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From the official WT website:
CEO GIVES INSIGHT INTO HOME GAMES
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys today gives an insight into how the club is shaping up for season 2010.
In the first of a series of interviews, he spoke to Wests Tigers Media Officer Wayne Cousins about the venue allocation of home games.
WC: The announcement of our home venues for 2010 has been well received. Can you provide some background on how the decision was made to play four games each at Campbelltown Stadium and Leichhardt Oval and four at the SFS/SCG?
SH: Over the past five years, we have taken a number of our home games and played them at a variety of venues other than Campbelltown and Leichhardt. These decisions were made for sound commercial reasons and in the best interests of the club at the time.
Whilst we remain committed to maximizing our commercial opportunities, we felt strongly that it was the right time to take an additional game back to both of our traditional home grounds of Campbelltown and Leichhardt. Both venues are currently undergoing extensive upgrades of their facilities.
This morning (Tuesday) I had the pleasure of inspecting the major renovations taking place at Campbelltown Stadium along with Federal Member for Werriwa Chris Hayes and new Campbelltown Mayor Aaron Rule. We were joined by two of Campbelltown’s favourite sons in John Skandalis and Chris Lawrence. We were all blown away by the on-going transformation of the stadium. In addition to an extra 5000 seats, the players will have the benefit of brand new dressing rooms whilst the media and corporate areas are being totally rebuilt. It is a very exciting time at Campbelltown.
The work at Leichhardt Oval is also starting to take shape. The key focus of this work is extending the corporate facilities housed at the back of the Latchem Robinson Stand. Once completed, this new space incorporating a fully appointed function room for up to 300 people will greatly improve the experience for our corporate guests and the economics of us playing at Leichhardt Oval.
Whist the decision to play an extra game at each of our traditional home venues does expose us to some commercial risks, we are confident it is the right approach and the Wests Tigers fans will respond positively through their membership of the club and their attendance at our games.
In saying this, playing a selection of our marquee games at the SFS and SCG each year is vital to the ongoing health of the club. The commercial opportunities and the need to ensure as many of our fans as possible have an opportunity to attend these games in comfort cannot be overlooked.
This year, the game against Souths at the SCG and the match against Parramatta at the SFS attracted crowds of more than 30,000\. Had those matches been played at our traditional venues, our facilities would have been stretched to the limit which would have impacted on the quality of the experience for our fans. Furthermore, we would have had some 10,000 fans unable to watch their team live.
WC: Do you feel you have achieved the right balance now in terms of the home grounds?
SH: Yes I do. Whilst we will continue to review this from time to time, I believe this mix will serve us well and provide the right balance for the players, the fans, and our commercial needs.
WC: When will Wests Tigers announce which home games will be played at each venue in 2010?
SH: The announcement will be made later this week. In allocating games to venues, we take into account factors such as availability of the respective venues, their capacity to cater for marquee matches along with the preferences of our football and commercial departments.
WC: One of the questions often asked by members is how does the club chose which matches are played on which days?
SH: This is a good question and one I am often asked. The reality is the NRL clubs, Wests Tigers included, do not make these decisions. Under the current broadcast agreements, the schedule of matches is chosen by the broadcast partners (Channel Nine/Fox) via the NRL. We understand supporters have their preferences and get frustrated and disappointed that some matches are not scheduled for certain days. All we can do is work with the schedule given to us and from the club’s perspective, get out and promote the games as well as we can. From a fan’s perspective, we simply ask you get out and support your team as much as you can.
Ends
Footnote: Future interviews with Stephen Humphreys will cover updates from the football and membership departments.
CEO GIVES INSIGHT INTO HOME GAMES
Tuesday, 3 November 2009
Wests Tigers CEO Stephen Humphreys today gives an insight into how the club is shaping up for season 2010.
In the first of a series of interviews, he spoke to Wests Tigers Media Officer Wayne Cousins about the venue allocation of home games.
WC: The announcement of our home venues for 2010 has been well received. Can you provide some background on how the decision was made to play four games each at Campbelltown Stadium and Leichhardt Oval and four at the SFS/SCG?
SH: Over the past five years, we have taken a number of our home games and played them at a variety of venues other than Campbelltown and Leichhardt. These decisions were made for sound commercial reasons and in the best interests of the club at the time.
Whilst we remain committed to maximizing our commercial opportunities, we felt strongly that it was the right time to take an additional game back to both of our traditional home grounds of Campbelltown and Leichhardt. Both venues are currently undergoing extensive upgrades of their facilities.
This morning (Tuesday) I had the pleasure of inspecting the major renovations taking place at Campbelltown Stadium along with Federal Member for Werriwa Chris Hayes and new Campbelltown Mayor Aaron Rule. We were joined by two of Campbelltown’s favourite sons in John Skandalis and Chris Lawrence. We were all blown away by the on-going transformation of the stadium. In addition to an extra 5000 seats, the players will have the benefit of brand new dressing rooms whilst the media and corporate areas are being totally rebuilt. It is a very exciting time at Campbelltown.
The work at Leichhardt Oval is also starting to take shape. The key focus of this work is extending the corporate facilities housed at the back of the Latchem Robinson Stand. Once completed, this new space incorporating a fully appointed function room for up to 300 people will greatly improve the experience for our corporate guests and the economics of us playing at Leichhardt Oval.
Whist the decision to play an extra game at each of our traditional home venues does expose us to some commercial risks, we are confident it is the right approach and the Wests Tigers fans will respond positively through their membership of the club and their attendance at our games.
In saying this, playing a selection of our marquee games at the SFS and SCG each year is vital to the ongoing health of the club. The commercial opportunities and the need to ensure as many of our fans as possible have an opportunity to attend these games in comfort cannot be overlooked.
This year, the game against Souths at the SCG and the match against Parramatta at the SFS attracted crowds of more than 30,000\. Had those matches been played at our traditional venues, our facilities would have been stretched to the limit which would have impacted on the quality of the experience for our fans. Furthermore, we would have had some 10,000 fans unable to watch their team live.
WC: Do you feel you have achieved the right balance now in terms of the home grounds?
SH: Yes I do. Whilst we will continue to review this from time to time, I believe this mix will serve us well and provide the right balance for the players, the fans, and our commercial needs.
WC: When will Wests Tigers announce which home games will be played at each venue in 2010?
SH: The announcement will be made later this week. In allocating games to venues, we take into account factors such as availability of the respective venues, their capacity to cater for marquee matches along with the preferences of our football and commercial departments.
WC: One of the questions often asked by members is how does the club chose which matches are played on which days?
SH: This is a good question and one I am often asked. The reality is the NRL clubs, Wests Tigers included, do not make these decisions. Under the current broadcast agreements, the schedule of matches is chosen by the broadcast partners (Channel Nine/Fox) via the NRL. We understand supporters have their preferences and get frustrated and disappointed that some matches are not scheduled for certain days. All we can do is work with the schedule given to us and from the club’s perspective, get out and promote the games as well as we can. From a fan’s perspective, we simply ask you get out and support your team as much as you can.
Ends
Footnote: Future interviews with Stephen Humphreys will cover updates from the football and membership departments.
