Scarlets - Try to turn a profit.

http://www.scarlets.co.uk/eng/news/4105.php?

The Scarlets hosted their first summer annual general meeting with a strong message to their most loyal supporters that they can look forward to a healthy future as the region drives forward a sustainable business.

Share
Held ahead of Wednesday evening's Scarlets kit launch, the AGM welcomed hundreds of existing and new shareholders to a presentation by Scarlets Chief Executive Mark Davies and new chairman Nigel Short supported by Scarlets board directors and its full management team.
In a spirit of clarity, honesty and openness, the Scarlets talked frankly about their future plans to valued season ticket holders, who are now all shareholders in the Scarlets business thanks to the share issue announced this year. The AGM outlined the details of a five-year business plan that would see a realistic 16% revenue growth fuelled by stronger performance in all business areas including ticketing, merchandising, sponsorship, events, food and beverage sales and advertising.

The resounding message was that with continued commitment from a dedicated team focused on a realistic five-year business plan with achievable goals, the club would break-even, hitting a cash neutral position by 2013.

The presentation outlined detail of how increased revenue outside rugby match days at Parc y Scarlets and a series of new investment and sponsorship opportunities would help fund continued investment in the development of exceptional Welsh talent from within the Scarlets region.

And this is backed up by the positive signs already emerging from Parc y Scarlets including:

• The Scarlets venue business has already been achieved an increase in revenue of £250,000 in the past financial year
• There is a 17% increase season ticket revenues from the previous season
• One month into the new financial year, the Scarlets are £76k up on season ticket revenues and £50k up on sponsorship revenues
• 752 new season ticket holders have joined the Scarlets family for the new 2011/2012 season

In a realistic assessment of the work to do, Chief Executive Mark Davies said an improving financial position would see the region move from a projected operating loss this current fiscal year to a break-even position in 2013.

Putting that into context, he said: "We want to see improvements in every single revenue stream in the business, based on what we experiencing already. We will see growth in revenue from 6 to 16% and hold our costs. We know there are only two rugby clubs in the UK that are NOT consistently showing losses - Leicester Tigers and Northampton Saints and we will seek to join them by 2013.

"We also know we have a performance gap which we have to fill to achieve our ambition to put this business on a secure footing and to invest at the level we need to in our strengthening rugby product for the future.

"We need to widen our funding platform and investment potential, with the attraction of our strong brand, promise on the field and progressive management team to deliver value and heart and soul service. Our aim is to further democratise our funding base."

One of the initiatives to be undertaken includes the Scarlet new ambassador scheme to be launched in London on September 6th, which will give a wider opportunities for potential funders and supporters of the Scarlets to invest in the development of indigenous talent through the use of player scholarships and related funding.

The Scarlets CEO said the region and all its thousands of supporters were indebted to the region's Funding Directors Huw Evans, Philip Davies, Glan Wise and Tim Griffiths who had invested collectively a total of £15.5m into the region with a large proportion of that invested into creating a world-class stadium facility at Parc y Scarlets owned by partners Carmarthenshire County Council.

To a spontaneous round of applause in support from those attending, Mark Davies added: "Our Funding Directors should be given enormous credit for their whole-hearted support and commitment to the rugby club that we are part of today and I'm not always convinced they get the recognition they deserve for what they have done."

New Chairman Nigel Short said there was a real drive and ambition to improve the business and bring innovation into the sport and that he was committed to making it a success: "I'm not used to being involved in businesses that don't succeed and we have to look to get ourselves back to the top flight of European Rugby by being by innovators, not followers, and creating a model for others to aspire to.

"Rugby is more than just a sport, for Scarlets it is a passion and we have a strong set of values. We can't promise to spend money we haven't got but we can promise that there is a relentless drive in this club to continue to improve the business. We are innovators in the way we develop talent and the way we integrate with our community and we will continue to champion the work being done in the grassroots of the game.

"We have a bright future, an outstanding stadium and facilities controlled by the club alone, we have an ambitious and progressive management team and the best player development programme in the country - with some of the best young talent in Europe.

"Step by step we will do the hard yards because this is heart and soul rugby country."

Interesting and good news for Scarlets fans after a troublesome few seasons off the field. On the field things are coming together with a young and exciting team, and a coach who loves to play attacking rugby using his backs.
Good luck to the Turks.

