Bears Beyond The Gate
A Bristol Bears podcast made by fans for fans. Each week your hosts Pete, Lee and Miles will take a light-hearted look at developments from Ashton Gate and beyond.
Bears Beyond The Gate
Ep 201 - New season, new tech and new CEO. Tom Tainton joins the pod to talk all things Bears past, present and future.
Having reached a double ton at the end of last season wth the help of emerging club and Instagram legend James Dun, the boys road-test their brand new crowd funded recording equipment at the BBF Taproom Studio Bar for the season seven opener with Bears CEO Tom Tainton, who, lets be honest, was well impressed with the set up and admtted that he had never done a pod in a lock-in before.
The boys asked him briefly about his journey to the top before diving in with some of the sorts of questions that we hope our listeners would expect us to ask - fan engagment, whether the Big Day Out made money, merchandise, Simba cam and much, much more.
Tom was a very engaging interviewee and took his time to clarify and engage many of the issues that are close to fan's hearts. He admitted that sometimes the club had got things wrong but also reaffirmed his belief that the club is in a great position and that the future is bright.
It was very good of him to come down to our manor on a Sunday night and it can be confirmed that at least two of the can opening sound effects, much loved by many listeners, were definitely of his making.
As always your feedback is welcome both on our socials or via bearsbeyondthegate@gmail.com
Up the Bears!
Hello, you're listening to Bearsville the Game, a Bristol Bears podcast and a 5 fan 4 fans with three friends who level Club the game and all things bears. Well boys, we are back at our spiritual home, the Bristol Bear Factory Catholic, and having reached our double century of episode at the end of last season with uh our season review with our good friend James Dunn, we are now back for season seven. Unbelievable. And more importantly, we've got new equipment. New equipment over the summer, as some people have known, we crowdfunded uh some new microphones, some headphones, a mixer, mainly because of feedback of people and they just couldn't stand the rain, the seagulls, the prototype and things, the crisps. Um, so we will talk more about this at some point, but just a very quick nod to all of those uh listeners that helped us to talk to this material. But also, um, we have got a very, very, very special guest to help us road test this new equipment, and we'd like to welcome uh Bristol Bears CEO Tom Tainton to the Bristol Beer Factory chat room.
SPEAKER_04:Thank you for having me on, gentlemen. I have to say, um A congratulations on your double century, but B congratulations on the setup. I feel like I'm in the talk sports studio.
SPEAKER_03:Well, it's it's it's essentially what you've come to is a is a podcast in a lock-in. Because I mean, as you've now experienced, because we've had a chat beforehand, the Bristol beer factory is now closed, but we are still here and we we have a few little drinks uh to to keep us to get us through it.
SPEAKER_00:And um I'm not lost as the working class kid here. I'm not lost on the irony of uh you two middle class Ponces actually asking for crowdfunding to begin with.
SPEAKER_03:Well, I mean I wasn't gonna pay for it. So I mean I'm not you know, I haven't got that much money. Come on, teacher, and I've got two kids. But so yeah, I mean we're very we're kind of thrilled and excited uh to be able to give it this ago. And I mean, to be fair, boys, the last time we wore headphones like this is when we were on the Jeff Twentieman show, wasn't it? And uh a few, so we have done it a few times, but yeah, yeah, yeah. I think normally we have a mobile recorder in the middle of the table. It's it's fairly village, but um, you know, why not? We thought we'd go anyway, Tom. You're here. We really appreciate you coming to help us kind of do our first what a preview pod, I guess, for the season. Um, and you know, a few things have happened over the summer. Um, most importantly of all, I believe you you become a father.
SPEAKER_04:Yes, yeah. So uh my wife, Amy and I, we had our our little boy called Otto over the summer, so he's 12 weeks old now. Um we're we're in the eye of the storm, uh, but everything's going really well. And uh balancing the the joys of uh a rugby off season with a new baby has uh has been a fun challenge.
SPEAKER_03:I don't know. I know I've got a question. I think you were going to ask it, Lee, but I've remembered. It's it's basically your son Otto, Lewis Reese Samut, which arrival is the uh isn't it? Which was the best signing of the summer, we're asking Tom.
SPEAKER_04:Do you know what, boys? They were equally stressful. Yeah, I'll be back. That week of uh that week of the Lewis Reese Sammit signing and the the back and forth we had with his representatives and the murmurings in the in the press and on social media, like it had a very kind of football deadline day feel to it. Wow. So being able to get that over the line was um was a massive fillet for the club and it's been uh it's it's had a real boost already.
SPEAKER_03:Well, hopefully I we may touch on on that later actually, because we did have a few questions uh about that whole thing. Um I thought to to kind of allow you to sort of warm yourself up a bit, although I'm sure you're you're very good at doing this sort of thing, we just thought it'd be interesting for you to just give us a quick potted history of your like I I would say your rise to uh you know to to the sea to to this rapid rise to the CEO of Bristol Bears um at a rel I mean compared to us, a relatively sort of tender age. You're a youngster. And and I mean we've read uh you know, obviously we've read stuff in the uh in the papers. You're Bristol born and bad, you you you've been associated with the club for a long, long time, but it'd just be interesting for us and our listeners to to hear your kind of your story, as it were.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, well, mu much the same as you as you guys. I'm I'm someone that um cares deeply about the club. I I grew up in the city and uh I've my association with Bristol rugby started back in 2011. And actually, my first day as a completely unpaid intern, um, I didn't actually know that expenses existed, so I was actually paying to go to to go at that point. Um was was the same the same month that our chairman Chris Boy told the group of players at the time that there were going to be 50% pay cuts. This was after we lost to Exeter in the playoffs in 2010. So it was a real baptism of fire, but actually those formative years uh were the the best experience of working in in professional sport and and trying my arm at uh lots of different roles within the club, and this was prior to the Bristol sport days as well. So I've done I've been the team manager, I've done marketing, commercial, um, media, uh, and actually what it gave me was a great foundation of understanding of of what's required to work in pro sport, and it's brutal and it's unrelenting. And I think equally it's shown me what a good culture is and what a what a poor culture is, and and uh I've seen both during my time in in Bristol, and certainly since the Lansdowne family came in and we moved to Ashton Gate in 2014, things have uh have really accelerated, and then when we rebranded to the Bears in 2018, that's when it really took off as a uh as a commercial entity and and and as a force on the field. And uh I can sit here with with absolute certainty and say that the the future for the club is is very bright and and and and very positive, so it it's a nice position to be in.
SPEAKER_03:Well, that's uh I I did I agree that I'd do the intro question to give you a little warm-up, but boys, I think I'm gonna throw it over to um to the lads. I mean, we have a kind of plan, but I think we we like we like to do, we thought we just sort of freestyle through uh some some questions that and we're trying to kind of come from a perspective as fans, seasoned card holders, yeah, um, and so on. So I don't know, Lee, do you want to go first?
SPEAKER_00:Tom, you know me already now by by now. Um but what we already know about the corporate stuff that you do. I mean it's it's already out there, you know, and you speak eloquently on the you know, on the the the club's behalf. As listeners, as fans, e-cor fans, what we want to know is I know we've put a we've we've had a massive uh kind of influence on youngsters this season. A lot of fans are worried about that because we're asking a lot of young lads to step up and you know and perform. Can you can you like obviously you see on the training field every day what's happening? Like, is it in safe hands? Are we are we good?
SPEAKER_04:It's a great question, and um I think that we always talk about homegrown players being like a core part of of what we want to do, but if you actually look at the last few years, have we have we really lived by that? And it wasn't until 18 months ago that we've really leaned into let's have a squad that is smaller, that is younger, and let's focus on those homegrown players. And I guess my answer to your question would be that you referenced James Dunn earlier, Jack Bates, these are guys, George Klosker, these are guys that two or three years ago we might be looking at on the team sheet and thinking, you know, how are they gonna how are they gonna survive and cope at the top level of Premiership rugby? But the all of them have shown that they are more than capable of not just competing but thriving at the top level. And you could argue that some of them should be in in the shout for an England call-up. So what what it shows us is that the talent is there, they just need the opportunities. And I look at the the next crop of youngsters that are coming through, um, and it's and it's exciting, and that and there are guys that are gonna be playing for Bristol in the next two to three years and and will hopefully be with us for a long time. And one thing that Pat and his coaching staff um feel is very important is the cohesiveness of a group, and you want the same group of players to take you through. And uh you look at that lineup that's gonna play against Leicester in a couple of weeks for our opening day of the season, and a number of those guys will be centurions, will be on the cusp of a hundred appearances, and that's really, really important for us that we've had a group that has gone all the way through our journey with us, and and young Bristolian players or homegrown players are at the forefront of that.
SPEAKER_00:And that's great. I mean, we we we we did a QA with Pat a couple of years ago, and obviously at the forefront was Pat wanted Bristolian players to come through and play for England. Now, a massive thing is like Steve Poorfoot doesn't play the way Bears play, right? We we all know that. I wonder about the pathway of Bristol Bears players coming through and actually getting recognition for England, and you know, not initially, but you know, in the future. But I think most of our listeners are kind of worried about next season. I think we're we're about sixth, seventh, eighth in the betting. And obviously we all have become top four. Tops, you know, uh how do we we like how do you kind of readdress our concerns about that for for next year? Like, can you give us some names of of the guys who are coming for it it feels like we're asking a lot of young players to come in? I know we've got brilliant experience, but it feels like the youngsters need to come in and hit the ground running. Um can you can you allay our fears slightly?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, well look, we last season that squad finished in the top four. Um and you could argue that there were certain games, and I off the top of my head, I think Gloucester at home, Saracens at home, where we might have gone gone better. I believe, and the the guys at the Bears believe, that the squad we have this time around is stronger than last season. We've we've added strength with with Tom Jordan, who's who's proven international quality. We've added Lucari Vinishvili in the back row and Reese Samet in the back three. So you think of the options we now have in that back line: McGuinty, Randall, Van Rensburg, uh Jimmy Williams, Tom Jordan, Gabriel Ibatoi, the list goes on. Benjamin Elizabeth's just just been capped again on the weekend. Like there's a there's a huge array of talent. Um, and by the same token, those young guys are another year older, they have a little bit more experience under their belt. We feel really bullish about what the team can achieve next season. You're absolutely right to say, like, compared to the those those at the very top end of the table, your your your BAFs and your Saracens and your Sales Sharks, etc., like they absolutely have the the depth and the quality and and the experience. But what we have is uh we have a a game plan and a system that when it works, and as you've all seen, when it works, no one can stop us. And we've been doing a lot of work over the summer on uh on some of those fundamentals and there's bits and pieces around defence and set piece and kick receipt, and and I think that if we can get those marginal things right, uh we will be a force to be reckoned with next season.
SPEAKER_00:I'm so glad you said defence, because that's that's the biggest thing I think that we were all worried about. I think if we can tone in that defence, then well, we already know we score a lot more tries than anyone else. So if we can get that defence right, I think we're happy.
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, exactly that. And and you know, defensive work it is about system and its basics and it's it's aggressiveness coming off the line. But uh a lot of our work in pre-season has been around tightening up in defence. Like it's it's no surprise to anyone that uh defensively we shipped points last year. Actually, our um our defense at set piece was was excellent. Um our set piece percentage success was was very strong. And as you've just alluded to, in attack we were uh electrifying. So there's there's there's small bits of our game that we we constantly need to improve and work on, but uh we've got a good group of boys and we've got a good group of coaches that have been together for a long time. And uh I think that if if a few things obviously need to go our way next season and there's there's key players that that need to be available, but I think that we can um we can compete with anyone in the competition.
SPEAKER_03:I've got a little question on the back of that is because you said that you kind of you've seen a bit of pre-season, it's like I mean, I presume your office is at the at the HPC. That's right. I mean, do you kind of do you nip out like at 10 o'clock have a little look and see how the lads are getting on? And because I I mean, does and and I mean obviously you and Pat must have a very good relationship, but does he get a bit touchy if he sees the kind of uh the hierarchy sort of standing with a clipboard by the side of the bit? I don't know. I I've I'm kind of interested in like your working day, really.
SPEAKER_04:Like, you know, do you feel like you've got to sort of just keep a little bit of a so so my my office and Pat's office is essentially uh has adjoining doors, so it's revolving, so we're evolving, so we're so we're very close. And yeah, look, the um I'll often nip out onto the balcony and watch a bit of training, and it's funny because pre-season is probably the only time that I watch the boys with a bit of envy because the sun's out the HPC's beautiful surface, they're they're running around playing condition games. It's when it gets to the middle of winter and it's brutally cold, and I'm like, no, no, that's I assume you haven't gone to Portugal because you're you're here with us, are you Tom? No, we went to G we had a team building weekend in Guernsey, yeah. Uh where we were fortunate enough to spend some time with with Steve and Maggie and the Lansdowne family and and um meet everyone on the island, which was wonderful. And then the team have been in g uh been in Portugal this week. Uh they arrived back on Friday, and we go straight into Prem Cup next week against Sale, which will um as all Prem teams will be treating it as as part of our preseason routine going into that Leicester game.
SPEAKER_03:Sorry, I've just got another uh image just come to my mind of you on the balcony in the middle of winter. Please tell me you don't wear a dry robe watching watching the guys.
SPEAKER_00:If you do, the interview is over.
SPEAKER_04:Dry robe and I've got sweet Caroline. Yeah I I you know all the references, that's good.
SPEAKER_03:A cockapoo? Yeah by any chance?
SPEAKER_01:No, no, no. And a Tesla? No, no, right, let's just move on. I guess off the back of that, very quick, you know, a fans might not appreciate. We've got the CEO on. Um just briefly, you know, what does your role involve? You know, for to listeners, if like, who the earth is Tom Townsend? What does he do? And he's got this office next to Pat, you know.
SPEAKER_04:So um, so so so I'm essentially responsible for the the day-to-day operations, um, strategic vision of the business. Um, so that's across ticketing, commercial, uh, marketing. Um, I work closely with the performance department around recruitment. We have a um what we call the contract committee. So um that's myself, uh Geffen Watts, who's our head of recruitment, uh Pat as director of rugby, and Stu, who's Geffen's senior recruitment manager, and Pat Rodden, our head of finance, and we meet once a week and we talk through players and retention and and where there might be opportunities on the market. Uh, and what's really, really important, and I know we'll talk about Lewis Reese Sammit uh later in the uh in the conversation, but it was exemplified there. You need to have a really symbiotic relationship between your performance and operations departments because sport is so reactive and can be really fluid. So you've got to be able to um you've got to be able to liaise quickly and efficiently. Um so like an average, an average day, lots of meetings, lots of planning, because of the nature of our business as part of the wider Bristol Sport Group, there's uh there's a lot of external stakeholders that are based down at the stadium. Um as I'm sure you guys are aware, there's always conversations ongoing about food and beverage and retail and hospitality and uh all go on television. All the various bits and pieces about um about running a uh a business in in sport, but the the data tells us that we're in a we're in a positive place. Our our crowds are going up, the the our audience is is getting younger. Um however, you know, we can't really sit here and pat ourselves on the back if we're averaging 21,000 because it means there's 5,000 empty seats every week, and that's a million quid of revenue on the table every year, but that's 5,000 fans and um and people across the city and the region who have yet to discover why rugby is so important and why Bristol Bears can be so impactful in the community. So, really, that's in in a nutshell, that's my job to help to grow that game.
SPEAKER_03:And just I have one quick question. So you've got you're right next to Pat, you've got a doorway. Who line manages who? Or is it a separate we we um so guess the coffees in?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, yeah. Well, no one wants my coffees, I can tell you that. Uh we uh we we both answer to the board. So we both answer to the board and we answer to ultimately to Steve Lansdown. Cool.
SPEAKER_00:Lee. Well, I was just gonna say that's great that you have that relationship with Pat as well. Um I kind of lost my train of thought a little bit, sorry, mate. Um you you you I nipped in there.
SPEAKER_03:It was like it was like a it was like what it was a heads-up rugby there. It was like a little offload that I just I was thinking about, I was thinking about like you know, who you're sorry, mate, but go for it. What was it?
SPEAKER_00:I mean, I've just I I don't know. Can Milos, can you ask another question?
SPEAKER_04:Should we ask Tom about it? Yeah, of course something about Pat while we're on the subject. I I I think that particularly last season, and and it's well documented that um we were the the eighth um lowest spenders in in the league last year. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I I and I see obviously the the um what's you know in sport when things are going well, you're a hero, and when things things are are not going so well, then then you're under scrutiny and pressure that that is the nature of professional sport. I do think that Pat deserves a lot of credit for how he has turned round that group in the last 18 months uh to play the brand of rugby that we do and to um win the games that we have. And uh we'll all acknowledge that we're we're not perfect and there's that next step to go, but I think that the foundations that have been set, that we're all sat around the table as as um custodians of a rugby club that we've been involved with for a long time and and sat here thinking top four's the the minimum expectation, like it shows how far we've come in a very short space of time. Yeah, I agree.
SPEAKER_00:Yeah, the only one thing I I would interject with that is the only real criticism I like we've had of Pat, not us, but as listeners, was when we deviated after the Quinn's game, the the you know the defeat of none of us want to talk about. Um we played a different brand of rugby. Um and I think that's the only criticism then that that any of us have had from Pat is is just because we played a a completely like we've been sold on a system and a and an ethos, and all of a sudden we were playing something different. And it like definitely the last 18 months we were back to the bear's way of playing. That that kind of deviation, I think, just kind of upset a lot of people.
SPEAKER_03:But I think didn't Tom, I mean, uh you said it was basically the video analyst's fault, wasn't it? Yeah, but all his fault. Yeah, so yeah.
SPEAKER_04:I think you're you're you're right, you're right to note it, and certainly the way we were going prior to COVID, and then obviously after after that semi-final against Harlequins, and and yeah, there were there were two and a half seasons where uh it wasn't the Bears' DNA, and we we perhaps tried to play in a in a certain way that didn't necessarily suit the group of players that we had. But um since we've gone back to basics uh and recognized where the the genuine strengths in our squad are, and that is you know, being fast in transition, attacking, going round, going over, going through teams, uh, I think you see that the players play with a smile on their face, the coaches coach with a smile on their face. And um I I think back to the semi-final against Bath last season, and even though we lost, like um going onto the pitch after the game with with the players, like I was so proud of that group, and I was I would have rather been in the Bristol camp and knowing that we gave it everything than the Bath camp and credit to them. They they did superbly well to go on and win, and they deserve that treble, but they had to resort to uh a box-kicking game, pick and go round the corner to beat us, and and I think that says a lot about our game and our young players.
SPEAKER_03:Just out of interest, where like a game like that, where do you sit at the wreck? Like out of interest. Do they stick you like right under like on the on the big elder like when it's raining?
SPEAKER_04:I'm right in the stand. Right in the stand. Um, yeah, right right in the mix at the wreck.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, it's sad. No, I was I was thought because it there's nowhere to hide there, is there? That's the truth.
SPEAKER_00:How is that, Tom?
SPEAKER_04:I'm I'm I'm actually my um my wife winces when she comes to games because I'm terrible to watch games with.
SPEAKER_01:Thank goodness.
SPEAKER_04:I thought you were gonna say she was a bath fan for a minute, so I'm jumping up and down, I'm I'm pacing, I'm pacing. I would rather um not go to the game and someone just texts me the score. It's exactly our same. I know how much it means and I know how hard everyone has worked. And when we when we do lose or when we have a bad result, I can guarantee you that all of the staff and players, however bad the fans are feeling, the staff and players are feeling ten times worse. So it means so much to us.
SPEAKER_00:And we we know that as well. Yeah, absolutely. I think we should should we look at the show.
SPEAKER_01:Can we look move along maybe season ahead, more than season ahead? I mean, uh you you talked about you know gaps in Ashton Gate, fan base, and I just wondered really how you know how do we fill Ashton Gate? Are there any innovations? You used to be obviously the media manager. Um what are the club doing to try and fill Ashton Gate? Any new new innovations or prospects about getting fans on seats?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, absolutely. So fan engagement and tech is is a big part of of what we are continuing to do. Um, you'll have seen that we run themed match days, um, which have been proven to be really successful, and it's helped us to tap into different communities. And I think that something that has really been prevalent for me is that there are huge swathes of the the city and communities that don't even know rugby, let alone know Bristol Bears. And I think that there is a massive opportunity to talk to different audiences. Rugby's kind of got in its own way a little bit uh in in the past, but what I would say is that the the new Prem Rugby executive uh and the alignment at league level and that governance and control is is so much better than it's ever been. So I think there is now a concerted group effort to try and bring rugby to a wider audience. You'll you'll see the innovations on TNT. I think the broadcaster do games very, very well. I think that Ashton Gate remains um one of if not the best match day um in this in the season. And obviously I know that it it divided opinion, but but big day out was a um was a it was a it was a successful event, and I think big day out put bears on the map in a sense, and it and it showed people that this is a club that um can bring real energy to to the big stage and to to get 51,000 supporters to an event would have been unheard of when I started. We were averaging 5,000 fans. So uh I I think that there is a long way for us to go, but a lot of it is around how we how we talk to our audiences, how we engage with them, uh, but that fan experience is is paramount because also we live in a fantastic city, we're all super proud of Bristol, and there's so many competing factors in entertainment and theatre and lots of things to do with the kids. So it can't just be a game of rugby anymore. You have to be able to come down, have locally sourced food and drink, spend some time with friends, know that it's safe and inclusive for your family, and also watch a game of rugby at the end of it. So um that's a huge part of our mantra and what we do day to day.
SPEAKER_03:We'll go to big day out, that was on our agenda, but let's we'll go straight there now. So we there was a little bit of division in the pod about big day. I'm well aware. Yeah. So Miles and me.
SPEAKER_01:Two-thirds of us went.
SPEAKER_02:Loved it.
SPEAKER_00:My and my boys in the back. Yeah.
SPEAKER_02:So I'm gonna have five cans in front of me. I'm about to open another one.
SPEAKER_00:Tom, could you throw one of these over this one?
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, let's get sort of get beers in.
SPEAKER_01:Well, we're not a larger drinker, Tom, we better see. Let's get ready for big day out.
SPEAKER_04:You tell me what's one.
SPEAKER_03:No, that's fine.
SPEAKER_00:I love this. Right. Can we do a ring four together, Tom? Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:Three, two, one, one. Yeah, like it. Lotely. No crisps, though. Right. So big day out. Miles and me embraced it. Like, we we got over the whole it's not a home game in another country thing. And we kind of got over the it's only 12 quid on the train sort of thing. And we had one of the best days of our life. I've got to say, it was a fantastic day.
SPEAKER_01:You got two children after them was the best day of your lives. I mean, like you've got a flat.
