$50 Million reason Wests Tigers are prepared to quit Campbelltown.

[Mighty_Tiger]

Not looking to start another verbal war here, so I won't be drawn into one...but I do think it's worth laying out a few things that keep getting overlooked.

As has been explained many times on here, Campbelltown and the surrounding areas are one of the fastest growing regions in NSW.
The potential for new fans there is enormous, especially if we're serious about building a future facing club identity.
And that's not just about stadiums, it's about presence, relevance, and connection.

But for many long time Wests Magpies supporters, the merger felt like a disappearance act. The team they followed became "Tigers", and with that, a lot of people felt they had no club left to support, so they drifted away from the NRL, angry.

The Wests in our name doesn't mean much to younger fans today...ask around and most wouldn't have a clue who Wests were.
To them it's just a vague spot on the map somewhere between Parra and Penrith.

Symbols matter. Fans rally around them...Tigers, Rabbits, Raiders, the Dogs of War.
The Magpies used to have a lot of people rallying around their flag.
Losing it meant losing a visual identity that generations of fans connected with.
That's not nostalgia, it's branding, culture and community.

We can't build a future by ignoring the past, but we also can't grow by clinging to a fractured identity.

Campbelltown offers a chance to unify, expand, and evolve.

LET'S NOT WASTE IT.

I totally understand your post. Also respect why you have the passion as much as you do about the Magpies which can easy be lost on some at times as to why you’re as passionate as you are about it.

Unification though is bigger than just a venue / location / region association - it needs to be across all aspects of the organization.

 

[cochise]

Not looking to start another verbal war here, so I won't be drawn into one...but I do think it's worth laying out a few things that keep getting overlooked.

As has been explained many times on here, Campbelltown and the surrounding areas are one of the fastest growing regions in NSW.
The potential for new fans there is enormous, especially if we're serious about building a future facing club identity.
And that's not just about stadiums, it's about presence, relevance, and connection.

But for many long time Wests Magpies supporters, the merger felt like a disappearance act. The team they followed became "Tigers", and with that, a lot of people felt they had no club left to support, so they drifted away from the NRL, angry.

The Wests in our name doesn't mean much to younger fans today...ask around and most wouldn't have a clue who Wests were.
To them it's just a vague spot on the map somewhere between Parra and Penrith.

Symbols matter. Fans rally around them...Tigers, Rabbits, Raiders, the Dogs of War.
The Magpies used to have a lot of people rallying around their flag.
Losing it meant losing a visual identity that generations of fans connected with.
That's not nostalgia, it's branding, culture and community.

We can't build a future by ignoring the past, but we also can't grow by clinging to a fractured identity.

Campbelltown offers a chance to unify, expand, and evolve.

LET'S NOT WASTE IT.

The Magpies are visible though, there are 3 Magpies on our jersey.

I do like that we are going to be playing the majority of games out at Campbelltown.

 

[Lestronge]

Mate your p*sing about with minute detail.

The pressing issue is we need to show a genuine commitment to the region. When we’ve done the hard yards with respect actually playing a majority of home games out there, we will slowly but surely connect with what (in no time) will be a massive part of Sydney. An area filled with young families, kids playing and supporting rugby league etc etc

It’s a no brainer !

Mate … sorry but I disagree . The pressing issue is , is there a genuine appetite for the tigers to move to that region and play out of Ctown .
I’m not convinced . The club in both iterations in 2 years will hit 50 years association with the south west , and still it’s up in the air about how much actual throughput the club has .
I follow a lot of sports and I worry a permanent move would be like when the SD Chargers moved to LA , or the Clippers , who’ve only got a niche following there . Same thing when the nets moved to Brooklyn . Half empty stadiums and ownership groups desperate to find any connection to the area they’ve plonked themselves in .
It’s like the A league spent 20 years trying to manufacture allegiances , only for many and most fans to turn back to thier junior clubs , with higher attendance to Marconi vs Sydney United than Sydney FC v Adelaide .
I’m not sure anymore but even a team like the wanderers who did capture the zeitgeist of their area has dropped away as the performances have come back to the mean.
I grew up in the south west , represented the area in a variety of sports . Even though I’ve moved on I know a lot of people who still live there and can attest to this , wests and now wests tigers doesn’t have anywhere near the market share they think they do in the area.
And sure , you’re right , in 20 years they might eventually , especially with a performing team on the field , but it’s not there now . Which once again I go back to the first few sentences in this post as reaffirm it’s been nearly 50 YEARS!

