CEO - Shane Richardson

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Before you read, know this is going to be a long rant. It is not directed at any individual, but certainly at groups who want to blame or bash parts of the club.

I've been biting my tongue for so long about the Campbelltown debate that goes on on this forum. The fact that so many from the inner suburbs constantly come up with reasons to not come to games at Campbelltown, or run the stadium down, or the whinging about the lack of atmosphere at the ground, or every other complaint that exists.

To put it simply, if you don't come to games at Campbelltown, for whatever reason you choose, then you are also to blame for the problems at the ground.

I as a Campbelltown resident and a 16 year ticketed member of the Tigers, plus a fan since day 1 (and yes the Magpies before that, but because they were my local team) I try to attend every single game at Campbelltown, only missing games due to being sick, or having something that has to take priority, but trust me that has to be something pretty big as Tigers games do take precident. But when I sat that I also travel to all Leichhardt games (again unless something prohibits me), and (painfully) to every game at Commbank as well, even though I hate it as a stadium.

But doing this means that I travel the 15 minutes to Campbelltown, but also the 1 hour or more to each of the other grounds, battling the horrible traffic for games scheduled at times when traffic is guaranteed to be heavy, or having to pay the stupidly high tolls on the M5 and M8 (or previously having to get down Canterbury and Old Canterbury road or any other way I had to go, sitting in traffic on the M7 or side roads for ages due to accidents, or just heavy traffic, and having to fight to get parking at Leichhardt, or having to pay and give money to Parramatta to park at the leagues club.

Do I complain, or come up with excuses as to not go and support my team? No. I go because I want to support them, no mattert where they are playing. That has included the SFS when we played there, Homebush for those games as well. I do it for the love of my team, no matter how much of a "hassle" it may be.

The fact that people can't do the same but in the opposite direction to get to Campbelltown is the weakest excuse that I ever hear. Campbelltown is easier to get to than Leichhardt as there are no side streets to have to take, it is literally just off the freeway, and then main roads to get to the ground. Can't drive, then the station is a 2 minute flat walk that anyone can make. Can you say the same about Parramatta or Leichhardt in some of those options? Not a chance. Parramatta is a nightmare to get to by car at times due to the massive amount of traffic, and the walk from the station is not easy for those who struggle to walk long distances (not me personally, but for a lot of fans), and Leichhardt can be just as bad, and is certainly not an easy walk from the light rail up the hill.

Then add to this the complaints about the atmosphere. Is campbelltown the best stadium design? No. Is it the perfect stadium? No. Could the atmosphere be better if the ground is sold out? Absolutely, but admittedely not perfect. But you make the best of the situation.

And the arguement about the Magpies playing at Leichhardt. The costs of playing at Campbelltown would be the main reason (not the clubs fault, that is on the Council. Though if the club showed more support for the area, and had a better relationship with the council that could be fixed) as I am sure Lidcome is far cheaper to play at, especially with the low numbers of fans that go to those games when they are stand alone fixtures, and of course the scheduling of those games not alongside NRL games also makes the decision easier again for costs.

And sure our results are not great out there, but really in recent years how many results have really been that great for us. Perhaps the negative perception of the ground does filter through. Maybe with a better attitude from fans it will help. Perhaps if those who are so passionate about Leichhardt and show it while being there brought it to Campbelltown there might be a change in the whole results and atmosphere.

The simple thing is, if you want the team to do well, you want the club to get the stadium we deserve in Campbelltown while no longer having to play at the soulless and not home ground stadiums like Homebush or Commbank, then drop the complaints, stop making excuses, and actually get off your backsides and come and support your team, no matter where they play. As much as I do see Leichhardt as a stadium we cannot lose as a home ground (the atmosphere is undeniable), it is unfortunately limited in any major infrastructure upgrades that could help it be a major home ground. Yes the staduim upgrades will help, but the lack of parking, and other infrastructure surrounding it is a major hindrance to the ground. Campbelltown has that potential to expand and grow, and to have a stadium that could have a wider precinct around it to improve the area massively.

So how about we finally get off the whole who is to blame, or the stadium sucks, or any sort of whinging about the fans in Campbelltown (that is a whole other rant if people want to keep going down that route) or anywhere else, and how about we all come together as fans of the Wests Tigers, and support the team as one, and finally put the stupid divide between the two sides away as we are one club, and have been for 25 years. Division only hurts the club, we have seen it at every level. But starting at the ground floor with the fans will flow through to the rest in time.

So just get out (to wherever it is) and support the club.

End rant.