SPEAKER_03:Actually, dead Tom, to be fair, it wasn't, yeah, you've got to remember that. Remember the birthday, man. The first day. But the point I was trying to say, it was also everything came together that day. It was that the sun was out, they they um uh they closed off all of you know Cardiff. It was it was brilliant, it was a fantastic day. And then we found us I don't know if you saw this, but we then I mean, to be fair, five pints down, found ourselves right at the begin at the front of when all the players walked through. And we know Rich Berry quite well. Um, and I was taking pictures of him with Brizzly Powers, suddenly all the players then embarrassingly, embarrassingly. I was like, my boys, as they're going past, and it was but that just kind of capped, that was part of the whole day. Now, and it was a brilliant, and and obviously we won, uh, which was was obviously you as a as the you know needed that to happen, we won it. Um so we were very I mean we did queue, I've got to say we did queue for about an hour and a half to get home on the train, but it was still kind of fun. Lee has your problem, no, no, so we had a big debate in the pod about it. We I mean we went for it.
SPEAKER_00:Um and I think you'll you may come back on a few things, but I mean I I feel like Lee, you need to ask Tom, you know, give your opinion on the I mean I was against it in principle because uh of the way that the club had actually dealt with it because I felt that we'd we'd already got season ticket orders on board, um, wasn't mentioned at all at that point and then it was added on. So exactly what you just said about like BS3. Um yeah, we got everything in the local community. I know what you're trying to do in terms of being inventive and innovative, and I love that. I do love that, but I feel that the club could have could have done it a slightly different way, been more transparent, uh, was was my thing. You boys had a lovely day out. I felt like it was taken away from the local community for a for a game, especially when people have already signed up for their season tickets, you know, and they they wanted to come to BS3, and all of a sudden you're asking them to go to Coradiff. Um having said that for next season, it's all been transparent and we know exactly what we're doing, and and I'm I'm you know, I'm I'm all in for that. Um you said you're all in. That came on top of obviously moving people from the safe stand and and I kind of feel like we're all in the same boat, and you know, we're all sat around this table and we all have one collective goal, and that's for Bristol Bears to be successful. Um I feel mistakes have been made, you know, over the last probably 12 months. But I do feel actually, looking you in the eye, I do feel like we're we're kind of we're on the same page now, we're rectifying these mistakes. I absolutely love the fact that you've owned up and said, you know, we we have made mistakes, and that's that's huge, I think. Um and I and I feel next season or this season it will be completely different. My one worry is that it's against what Gloucester.
SPEAKER_03:No Queen's Queen's arm.
SPEAKER_00:That's exactly my point because I feel it should have been against Gloucester.
SPEAKER_03:I don't think it was there for well. But Tom will tell us about it.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, you're right. I I think you'll probably tell us about this, but I think funnily enough, we all expected Gloucester and Gloucester Hartby women, who do we'd add, you know. A fantastic rivalry against, and I'm not gonna deny I was slightly disappointed to find out it was Quinn's. But perhaps tell us how that came about, or were your hands tied a little bit about the the the team?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, so so so firstly to your point I and and thank you for raising it, and I and I completely respect where you're coming from and and and I validate your point because there was it was a bit of a perfect storm over the last two years in that the safest stand move um it was disruptive. Uh the reality was we we didn't have a choice, it was almost a bit of a pulling off the band-aid. The reason that we had to relocate um the fans from the upper tier down into the lower tier was because we wanted to, we felt it was really important to create that full lower bowl atmosphere. And you've probably seen last season the number of times we've been able to open the attio, it has genuinely enhanced the matchday experience. Yeah, that's been great. Uh and and I think you're you're right to to note the the big day out point around when it did go out. And it we had some challenges around when contracts were signed and there were some NDAs and there were things that couldn't be said, but I completely take that on board. What I would say um before we sort of talk about the mechanics of big day out, and I'm genuinely interested to uh to hear your opinion. You you know, you guys are um knowledgeable about the club and and you you articulate where things have gone well and and where perhaps things can be better on a week-to-week basis. So the the the commercial realities of running a rugby club, right? So we want a team that can compete at the top level, so therefore you need to invest in your team. By the same token, we want to have a season ticket and a match day ticket price that is competitive, that allows us to grow the game and and and not put people off. So we're we're trying to balance uh something that's a bit of a paradox. We want the best players, but we want to be able to give fans um the best value season ticket in the league, which we do year on year. Um so uh we have to find a way to plug this this um this shortfall. You know, it's uh when Steve Lansdowne isn't gonna be around forever, and what Steve and the Lansdowne family have done for um not just Bristol Bears but sport in Bristol is absolutely incredible. And you know, he he is personally funding the club to the tune of two to three million pounds a year. So we have to find every possible avenue to to try and grow revenue and uh taking a game to um the principality and the the the simple mathematics of it of a sellout crowd at Ashton Gate at 26,000 or 51,000 um customers that supporters, paying customers, whatever you want to call them, uh uh the principality. But like there is a there is a clear commercial benefit to us taking that game. Can I just interject? Yeah. How much was that benefit? Uh with without going into specifics, it would be uh significantly more than our biggest game at Ashton Gate. Significantly more. So my question to you guys would be like, what what what would you and it's an interesting debate, what would you do? Like where where is the like would you increase ticket prices? Like because what we have to stay competitive. So you don't want you wouldn't want a game across the across the bridge, and I totally respect and understand that. So what are the levers that we can pull to really grow revenue?
SPEAKER_03:So I I I just to clarify, so because there's a lot of debate on forums and things like people saying how can you make money? So I presumably the way it works is that that the WIU like you know gave you a price for the stadium, and then you sell the tickets, and then I mean I presume did we make any money out of the the the food and drink and stuff like that?
SPEAKER_04:So we had a profit share agreement where it was just a percentage split.
SPEAKER_03:And I think it's very clear because there was a lot of there was a lot of debate, and I'm sure you see it because you look at the forums that you know people are saying a lot of unevident stuff about, you know, but how can they make money because blah blah blah. Now I've always thought, well, you just have to kind of, you know, we don't know. Well yeah, because it's interesting that you're saying that.
SPEAKER_04:But I get it, and I think when I think supporters are and have found that we're all passionate about Bristol, and we're all passionate about the Bears, and and the supporters that were upset about a game in Cardiff had I wasn't I was never looking at those comments and thinking that that was an unjust view. They have every right to feel how they feel about their rugby club. All I can say is out of full transparency, look, the realities are was it commercially successful for the club? Absolutely, and it was significantly, and we'd expect it to be the same again. And is this one of the levers that helps us grow the game and increase our revenue? It it does. And I don't want to be in a position where we're saying it's 15-20% increase on season tickets and match tickets because that's not who we are as a business.
SPEAKER_03:I think I I think that's fair. I appreciate your honesty on that. But I have a supplementary question on that is going back to Lewis Ree Summit, which we talked about. I mean, re- I know that I presume that kind of happened quite quickly. He made that announcement. Suddenly, a lot of premiership clubs, I imagine, we're start we're like re-looking at their budgets, their recruitment. Was the factor, the the Welsh factor, something in that, the fact that we could then, even if it's for a year, on the back of the success of the uh the big day out, by signing Lewis Re Summit, and I have no idea obviously what what money or whatever, and I wouldn't know I wouldn't even ask you that. That there was a thought that that actually might also pump or promote a few Welsh fans from Cardiff to come over to Bristol to watch home games.
SPEAKER_04:Well, absolutely. Look, we we we saw the benefit of Alona Ma last year on the women's side and the impact that she had. Uh the players like Lewis and opportunities like Lewis are are rare in sport because Lewis transcends rugby, he ha he has a genuine audience, and it also helps that he's a fantastic player, like he's a British and Irish liar.
SPEAKER_03:He's a genuine world-class player, I mean that's the thing.
SPEAKER_04:So when the opportunity to uh to to to certainly to put put our best foot forward and try and get Lewis, like we knew that absolutely he was going to add value to us on the pitch, and first and foremost, that is the priority. Like, we would never sign a player to be this kind of celebrity commercial vehicle, they have to contribute, but it absolutely helped that he comes with such excitement. And the night that we announced him, he was wearing the classic white band we sold out in uh overnight online. Is there is S stock available still?