 

[Bellend]

Mate … sorry but I disagree . The pressing issue is , is there a genuine appetite for the tigers to move to that region and play out of Ctown .
I’m not convinced . The club in both iterations in 2 years will hit 50 years association with the south west , and still it’s up in the air about how much actual throughput the club has .
I follow a lot of sports and I worry a permanent move would be like when the SD Chargers moved to LA , or the Clippers , who’ve only got a niche following there . Same thing when the nets moved to Brooklyn . Half empty stadiums and ownership groups desperate to find any connection to the area they’ve plonked themselves in .
It’s like the A league spent 20 years trying to manufacture allegiances , only for many and most fans to turn back to thier junior clubs , with higher attendance to Marconi vs Sydney United than Sydney FC v Adelaide .
I’m not sure anymore but even a team like the wanderers who did capture the zeitgeist of their area has dropped away as the performances have come back to the mean.
I grew up in the south west , represented the area in a variety of sports . Even though I’ve moved on I know a lot of people who still live there and can attest to this , wests and now wests tigers doesn’t have anywhere near the market share they think they do in the area.
And sure , you’re right , in 20 years they might eventually , especially with a performing team on the field , but it’s not there now . Which once again I go back to the first few sentences in this post as reaffirm it’s been nearly 50 YEARS!

The problem has been since the clubs have merged there has been a real lack of enthusiasm for Campbelltown shown the West Tigers board until know. Which is a shame had they nurtured this area correctly their attendances would be a lot higher.

 

[weststigers]

Mate … sorry but I disagree . The pressing issue is , is there a genuine appetite for the tigers to move to that region and play out of Ctown .
I’m not convinced . The club in both iterations in 2 years will hit 50 years association with the south west , and still it’s up in the air about how much actual throughput the club has .
I follow a lot of sports and I worry a permanent move would be like when the SD Chargers moved to LA , or the Clippers , who’ve only got a niche following there . Same thing when the nets moved to Brooklyn . Half empty stadiums and ownership groups desperate to find any connection to the area they’ve plonked themselves in .
It’s like the A league spent 20 years trying to manufacture allegiances , only for many and most fans to turn back to thier junior clubs , with higher attendance to Marconi vs Sydney United than Sydney FC v Adelaide .
I’m not sure anymore but even a team like the wanderers who did capture the zeitgeist of their area has dropped away as the performances have come back to the mean.
I grew up in the south west , represented the area in a variety of sports . Even though I’ve moved on I know a lot of people who still live there and can attest to this , wests and now wests tigers doesn’t have anywhere near the market share they think they do in the area.
And sure , you’re right , in 20 years they might eventually , especially with a performing team on the field , but it’s not there now . Which once again I go back to the first few sentences in this post as reaffirm it’s been nearly 50 YEARS!

Wests fans had their team uprooted from the inner west years ago and they never made anything of it.

The inner city suburban grounds are steeped in tradition, memories and history and trying to put that to the side while making the case that new migrants to the South West are going to prop up the club in future is short sighted...there's way more competition from the Bulldogs, Penrith, Souths, Parra by moving out that way. This population growth will be spread amongst them.

Go to the inner west and it is and always has been Tigers.

We will see though...not death riding it, just saying if you forego your tradition and something that people love, you might not get the support you think you will.

 

[Lestronge]

Wests fans had their team uprooted from the inner west years ago and they never made anything of it.

The inner city suburban grounds are steeped in tradition, memories and history and trying to put that to the side while making the case that new migrants to the South West are going to prop up the club in future is short sighted...there's way more competition from the Bulldogs, Penrith, Souths, Parra by moving out that way. This population growth will be spread amongst them.

Go to the inner west and it is and always has been Tigers.

We will see though...not death riding it, just saying if you forego your tradition and something that people love, you might not get the support you think you will.

That’s my point as well . I think the split of 8-3 is a good one . At least for a season . But people will votes with their feet .
For me I pray they fix the stadium proper i, it’s horrendous .