How much does it cost mate to play there? And I’m talking about what the Magpies would be charged - not the Wests Tigers… obviously 2 different proposals for security and other factors…

I understand MacArthur FC gets a very cheap deal from the Council to play there….why is this the case ? I’m asking as you seem to have some knowledge of the place .
 
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You most likely haven't noticed, but I have been suggesting for the past 4 years that Wests Tigers as well as Wests Magpies should be playing at Campbelltown.

The Wests Tigers have been playing there these past 4 years … If the Wests Magpies haven’t been and it’s a matter money ..then that should be taken up with those that control the purse strings
 
How much does it cost mate to play there? And I’m talking about what the Magpies would be charged - not the Wests Tigers… obviously 2 different proposals for security and other factors…

I understand MacArthur FC gets a very cheap deal from the Council to play there….why is this the case ? I’m asking as you seem to have some knowledge of the place .

None of what I wrote about comes from actual evidence, but just what makes sense. Campbelltown council seems to not put much care into retaining teams that don't play ball with them, as such I would assume the costs to rent the ground are just far higher than what it would be at Lidcome. That is just common sense understanding of the situation.

But from quick research and this isn't definitive but here are what campbelltown council lists as costs for rental of elements for the stadium:

Stadium Hire Fee - General each Price On Application + GST {Listed costs as examples: Stadium Hire Fee - Schools/Clubs (from within LGA) each $432.00, School Athletics Centre Hire Fee (from outside Campbelltown LGA) minimum charge per day $1,250.00, that is for schools, a sporting club, and a major one would be far higher}

Plus:

Commercial Filming/Photography Fee - Stadium per hour $399.00
Eastern LED Screen Hire Fee per day $1,708.00
Floodlighting - Stadium per hour $146.00
Room Hire - Function Room (corporate user) per day $491.00
Room Hire - Function Room (corporate user) half day - 4hrs $281.00
Room Hire - Sky Lounge (corporate user) per day $330.00
Room Hire - Sky Lounge (corporate user) half day - 4hrs $227.00
Room Hire - Staff in attendance after 4.30pm per hour $92.00
Grandstand Seat Replacement Fee per seat $65.00
Additional Cleaning/Waste Fee each $270.00

And that does not include medical, security, any food or other service.

Don't know about Lidcome, but seems like they are probably willing to offer it up for far less overall. So in a business sense, it is the financially better option.

And remember it is a business. It is about the profits not the expenses. So if a ground offers a better option, and can make you more money for it, then that is why you go for it.

If the tigers had a better attitude, and created a better relationship with Campbelltown council, then the deal would be better, and closer to what Macarthur FC get (though unless playing 100% of games there, will never be as good).
 
The Wests Tigers have been playing there these past 4 years … If the Wests Magpies haven’t been and it’s a matter money ..then that should be taken up with those that control the purse strings
Purse strings are way beyond my pay grade of pension TS.
 
None of what I wrote about comes from actual evidence, but just what makes sense. Campbelltown council seems to not put much care into retaining teams that don't play ball with them, as such I would assume the costs to rent the ground are just far higher than what it would be at Lidcome. That is just common sense understanding of the situation.

But from quick research and this isn't definitive but here are what campbelltown council lists as costs for rental of elements for the stadium:

Stadium Hire Fee - General each Price On Application + GST {Listed costs as examples: Stadium Hire Fee - Schools/Clubs (from within LGA) each $432.00, School Athletics Centre Hire Fee (from outside Campbelltown LGA) minimum charge per day $1,250.00, that is for schools, a sporting club, and a major one would be far higher}

Plus:

Commercial Filming/Photography Fee - Stadium per hour $399.00
Eastern LED Screen Hire Fee per day $1,708.00
Floodlighting - Stadium per hour $146.00
Room Hire - Function Room (corporate user) per day $491.00
Room Hire - Function Room (corporate user) half day - 4hrs $281.00
Room Hire - Sky Lounge (corporate user) per day $330.00
Room Hire - Sky Lounge (corporate user) half day - 4hrs $227.00
Room Hire - Staff in attendance after 4.30pm per hour $92.00
Grandstand Seat Replacement Fee per seat $65.00
Additional Cleaning/Waste Fee each $270.00

And that does not include medical, security, any food or other service.

Don't know about Lidcome, but seems like they are probably willing to offer it up for far less overall. So in a business sense, it is the financially better option.

And remember it is a business. It is about the profits not the expenses. So if a ground offers a better option, and can make you more money for it, then that is why you go for it.

