R. I. P. Balmain

[Harvey]

Somebody should approach Benny Elias for a quote on this. He usually has plenty to say.

 

[Russell]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

 

[Tiger_Steve]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

 

[Russell]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

Well Steve, from what I heard he was one of the ones that set the whole thing up, with the ideas etc. etc. Sell the club to the developer for $1.00 - Meriton and Harry were not even asked to tender (strange given he was the Balmain sponsor and then Wests Tigers major sponsor at the time). The Government then stuck their nose in saying they were going to put a Metro line and station there which would be beneficial to the project etc. etc. Once the whole thing went sour i.e. application knocked back by council (thanks Mr Byrne), Government pulled the pin on the Metro (Barry O'Farrell I seem to recall) - our mate Benny pulled out as well, at least getting away with what he put in - if not more, leaving the BLC holding the bag.

Now I maybe incorrect (sure someone will correct) but that is a very broad precis as I understand it.

All of the dealings wit the BLC has nothing to do with the running or survival of the BDRLFC.

 

[Tiger_Steve]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

Well Steve, from what I heard he was one of the ones that set the whole thing up, with the ideas etc. etc. Sell the club to the developer for $1.00 - Meriton and Harry were not even asked to tender (strange given he was the Balmain sponsor and then Wests Tigers major sponsor at the time). The Government then stuck their nose in saying they were going to put a Metro line and station there which would be beneficial to the project etc. etc. Once the whole thing went sour i.e. application knocked back by council (thanks Mr Byrne), Government pulled the pin on the Metro (Barry O'Farrell I seem to recall) - our mate Benny pulled out as well, at least getting away with what he put in - if not more, leaving the BLC holding the bag.

Now I maybe incorrect (sure someone will correct) but that is a very broad precis as I understand it.

All of the dealings wit the BLC has nothing to do with the running or survival of the BDRLFC.

Thanks!

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Benny's or his mate's idea was to erect about 28 story units and shopping centre that was way beyond council guidelines and traffic going onto already crowded Victoria Road. So was always behind the eight ball concerning getting approved.

But what did NSW governments do after that - if the project was worth more than $20M you sideline the council and go direct to the state govt. who determined it was of state development importance and Benny was your uncle. So developers I know whose project was only worth about half that amount that did not fit council guidelines would deliberately over-value their project to leap frog the local council, give a generous donation to their political party and Benny was your uncle again.

But not only in the Tigers' case but many league clubs have suffered because they put ex-players, without appropriate university qualifications and work experience, in charge of administration etc..

But Benny must have had some success because about 5 years ago here in Byron, Tom Mooney the ex-Manly player, gave Benny's company a big reno job on his hotel.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Imagine if you wanted to renovate your house and the council told you you had to buy other properties around you to make it happen, then the government told you they'd be bringing a train station in around the corner from your house.

And you spent all your money suring-up local property and preparing large renovation plans, ensuring you had ample parking and thinking about the new property values once the train station was completed.

And then the government asked you to move out whilst they started work on the station, and you'd be back in a jiffy.

And then the government changed, the station is cancelled, nobody wants to approve your plans, you can't get back into your house and you own these properties you don't need.

If you were to remove any major club from it's primary premises for a decade, whilst also blocking plans for a refurbishment, you'd put any one of them out of business.

I'll never really know whether or not Tigers' renovation plans were excessive or unrealistic, but considering they approved those monstrous Balmain power station developments a decade earlier, I can't understand how the council suddenly became so concerned about traffic and building heights.

The Balmain Shores land was zoned for high density, Victoria Road isn't. The developer put up plans that meant you couldn't move the cars out of the site.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Benny's or his mate's idea was to erect about 28 story units and shopping centre that was way beyond council guidelines and traffic going onto already crowded Victoria Road. So was always behind the eight ball concerning getting approved.

But what did NSW governments do after that - if the project was worth more than $20M you sideline the council and go direct to the state govt. who determined it was of state development importance and Benny was your uncle. So developers I know whose project was only worth about half that amount that did not fit council guidelines would deliberately over-value their project to leap frog the local council, give a generous donation to their political party and Benny was your uncle again.
\
\
\
But not only in the Tigers' case but many league clubs have suffered because they put ex-players, without appropriate university qualifications and work experience, in charge of administration etc..

