Balmain Leagues Club

[Alex Seyfarth's #1 Fan]

So this thread has generated into one lot of old fossils arguing with other old fossils ..any wonder my attempts to generate discussions on the future are in vain and I am also an old fossil but I live in the now!.. live for the present and future guys!

SO yoU're CAlLiNg Me aN oLD tIMeR, huH? I'Ll HaVe yoU kNoW I'Ve bEEn A suPPoRteR fOr 50 yEarS And You CAn'T sToP Me SupPoRtInG mY TeAm.

 

[Telltails]

@Russell Look, I'm no friend of Darcy Byrne but I can't see why people are blaming him for this. Balmain has been a basket case for more than a decade, long before Darcy came along. How is any of this his fault?

I think people are dirty at Darcy because he and those on council have blocked all attempts to redevelop the sight for years, some would suggest for his own political gain. Now they are in a position that they may have no say in the outcome of the site, and plans are finally passed /excepted. All a little too late.

 

[Tigers_Tale]

Lets just concentrate on getting Balmain Leagues Club up and running and see the benefits of this. The old Balmain and Wests have gone but need to be remembered , we are now West Tigers.
* Look at the location on Victoria Road just out side the City, and close to Leichhardt Oval.
* Imagine the revenue this location could deliver if managed correctly.
* It will be an injection of belief in the Balmain area for the future of the juniors comming from this area, who already currently perform consistantly well, in the junior competitions.
* Imagine what it would be like after a Leichhardt oval game.
* Also, they should really plan on upgrading Leichhardt Oval, they could run shuttle buses between Balmain Leagues Club and Leichhardt Oval.
* We have an area that extends from Balmain to Campbelltown, we should be taking advantage of this.

Something to really get excited about and look forward to, lets get it done.

 

[Harvey]

Lets just concentrate on getting Balmain Leagues Club up and running and see the benefits of this. The old Balmain and Wests have gone but need to be remembered , we are now West Tigers.
* Look at the location on Victoria Road just out side the City, and close to Leichhardt Oval.
* Imagine the revenue this location could deliver if managed correctly.
* It will be an injection of belief in the Balmain area for the future of the juniors comming from this area, who already currently perform consistantly well, in the junior competitions.
* Imagine what it would be like after a Leichhardt oval game.
* Also, they should really plan on upgrading Leichhardt Oval, they could run shuttle buses between Balmain Leagues Club and Leichhardt Oval.
* We have an area that extends from Balmain to Campbelltown, we should be taking advantage of this.

Something to really get excited about and look forward to, lets get it done.

There is no way the local NIMBY’s will allow Leichhardt to be redeveloped into anything more than a heritage listed dog walking park.

That is what killed the leagues club redevelopment

 

[Fitzy05]

@Harvey I'm not sure about that. The plans for white bay are huge. It's going to be one of the biggest developments the inner west has seen.

Some town planners were saying the Sydney City Council missed an opportunity to put the Sydney Football stadium right where the Entertainment centre is. Having a 30-40 thousand seat stadium right in the middle of the city would help bring the city life. With the lock out laws ect. Sydney is ranked way behind Melbourne as a place go out at night.

white bay is going to be the next big development. I'm not sure how the transport is going to be linked to the city and west connect.

 

[jirskyr]

Some town planners were saying the Sydney City Council missed an opportunity to put the Sydney Football stadium right where the Entertainment centre is. Having a 30-40 thousand seat stadium right in the middle of the city would help bring the city life. With the lock out laws ect. Sydney is ranked way behind Melbourne as a place go out at night.

That's interesting, but the SFS is still pretty in the middle of the city where it is, isn't it? If you can walk there in 20 mins from Central, I think the location is fine.

I'm also dubious about having a stadium right in the middle of the city. Assuming that you can actually fit the SFS on the old Ent Cent site, which I have my doubts (it only held 13K people), what about 90% of the time when it is not being used? It becomes a very large obstacle for people to have to walk around when it's in the middle of the CBD rather than in parkland next to the CBD.

Lastly we have to appreciate that a significant number of people don't like or use stadiums and don't necessarily want them in the CBD. That's not me personally, but I understand where they are coming from.

I'd have to reserve judgement on Darling Square, which is only just being finished and I haven't checked it out yet.

re White Bay, man they've been talking about that for decades, I still don't think they have anything concrete to push ahead with? The problem for Rozelle and Balmain is that they are insular and not connected by mass transit, so you end up with just a few key roads that get log-jammed and the public transport is only buses, which just makes the jams worse.

 

[jirskyr]

@Russell Look, I'm no friend of Darcy Byrne but I can't see why people are blaming him for this. Balmain has been a basket case for more than a decade, long before Darcy came along. How is any of this his fault?

