Bradford Bulls plan X Factor-style fun at Odsal (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Bulls plan X Factor-style fun at Odsal

9:00am Monday 3rd December 2012 in News By Hannah Postles, T&A Reporter

Bradford Bulls’ is issuing a rallying cry to aspiring singers and bands to bring “Bullmania” back to Odsal with the chance to win £5,000 in an X Factor-style competition.

The Super League side will hold four days of open auditions for acts who want the chance to perform before home games at The Provident Stadium as it launches the OK Bull Factor.

Around 65 singers and groups will be chosen to perform in front of thousands of fans as part of the Super League side’s pre-match entertainment next season, with around five acts singing on the pitch before each clash.

Supporters will then be asked to vote for their favourite, with the act with the most votes at the end of the season scooping a prize of £5,000, as well as exposure in the music industry. The runner-up will win a holiday.

On Friday, the Telegraph & Argus reported how major concerts are planned for Odsal next season.

And Simon Kenny, Bulls’ commercial director, who is organising the competition, said this was another step in bringing “Bullmania” to Odsal.

“We want to get Bullmania back how it used to be in the club’s heyday.

“This will be part of the pre-match experience. We want people to come down to the ground two or three hours before a game starts, with plenty of things for children and mums and dads to do. This is a great opportunity for singers and bands to perform in front of more than 10,000-15,000 people.

“The fans will get to enjoy the music and can get involved by picking their winner. This is another way we want to get the community involved with the club.”

A judging panel, which will include the club’s new owner Omar Khan, players and celebrities, will be ready to hear budding performers, aged 16 or over, at The Coral Stand between 11am and 7pm from Thursday, December 27, until Sunday, December 30.

Mr Khan said he hoped the pre-match “buzz” from the performances would also give the players a boost on the pitch.

He said: “When there are so many people behind you shouting ‘Bulls’ it gives you that extra buzz. It’s like the team has an extra man.

“I want to create that buzz, that Bullmania. I want to get this club back to where everyone’s talking about it, eating it, sleeping it and dreaming it.

“This club will get bigger and better and we have the desire and passion to do it.”

For information about the competition, e-mail simon.kenny@bradfordbulls.co.uk. Entrants do not need to register and can drop into The Coral Stand to audition or watch performances.