But Benny must have had some success because about 5 years ago here in Byron, Tom Mooney the ex-Manly player, gave Benny's company a big reno job on his hotel.

The local council isn't the consent authority for this development. The government appointed planning panel is. They refused it. The developers appealed to court and lost. Then the developers came up with even more grandiose plans.

 

[rozelle_rudy]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

Well Steve, from what I heard he was one of the ones that set the whole thing up, with the ideas etc. etc. Sell the club to the developer for $1.00 - Meriton and Harry were not even asked to tender (strange given he was the Balmain sponsor and then Wests Tigers major sponsor at the time). The Government then stuck their nose in saying they were going to put a Metro line and station there which would be beneficial to the project etc. etc. Once the whole thing went sour i.e. application knocked back by council (thanks Mr Byrne), Government pulled the pin on the Metro (Barry O'Farrell I seem to recall) - our mate Benny pulled out as well, at least getting away with what he put in - if not more, leaving the BLC holding the bag.

Now I maybe incorrect (sure someone will correct) but that is a very broad precis as I understand it.

All of the dealings wit the BLC has nothing to do with the running or survival of the BDRLFC.

The club had to sell the site. Its debts were equal to the land value and it was going broke fast. It's not Elias's fault, the club had been going downhill for years. The population of the area changed, people stopped going.
Elias and others tried to salvage something for the club with the developers but the club had no money of its own. The developers proved useless at coming up with something workable for the site.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Strictly speaking, with the change of population the writing was on the wall. That was when the merger should have been contemplated. My yuppy brother moved to Balmain in about 1979 - that was an indicator.

 

[cochise]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

Well Steve, from what I heard he was one of the ones that set the whole thing up, with the ideas etc. etc. Sell the club to the developer for $1.00 - Meriton and Harry were not even asked to tender (strange given he was the Balmain sponsor and then Wests Tigers major sponsor at the time). The Government then stuck their nose in saying they were going to put a Metro line and station there which would be beneficial to the project etc. etc. Once the whole thing went sour i.e. application knocked back by council (thanks Mr Byrne), Government pulled the pin on the Metro (Barry O'Farrell I seem to recall) - our mate Benny pulled out as well, at least getting away with what he put in - if not more, leaving the BLC holding the bag.

Now I maybe incorrect (sure someone will correct) but that is a very broad precis as I understand it.

All of the dealings wit the BLC has nothing to do with the running or survival of the BDRLFC.

Benny and the developers screwed the Tigers badly, but that line about the Tigers selling the land for $1 is just not true and is used to make them sound worse than they are and is not needed as they are useless and killed the club.

The land was sold for $1 plus the repaying of Balmain's debts, which I may be wrong but I believe were around $20m at the time. So the land was actually sold for $20m.

 

[jirskyr]

Imagine if you wanted to renovate your house and the council told you you had to buy other properties around you to make it happen, then the government told you they'd be bringing a train station in around the corner from your house.

And you spent all your money suring-up local property and preparing large renovation plans, ensuring you had ample parking and thinking about the new property values once the train station was completed.

And then the government asked you to move out whilst they started work on the station, and you'd be back in a jiffy.

And then the government changed, the station is cancelled, nobody wants to approve your plans, you can't get back into your house and you own these properties you don't need.

If you were to remove any major club from it's primary premises for a decade, whilst also blocking plans for a refurbishment, you'd put any one of them out of business.

I'll never really know whether or not Tigers' renovation plans were excessive or unrealistic, but considering they approved those monstrous Balmain power station developments a decade earlier, I can't understand how the council suddenly became so concerned about traffic and building heights.

The Balmain Shores land was zoned for high density, Victoria Road isn't. The developer put up plans that meant you couldn't move the cars out of the site.

Can council not zone whatever they like however they choose? Also I don't get how you can say Victoria Rd isn't zoned for high density, when Balmain Shores feeds onto Victoria Rd? It's like saying the Ryde Bridge isn't zoned for high density but you build 10,000 units in Rhodes.

I am sure the developers for the Leagues Club put up "aggressive" plans, but you are supposed to be able to negotiate the outcome.

The thing I'll never understand about the Rozelle area is owners and council trying to keep it as "village" as possible, despite it being a 10 minute drive from the CBD of a city of almost 5M people. High density is coming everywhere, it's the only way we can support the population growth.