I think people are dirty at Darcy because he and those on council have blocked all attempts to redevelop the sight for years, some would suggest for his own political gain. Now they are in a position that they may have no say in the outcome of the site, and plans are finally passed /excepted. All a little too late.

Yes the problem with Darcy is he tries to position himself as a supporter of Balmain but can't appear to do anything to actually help the club out. I don't deny he may well have a passion for the Tigers, but he has been a councillor for 12 years and Mayor on/off since 2012 (multiple terms), in which time Balmain Leagues has slid off the face of the Earth.

@rozelle_rudy is incorrect about Darcy's tenure - Balmain didn't vacate the Victoria Rd site until 2010 and Darcy had already been on the Council for the previous 2 years. Additionally, Balmain only vacated based on the agreement with the NSW Labor Govt regarding the Rozelle Metro, which was supposed to put a station underground at the site, with the Leagues Club being built back over once complete. Instead, however, Labor abandoned the plan (whilst in power, might I add, and at a cost of $500M invested), leaving Balmain high and dry. We needed a big redevelopment then to secure the club future, and Leichhardt Council blocked every turn. Eventually it was escalated to the NSW Govt special developments branch to try and get things moving.

So for Darcy it's all lip service. Regarding Leichhardt Oval, I may be wrong, but the council invests the bare minimum to keep it operational. One of the larger recent remedial works was initiated and co-funded by the NSW Govt.

I do understand what the Inner West Council has a lot of NIMBYs to deal with and have always been heavily Labor and, more recently, Greens dominated, and they aren't necessarily parties focused on Leagues development nor local rugby league. It's become somewhat of an irony that in some areas Labor have become quite disconnected from their working-class roots, esp. given that the Balmain district is now about as white-collar as Sydney gets.

In that case, then, Darcy could just keep his mouth shut and nobody would complain about him.

I also know for a fact that some of the original development plans submitted by Balmain were taking the piss, i.e. trying to squeeze as much possible development out of the application. That's not bad in and of itself, because applications can always be subject to negotiation, but I understand the minimum that Balmain could accept and the max that Leichhardt Council would accept were quite far apart.

Ultimately, my understanding is that Leichhardt Council were somewhat burned by the eventual size and scope of the Balmain Power Station redevelopment - the number of people it brought to the area and the number of extra cars put on the road. I don't live there, though I visit regularly, so I can't honestly say. But as with a previous post, you only need look at the stalling at White Bay to show that the council and State Govt really doesn't know what to do with major redevelopments in Balmain. Even the Fish Markets redevelopment has been stop-start and revised for years, try to accommodate a wide variety of interests and fundamentally lacking public transport links.

 

[jirskyr]

I will volunteer today that I watched Freddy and Joey preview the Tigers' finals chances, 2 min video on WWOS, and Freddy did call the club "Balmain". He was quickly corrected by Bracey.

 

[cktiger]

Lets just **concentrate on getting Balmain Leagues Club up and running** and see the benefits of this. The old Balmain and Wests have gone but need to be remembered , we are now West Tigers.
* Look at the location on Victoria Road just out side the City, and close to Leichhardt Oval.
* Imagine the revenue this location could deliver if managed correctly.
* It will be an injection of belief in the Balmain area for the future of the juniors comming from this area, who already currently perform consistantly well, in the junior competitions.
* Imagine what it would be like after a Leichhardt oval game.
* Also, they should really plan on upgrading Leichhardt Oval, they could run shuttle buses between Balmain Leagues Club and Leichhardt Oval.
* We have an area that extends from Balmain to Campbelltown, we should be taking advantage of this.

Something to really get excited about and look forward to, lets get it done.

Only problem there is it won't be called Balmain Leagues Cub.

 

[cochise]

Lets just **concentrate on getting Balmain Leagues Club up and running** and see the benefits of this. The old Balmain and Wests have gone but need to be remembered , we are now West Tigers.
* Look at the location on Victoria Road just out side the City, and close to Leichhardt Oval.
* Imagine the revenue this location could deliver if managed correctly.
* It will be an injection of belief in the Balmain area for the future of the juniors comming from this area, who already currently perform consistantly well, in the junior competitions.
* Imagine what it would be like after a Leichhardt oval game.
* Also, they should really plan on upgrading Leichhardt Oval, they could run shuttle buses between Balmain Leagues Club and Leichhardt Oval.
* We have an area that extends from Balmain to Campbelltown, we should be taking advantage of this.

Something to really get excited about and look forward to, lets get it done.

Only problem there is it won't be called Balmain Leagues Cub.

I don't see that as a huge problem!

 

[diedpretty]

That has been answered many times the lunatic fringe want Wests Magpies back in the NRL…

So really they should be disregarded in this conversation, their wants and beliefs about what is happening to our club should not be listened to! I actually thought they would see taking ownership of Balmain Leagues as a victory in their minds?