If the tigers had a better attitude, and created a better relationship with Campbelltown council, then the deal would be better, and closer to what Macarthur FC get (though unless playing 100% of games there, will never be as

So we don’t know then that the expense to utilise the ground is the reason they don’t play there? You are acting on more a gut feel or “ it just makes sense “…

Perhaps there are other reasons at play that we don’t know about? maybe they just prefer to play at Lidcombe as they achieve higher crowds there for instance .Maybe it better suits the patrons that attend those games ?

In relation to the NRL team …let me tell one thing I have noticed about Shane Richardson …he is not swayed by emotional arguments … rightly or wrongly he will play where financially it makes the most money for the club
 
So we don’t know then that the expense to utilise the ground is the reason they don’t play there? You are acting on more a gut feel or “ it just makes sense “…

Perhaps there are other reasons at play that we don’t know about? maybe they just prefer to play at Lidcombe as they achieve higher crowds there for instance .Maybe it better suits the patrons that attend those games ?

In relation to the NRL team …let me tell one thing I have noticed about Shane Richardson …he is not swayed by emotional arguments … rightly or wrongly he will play where financially it makes the most money for the club
If the financials are 'so important' to Richo in such a huge organisation, I suggest he is lacking in feeling and care for the people he represents.
I'm out of this conversation now.
 
So we don’t know then that the expense to utilise the ground is the reason they don’t play there? You are acting on more a gut feel or “ it just makes sense “…

Perhaps there are other reasons at play that we don’t know about? maybe they just prefer to play at Lidcombe as they achieve higher crowds there for instance .Maybe it better suits the patrons that attend those games ?

In relation to the NRL team …let me tell one thing I have noticed about Shane Richardson …he is not swayed by emotional arguments … rightly or wrongly he will play where financially it makes the most money for the club

My rant was nothing to do with Richo, I know he is all about the finances, my rant was purely on the fact that so many non-Campbelltown fans complain about it, but don't do anything to actually try and fix it and actually support the team at all home games no matter the venue.
 
Before you read, know this is going to be a long rant. It is not directed at any individual, but certainly at groups who want to blame or bash parts of the club.

I've been biting my tongue for so long about the Campbelltown debate that goes on on this forum. The fact that so many from the inner suburbs constantly come up with reasons to not come to games at Campbelltown, or run the stadium down, or the whinging about the lack of atmosphere at the ground, or every other complaint that exists.

To put it simply, if you don't come to games at Campbelltown, for whatever reason you choose, then you are also to blame for the problems at the ground.

I as a Campbelltown resident and a 16 year ticketed member of the Tigers, plus a fan since day 1 (and yes the Magpies before that, but because they were my local team) I try to attend every single game at Campbelltown, only missing games due to being sick, or having something that has to take priority, but trust me that has to be something pretty big as Tigers games do take precident. But when I sat that I also travel to all Leichhardt games (again unless something prohibits me), and (painfully) to every game at Commbank as well, even though I hate it as a stadium.

But doing this means that I travel the 15 minutes to Campbelltown, but also the 1 hour or more to each of the other grounds, battling the horrible traffic for games scheduled at times when traffic is guaranteed to be heavy, or having to pay the stupidly high tolls on the M5 and M8 (or previously having to get down Canterbury and Old Canterbury road or any other way I had to go, sitting in traffic on the M7 or side roads for ages due to accidents, or just heavy traffic, and having to fight to get parking at Leichhardt, or having to pay and give money to Parramatta to park at the leagues club.

Do I complain, or come up with excuses as to not go and support my team? No. I go because I want to support them, no mattert where they are playing. That has included the SFS when we played there, Homebush for those games as well. I do it for the love of my team, no matter how much of a "hassle" it may be.

The fact that people can't do the same but in the opposite direction to get to Campbelltown is the weakest excuse that I ever hear. Campbelltown is easier to get to than Leichhardt as there are no side streets to have to take, it is literally just off the freeway, and then main roads to get to the ground. Can't drive, then the station is a 2 minute flat walk that anyone can make. Can you say the same about Parramatta or Leichhardt in some of those options? Not a chance. Parramatta is a nightmare to get to by car at times due to the massive amount of traffic, and the walk from the station is not easy for those who struggle to walk long distances (not me personally, but for a lot of fans), and Leichhardt can be just as bad, and is certainly not an easy walk from the light rail up the hill.

Then add to this the complaints about the atmosphere. Is campbelltown the best stadium design? No. Is it the perfect stadium? No. Could the atmosphere be better if the ground is sold out? Absolutely, but admittedely not perfect. But you make the best of the situation.