I live 30 mins from the CBD and even in the last 5 years the number of units and duplexs going up in place of houses is striking. If you want the space and the lack of traffic, move to West or The Sticks, or the West of Sticks.

I used to live in a 12-storey building (120 units) that opened onto a main road - not such a big deal with traffic and you could only pull into the building from one side.

 

[innsaneink]

Just to put things in perspective.

It is the Balmain Leagues Club that has gone into administration.

The Balmain Rugby League Football Club will continue on for another another 110 years.

How anyone would have been stupid enough to sell the BLC for $1.00 and not use Meriton to develop the Rozelle site is almost beyond comprehension.

Yes Benny big mouth you would be the greatest fool that God ever put breath into.

Unfortunately lots of people are suffering because of your greed, but believe that you escaped unscathed.

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

Well Steve, from what I heard he was one of the ones that set the whole thing up, with the ideas etc. etc. Sell the club to the developer for $1.00 - Meriton and Harry were not even asked to tender (strange given he was the Balmain sponsor and then Wests Tigers major sponsor at the time). The Government then stuck their nose in saying they were going to put a Metro line and station there which would be beneficial to the project etc. etc. Once the whole thing went sour i.e. application knocked back by council (thanks Mr Byrne), Government pulled the pin on the Metro (Barry O'Farrell I seem to recall) - our mate Benny pulled out as well, at least getting away with what he put in - if not more, leaving the BLC holding the bag.

Now I maybe incorrect (sure someone will correct) but that is a very broad precis as I understand it.

All of the dealings wit the BLC has nothing to do with the running or survival of the BDRLFC.

Benny and the developers screwed the Tigers badly, but that line about the Tigers selling the land for $1 is just not true and is used to make them sound worse than they are and is not needed as they are useless and killed the club.

The land was sold for $1 plus the repaying of Balmain's debts, which I may be wrong but I believe were around $20m at the time. So the land was actually sold for $20m.

Correct, though unsure on actual $figure

 

[cochise]

Russell I’ve never heard the Elias story in regards to the leagues club downfall. I know he screwed them over but what actually happened?

Well Steve, from what I heard he was one of the ones that set the whole thing up, with the ideas etc. etc. Sell the club to the developer for $1.00 - Meriton and Harry were not even asked to tender (strange given he was the Balmain sponsor and then Wests Tigers major sponsor at the time). The Government then stuck their nose in saying they were going to put a Metro line and station there which would be beneficial to the project etc. etc. Once the whole thing went sour i.e. application knocked back by council (thanks Mr Byrne), Government pulled the pin on the Metro (Barry O'Farrell I seem to recall) - our mate Benny pulled out as well, at least getting away with what he put in - if not more, leaving the BLC holding the bag.

Now I maybe incorrect (sure someone will correct) but that is a very broad precis as I understand it.

All of the dealings wit the BLC has nothing to do with the running or survival of the BDRLFC.

Benny and the developers screwed the Tigers badly, but that line about the Tigers selling the land for $1 is just not true and is used to make them sound worse than they are and is not needed as they are useless and killed the club.

The land was sold for $1 plus the repaying of Balmain's debts, which I may be wrong but I believe were around $20m at the time. So the land was actually sold for $20m.

Correct, though unsure on actual $figure

I'm not sure on the figure either but I seem to recall it being around the $20m mark.

 

[Tweed_Tiger]

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/foundation-club-balmain-tigers-in-danger-of-folding-20181027-p50cdc.html

**Foundation club Balmain Tigers in danger of folding**

_By Adrian Proszenko
28 October 2018 — 2:17pm_

There are fresh fears 110-year-old foundation club Balmain Tigers is on the verge of folding after the Balmain Leagues Club (BLC) was officially placed into voluntary administration.

More than a century of sporting history could come to a premature end after the latest drama involving the new owners of the Leagues Club site at Rozelle. Heworth Construction Group had already lent BLC $300,000 and according to Balmain reneged on a commitment to provide a further $300,000 in urgent assistance.
The Balmain Tigers were involved in arguably the greatest grand final, their 1989 loss to Canberra.