Of course but they Vote...

Wests Ashfield don't really care as the numbers will rubber stamp what they propose with the majority of their members probably don't even follow Rugby League

No I was just concerned that this belief that Wests are invisible was more wide spread the Alien level fanatics. If it is just those with that level of delusion then I don't think it is anything to worry about!

Honestly this has got out of hand - as Geo said there is a lunatic fringe ( and that is a very small group ) that believe the only way forward is to dump the tiger - ain't going to happen. Then there is a broader group who are happy with the JV but believe there is a perception in the wider NRL community and the media that WT is a rebadged balmain. They also would like to see a greater recognition of wests as being part of the JV by the media nd Wests Ashfield . Alien was in the former lunatic group and no they are not a threat. The second group want to see the JV thrive as Wests Tigers.

 

[cochise]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

 

[diedpretty]

I will volunteer today that I watched Freddy and Joey preview the Tigers' finals chances, 2 min video on WWOS, and Freddy did call the club "Balmain". He was quickly corrected by Bracey.

You said it never happens - it happens continuously and will continue to happen - the perception is WT are a rebadged Balmain. That clown is the coach of NSW and still can't get it right - and its not the first time he has said it. And this is what irks ex wests fans along with the fact that Wests Ashfield just let it go without a whimper. Good on Bracey for picking him up.

 

[diedpretty]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

see jirskys post above for my response.

 

[Geo]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

It's been answered it's the perception in the media..doesn't help when anything Wests Tigers related they go to Blockhead and Benny ....I have never heard Block say the name Wests ever...go the Mighty Tigers..

The numerous articles you see our colours mentioned as black and gold etc etc

The team is Wests Tigers Black White and Gold are our colours...

It may not seem an issue for you but it is the small things or 1%er the lazy media could fix and it wouldn't be an issue at all..

 

[hobbo1]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

It's been answered it's the perception in the media..doesn't help when anything Wests Tigers related they go to Blockhead and Benny ....I have never heard Block say the name Wests ever...go the Mighty Tigers..

The numerous articles you see our colours mentioned as black and gold etc etc

The team is Wests Tigers Black White and Gold are our colours...

It may not seem an issue for you but it is the small things or 1%er the lazy media could fix and it wouldn't be an issue at all..

Orange ?

 

[Geo]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

It's been answered it's the perception in the media..doesn't help when anything Wests Tigers related they go to Blockhead and Benny ....I have never heard Block say the name Wests ever...go the Mighty Tigers..

The numerous articles you see our colours mentioned as black and gold etc etc

The team is Wests Tigers Black White and Gold are our colours...

It may not seem an issue for you but it is the small things or 1%er the lazy media could fix and it wouldn't be an issue at all..


Orange ?

Remember the Lemon :lemon: jersey,,that sucked

 

[hobbo1]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

It's been answered it's the perception in the media..doesn't help when anything Wests Tigers related they go to Blockhead and Benny ....I have never heard Block say the name Wests ever...go the Mighty Tigers..

The numerous articles you see our colours mentioned as black and gold etc etc

The team is Wests Tigers Black White and Gold are our colours...

It may not seem an issue for you but it is the small things or 1%er the lazy media could fix and it wouldn't be an issue at all..


Orange ?

Remember the Lemon :lemon: jersey,,that sucked

No I don’t ...
Please remind me !

 

[cochise]

It’s been answered it’s the perception in the media…doesn’t help when anything Wests Tigers related they go to Blockhead and Benny …I have never heard Block say the name Wests ever…go the Mighty Tigers…

It may not seem an issue for you but it is the small things or 1%er the lazy media could fix and it wouldn’t be an issue at all…

These are broader issues that relate back the terrible media outlets we have involved with the game.

The numerous articles you see our colours mentioned as black and gold etc etc
The team is Wests Tigers Black White and Gold are our colours…

We play in predominately Black and White jerseys so it would appear the club is sticking to its Western Suburbs roots in this regard.


It seems to me that people are blaming the Club and Wests Ashfield for issues with an incompetent media that reports on the game. I did used to hear people refer to the club as Balmain, but I think that has become a lot less over the years. I think a part of this is probably confirmation bias.


In this regard I think the adding of both parent clubs logos onto the jersey has been a great addition. I am not a Balmain Tigers supporter, I am not a Wests Magpies supporter, I am a Wests Tigers supporter. The only representation I care about is the Wests Tigers representation, I want what is best for Wests Tigers and honestly that is a unified fanbase supporting the club and supporting Wests Ashfields attempts to make us as strong as possible!

 

[diedpretty]

part of the JV

They will own 90% of the club, I have no idea how anyone would think that Wests is under represented when it is their club!

How often have you seen that reported in the media - the only journalist who has made reference to that is Roy Masters and I think he may have a bit of a bias.