SPEAKER_00:Well, we we do need to ticket. We've got so many things. Luckily, we've got enough ears for it.
SPEAKER_04:This is a proper lock in, we're gonna be up till that too late. It could be like a five-hour pod. And we sold um we sold uh a good number of season tickets overnight as well. And yeah, we've we've seen interest on the Welsh side of the bridge. Um and the the the principality game, um, to go to go back to Big Dat, it it it genuinely isn't some sort of malevolent plan to capture Welsh audiences. It's you'll have seen with the Premiership rugby strategy, the big game strategy, and the reason why Gloucester wasn't a possibility for us this year is because they've taken a game to uh Villa Park against the on the same day. Yeah. Um so you know, one o'clock kickoff at Villa Park against Leicester Tigers, we've got the the 330 slot, uh the 305 slot. So I think that there is a there is a push from the league to there's a push from the broadcaster to create these these big events and the proximity to Cardiff, I totally understand. It's it's it's um it's not in Bristol, but the proximity to have a stadium of the the the size and quality of the principality and the experience that we were able to give to to supporters, Bath and Bristol, who travelled, and this time around, we're gonna we're gonna do it even better. There's a double header, but we're gonna have live music and entertainment in the streets, it's gonna be like a real carnival atmosphere, and I want people to come and feel like it's a full bears takeover for one day.
SPEAKER_00:And yeah, it's and I I should say Tom as well. I mean, it did transcend Devon as well, because my mate Paddy uh he came up from Devon, didn't he? Yeah, Chiefs fan from Columptham Rugby Club.
SPEAKER_03:They're uh you know and my mate, my mate Carl Bennett, they were in the same coach. That was the weirdest thing.
SPEAKER_00:So yeah, it I mean it did transcend yeah, not just Bristol, it it was you know, they all came up 60 of them on a coach. Absolutely. And they loved it.
SPEAKER_03:Well, it would just we'd like we'd like it.
SPEAKER_01:I'd like to just uh add to Pete. I'm uh put fully take my hat off to the success of Big Day Out, and I'm gonna give the club and you and everyone a huge pat on the back. The weather helped a lot, there were beers flowing, and I'm not gonna die that, but I thought that the the fans who made it there, I agree that was potentially one of the best. You could say, call it a home, call it an away game. It was one of the most successful, enjoyable games I have been to for many a year. The closing off street, the the the choice of the stadium. Well, let's forget the transport because that's about it.
SPEAKER_03:Did you, Tom, did you know that we got on ITV as well for that? We were I love we've we've got a nice relationship with the uh the those Premier Highlight boys, and we it was a disgrace.
SPEAKER_01:That was I I totally see where you're coming from as a club. You know, the London clubs have been doing this for a number of years, haven't they? The Quinn, the um the Saracens, they're taking over the big stadiums in London. And you're right, we haven't got that stadium large enough in Bristol, and Cardiff is not that that far away. And I would just encourage fans next year.
SPEAKER_03:Miles, are you trying to get a job for Tommy?
SPEAKER_00:Wait a minute, Marcus. It's been announced. I'm taking you to task. We haven't we haven't got a stadium big enough. We've got 26,000 stadium, but it would okay in Bristol.
SPEAKER_01:But as Tom as Tom alluded to, we filled 51,000 seats. Yeah, right.
SPEAKER_03:And so do you get I think we uh I reckon we need to draw big day out.
SPEAKER_01:So we are we are I think Pete and I at least are thoroughly looking forward to the event and Lee potentially next season. So I put to premiere in the case.
SPEAKER_00:If Lee comes, I want to see the picture outside part of south and Lee is there's on that note, on that note, and I know you are very left field, and I know you've really progressive, and I love that. What's what's next? Apart from Gloucester, let's because I know you you you wouldn't just be seeing next season, this season, you'll be you'll be thinking in the future. I know you're a big NFL fan as well. By the way, what what team do you support?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I'm uh I'm a Jets fan. So we have this debate. Because right now we're playing the Steelers.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so can I just interject? Interject, yeah, because I have I'm not an NFL. Apologies. No, neither am I. Can I make the joke? Like, Tony, you know, TC used to be, he was like, what is he? I don't know. And I used to say, Oh, what part of like Miami did you grow up in then? Or what uh what part of Cleveland have you come from?
SPEAKER_00:I've loved jets since Chad Pennington was throwing his. No, I don't even know what you're talking about. I know.
SPEAKER_03:But I do know I have seen stuff on YouTube of those massive student like NFL games, and he is mental.
SPEAKER_04:And Sandman, enter Sandman, American sports do the fan experience piece really well, which is which uh you know, I I'm I'm a student of the game, I enjoy it. I I'm fascinated by the um by the commercial machinations of of of live sport, and I think that the the US has a has an attitude to sport that it is entertainment first. So to answer your question, like what next for the Bears? Well, we feel like the sky's the limit. We've got a we've got a great community, we've got uh an unbelievable group of combination clubs that are passionate about rugby. I'd love to see us take the game um overseas. I think that there are huge opportunities um in different hemispheres. I think that's a long-term aspirational goal for both us and and the premiership. It'll be interesting to see what happens uh post-2028 with the Club World Cup and all of the conversations that are happening around the league. But um when it comes to change or when it comes to innovation, like we want bears to be at the forefront of that.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:So we we want to be seen as a club that is willing to take risks, and as we've said, not not always get things right. But if we were sat here as a as a four or five years from now, and we've gone through the premiership seasons and we've played Northampton and we've played Gloucester and all that, then then I've failed at my job. Like the the job really is twofold. It's to grow the game and it's to create and support the performance guys in in a in creating a squad that can win. Because winning ultimately leaves the legacy. If we win silverware, that's the quickest way for us to to grow the game.
SPEAKER_03:Right. When when we won the European Challenge Cup, Miles was in a trolley, an Asda trolley, being pushed, sorry, being pushed home by Lee in a Pram. So that's the sort of level that we've got so it is overdue. I would just like to say the premiership title or the European Champions Cup. I fear that there could be like uproar in Southville of uh Miles in. Well, being pushed home from Chuckingham back to Bristol, potentially.
SPEAKER_04:And why not?
SPEAKER_03:And that that is you've got to remember that. That has got to be your on your wall that we need to win the premiership to see what what sort of vehicle Miles will be in. Tom Dr.
SPEAKER_00:on his way home. Can you remember when Kansas Chiefs won the Super Bowl and the the mayhem that that was caused after that? Imagine the streets of the streets of Samurai like that.
SPEAKER_03:Right, I I've got a quick question. So joking aside uh for fan engagement. And and and again, I know you famously have been in the press. I know you did a di thing in the the uh telegraph 2022, so I did my research, uh, where you were but it was a great article with Charlie Morgan talking about you know why should people not boo when it's kicking and all this sort of stuff. And I I think it's it's brilliant. So here's my question for you look alike eCam, SimbaCam, WaveCam, rank them in order, please.
SPEAKER_04:Okay, so I my I love SimbaCam. You do now, you try to get I'll tell you what, Tom, trying to lift miles up on CyberCam is a nightmare. I what all joking aside, I I think that what I don't want to be seen as is a is a guy that is is constantly parroting about young audiences and new audiences because there is there is a huge swathe of extremely well educated and knowledgeable Bristol fans that have been around for a long time that know the game, are passionate about the game and want to enjoy the game. And and I sense that when we rebranded, there was there was perhaps a feeling that that group was being pushed aside because the club only had eyes for this new vision of audience. That's absolutely not the case. Like we need to, and I th and I think we have done a better job of striking an appropriate balance between what what is appealing and compelling to families, family day, combination day, etc. But equally what what the the true Dyed in the Wool Bristol fan wants to see, and ultimately that is I want to have a good beer, I don't want to cue too long, and I want to watch a team that can compete. So Simba Cam, I know uh I I'm sure there's a few people that wince when it comes up, but equally, you see how many people are lifting their kids up and laughing and filming the big screen.
