End Nears For Suburban NRL Grounds

[weststigers4life]

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/end-nears-for-suburban-nrl-grounds/story-e6frexnr-1226524122584


Kids who dream of playing at Brookvale Oval won't get a chance under the State government's new stadium strategy. Picture: Simon Chillingworth Source: The Daily Telegraph
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STRUGGLING NRL clubs have been dealt a severe blow by the State Government today with the release of a stadium strategy that rules out upgrades of traditional old suburban grounds.

Instead Sports Minister Graham Annesley has announced money will be spent to upgrade facilities at Sydney’s major stadiums and government-run venues like Hunter Stadium and Parramatta Stadium.

The government is adopting a similar policy to their Victorian counterparts to enable the state to compete with Melbourne for major events.

Melbourne based AFL clubs gave up their home grounds years ago to use the MCG or Etihad Stadium. The A-League and the NRL use AAMI.

Hopes of upgrading Brookvale Oval, Leichhardt Oval, Penrith or Cronulla – the venues most in need of a cash injection – have been dashed.

"There’s no point spending money on having seven or eight 30,000-seat stadiums across the suburbs," said a government source.

Rather than rebuild the suburban venues, the government is more open to plans to put a roof over ANZ Stadium or Allianz Stadium.

ANZ Stadium comes back under the control of the government in 2032 when the current lease expires.

Manly, in particular, have been lobbying the state and federal governments for years to fund an upgrade of Brookvale Oval.

The government will also announce an agreement with the Parramatta Eels to play another five seasons at Parramatta Stadium.

Annesley will meet with the NRL clubs, other codes, and stadium officials today to reveal the strategy.

 

[happy_tiger]

The face of the future unfortunately

How long will the Tigers persist with Leichardt and Campbelltown ??

 

[tigerbenji]

I can see them lasting longer @ Campbelltown then Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt will eventually be Units & Town Houses.

 

[Cultured_Bogan]

I can see them lasting longer @ Campbelltown then Leichhardt Oval, Leichhardt will eventually be Units & Town Houses.

Yeah, I wonder if the Leichhardt council will put up a fight against that?

 

[Yossarian]

Given the nature of that community it's more likely to get a Redfern Oval style downgrade than units. They couldn't even get a very small development of Callan Park through…

 

[innsaneink]

Gee I miss Pratten & Lidcombe

This is nothing new

 

[GNR4LIFE]

The kid looks like he has no arms

 

[derailed]

This is the start of the end for Leichhardt.

We'll end up with a 6/6 split between campbelltown and sfs.

 

[Snake]

This is the start of the end for Leichhardt.

We'll end up with a 6/6 split between campbelltown and sfs.

All games will be at SFS with the cash bonus every game $$$

 

[derailed]

This is the start of the end for Leichhardt.

We'll end up with a 6/6 split between campbelltown and sfs.

All games will be at SFS with the cash bonus every game $$$

We'd be crazy to get rid of campbelltown IMO

There is potential to grow a big fan base out there

Although all games in the city would work well for me

 

[GoldXR50Leroy]

It's one thing to use the AwFuL's plans as a blueprint for how all things should be done in the NRL but someone out there needs to hit the light switch, the gAyFL and Rugby League are 2 very different games and this is why Stadia sharing could not and will not be sucessfull.
Because the way the Mexicans play the game it's on an Oval and during play the ball is sent all around the field trying to find someone capable of holding onto it for a fleeting moment, with Rugby League and Union the ball is more centralised during a game thus this results in wear and tear in the central sections of the arena where the play generally happens.
With the games in the Sydney region restricted to a handful of venues one wet weekend could spell disaster for the Ground Keepers who would be hard pushed keeping the grass surface in tip top condition in optimal conditions!.
I know technology has advanced considerably since the 80's but who can't forget the sight of Belmore Oval at the time shared by Canterbury and Parramatta being nothing but a dust bowl and what about the SCG having Rugby League's Show Point games being played on a rock hard surface with the Swans playing every other week.
This is one area where we don't have to blindly follow the gAyFL's lead in the future of the game.

 

[innsaneink]

This is the start of the end for Leichhardt.

We'll end up with a 6/6 split between campbelltown and sfs.