Alyn - I'm being a pedant this evening, can you take Llanelli out of the title please (or I can edit it for you?), we dropped that from the Scarlets name a fair few seasons ago now!

Anyhoo on to the article. I am one of the 752

Also really pleased with the figures from the opening month of this financial year. I am also very pleased that we have what seems very astute business men in charge now, I don't want us to go spending any money that we don't have! We need to make sure that we are a sustainable and growing business before/if ever we go down that road.

There's a lot of good noises coming from the Scarlets at the moment, and I for one am so glad to hear it after a fair few glum seasons on and off the pitch. Fingers crossed things keep getting better for us.

Ymlaen Scarlets!

rugbydreamer wrote:Alyn - I'm being a pedant this evening, can you take Llanelli out of the title please (or I can edit it for you?), we dropped that from the Scarlets name a fair few seasons ago now!

Anyhoo on to the article. I am one of the 752

Also really pleased with the figures from the opening month of this financial year. I am also very pleased that we have what seems very astute business men in charge now, I don't want us to go spending any money that we don't have! We need to make sure that we are a sustainable and growing business before/if ever we go down that road.

There's a lot of good noises coming from the Scarlets at the moment, and I for one am so glad to hear it after a fair few glum seasons on and off the pitch. Fingers crossed things keep getting better for us.

Ymlaen Scarlets!

Ok mate that;s done, really can't be bothered to go through another argument like I did with the Dragons / Newport thing a few days ago, lol.

I might try and sneak down the Scarlets for the Aironi game, I'm trying to hide away any money I come across in the secret tin above the cupboard, with my Braveheart lion care bear sitting on top of it (on guard)! If the Mrs finds it my plans for the aironi game are doomed

Thank you

Good luck on the money saving mission! (although not sure I'd have admitted to having a care bear.... ) I reckon there'll be a good crowd for the Aironi game too, first game of the season, and all the excitement that brings, I can't wait for it! It's been far too long since I was at Y Parc.

Great news for the Scarlets. I said about a year ago on the old 606 that I couldn't understand that people here in Wales were surprised that the regions were developing at different rates. The Ospreys and Blues raced ahead and there were calls for the scrapping of other regions (mainly the dragons) as they weren't as successful. However, if we set up 4 coffee shops in 4 different parts of Wales then you'd expect the businesses to grow and develop at different rates, so why not rugby businesses? I think the Scarlets, and maybe to a smaller/lesser extent the Dragons, are starting to catch up with the others and grow as businesses that are self sustaining and with secure(ish) futures. I think the decision by the Scarlets and dragons to focus on young local talent, mainly out of necessity from a financial point of view, is helping this process.

Well done Scarlets.

rugbydreamer wrote:Thank you

Good luck on the money saving mission! (although not sure I'd have admitted to having a care bear.... ) I reckon there'll be a good crowd for the Aironi game too, first game of the season, and all the excitement that brings, I can't wait for it! It's been far too long since I was at Y Parc.

I had him since I was 5 (27 tears ago)

Where's a good car parking place for the Aironi game?
Would the big car park be ok by Bank, Asda Living and HMV etc? As the shops would be closed after 4pm on a Sunday?
Or is there a proper car park we can use?

Alyn,I am pleased to see you niggling other fans than just the Dragons.It seems that you have learned and that is to be applauded.

Griff wrote:I think the Scarlets, and maybe to a smaller/lesser extent the Dragons, are starting to catch up with the others and grow as businesses that are self sustaining and with secure(ish) futures. I think the decision by the Scarlets and dragons to focus on young local talent, mainly out of necessity from a financial point of view, is helping this process.
Well done Scarlets.

I think all the region are doing this, the Ospreys havent signed anyone famous have they?
I think the Scarlets & Dragons are playing a good brand of rugby people want to see and people are coming back to them.

Taffineastbourne wrote:Alyn,I am pleased to see you niggling other fans than just the Dragons.It seems that you have learned and that is to be applauded.

Griff wrote:Great news for the Scarlets. I said about a year ago on the old 606 that I couldn't understand that people here in Wales were surprised that the regions were developing at different rates. The Ospreys and Blues raced ahead and there were calls for the scrapping of other regions (mainly the dragons) as they weren't as successful. However, if we set up 4 coffee shops in 4 different parts of Wales then you'd expect the businesses to grow and develop at different rates, so why not rugby businesses? I think the Scarlets, and maybe to a smaller/lesser extent the Dragons, are starting to catch up with the others and grow as businesses that are self sustaining and with secure(ish) futures. I think the decision by the Scarlets and dragons to focus on young local talent, mainly out of necessity from a financial point of view, is helping this process.

Well done Scarlets.

Spot on,Griff!Excellent post.

Alyn - there are three car parks all situated around Parc Y Scarlets. Car park A is mostly for permit holders so my Dad and I use car park B, plenty of space there, and if that gets full they use a part of Corus' carpark I believe. You can park by the shops just across the way if you like as well.

Tis £3 to use car park B so not too bad, a bit of a pain to get out of afterwards, but much better then what they had at Stradey! Don't leave it too late to get there though, otherwise the parking will all be full.

Griff - v good post that

I see the revenue is up but is the profit up? The scarlets are on the right track and 752 new season ticket holders is good in this financial climate but like all the regions money seems v tight and no one is signing players of the calibre of king lyons hollah collins etc .

We need some russian/arab oil money for each region, that would be handy

Think they're aiming to break even in 2013 jb, and considering we were a few seasons ago, that's incredible. If the above is to believed only Saints and Tigers are the ones who aren't consistently making a loss. Must be even harder then I thought for clubs to turn a profit.

it's tough for our regions but at least the scarlets are going in the right direction same with the dragons, us and the blues are going backwards.

Big 12 months ahead ! Good luck to the turks they play good rugby and are a pleasue to watch

cheers jb, good luck to you guys 'n all.

I don't think the O's are in that much trouble really, think with your youngsters coming through, you'll have a much more positive season team wise at least (or I hope so!). The Blues though, now that's another thing all together....no good news coming out of there at all.

we need to take a leaf out of your book from last year give the kids their head.

The blues have a lot of big names out of contract at the end of next season.

I have a feeling a few of them will be off to pastures new, any word on a second row coming in for yous?

I'm really pleased with the way the Scarlets are going - it was a really good idea to have the Barn, and to show Wales games in there, and also the Man U v Llanelli FC game and the pop concert must have raised some money - if they can get another concert in around xmas time (depending on fixtures) and do 2 a year then that will go a long way to helping make them profitable.

But as JB says it would be nice for all the regions to have a nice chunk of money from some investor to really secure their future and let them invest to get around the top of European rugby.

I think Ospreys will be ok this season, they've lost some big earners (which must have put a strain on them), and have some exciting kids you will probably be on better form than their ints...

The Swansea Reserves playing at PYS must spin a little extra cash for the Scarlets too.

rugbydreamer wrote:Alyn - there are three car parks all situated around Parc Y Scarlets. Car park A is mostly for permit holders so my Dad and I use car park B, plenty of space there, and if that gets full they use a part of Corus' carpark I believe. You can park by the shops just across the way if you like as well.

Tis £3 to use car park B so not too bad, a bit of a pain to get out of afterwards, but much better then what they had at Stradey! Don't leave it too late to get there though, otherwise the parking will all be full.

Griff - v good post that

Thanks mate Iv'e been having a look on the map, I know where the stadium is, bit I can't seem to find Car Park B on any kind of map, so I guess I will wing it.

jb:

on the second row front, heard that we are gave a trial to a second row from bohenimas (munster feeder club). not sure if they offered him a contract or not.

slightly off topic, liberty a game every week football/rugby great pitch, PYS a game a week rugby.football pitch looks great.

MS 6 games a year pitch is a shambles, whats that about?

Alyn - when you are driving towards the stadium and the shops they have there, there are about 2-3 roundabouts and Car Park B is pretty well sign posted so you should be okay once you see the signs

JB - with regards to the MS pitch, it's never given time to bed down properly, it's "bedded" on concrete slabs that are removable, and with the amount of concerts and other events they have there, it doesn't really have a chance. It wasn't looking so bad last season, but it appears something else has gone wrong with it!

And only the Tongan 2nd row Sione Timani I believe the Scarlets have signed this year. We could do with another one really!

WEve signed a kiwi scrum half according to the bbc

rugbydreamer wrote:Alyn - when you are driving towards the stadium and the shops they have there, there are about 2-3 roundabouts and Car Park B is pretty well sign posted so you should be okay once you see the signs

Ok thanks mate, see you in the crowd for the Aironi game then