Rugby club Plymouth Albion lost £150,000 when the coronavirus lockdown scuppered corporate bookings but is ready to start hosting events again – when it is allowed too.
The club’s commercial manager, former pro-rugby player Chris Bentley, said Albion has the wherewithal to start earning money from lucrative corporate events, but needs “a road map” from the Government.
The RFU is looking at bringing back matches from October 3 at the earliest, and Prime Minister Boris Johnson has conferences and exhibitions can begin on October 1.
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But there is no certainty about when businesses such as Albion can begin to host black-tie and other corporate events, or even other events such as weddings and parties, in its marquees.
It means the National League 1 club is in limbo and Mr Bentley said: “The challenge we have is complete uncertainty. We can’t do events of conferencing, which is very much part of the business.
“We are keen to be self sustaining and our plans are looking good, but we do need a road map, we need to know when we can do conferencing and hospitality, weddings, parties
Albion could do with bringing in income as soon as possible, after being stung with a 20 points deduction and a £20,000 fine by the RFU for a minor clerical error relating to payments to players.
That comes on top of the £150,000 of lost income from events that were cancelled when the lockdown was ordered.
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That includes the St Luke’s Men’s Day Out annual sponsored charity walk, which culminates at the Brickfields stadium.
Fortunately, the club was able to furlough 20 staff, including rugby players, under the Government’s Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
So far, the only event planned at Albion’s Brickfields stadium, in Devonport, is an outdoor barbecue scheduled for the August bank holiday weekend.
“So much is on hold,” Mr Bentley said. “But we are putting measures in place so that when we get the green light we can go ahead.
“But we need the RFU to say rugby can go ahead outside the elite tier and Boris Johnson has said stadiums can open in October, but we need a road map.”
The club can normally accommodate 400 people in its Bidfood Marquee, and 150 in its SW Comms Marquee, and can even deal with 10 person meetings.
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Even with social distancing, Mr Bentley said 200 people can be safely catered for in the larger space, with perhaps a “traffic lights” system to enable people to use the toilets safely.
“But we need a bit of guidance,” he said. “ We are more than a rugby club, the Brickfields site is very versatile.”
Mr Bentley said it was far too early to book anything around the Christmas period, but said he was happy to have “initial conversations” with interested parties.
“We are looking to talk to businesses now,” he said, adding that there is a genuine opportunity for the club to advance, on and off the pitch. He added: “There is a spirit of collaboration in Plymouth. It is about working together.”
Relegated from the RFU Championship, the second tier, in 2016, Albion went into administration. The club was taken over by former players Bruce Priday and David Venables. Mr Priday has now left and Mr Venebles has now handed his son Max the managing director role.