 

[GNR4LIFE]

That’s my point as well . I think the split of 8-3 is a good one . At least for a season . But people will votes with their feet .
For me I pray they fix the stadium proper i, it’s horrendous .

Do you know what draws crowds? Winning. Do you really believe people won’t travel to the ground if we are in a good position on the ladder, and playing an attractive style of football? It’s straw clutching to claim those factors aren’t relevant. And once again, cos it seems not to registering with some, the place sold out 3 times last year. It’s not as unpopular as being portrayed.

 

[gallagher]

The problem has been since the clubs have merged there has been a real lack of enthusiasm for Campbelltown shown the West Tigers board until know. Which is a shame had they nurtured this area correctly their attendances would be a lot higher.

I think you make a really good point. Wests havnt made traction in the south west as they really havn't tried to. Just about everything has been about the inner west, I can see why people who live there may not be interested.

8000 juniors and growing, Richo is doing what should have been done not long after the merge.

 

[Tom Shines]

I think you make a really good point. Wests havnt made traction in the south west as they really havn't tried to. Just about everything has been about the inner west, I can see why people who live there may not be interested.

8000 juniors and growing, Richo is doing what should have been done not long after the merge.

This is true … they haven’t tried that hard in the SW…

They haven’t tried hard in the inner west either mind you … but they have been supported there

Moving forward they will have 7 or 8 games now at Cambo …a move I support but tne excuses will then be at an end… if this team is going to be a success… it needs to work there … but at the end be of the day the people there need to support it… it’s ultimately up to them

 

[weststigers]

That’s my point as well . I think the split of 8-3 is a good one . At least for a season . But people will votes with their feet .
For me I pray they fix the stadium proper i, it’s horrendous .

I'll reserve judgement until I see the plans, but a small upgrade likely won't change the game day experience for fans.

The growth region thing is a false economy. They are bringing people from countries that have no concept of rugby league. The region has been growing for years, but you cannot see any statistical growth in crowds.

Relying on population growth via our immigration policies is unlikely to yield results. The fastest growing groups are Indian, Chinese and Nepalese. Minto is now Bengali/Bangladeshi and add Indians, Filipinos and Nepalis make up close to 50% according to the stats. The remainder...take out the females...take out those with other club allegiances...you haven't got as big a supporter base as people think. This will just continue and these migrants will not play rugby league and very few will support the game.

It's one of the reasons there has been zero traction for Magpies and now Wests Tigers. There is no growth for rugby league...just migration growth.

 

[gallagher]

This is true … they haven’t tried that hard in the SW…

They haven’t tried hard in the inner west either mind you … but they have been supported there

There's more interaction in the inner west. If your a tigers fan who lives there then over the years they've had homes games at LO, SFS and Homebush. So a hell of a lot more opportunities to see your club play not too far away compared to fans in Campbelltown .
There there's concord where to can go to see training and go to fan days, the club in Ashfield, awards nights seem to be in the inner west.

They have made us an inner west team that goes to Campbo just to play a few games every year.

 

[Tom Shines]

There's more interaction in the inner west. If your a tigers fan who lives there then over the years they've had homes games at LO, SFS and Homebush. So a hell of a lot more opportunities to see your club play not too far away compared to fans in Campbelltown .
There there's concord where to can go to see training and go to fan days, the club in Ashfield, awards nights seem to be in the inner west.

They have made us an inner west team that goes to Campbo just to play a few games every year.

Ok … I’m looking forward now ..: not back …if you are jealous of the COE at Concord … this was paid for at least in part with funds from their rate payers and a decision made by Pascoe … once decisions like that get made the club has to live with it for decades like the decision to play 8 games at Cambo on the future ..; they might have missed the boat there with the COE if they were actually interested … I don’t know the full story though ..,

Where would you have had the other games played when comparing to Accor and SFS ? What was Cambo offering dollar wise for more games ?

 

[gallagher]

Ok … I’m looking forward now ..: not back …if you are jealous of the COE at Concord … this was paid for at least in part with funds from their rate payers and a decision made by Pascoe … once decisions like that get made the club has to live with it for decades like the decision to play 8 games at Cambo ..; they might have missed the boat there with the COE if they were actually interested … I don’t know the full story though ..,

Jealous of the COE? I don't follow you.

Look I've never lived in Campbelltown in my life but I can see why people down there don't see us as their team. Richo is the first CEO to recognise this.