SPEAKER_03:So I should come to out of all out of okay, because we love look at Likey Cam. But there are like I don't know. I don't know, I feel like I'm putting you on the spot. Because there's been uh I don't know, maybe two or three, three, four over the season last year. Like, what was your and fact they in fact, no, it was yeah, what was your favourite one? Oh wow, you are putting me on the spot because I know mine, but I'm gonna ask you what your favourite one is I do you know what?
SPEAKER_04:I can't remember. I bear I barely focus on anything.
SPEAKER_00:I feel it's a bit of a harsh one because you have pacing up in the end.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, because you're okay. I mean, Miles, I mean, when we played Australia, I'm pretty sure there was Dame Edna Everidge classic. That was a kid. John Lennon. But there was John Lennon. John Lennon was the best ever. But I've got to say, and and if they I don't know if it's is if they're under your um remit, but the last one they had, they had Bob the Builder, but it was a guy that was dressed as Bob the Builder. That's not the same. He must have been too. I think that was a very cheap look-alikey cam. So just a bit of feedback, just a bit of feedback for the look-of-likey cam department. They've got to find someone that likely isn't dressed up as somebody, but anyway.
SPEAKER_00:And on a different note, where's Brisney Tom?
SPEAKER_02:Oh, Brisney's feet there. Yeah, yeah, he's Brisney's on fire.
SPEAKER_00:We missed him for a few minutes. No, no, he's messed up. He's he's definitely there.
SPEAKER_03:More importantly, why is he not doing one-arm press-ups? And I think you've got yeah, maybe that I can't let me for.
SPEAKER_01:Can I ask a question, Pete? Serious question. So you talk about growing the game, we talked about big day out, potentially going abroad in the future, and and we've done remarkably well as a thing as a club and innovation through to hopefully yourself. You know, we had South Africa in 2023, we had I I and let's not beat around the bush, a rather dismal game against Australia, C's and and a B team in 2024. We've got fantastically the Pumas in 2025. Uh Pete will ask this, can we ever expect New Zealand in 2026?
SPEAKER_04:Well, that would be the um that would be the big one. Like the the the way that it works with these exhibition uh games is the international touring sides that come over in November, you sort of have to you have to bid for for the teams. And obviously, uh being able to have a an all blacks or a New Zealand Maori side at Ashton Gate would just be incredible. South Africa set the tone. The second year we actually had the Crusaders, if you guys remember, it was the Crusaders game, it was excellent with the with the hacker. Yeah um I think I think you're right to say Australia was uh Australia was disappointing because even though we got I think we had sixteen and a half thousand, we would have hoped that um we would have we would have got closer to twenty. And then the Queensland Reds game was was bitterly disappointing for um a number of factors around.
SPEAKER_01:I think the team of you know rightly so said that the the the timetabling was hindered them in that on that occasion, didn't they?
SPEAKER_03:And it did, but it's you know I think you you held your hands up. But on the on the other hand, I managed to have a chat with Michael Liner. There's literally no one there, so I just went and chatted to them. So yeah, that was good.
SPEAKER_01:And I commend you've been you've been really transparent this year about the Pumas, that it won't clash with up with other, you know, uh premiership clubs um and cup size, and that's been great.
SPEAKER_04:But yeah, I and sales have started really well for the Argentine. I I just think like Friday night games at Ashton Gate, when you've got an international team, irrespective of whether it's a a first team or a Pumas 15, like you know that Felipe Contapome and those guys are there, there's a bit of colour to it. These are the sort of games that will go down in the scrapbooks and you'll remember them for years to come.
SPEAKER_03:I think, yeah, no, I agree. And and actually it's just reminding me of something, and I've got to put you on the spot because just before I think now hang on, which was it was just before that South Africa game, that was when we had the um November the 5th firework. Spectacular. Now, I don't know whether you remember this. Spectacular! I I need to remind you this because you were on the Jeff Twenyman show, and uh Jeff, who's a obviously a great guy, I was listening, and Jeff asked you about what was going to happen at the the um at the South Africa game, and you gave the full kind of you yeah, big and it was a great thing. And you were saying we're gonna have this, we're gonna have that, and and this had come on the back of obviously, you remember, a relatively damp squid. And and also the fact that anybody sat in the dolman didn't see the the thing. So I actually texted into Jeff during that show. I remember yeah, and Jeff, I knew that he would read it out because he loved us and he read and he said he said, Oh, Pete has just it, and you were like, Oh, it's like brilliant, it sounds great, Tom. But are there are there gonna be fireworks? And so my qu and I I appreciate you took it very well because it was a bit cheeky. I've got to say, it was quite cheeky because I knew Jeff would read it out. But my point, actually, my point is is um, so if there are fireworks, are they gonna come off the landsdown as well?
SPEAKER_04:Yeah, look, again, we're when we're we when we talk about trying to be innovative, uh, a lot of the stars have to align for everything to know. I know, and it was a terrible night. It was a terrible night. I think, yeah, we ran them off the dolman when we were meant to run them off both the dolman and the attio. So yeah, I think we also lost in a really terrible game that day, like Max Malin scored from halfway. So yeah, one to forget.
SPEAKER_03:But you know, as fans, we love that sort of thing. We absolutely loved moaning about that. It was like it gets my goat for about a year.
SPEAKER_04:Fireworks, Bobble Gate. Oh, well, Bobble Gate.
SPEAKER_03:Well, we see we reckon we might have even started Bubblegate, although you did start bubblegate, yeah. You did, yeah.
unknown:Yeah.
SPEAKER_04:I remember it vividly, yeah. In the early days, that was season one, I think.
SPEAKER_03:That was very early. But anyway, I mean, yeah, that was uh it I we we appreciate it. Is there a lot of as you rightly say, there's a lot of things that have to come together for things. Lee, you had a question.
SPEAKER_00:Right. My question is, Tom. This is a serious question. When is the home shirt gonna be available? Because I'm going to Malta on Thursday morning, right? Is there any way you can swing it that I can I would love to be wearing the new shirt in Malta, sat on the old lunge the sunbed, and representing Bristol Bears.
SPEAKER_04:Well, I'll give you some I'll give you some breaking news for your podcast. Uh, we're we're launching the home shirt on Tuesday evening, and it'll be available for pre-order, and I think fans are gonna really like it. Okay.
SPEAKER_00:Wait, I was talking about me, though, Tom. Where'd you fly?
SPEAKER_04:I will make sure one's personally packaged and FedExed over to Valletta.
SPEAKER_00:All right, can you give us any more information? Is it gonna be hoops traditional? You're gonna have to wait and see. It's not long to wait, is it?
SPEAKER_04:You're you're gonna like it. It's okay, it's again, it's an it's another nod to a shirt and a style that that is iconic for for Bristol.
SPEAKER_03:Dang, that means we've got to get this pod out before Tuesday. No pressure on the edit. Um I mean, I don't know, boys. We've I'm just looking at me uh timing.
SPEAKER_01:A little bit of a question off the back of that. Sorry, I nipped on the back. Quick question that's a thought. Quick question.
SPEAKER_03:Can you do one more and then we'll have so I've got very, very short number of quick fires, Tom. We like a quickfire, and then maybe that will wrap it up.
SPEAKER_01:So I guess off the back of the sort of shirt. I'd just sorry, I didn't know what you answer, but I gather Pete's holiday might be just listeners. Miles went to the toilet. Can I just say that the only people that haven't gone to the toilet so far is Tom and myself. Absolutely. Anyway, let's move on. So I guess regarding the kit, the shop, how much, you know, fans want to how much influence do you, Bristol rugby, have over Bristol sport? You you you you cannot, I guess, shy away from the disappointments, the moanings from fans on a weekly basis about the kit shop, let's not deny some of the faux pas that have been made in the past. Can you assure fans that moving forward things are going to get better?
