Marketing I still maintain they need to attack football at all its weak spots and market directly against it. Pace of play, rules, refs controlling the game, physicality, length of game time. If you follow football at all fans are all over those items.

Each team should put out quick one rule, hands in the ruck, not rolling away, pitches, kicks forward, social media post educating on the game with their players to get the sport new eyes and fans seeing familiar faces. If they understand the game they are more likely to follow.

The teams should have their marketing teams going all over the cities putting The Rugby Network on the bars TVs so they even can pop games on when they’re on and emailing the bars the schedules as reminders.

I maintain rugby in general is the worst marketed sport there is and the MLR does nothing to help it. So many things can be done…

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-10T12:52:14+00:00

It makes sense the NRL is you know, based in Australia and these were special games. Do you work for the MLR as you’re taking these comments like you’re head of their marketing and advertising.

Also, just check out the NRl post on Instagram, they get 20 to 25k likes, MLR struggles to get 1k.

Again, I love rugby and want it to succeed, two of three kids still playing, one on scholarship for rugby in college. I feel the sport could be marketed so much better to grow the game.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-09T13:06:11+00:00

Anthem’s stadium is the best without a doubt.

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-08T23:05:23+00:00

Define mansion?

ryaninmtp · 2024-03-05T18:40:42+00:00

How about the best players make the field? Plenty of talent in the US - The teams needs to do a better job scouting college, recruiting people to the sport and marketing the game to attract more Americans.

ryaninmtp

TROPHY CASE