And the arguement about the Magpies playing at Leichhardt. The costs of playing at Campbelltown would be the main reason (not the clubs fault, that is on the Council. Though if the club showed more support for the area, and had a better relationship with the council that could be fixed) as I am sure Lidcome is far cheaper to play at, especially with the low numbers of fans that go to those games when they are stand alone fixtures, and of course the scheduling of those games not alongside NRL games also makes the decision easier again for costs.

And sure our results are not great out there, but really in recent years how many results have really been that great for us. Perhaps the negative perception of the ground does filter through. Maybe with a better attitude from fans it will help. Perhaps if those who are so passionate about Leichhardt and show it while being there brought it to Campbelltown there might be a change in the whole results and atmosphere.

The simple thing is, if you want the team to do well, you want the club to get the stadium we deserve in Campbelltown while no longer having to play at the soulless and not home ground stadiums like Homebush or Commbank, then drop the complaints, stop making excuses, and actually get off your backsides and come and support your team, no matter where they play. As much as I do see Leichhardt as a stadium we cannot lose as a home ground (the atmosphere is undeniable), it is unfortunately limited in any major infrastructure upgrades that could help it be a major home ground. Yes the staduim upgrades will help, but the lack of parking, and other infrastructure surrounding it is a major hindrance to the ground. Campbelltown has that potential to expand and grow, and to have a stadium that could have a wider precinct around it to improve the area massively.

So how about we finally get off the whole who is to blame, or the stadium sucks, or any sort of whinging about the fans in Campbelltown (that is a whole other rant if people want to keep going down that route) or anywhere else, and how about we all come together as fans of the Wests Tigers, and support the team as one, and finally put the stupid divide between the two sides away as we are one club, and have been for 25 years. Division only hurts the club, we have seen it at every level. But starting at the ground floor with the fans will flow through to the rest in time.

So just get out (to wherever it is) and support the club.

End rant.
Gotta say but fans can't be blamed for anything.

Winning is the bottom line with fans. If they're winning, they will travel. If they're losing, they won't go to games even with free tickets.

We keep losing and we have low quality games. Fans do not engage with that.

I do not know what attracts sponsors and corporate members so I can't speak about that. But the way this club wants to go about things is that increase our profitability, then maybe the owners will put money back into WT to help them win on the field. Wests Tigers is a "business" but it's based on community engagement. Club can do its best to give free tickets at primary schools, do clinics, visit hospitals etc but unless they're winning, the participation will not happen.

Fans and communities are fickle and they always will be. As a club or a business, you should never blame fans and in the same way, listen to them much.
 
Gotta say but fans can't be blamed for anything.

Winning is the bottom line with fans. If they're winning, they will travel. If they're losing, they won't go to games even with free tickets.

We keep losing and we have low quality games. Fans do not engage with that.

I do not know what attracts sponsors and corporate members so I can't speak about that. But the way this club wants to go about things is that increase our profitability, then maybe the owners will put money back into WT to help them win on the field. Wests Tigers is a "business" but it's based on community engagement. Club can do its best to give free tickets at primary schools, do clinics, visit hospitals etc but unless they're winning, the participation will not happen.

Fans and communities are fickle and they always will be. As a club or a business, you should never blame fans and in the same way, listen to them much.

Any fans remaining still supporting this rabble after 14 consecutive years of failure should be appreciated ..not criticised over how they choose to engage with the team
 
Gotta say but fans can't be blamed for anything.

Winning is the bottom line with fans. If they're winning, they will travel. If they're losing, they won't go to games even with free tickets.

We keep losing and we have low quality games. Fans do not engage with that.

I do not know what attracts sponsors and corporate members so I can't speak about that. But the way this club wants to go about things is that increase our profitability, then maybe the owners will put money back into WT to help them win on the field. Wests Tigers is a "business" but it's based on community engagement. Club can do its best to give free tickets at primary schools, do clinics, visit hospitals etc but unless they're winning, the participation will not happen.

Fans and communities are fickle and they always will be. As a club or a business, you should never blame fans and in the same way, listen to them much.

How can't they be blamed? We all know that the crowd numbers at Leichhardt are always higher than Casmpbelltown, no matter how the results are going. That clearly shows that there is a group of fans who go to Leichhardt, who refuse to attend Campbelltown. Add that to the sentiment shown on here, and there is a clear bias towards one ground and against the other. That is just facts, however it is the excuses given that are the problem.