SPEAKER_04:Well, it'd be very easy for me to sit here and say that um retail sits within Bristol Sport and it's it's not a club issue, but actually like we have to we have to start taking accountability because that retail represents our brand. And I hope you guys have seen that even over the last um over the last six six to eight weeks we've introduced some of the classic leisureware lines. Yeah, yeah. Um there's going to be a lot more variety to to the ranges in in store. It's not perfect and it absolutely needs to improve. Uh and I and I appreciate that there has been um some frustrations for supporters. Um but we are we are working much more closely now with um with the retail unit at Bristol Sport because it has to be better and and not just there, both with our with our cues around concourses, um options and concessions, us working really closely with Ashton Gate to to provide a a great product. Like it's um it's a work in progress, but we are 100% committed to making it better. Okay.
SPEAKER_01:Thank you. I think that's all for sort of listers of fans. Miles is happy. I I'm happy that's uh we'll come back in a year's time if it hasn't improved.
SPEAKER_03:I think I feel Tom, we've I'm I'm looking at my um clock with 53 minutes we've done. And that's that we really appreciate that.
SPEAKER_00:The baby's gonna be waiting back.
SPEAKER_03:Actually, Tom's like, no, do another 53, that's fine. So actually, your wife has just rugged me and said he's expected home quite soon. So we have some quick fires. It's probably a bit harsh on you because these are like random ones that I've come up with.
SPEAKER_04:Okay, go.
SPEAKER_03:And I if you can't answer it, you can pass. Okay. So, first one. You've said famously in that 2022 article that you you fans should be allowed to boo kicks. If you had the power to scrap or reinvent one other long-standing rugby tradition, what would it be and why?
SPEAKER_04:Uh oh goodness me, good question. Uh I would end the um like reset scrum. Yeah. I'll just go straight in. Like it. No reset on my life.
SPEAKER_03:I think I think that has you've played to the crowd there. He's played to the audience, hasn't he? Apart from those like 35 stones. Oh, no, anyway, you've played with it. Right, second one. Um you have talked famously in the same article. Talked about uh rugby needing to embrace show business. Um if the Bears were putting on a Netflix and other obviously streaming companies are available, Netflix documentary tomorrow, what storyline or character would be in the headline?
SPEAKER_04:I think it's gotta be, I think it would be Maxwell Heathwood. Obviously.
SPEAKER_03:That was a trick question because if you didn't say it, right, we'd worry.
SPEAKER_04:Even with all the Stardust on display, Maxwell Heath would find a way to come to the four point.
SPEAKER_03:Um okay, this is funny. One, if you gave your supporters, your seasoned card holders, uh, control for one home game from music to match day experience, what do you think would happen? I think it would be anarchy. Yeah, I like it. That'd be running on the pitch. That that you wouldn't like that at all, would you? That'd be like pitch invasions.
SPEAKER_00:I think that'd be pitchful. It'd be like six sex pistols in a seven eight.
SPEAKER_03:Um okay, you have been bold on social media, not you personally, but the club. Um, even poking fun at rivals down the road. Um, but if you could collaborate with one premiership rugby club on a sort of joint stunt or event, and I and I'm not I don't mean big day out, I mean something else. What would it be and what would you do to kind of generate interest to people who have no idea what rugby's about?
SPEAKER_04:I'd love to do a um some sort of joint unveil, some sort of joint player unveiling with one of the really progressive clubs. Saracens are very good, Harlequins are very good. There's a number of clubs now that are understanding their digital much better than the past.
SPEAKER_03:And I think I think it's fair to say we would all agree that we have been, or you, I don't say we, we've done nothing, but you have been the innovators for social media in the last few years. And I think there's been some absolute classics. Um and I think other rugby clubs, I guess, they ring you up and say, Tom, what are you doing? Like, did we can like piggyback on top of you? Um final question. And this I'm gonna I'm gonna tag something on. Oh, hang on, because my final question is like a really nice wrap-up, so I think you need to do your work.
SPEAKER_01:This is a bit of a final question. Uh and from my point of view, 10 teams in the league. How are we gonna grow the number of the teams? Who's gonna join and when? I I understand your position, Tom. I fully get that. But the the league in itself, a lot of fans is broken. When can we see a 12, 13, 14 team league in this league?
SPEAKER_04:I I think that's a great question, and and naturally that's something that uh the the clubs and the league are talking about a lot at the moment. Uh, there's obviously you've seen in the news there's there's talk about franchising, um, there's conversations around what happens with the the regions in in Wales and and the possibility of an Anglo-Welsh competition in the future. Um to be completely transparent, there isn't really a definitive direction yet. Um But I think there is a recognition that we we need more teams competing at the highest level. The unfortunate reality is that arguably in the second tier in the championship, there isn't a team that's ready made oven baked that has the ability to step up. I think we understand that. Um so we're we're not quite there yet with with you know a a a team or an organisation that's that's sort of nipping at the heels to join the uh to join Prem Rugby. It'll be really interesting to see what happens in Wales and and how that develops. Over the next couple of years, but um certainly for the short term, and when I say short term, I mean the the three-year cycle of the broadcast deal, and with Prem Rugby with the new rebrand, it's in a it's in a solid place. So uh it will be a league that is um compelling and and teams will want to join, which is uh a complete shift from where it was perhaps a couple of years ago.
SPEAKER_03:Right then. Unless I have one, I think this is a wrap-up question. Go for it, Pete. Right. So as you've as you've told us, you've relit, you know, you you've had uh your first trial, Otto. Um 20 years' time, Otto is well, you won't be googly, it'll be like speaking into it. Otto, ask AI. Uh tell me uh about the Tainton era at Bristol Bears. What do you think Otto will find? What AI will tell him about what you've achieved as a as a CEO?
SPEAKER_04:Well, I I hope that I'm part of a uh a period for the club where we are successful and we win trophies, that we grow our audience, but ultimately we make people happy and make Bristol fans proud of their club. And um that's continuing to do work in the community, that's providing a platform for young women and girls with our with our women's rugby team and um and just showing that we as an organization care and are are willing to be different. And um I I will just sign off by saying that I think it's podcasts like this and platforms like this that are really, really important. And it's it's a testament to you guys that you've obviously been doing it for so long and you've built an audience, but actually, like this is this is fundamental to the success of the rugby club that there are fans that are willing to challenge, that are interested, that will support when it's right to support and understand what we're trying to do. So we're really grateful to to the podcast and to all the listeners because um, yeah, I've I've said it a number of times tonight, we don't always get everything right, but I can guarantee you that what we are doing, we are trying to do it for the right reasons.
SPEAKER_00:And I just want to add, Tom, I honestly thought you were gonna come here today and give us the corporate spill. And I I don't mean that in a horrible way, but looking you in the eye, and as we're sat around this table, I've got more hope for Bristol Bears' future, and and I know that you're someone who's gonna change the game. Left field thinking, and I and you know what? I love it, I absolutely love it, and I think our listeners will love it as well. So I came here actually thinking you're gonna be in a firing squad, but actually, I think collectively we're all on the same boat at the end of the day. Exactly. We absolutely love the club, exactly. And thank you so much for turning up for us, and we love it. Thank you. Great.
