SFGG bleacher plans signal expansion

San Francisco Golden Gate is looking to purchase more bleachers, indicating it believes expanded capacity will lead to additional revenue.

Unglamorous as they may seem, amenities such as stands, scoreboards and programs, concessions, and parking are the backbone of sports events the world over. The teams which provide them are the ones that get ahead.

Most American clubs neither own their grounds nor charge admission. SFGG too leases its Treasure Island facility, but sells tickets to Super League matches, operates concessions, and otherwise earns match-driven revenue against the fixed cost.

The club has further hosted such high-profile fixtures as USA 'A' versus New Zealand Heartland XV, a  charity match against intracity rival Olympic Club, (temporarily displaced) Cal against the University of British Columbia, and USARFU's club 7s tournament.

SFGG also runs large youth programs, so the stands would benefit parents. Approximately 180 of its 250 playing members are school students, with the under-14 group alone accounting for 100 athletes.

The estimated price of nearly $20,000 is material to the club's annual budget, according to a club official. There are hopes that donations may underwrite part of the bill, potentially warranting sponsor naming rights.

Adding three stands would bring the club to a total of five permanent bleachers.

Comments

[rkpeatross]

It sounds as if SFGG is the model club in the US.

[Working Class Rugger]

What would be there capacity with the upgrade.

[Look Around]

Paul Keeler has done an outstanding job for this club and it is a testament to his abilities. He also happens to be a genuinely good human being which always does my heart some good. Great job SFGG.

[Sergeant Hulka]

They could put a couple hunderd butts in bleacher seats easily with this upgrade. Click on my google maps link. The clubhouse is between Avenues M & I, with the field just to the left. Plenty of parking as well. If you zoom into the field you'll see the bleachers they used to rent from the Cow Palace. They can't lease anymore, which is why they're buying their own stands. Add standing areas to the sides and you can fit a few hunderd easily.

[Ray Peterson]

The old UCONN football stadium is being torn down for a new basketball facility. The "Visitors" stands are aluminum bleachers, probably in the 6-8000 range. I have no idea what they are going to do with them or if they are commited to any group but as of last weekend they were still up. You might want to contact the athletic department (facilities) and see if you could arrange something.

[I love Russia]

http://www.rugbyrugby.com/today_in_history/60/january_20_____rugby_league_expelled_from_russia

[Freedom>Rugby]

As a Union man: cool. As a human being: what a sick state of affairs.

[Hmm]

"It sounds as if SFGG is the model club in the US."

Alongside Life, Utah, & Glendale, absolutely. The Pittsburgh Harlequins seem to be doing good things too, albeit at a very slow pace. I'd expect them (the Quins) to be competitive 5-10 years from now.

[Matt]

Hmm -

I agree with your assessment of the Quins. If Western PA had a stronger youth and high school program, the Quins would be a stellar club. Their facilities alone give them the opportunity to be discussed as one of the top clubs in the country and if they improve their youth/high school outreach their ranking will only improve in my opinion.

[gregw6]

I came across former Eagle and BYU coach Kimball Kjar's blog--interesting read from a young coach if you're so inclined: http://propelrugby.com/news.htm

[Sergeant Hulka]

Western PA colleges need to button down the hatches as well. If you wanna see good old keg rugby, look no further than the Allegheny Union's colleges.

[RK Peatross]

"Alongside Life, Utah, & Glendale, absolutely. The Pittsburgh Harlequins seem to be doing good things too, albeit at a very slow pace. I'd expect them (the Quins) to be competitive 5-10 years from now."

Thanks for stating the obivious...

[West Coast Rugby.]

Yeah, because everyone knows what is going on with rugby in Pittsburgh, and wouldn't possibly find it interesting to learn what is going on with clubs around the country.

[dog]

Are things really that bad in Western PA/Allegheny as far as development, "keg rugby" etc? As the premiere team from that area, the Harlequins seem to have done amazing things, former President Eric Jerpe coached numerous college teams from Allegheny, assisted with USA U17, brought the LAU HS all star tourney to Pittsburgh and is now heading up the new Jesuit Varsity program in Wheeling. Your comments dont make sense.

[Hmm]

My point wasn't to take the spotlight away from SFGG and put it on the Quins, or to even "state the obvious." My point was that if someone is going to say "It sounds as if SFGG is the model club in the US," they sound like an idiot. "One of the model clubs," sure. "*The* model club"? No.