Am I expecting sellouts every game with the way we are playing? No. But my point is that all the Campbelltown bashers, or refusers, who want to constantly blame the ground for crowd numbers, or poor performances, or anything else, need to be the ones that actually step up and support the team no matter where the games are being played in Sydney. That is the only way to try and fix the culture, and actually try and get the grounds that we deserve and people would be far happier attending.
 
How can't they be blamed? We all know that the crowd numbers at Leichhardt are always higher than Casmpbelltown, no matter how the results are going. That clearly shows that there is a group of fans who go to Leichhardt, who refuse to attend Campbelltown. Add that to the sentiment shown on here, and there is a clear bias towards one ground and against the other. That is just facts, however it is the excuses given that are the problem.

Am I expecting sellouts every game with the way we are playing? No. But my point is that all the Campbelltown bashers, or refusers, who want to constantly blame the ground for crowd numbers, or poor performances, or anything else, need to be the ones that actually step up and support the team no matter where the games are being played in Sydney. That is the only way to try and fix the culture, and actually try and get the grounds that we deserve and people would be far happier attending.
Winning attracts fans..It's a big investment to follow a footy team and not viable for all fans especially ones with more than one family member to cater for. Inner West families are not going to go to Campbelltown when the team is losing they will take their chances at Leichhardt and visa versa for families and fans from Campbelltown.. Until the club shows some consistency on the field attendance and hard earned dollars will be spent selectively and you can't expect fans to blindly invest in something that they get no joy from
 
How can't they be blamed? We all know that the crowd numbers at Leichhardt are always higher than Casmpbelltown, no matter how the results are going. That clearly shows that there is a group of fans who go to Leichhardt, who refuse to attend Campbelltown. Add that to the sentiment shown on here, and there is a clear bias towards one ground and against the other. That is just facts, however it is the excuses given that are the problem.

Am I expecting sellouts every game with the way we are playing? No. But my point is that all the Campbelltown bashers, or refusers, who want to constantly blame the ground for crowd numbers, or poor performances, or anything else, need to be the ones that actually step up and support the team no matter where the games are being played in Sydney. That is the only way to try and fix the culture, and actually try and get the grounds that we deserve and people would be far happier attending.
I think avg crowd at CSS is 12k whereas Liechardht is 14k.

If there is a bias, it's probably because Leichardt stadium has a richer history compared to CSS which only started in 90s.

I don't think stadiums are being blamed for poor peformances, crowd numbers or anything of that sort.

This whole concept of "be a better supporter" is moot. Fans aren't going to change club culture.

If there is a Coles in Campbelltown but people want to go to Liverpool Woolworths, are you going to blame the people of Campbelltown or the operators of Coles?

Getting 2k extra to a game isn't going to fix anything. It's not going to help us win games, it's not going to put any significant money in the WT either. I can promise you that a shiny new stadium isn't going to help us win or bring in that many more people. People will like a new stadium for a year or two but that's not going to solve anything.

In fact, if I lived in Campbelltown (I do work here in the health system), I'd be super angry if money is put into the stadium there instead of other things.
 
How can't they be blamed? We all know that the crowd numbers at Leichhardt are always higher than Casmpbelltown, no matter how the results are going. That clearly shows that there is a group of fans who go to Leichhardt, who refuse to attend Campbelltown. Add that to the sentiment shown on here, and there is a clear bias towards one ground and against the other. That is just facts, however it is the excuses given that are the problem.

Am I expecting sellouts every game with the way we are playing? No. But my point is that all the Campbelltown bashers, or refusers, who want to constantly blame the ground for crowd numbers, or poor performances, or anything else, need to be the ones that actually step up and support the team no matter where the games are being played in Sydney. That is the only way to try and fix the culture, and actually try and get the grounds that we deserve and people would be far happier attending.
You're painting all fans with the same brush here Craegus.

I have a friend who lives 5 mins walk from Leichardt Oval and has 3 kids. He takes the family to the the games there because it's close to home and convenient. They have no interest in travelling across the city to watch the team play... On the same note, they don't really watch games on TV.. It's an afternoon at the football with the family... They aren't "refusing" to go to Campbelltown. They just aren't as invested as you and I.

I also know people in their 20's, 30's and 40's who live in the innerwest and don't necessarily follow every single tigers game with the same vested interest that I do, but they will go to games at Leichardt because it's something to do... they can have a few beers and watch the footy... these same fans also wouldn't travel to Campbelltown, Allianz or Commbank... so it isn't a matter of Leichardt vs Campbelltown - sometime it's just convenient and an afternoon out....

Not every fan is a diehard..
 
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