SPEAKER_03:I I think on that note, Lee, I mean, when Lee's got tears in his eyes, I think it's it's time. I think he needs a toilet. I think we need to wrap it because I actually now need it to go to the toilet. But Tom, as we as we said, really appreciate your time and uh and we look forward to uh to seeing what happens in the season ahead. Yeah, thank you very much, Tom. Really appreciate it. Okay, boys. Well, um Tom has now left the building. Uh we we we big thanks to Tom. He he spent over an hour talking to us, and that's fantastic. Uh, we felt as though we needed to just do a little bit more uh just after he'd gone. First thing I'd like to say, and I'm sure you would endorse that, is we are sitting in what feels like a pod studio. Um we've got four new mics, we've got four microstands, we've got a mixer, we've got an amplifier. Uh Lee hasn't got a clue what any of that means. But what is important, and Lee does understand, is that we're still in a pub. Well, we're in a lock-in, but thanks to the generosity of our fans, having having myself done a crowdfunder, we've now got this equipment which is portable. I hope it it gives a little bit more clarity. And I don't know about you boys, but talking to Tom, it it felt like we were kind of growing into the interview because we had serious stuff in front of us.
SPEAKER_00:I mean, to me personally, it felt like you know, back in the day when we're up at uh BBC Studio Jeff Twentiman with Sir Jeff. Yeah, um, yeah, it felt really good. And um, I mean, it's like I could hear Miles like in without crisps. I I love the fact you know, when Miles is talking, he uses his hand. Well, it's like it's like Tony fucking Blair, isn't it?
SPEAKER_03:But obviously that won't come across in uh in no absolute there will be some more follow-up uh to say thank you for all the people that contributed. And the reason we haven't said anything so far is because we weren't sure we would knew how to use it or and whether it was actually it would actually ever happen.
SPEAKER_01:You're right, Pete. I mean I I can see flashing green lights, but we just yet do not know if it's actually recorded.
SPEAKER_03:But we feel confident that something's happened. So one of the things we would announce is for all of those people and who did contribute, and you know who you are out there, we were given James Dunn's European shirt um from the game when he played against Claremont Avurn.
SPEAKER_01:What a game.
SPEAKER_03:Um and as some of you will know, obviously James Dunn helped us review the season. Now, James Dunn gave us his European shirt because, and as he said, it was one of the greatest games he's he's been involved with. And I I can also reveal that I don't think it got washed either.
SPEAKER_00:I I can definitely reveal it didn't get washed, it actually slept at my house. Slapped with it.
SPEAKER_03:So it definitely hasn't been washed. So what I'm gonna do is we're gonna get all the names together and we're gonna do some sort of raffle, and somebody who contributed, one of the the number of people who did, will win Jake Dunn's European shirt.
SPEAKER_00:So we're gonna put all the names in a hat, basically, aren't we?
SPEAKER_03:I like literally I'm gonna write the names out and chop them up and put them in a hat. I'm like literally gonna put our names. I mean, we could do it on a you know, chat GBT or whatever, but I'm gonna literally I think we should film it as well. Should we film it? I think we should we could film it and then it could be our introduction to our brand new launch TikTok.
SPEAKER_00:And and we should say we we really appreciate everyone massively, absolutely give us money and yeah, but well, one thing I will say, it doesn't matter how much you actually invest in into us. The the names all go in the hat. So if you if you like literally invested a fiver or fifty. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03:And also, can I categorically state that Miles, I was in control of the money. Miles didn't get his hands on it to put it in his offshore account in the Cayman Islands.
SPEAKER_00:He wanted to spend it at Fortnum and Mason.
SPEAKER_03:Miles said absolutely for you.
SPEAKER_01:One bar of soap in Fortnum and Mason. Let's face it. No, I just like to reiterate the voice. We really, really appreciate the the crowdfunding that that Pete instigated, fans really generously put together. And dare I say, we may have no more Crisp Gate, Rain Gate, stupid peanut gate.
SPEAKER_03:I think the thing is people quite like that, it's just gonna be a clearer sound.
SPEAKER_00:Pete's saying you can still eat peanuts, Mars.
SPEAKER_03:You can if you want. I mean, we did obviously we did the old uh opening the cans with Mark with Tom just now. So um, right, a couple of things, boys. Uh uh, we haven't got time because we've got to go home. But I mean, we've got one game starting next week. Premiership rugby cup game. We don't really know what the team's gonna be like. It's kind of like a pre-season. The only thing I would say is I went to the um open training session last week, the week before, whatever it was. Yeah, I mean, it was a very gentle training session, I've got to say. I did have a I did see our mate Dunny had a picture with him. I think I sent you that picture. Yeah, yeah. Dunny was like, he was like signing autographs and then he stopped the whole thing. He said, Hang on, boys, just got to wait a minute and came over to me. Little thumbs up, the little photo where you point to each other, classic, then went back to his job. Um, but I I I couldn't really glean much from that, to be honest. Most of the big boys, like the internationals, weren't there. Uh Lewis Reed Samut was there. He I've got to say, he looks like a specimen. He had like he had tanned, because he'd come from Florida.
SPEAKER_01:He's been in Florida.
SPEAKER_03:He had very, very tanned legs, um, as the woman next to me said.
SPEAKER_00:He does look like uh, no offense to you boys, but he does look a little bit like a middle class. Oh, but he's cardic, he's carded.
SPEAKER_03:He shouldn't be middle class, but he did have he's uh yeah, he and he was and what I quite liked about him, he's no airs and graces. Just just seemed to be getting stuck in with the boys. Um they'd a very gentle warm-up.
SPEAKER_01:I mean, we I know I I know Tom alluded to how excited he was about to be. He did say the word eluded as well about the signing, but you know how how excited were we to see that, you know, whether it be a year or or two years or something, we didn't really see that coming, did we? I uh I'm super excited, and I'd like to say that he's already looks to be fully engaged in the club fan engagement. I think it's gonna be a brilliant.
SPEAKER_03:We should also acknowledge two new signings.
SPEAKER_01:So uh some some Tom didn't mention.
SPEAKER_03:Yeah, so we we didn't get around to that, but the talent ID gate day that was done in the summer, which I think maybe some of us thought was a little bit of a PR exercise. Well, they've signed two blokes, two young lads from that. Um and fair play, because uh as you said right in the interview, right at the start, Lee, is that we're gonna rely on local young people, and um, it's good to see the club did actually do something on the back of that talent ID day, and also we should mention I mean, signings-wise, we we got Tom Jordan. I mean, Tom went on about it. Tom Jordan, um I have already forgotten.
SPEAKER_01:Yeah, yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_05:Yeah, yeah, and the big Argentinian ladies.
SPEAKER_03:But also, I think we should recognise we had the two guys, yeah. And uh and who we got? We got the Georgian lad, the uh no, we've got season. Pedro was last season, the Georgian lad, um Max Pepper, and oh there are listeners out there going, how can you not remember it? Anyway, we have had about four points. And also, we should say the two guys from Bucks, the two university guys who look on the YouTube. Mind you, we've been down that route before of people looking good on YouTube, haven't we? Do you remember the old uh TJ Fisher or whatever it was? Yes and the old um the American guy that was uh I can't remember someone will know you can't always rely on YouTube, can you? But anyway, we'll see. So apart from that, boys, I think we're gonna call it a day. We don't really have much to say. And obviously, first proper game of the season, 28, 20, the Sunday Sunday 28, 305 pm. Which annoyingly for us is a Sunday game, which means are we are we gonna do a back are we gonna do a pod straight after that? Yeah, of course we are. Of course we will. Minimal beers, maximum well no, I don't think minimal beers comes into it, Miles. But anyway.
SPEAKER_00:Minimal beers, yeah. Anyway, I think on that note, I think it's the for the waitress. Oh, hang on, Lee. Start of the season, so we're good to go, are we? Yeah, but we're we're in.
SPEAKER_02:We're in, we're in. Yeah.
SPEAKER_00:That's it.
SPEAKER_02:That's it.
SPEAKER_00:Thank you very much, Tom Taton.
SPEAKER_02:Yeah, thanks, Tom, and uh everybody out there, it's been a long time, but have a good week. Stay safe, and one, two, three.
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