The Balmain Tigers were involved in arguably the greatest grand final, their 1989 loss to Canberra.Credit:SMH

Balmain Tigers Rugby League Football Club chairman Dr Leslie Glen said the club had been left “high and dry” after entering into voluntary administration at 2pm on Friday. The BLC, established in 1957, is the only significant source of income for the football club, although there are hopes junior footy programs - including SG Ball and Harold Matthews - won’t be affected in the immediate future.

Balmain already had only a tenuous hold of their 25 per cent share of Wests Tigers. The foundation club must repay a five-year, $2.5 million loan to the NRL in November 2021, although the figure will come to well over $3 million once interest is added.

If it can’t pay back the money, the NRL has the option of putting Balmain’s share on the market, which is expected to be picked up by Wests Ashfield. The hopes of paying back the loan were already extremely slim and now Balmain must launch a fundraiser to immediately raise the $500,000 required to continue its operations.

The BLC clubs at Five Dock and Sydney Markets are currently operating but could be forced to shut down and it remains to be seen if the football club will also be made to go into administration. That could signal the death knell for a proud foundation club that has battled valiantly for survival over the past decade.

“We had no option but to go into VA,” said Glen. “It was an awful moment to tell our staff members that this decision had been made.

“There would be an enormous disappointment throughout the community but the only practical response is to give us much support to the foundation club so that we can get through our immediate difficulties and remain a part of the NRL.”

 

[innsaneink]

Tigers Update

It is with deep regret that I inform you that TIGERS Five Dock was closed down this morning as instructed by the appointed Administrator.
Put simply, Five Dock is not financially viable enough for the Administrator to continue to trade.

TIGERS Sydney Markets will continue to operate as per normal whilst amalgamation discussions take place.

Work will commence with Canada Bay Council to help secure a direct lease for The Family Brasserie, so that they may the opportunity to continue operate their business with minimum disruption.

This is truly a difficult day for all who have ever been associated with the Club and thoughts are with you all.

I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the Leagues Club Board. It’s been an honour to have their leadership throughout what has been the hardest period of the Clubs 61 year history. BLC has been truly blessed to have had their commitment and resolve to the end. I can attest that they have left no stone unturned in the quest to save the Club, always putting the staff, the members and stakeholders first. They too will feel this pain for a long time to come.

The Board will now focus on securing the future of our beloved Football Club (BTRLFC).

 

[Spook]

When the Keneally State Govt. forced the clubs hand to move by indicating the site was required for public purposes (Metro) and then reversed their decision, subsequent legal opinion sought by the club was that they had no legal recourse.
It makes you wonder if this advice still holds given the fact that after 10 years, the State Govt once again enters proceedings and effectively kills off the club.

By the same token the club management has been terrible. Balmain has a huge supporter base throughout Australia, yet management has never sought to organize or mobilize financial or any other type of support from them. Souths had no trouble rallying the masses to ensure their survival.

They don't even appear to be aware of their own history. On the "About Us" page of their site, they state " Balmain Leagues Club was purpose built in 1957". The first stage of the Victoria Rd club opened in 1963, the previous club premises were in Nelson Street. ( An ex factory that had belonged to the Albert Family (music publishing Co,) :bawling
http://www.tigers.org.au/index.php/about-us-home/

 

[happy_tiger]

Very painful when you lose your club

My Brisbane Rugby League club Wests Panthers are dead bar having a feeder side through Mitchellton in juniors

 

[Geo]

Very painful when you lose your club

My Brisbane Rugby League club Wests Panthers are dead bar having a feeder side through Mitchellton in juniors

It's the Leagues Club that has gone into Receivership…The football Club remains for now...while under threat I can see Wests Ashfield stepping in as they already do moreso to keep the Junior pathways alive...

 

[happy_tiger]

Very painful when you lose your club

My Brisbane Rugby League club Wests Panthers are dead bar having a feeder side through Mitchellton in juniors

It's the Leagues Club that has gone into Receivership…The football Club remains for now...while under threat I can see Wests Ashfield stepping in as they already do moreso to keep the Junior pathways alive...

The only thing left of my Wests Panthers is the memories 😢

But they only have themselves to blame , they bought players / premierships in the 70's when the game was at its peak fans wise and by the early 80's you be lucky to get 3000 at a club game

They just never dug themselves out a debt despite making 4 GF's in the 90's , winning back to back in 93

Can't remember who we beat …..........can you Watto ?? :mrgreen: