You keep asserting that my suggestion is just a re-jigged Setanta Cup. I'm afraid that if you cannot or will not acknowledge the substantial differences, then I don't know what more to say.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
The major "carrot" would be two-fold.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
One, an all-Ireland League should be capable of attracting significantly greater TV money, sponsorship, corporate support than two (struggling) separate Leagues.
Two, more games against bigger/better teams, with the improved facilities they bring etc, can in time lead to bigger crowds and increased revenues for participating clubs.
As for your point about Team A (effectively) "giving up" after the Domestic Stage, that also applies mid-season with IL or LOI clubs who are not likely to win their respective League, or get relegated.
But if it were to be a problem, then there is no reason why both the IL and LOI Prize monies couldn't be pooled and paid out at the end of the All-Island phase, depending on where teams finish in the table.
Along with the relegation battle, that should certainly maintain interest.
And if even then it turned out there were still too many rather meaningless mid-table games, the League could always be reduced to 18, or even 16 teams.
As for the SC, which you seem to take as your "measuring stick", I personally think the format is too flawed for it to have been an instant success, but even despite those flaws (v.limited entry, same clubs every year, midweek games etc), it hasn't been a complete failure, neither has it been given enough time to establish itself properly (imo).
Eh? :confused: How do you come to the conclusion that "the substantial part of their incomes is generated by their domestic seasons"? If you are alluding to the Prize money, I accept that this could be retained until the end of the full season is completed.Quote:
Originally Posted by ifk101
And in any case, League Prize money is only a small part of the average club's income.
Clubs will continue to generate income by traditional means: gate receipts, sponsorship, commercial activities etc. Why shouldn't e.g. Linfield vs Bohs in a top-of-the-table clash attract a decent crowd late in the season as e.g. Linfield vs Cliftonville in the early part of the season?
In fact, in these respects it would be hoped that income could be increased, since clubs would have two "prizes" to aim for (NI or ROI champions, plus AI champions), and would now have a fixture list comprising games against traditional, local opponents, as well as games against new, potentially attractive opponents from the other part of the island.
P.S. One further point re your dismissal of the Setanta Cup. For all its flaws, participating teams still value the Prize money it attracts, since it is actually very lucrative.
How much more TV money could an AIL generate, considering it would run for 9-10 months, involve twice as many clubs playing 16 times as many games, cover the entire island, and hopefully be competitive at both ends of the League, for the duration?
P.P.S. One other point which you fail to address is that whatever the prospects for an AIL (and nowhere have I claimed it would be the immediate "answer to a Maiden's prayer"), what is your alternative? For the IL is pretty moribund :(, and whilst the LOI's rather bolder attempts at reform etc have led to many decent advances, it seems to have been at the price of crippling several clubs with debts which threaten their very existence. :eek:
