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By David Berrie
Thu 23rd March 17
The future of the Road Safety Western Force – the State’s only Super Rugby franchise – is still uncertain, with the possibility of an Australian team cut from the competition being reiterated by SANZAAR last week.
In a bid to secure the team’s future, the Road Safety Western Force today launched the Own the Force Prospectus and is calling upon the community to get behind the team by purchasing shares in the club at www.owntheforce.com.au.
Western Force Owners Limited Chairman Tony Howarth said this was the time for sports fans to get behind the sport and help save the club by buying shares in the club.
In an Australian first, the club’s #owntheforce campaign is offering the public 10,000 A Class Shares for an investment of $1,000 each via a public listed company – Western Force Owners Limited.
Mr Howarth said it was fantastic to see early 5,000 people register their interest to own a share of the club in recent months.
“The support to date has shown the strength of the Western Australian rugby community. Players and the club are thrilled, but now it’s crunch time, and we need more West Aussies to get behind the future of the club,” he said.
Investments will secure the operating licence for the Road Safety Western Force from the Australian Rugby Union.
“Fans will own the club and we’ll have the rights to operate a professional Western Australian team that can participate in the Super Rugby competition,” Mr Howarth said.
The Road Safety Western Force kicked off the 2017 season with a solid start – winning one out of their three games. To secure the future of the Western Force and play a part in Australian sporting history, purchase shares at www.owntheforce.com.au
The new ownership is based on the sale of ownership certificates at a value of $1,000 each, payable over a period of twelve months. Unlike stocks or shares, the certificates would not be transferrable except to family members. Owners would be entitled to a range of benefits including:
•Voting rights to an advisory committee and the new Road Safety Western Force board of management,
•Approval of the reappointment of key positions within the Road Safety Western Force organisation,
•Input into match day and team activities and specific owner’s functions, and
•A range of discounts on both Western Force membership purchases and Rugby WA player registration fees.
The #owntheforce model is based on community ownership principals, which have been put in place to great success at FC Barcelona soccer club (the second most valuable sports team in the world) and the Green Bay Packers, the American football team who have won more Super Bowls than any other team in NFL history.
People power was a key factor in Rugby WA and the Road Safety Western Force being awarded their Super Rugby franchise in 2004. Additionally, the team has enjoyed significant support from the WA Government including investment in the upgrades at the team’s home ground at nib Stadium, and the building of a world-class training centre in Floreat that is utilised by many other sporting codes.
https://www.westernforce.com.au/arti...paign-launched