 

[Lestronge]

Do you know what draws crowds? Winning. Do you really believe people won’t travel to the ground if we are in a good position on the ladder, and playing an attractive style of football? It’s straw clutching to claim those factors aren’t relevant. And once again, cos it seems not to registering with some, the place sold out 3 times last year. It’s not as unpopular as being portrayed.

I dunno ! All I know is I’ve been to 10 games there in the last 2 years , seen no winners , and watched in a stadium void of noise , atmosphere and life .
For me as it stands right now , without upgrades , I’d have rather played at Comm Bank . Now we have the upgrades I’ll repeat myself , I hope it fixes the issues . I could keep repeating myself if you like ? I mean I’ve only said variations of the same thing 10 times now … maybe 11? I get it Ctown Sports Ground = memories for you. For me too . It was the first game I ever watched tigers v magpies . My uncle took me , he was a wests supporter .
It’s still a shithole . Hopefully, Smart architect fixes the issues as I’m sure the club is well aware , and me and my opinion arnt Robinson Crusoe .

 

[Tom Shines]

Jealous of the COE? I don't follow you.

Look I've never lived in Campbelltown in my life but I can see why people down there don't see us as their team. Richo is the first CEO to recognise this.

They have a beautiful COE at Concord …you are saying that the “inner west “ can see them train there … ok? That’s the way things turned out … decisions get made at the time … you gotta move on right ?

 

[Lestronge]

Jealous of the COE? I don't follow you.

Look I've never lived in Campbelltown in my life but I can see why people down there don't see us as their team. Richo is the first CEO to recognise this.

I don’t understand why this point is becoming so divisive . We can’t move the team to the area until the area and the team are sympatico. Until then we have to do the work , gain the trust back of the community . This assumption that we will just move there , “because that’s the future “ is soo simple it’s borderline stupid IMO. We have to do the hard work first … our due diligence on the community , win footy matches , and hopefully get the hearts and minds . Until then , we might have control of that corridor , but it’s as transient as the Gold Coast . And we should be smart enough to heed the warning of moving to an area where everyone follows someone else or has better things to do unless the club is 1st. Because that’s extremely unrealistic to achieve every year .
It’s gonna take time because the club burnt a lot of trust and goodwill through the past administration and tokenism .

 

[GNR4LIFE]

I dunno ! All I know is I’ve been to 10 games there in the last 2 years , seen no winners , and watched in a stadium void of noise , atmosphere and life .
For me as it stands right now , without upgrades , I’d have rather played at Comm Bank . Now we have the upgrades I’ll repeat myself , I hope it fixes the issues . I could keep repeating myself if you like ? I mean I’ve only said variations of the same thing 10 times now … maybe 11? I get it Ctown Sports Ground = memories for you. For me too . It was the first game I ever watched tigers v magpies . My uncle took me , he was a wests supporter .
It’s still a shithole . Hopefully, Smart architect fixes the issues as I’m sure the club is well aware , and me and my opinion arnt Robinson Crusoe .

It’s not a grounds fault that we’ve had a team that’s sucked.

 

[Tom Shines]

Where would you have had the other games played when comparing to Accor and SFS ? What was Cambo offering dollar wise for more games ?

Sorry mate … this was part of my argument…any response to this? @gallagher

 

[gallagher]

Sorry mate … this was part of my argument…any response to this? @gallagher

Your right, if they needed the money then they were the options.
But still, if you lived in Campbelltown, you were getting 3 games in your area a year and nothing else.
Of course some fans would drop off.

 

[gallagher]

I don’t understand why this point is becoming so divisive . We can’t move the team to the area until the area and the team are sympatico. Until then we have to do the work , gain the trust back of the community . This assumption that we will just move there , “because that’s the future “ is soo simple it’s borderline stupid IMO. We have to do the hard work first … our due diligence on the community , win footy matches , and hopefully get the hearts and minds . Until then , we might have control of that corridor , but it’s as transient as the Gold Coast . And we should be smart enough to heed the warning of moving to an area where everyone follows someone else or has better things to do unless the club is 1st. Because that’s extremely unrealistic to achieve every year .
It’s gonna take time because the club burnt a lot of trust and goodwill through the past administration and tokenism .

We agree!