All games will be at SFS with the cash bonus every game $$$

Its up to Allianz/SCG trust
They also have the Roosters, Waratahs….they'll probably only want our choice games
It may be too congested for two full time NRL clubs and the few games the tahs play there

 

[innsaneink]

It's one thing to use the AwFuL's plans as a blueprint for how all things should be done in the NRL but someone out there needs to hit the light switch, the gAyFL and Rugby League are 2 very different games and this is why Stadia sharing could not and will not be sucessfull.
Because the way the Mexicans play the game it's on an Oval and during play the ball is sent all around the field trying to find someone capable of holding onto it for a fleeting moment, with Rugby League and Union the ball is more centralised during a game thus this results in wear and tear in the central sections of the arena where the play generally happens.
With the games in the Sydney region restricted to a handful of venues one wet weekend could spell disaster for the Ground Keepers who would be hard pushed keeping the grass surface in tip top condition in optimal conditions!.
I know technology has advanced considerably since the 80's but who can't forget the sight of Belmore Oval at the time shared by Canterbury and Parramatta being nothing but a dust bowl and what about the SCG having Rugby League's Show Point games being played on a rock hard surface with the Swans playing every other week.
This is one area where we don't have to blindly follow the gAyFL's lead in the future of the game.

Garbage
The ball in RU RL is just as all over the joint, as are players in motion…across the field
We have three major stadiums as per the article Parra ANZ Allianz
A round now covers 5 days per weekend
Even if all 9 Sydney teams were at ''home'' (Sydney) - which is impossible - it would still be possible to play games at the three grounds mentioned with a days break in between

 

[FARANGALANG]

It's one thing to use the AwFuL's plans as a blueprint for how all things should be done in the NRL but someone out there needs to hit the light switch, the gAyFL and Rugby League are 2 very different games and this is why Stadia sharing could not and will not be sucessfull.
Because the way the Mexicans play the game it's on an Oval and during play the ball is sent all around the field trying to find someone capable of holding onto it for a fleeting moment, with Rugby League and Union the ball is more centralised during a game thus this results in wear and tear in the central sections of the arena where the play generally happens.
With the games in the Sydney region restricted to a handful of venues one wet weekend could spell disaster for the Ground Keepers who would be hard pushed keeping the grass surface in tip top condition in optimal conditions!.
I know technology has advanced considerably since the 80's but who can't forget the sight of Belmore Oval at the time shared by Canterbury and Parramatta being nothing but a dust bowl and what about the SCG having Rugby League's Show Point games being played on a rock hard surface with the Swans playing every other week.
This is one area where we don't have to blindly follow the gAyFL's lead in the future of the game.

Garbage
The ball in RU RL is just as all over the joint, as are players in motion…across the field
We have three major stadiums as per the article Parra ANZ Allianz
A round now covers 5 days per weekend
Even if all 9 Sydney teams were at ''home'' (Sydney) - which is impossible - it would still be possible to play games at the three grounds mentioned with a days break in between

I think its very unfair to ask penrith to move from penrith to Parramatta or Homebush its a long way from its supporter base in the mountains.You could use the campbelltown argument for us aswell.City teams sfs dogs,rabbits(hmm city I know) tigers homebush(or sfs).fair enough.I think parra,penrith and wests(campbelltown6/6 sfs) should keep its own grounds because of the expansive distance it encompasses.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

This just means that state funding will not be available.

Local governments can invest in their stadiums and can also lobby the federal government. Campbelltown can still have gradual expansions over time, but the problem is confirmation of usage. The local council and the Federal government is not going to part with $20m if only a couple of NRL matches are played at the ground.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

State government funding dries up for suburban ovals
Phil Rothfield
The Daily Telegraph
November 27, 2012

THE days of watching NRL matches at Sydney's traditional old suburban grounds are numbered.

A state government report yesterday revealed that funding was financially unsustainable for all Sydney-based clubs, virtually ruling out future funding for some of the city's most historic venues that have been hosting rugby league for more than 70 years.

Brookvale Oval, Campbelltown Stadium, Toyota Stadium, Kogarah Oval, Leichhardt Oval and Penrith Stadium will be most affected.

Under a stadia strategy released by sports minister Graham Annesley, the government will instead invest in major venues including ANZ Stadium, Allianz Stadium and other government-owned grounds including Parramatta Stadium, Hunter Sports Stadium and Wollongong Stadium. A 30,000-seat stadium in Sydney's west, possibly at an existing venue, is also under consideration.

The government wants Sydney clubs to adopt the Melbourne model that led to AFL clubs dumping their suburban home grounds from the late 1980s to share Etihad Stadium and the MCG. In Sydney, nine NRL clubs play out of nine venues.

"Review of stadia has identified the number of current venues requiring ongoing maintenance and or upgrading is financially unsustainable." Annesley said in the report. "Stakeholders suggested there are too many Tier 2 stadia in Greater Sydney, and the present decentralised approach leads to under-utilisation of venues."

Sydney venues classified as Tier 2 are Brookvale Oval, Campbelltown Stadium, Toyota Stadium, Kogarah Oval, Leichhardt Oval, Penrith Stadium and Parramatta Stadium.

"Belief that the NSW government has an overriding responsibility to ensure all sporting infrastructure is maintained and upgraded is inaccurate."

The decision was met with anger from a number of officials.

"We've run into dead ends before and we're not going to give up," said Manly director and life member Peter Peters. "We have a handshake agreement with Tony Abbott that we'll get federal government support if he gets in. It's a tragedy that three quarters of a million people north of the Harbour Bridge don't have a boutique stadium at Brookvale. We have won premierships in every decade since the 1970s and our fans deserve it."

The report was critical of the previous government's sporting venues strategy.

Annesley said Sydney would lose big events to other cities if major venues were not up to scratch.

"The implementation of the Stadia Strategy is integral to ensuring NSW keeps pace with the evolution of sport both in Australia and around the globe," he said.

"Sport, as an industry, is a significant contributor to the NSW economy. Spectators today expect more from the match day experience. Sporting infrastructure established in the lead-up to the 200 Olympics is now ageing, and in coming years will need upgrading and in some cases replacing.

"The post-Olympic NSW government infrastructure investment strategy was at best ad hoc, with minimal consideration given to ensuring long-term sustainability."
**The Wests Tigers were reluctant to comment. While Leichhardt Oval will miss out, the club is hopeful the government will look favourably at their existing ground in Campbelltown for a new 30,000 seat stadium in the west.**

The Sharks were not overly concerned, according to chairman Damian Irvine.

"The difference is we own our own home ground," Irvine said.

 

[Gary_Bakerloo]

The Wests Tigers were reluctant to comment. While Leichhardt Oval will miss out, the club is hopeful the government will look favourably at their existing ground in Campbelltown for a new 30,000 seat stadium in the west.

Absolute no brainer for the state government.

- Growth area
- Minimal investment required to bring up to 30,000+.
- Train line direct to ground
- Marginal seat

 

[LARDS]

It's one thing to use the AwFuL's plans as a blueprint for how all things should be done in the NRL but someone out there needs to hit the light switch, the gAyFL and Rugby League are 2 very different games and this is why Stadia sharing could not and will not be sucessfull.
Because the way the Mexicans play the game it's on an Oval and during play the ball is sent all around the field trying to find someone capable of holding onto it for a fleeting moment, with Rugby League and Union the ball is more centralised during a game thus this results in wear and tear in the central sections of the arena where the play generally happens.
With the games in the Sydney region restricted to a handful of venues one wet weekend could spell disaster for the Ground Keepers who would be hard pushed keeping the grass surface in tip top condition in optimal conditions!.
I know technology has advanced considerably since the 80's but who can't forget the sight of Belmore Oval at the time shared by Canterbury and Parramatta being nothing but a dust bowl and what about the SCG having Rugby League's Show Point games being played on a rock hard surface with the Swans playing every other week.
**This is one area where we don't have to blindly follow the gAyFL's lead in the future of the game**.

Agree with you but I have slightly different arguments.
Rugby League is more of a television game.
When youre watching it on TV it doesnt matter what ground its being played on.
In fact watching a game on TV showing a packed out leichardt with 20000 is even better than watching it from the olympic stadium with 20000\. Its got atmosphere.
We dont have the consistant crowds to pack out a 30, to 40000 seat stadiums anyway, unlike AFL where they will pack out 70,000 seat stadiums no matter what the weather.
I cant see the NRL letting go of Leichardt etc.

 

[Demps]

The kid looks like he has no arms

lol, best post in this thread.

 

[TIGER]

Soon we'll all be watching footy at home on TV.

The game will be played in a studio with a holographic crowd and an audio system playing recorded crowd noises, an engineer will press the cheer button when a try is scored. The plays and players will be so structured they will be robot like, (they nearly are now) there won't be a human referee on the field it will be a big brother type, a whistle will blow when an infringement is made and a voice will come over the pa stating the penalty etc.

Rugby league is nothing without an audience! Standing on your home turf and making the place as hostile as you can for the enemy is what the game is all about, the connection between the action on the field and the reaction of the fans on the hill and in the stands is the sacred thing about our game that makes it the greatest game of all.

But it seems the powers that be are slowly taking it away from us, the enjoyment in attending a live game of rugby league is diminishing and to an extent the game is also, it's becoming sterile!
It used to be primal and primitive but it is fast becoming prissy and plastic, we used to stand on the hill with fellow supporters who in an afternoon became our best mates, and cheer and boo and joke with, now we sit in grandstands with strangers with our knees tucked under our chin. We used to hear and feel and smell rugby league now we pay ridiculous prices for tickets, food, parking, drinks to sit in a sterile stadium and watch the game on the big screen.
Yes the game is changing and change is inevitable so it seems but it's changing for the worse.