[Sergeant Hulka]

Jerpe is a great coach and Wheeling is back on track after a 16 year total absense from rugby. Wheeling Jesuit was a poster child for keg rugby before they were canned. IUP had one good run to nationals about 18 years ago, joined the Mid-Atlantic for a few years and are now back to their old ways. There's a lot of great potential in Western PA, they just need to get a grip on it.

[High Brow]

"My point wasn't to take the spotlight away from SFGG and put it on the Quins, or to even "state the obvious." My point was that if someone is going to say "It sounds as if SFGG is the model club in the US," they sound like an idiot. "One of the model clubs," sure. "*The* model club"? No."

As far as doing it on their own, I would say that SFGG is *The* Model for all clubs to follow. Utah is too new on the ground and although are doing a great job, it remains to be seen if the guy providing the $ is willing to stick around. The Quins were way ahead of the curve with Founders Field and youth programs but that hasn't translated into continued success on the field. An idiot is someone that uses the singualr tense and follows it with the plural, as in "someone" and "they".

RK Peatross

[Anon]

RK:

Actually, an idiot is someone who professes to have a strong grasp of the English language, but doesn't.
http://motivatedgrammar.wordpress.com/2009/09/10/singular-they-and-the-many-reasons-why-its-correct/

SFGG doesn't even own the land their field is on. To call them *the* model because they've put up bleachers and own a clubhouse while playing high-level rugby is damn-near retarded. Are they a great club? Yes. Are they worth of emulation? Absolutely. Would I point at them and say they're *the* model for clubs to follow? Not a chance.

[High Brow]

Wow your arguement is powerful..You've managed to call me an idiot and near retarded...Personal insults are a sign of last resort and a weak arguement. You mustn't be over 25 and do not have much experience outside of the college classroom.

RK

[High Brow]

Furthermore you negelect to address my points about the other clubs you listed as top clubs. While I agree they are top clubs, they are not without flaws. The point of my post is that regardless if SFGG owns their own pitch, they do maximise it's potential. If a club owning it's pitch is the ultimate measuring stick (trumping things like clubhouse, bleachers, etc) then clubs like Richmond and Raliegh would have to enter into your discussing. Or if owning the pitch and having a clubhouse then Des Moines, Charlotte and the Chicago Blaze would be up there in the top clubs. The fact is that most clubs don't their fields and most won't ever own a field. The facts of what SFGG has accomplished do make them a model club for the vast majority of clubs in the US. Clubs that won't ever have a chance to own their own pitch should use the SFGG model as a path to improvement, therefore they are the model club in my opinion.

Now get your shinebox.

RK

[Hmm]

RK:

*smdh*

At no point did I say owning a pitch is "the ultimate measuring stick." I merely pointed out that because SFGG doesn't own their own pitch, to call them *the* model seems like a stretch. Clearly, you're Hellbent on putting SFGG up on a pedestal above all other clubs. All I've said is that they're among the top clubs others should emulate, but they're flawed and not *the* model for others.

And if you don't realize while your condescending tone isn't worthy of my castigations, I can't help you.

[High Brow]

Hmmm-

At no point do you offer anything except criticism of my opinion. You infered things that one might believe to be your measuring stick for club greatness. You offered a selection of a few clubs that have done a great job on their own or with the help of others. So if you think I am condescending, you are right. Your arguement is weak, you offer counterpoints with merit, you offer nothing. You are not unlike the others on this board that love to bitch and attack others and offer nothing. I simply stated that SFGG is the model club, you attacked, I responded and you called me an idiot, I responded and you called me retarded. You resort to insults but offer no support to your arguement. You really missed the point even after I had to spell out my thought process on why I think SFGG is the model club...your response: *smdh* That is profound.

[rj]

This is a really dumb pissing match. Golden Gate does well with what they have, so do other teams in the country. Case closed.

As far as the Pittsburgh Harlequins, their facilities put those of three former Rugby Super League clubs I've played against to shame. Only other away field I've played at that can compare is the Irish Cultural Center where the Boston Irish Wolfhounds play.

Pittsburgh's deal I think is that the county owns the field and as part of it being built and the Harlequins using it they do certain things with rugby for inner-city kids. The two fields are also rented for soccer and the University of Pittsburgh uses the main field for their lacrosse I think.