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The Lost Chronicles: Cake

Mark Evans
By Jason Harris August 27 2008
You all probably know that I am more of a pie man than I am a cake man. A good, hearty steak and kidney does more for me than a nice, fluffy sponge, I must admit. Not for me are the colourful, delicate fondant fancies, instead I prefer red meat, gravy and a crusty pastry lid. But I digest. All this mention of cake is down to the battenberg-shirted ones down the road having theirs and eating it.

Before I embark upon this latest rant, I must make it perfectly clear that Harlequins v Leicester at HQ on 27 December has been met with disapprobation form most of the posters on Come All Within and rightly so.

Most Quins fans are unhappy that they are swapping the intimate cosiness of The Stoop for the wide open spaces of their old place, but restricted to a capacity of 50,000 for this particular game.

Quins CEO Mark Evans was his usual abrasive self when stating of his club's credentials as "London's Club" in rubbishing Wasps' use of the "L" word in their club title and stressing that London Irish and, of course, Saracens are no longer resident in Zones 1-6.

Forget the vulpine Evans's barbs about which club lays claim to the title of "London's Club", the crux of the matter is that Harlequins have moved this game so the club can make more money, and that flies in the face of their stance when it came to the London Double Header next weekend.

Harlequins were not prepared to give up a home game against Saracens (or Wasps or Irish, for that matter)  as they wanted to protect their income which would, so they say, have been more if the game was played at The Stoop.

So this latest development, be it for financial gain, an enhanced opportunity to shift some merchandise, to pander to the gods at BSkyB, or any other reason, will leave a bitter taste in the mouths of many a Quins fan, and attract howls of derision from followers of the three other clubs based inside the M25 for what will, no doubt, be seen as a blatant act of greed and hypocrisy.

Therefore next season, I fully expect Harlequins to fulfil their obligation to be the "home" team at the 2009 London Double header, given they have relinquished whatever advantage they may have against Leicester if the game were to be played at their regular home ground.

 

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Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: PhillFez (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:08:43:14

Absolutely spot on Jason, good rant!

Won't mention the typo Author (possibly) missed also ;o)



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2008:08:27:12:05:44 by PhillFez.

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: RogerG (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:08:47:17

From the reaction on the Queens board, it looks like their marketing department have been taking advice from ours i.e. don't consult the fans, just think of the ££££££££££s.

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: TonyTaff (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:09:26:25

(Some of the) typos now fixed. Don't blame Kat, I suspect it was author-published.

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: Sir Tease (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:09:31:28

Not sure that I see any hypocrisy - it's a move that's entirely consistent with their stand on the DH. Both are designed to maximise revenues, much as Bristol moving their Bath game to Ashton Gate was.
I don't seem able to raise any motivation to be surpised or outraged - mmmm is that coffee I smell?

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: jeremy ogorman (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:11:09:21

raises the interesting questions about seat allocations

will the Twickers debenture holders get first dabs on "their" seat for the game

prompting Quins season ticket holders to complain about their allocation

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: Rupes (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:11:19:12

Cue the age-old debate; "professional money generation" vs "the wishes of the amateur fan".

It will happen again and again, but whilst people are prepared to pay then the clubs will continue to do it. Long gone are the days of making sure that long-serving club members get the deluxe seats, sadly it just isn't like that anymore.

Quins are at least trying something different to raise their profile and generate revenues - surely they should be applauded for that?

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: PhillFez (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:12:07:45

who mentioned Kat anyway? (Sm7)

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: TOKS (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:12:29:35

And let's face the attitude "We're far too good for the LDH, but we reckon we can sell 50,000 tickets for a league game at Twickers" is totally in keeping with that club.

Some disappointing elitist and condescending comments from Mark Evans that I read this morning.

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: TonyTaff (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:12:53:49

... and to think we tried to recruit Quins' fans into our blue-collar fold, when all-the-while one of our erstwhile finest was being seduced by their plutocratic ways!

Sing along now (Coughie first), to the tune of the Internationale (or Red Flag):

"The working class
Can kiss my @rse,
I've got the foreman's job at last"

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: Kat (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:27:13:33:07

The Quins need to remember 'A Tiger is for life, not just for Christmas'

50,000 Don't make me laugh (Sm22).

That's a hell of a lot of people (assuming they are targeting the heafty numbers of away support) they expect to travel two days after Christmas, when they are stuffed full of Turkey and Mince Pies and while there is a reduced Rail service to the Twickenham area, to go to a match that they could happily watch in the local pub/without moving from the sofa.

It's not even like they can rely on the prospect of 'the event' attracting fans from other 'London' Clubs as we are playing Irish the same day (and are also being televised - are we the warm up?)

For once I feel a bit sorry for the Tigers fans, as the hospitality at The Stoop is always a high point of the season. Instead they have to make to with sh*te beer at grey, souless Twickers.

P.S. I take it from the post's above that I have missed something?

Re: The Lost Chronicles: Cake
Posted by: PhillFez (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:08:28:09:39:16

There might be a clue if you read 'Kat' for 'Author' in the original thread winking smiley

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