The Wests Tigers Lament Thread

[Cobarcats]

Thankyou for your input.
My statement was from a google search and the demographic statement was an opinion of mine that goes back to when I frequented the club. It was in a poor location to cater for all walks of life, poker machines, entertainment, age groups etc.
It was purely based on my observations.
I saw a decline in patronage from as early as the mid 80's which I'm sure you know about because you would have seen it as well back then.
I also believe the raising of poker machine revenue taxes had something to do with their inability to pay loans off and to keep their head above water.
Finally, do not use my position as a Staff Member as an avenue for criticism. I am entitled to have an opinion but I don't let that interfere with my duties.
Please refrain from mixing the two when your criticising me.
Cheers

 

[jirskyr]

It started before that.
As a late teen I was regular at the leagues club especially as a go to spot to chill after all the hotels in Balmain closed at pumpkin time.
Around the time of the pokies tax and following that the smoking ban in internal buildings a lot of recreational clubs started to suffer a loss.
They began renovating the bistro area and upstairs function rooms to try and get more interest from just the regulars but they were dying a slow death with only the bistro as their main income source.
They weren’t the only club to close.
In Drummoyne the bowling / sports club, RSL all closed up either before or after the leagues club closing. Many other bowling clubs from the surrounding suburbs closed up. The only clubs that survived were the ones with multiple restaurants and more function options then just the pokies. Hopefully the new club if it ever gets built doesn’t fall back on the nostalgia of an old fashioned leagues club as the attraction and provides a broader entertainment venue.

The club could have stayed afloat with pokie revenues - many clubs still do. But yes the revenues were down.

The killer blow however was the NSW Metro, which several people have mentioned. It's nothing like the "expenditures and lack of demographics" that Cobar mentioned.

Tigers wanted to revamp the club, as they did realise pokie revenues were down since the Govt tax, and the place was getting a bit old anyway. At that time many pubs and clubs were diversifying their revenue streams and renovating to encourage new patronage - the big clubs in town are as new and shiny as a CBD bank HQ.

The NSW Labor Govt decided they would build the new metro "CBD Metro" including Rozelle and made an agreement with the Tigers to move out for 5 years whilst the development occurred. In return Tigers would have a metro station on-site and have planning approval to redevelop the site to include mixed retail and residential.

NSW Labor ended up canning the metro (BTW they spent something like $500M on the project with zero outcome) so Tigers had to submit modified plans that no longer included a metro station, which was a big deal because that was a guaranteed source of local business / attendance at the site.

Tigers then got stuck in developmental limbo, trying to get approvals for a property of sufficient increase to be worthwhile and profitable (pretty sure the Leagues Club is officially not for profit, i.e. profits go back into the club for member facilities, plus community patronage like the rugby league).

All the while the club is empty and Tigers have two little satellites at Five Dock and Paddy's Markets, so the club is bleeding costs and lost revenues, year on year, waiting for the Govt to get its act together, and then trying to develop a new property.

It's probably true that the Tigers tried to get approvals to build too much, but also that area is diabolical for NIMBYism, because nobody wanted more residentials (despite building several thousand apartments down the road at Balmain Shores 10 years prior). Complaints were about Victoria Rd traffic (probably true) and even things as stupid as flying heights for aeroplanes coming by.

The matter went back and forward, mostly blocked by Leichhardt Council (held by Labor and Greens), then eventually it was moved to the NSW Planning Commission (or whatever their name was) to try and bypass the local council block and obtain a resolution. Darcy Byrne is neck deep in all of these deliberations.

At that time circa 2010 I knew a town planner in Leichhardt Council, so for about 6 months I had second-hand knowledge of the Tigers efforts to obtain a DA.

THEN they ended up running out of time and money. You can't be a Leagues Club with your primary club premises closed for 10 years.

You can read all about it from news pieces at the time, particularly the 2010 club vacation of premises and then the canned metro.

Metro pause leaves businesses in lurch

IT HAS come too late for some. Last week the Premier, Kristina Keneally, announced that the Government had decided to pause in its acquisition of property in Rozelle to make way for the controversial $5.3 billion CBD Metro.

www.smh.com.au

Tigers and partners hit for $26m by axed metro

THE cancellation of the CBD Metro has left the Tigers leagues club and its partners at least $26 million out of pocket, newly released government documents on the axed transport project reveal.

www.smh.com.au

Sydney Metro (2008 proposal) - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

PM with David Lipson - ABC listen

PM covers stories across Australia and the world, explaining and analysing the most important events and issues of the day.

www.abc.net.au

Balmain Tigers stood to gain $26m from axed Metro

It's been revealed the Govt was prepared to pay the Balmain Tigers club to build the axed rail line.

www.abc.net.au

Briefs

$200m Tigers scheme...

www.afr.com

 

[Dennisspicer1]

If the constant caps locks and bolding of your statements wasn't enough to let us in on what we're dealing with....

This statement clears it up once and for all.

Stupidest thing I've read in my years here....
Memberships increasing year on year because the generation of Wests Tigers fans only is reaching adulthood - And you think they're gonna change the name back to a team no one even remembers....

I applaud you
👏👏👏

Maybe you should read some of your own articles, I am sure you will find you have posted some stupid articles.

You and I have crossed swords before.
How about if you dont like my articles you ignore them, and I will do the same and ignore yours.

 

[Asu Kepaoa's #1 Fan]

Losing James Tedesco was one of the worst things to happen to this club. Even in tough times, I always felt that if he was playing we could win a game.

 

[TrueTiger]

Losing James Tedesco was one of the worst things to happen to this club. Even in tough times, I always felt that if he was playing we could win a game.

What do you put losing Tedesco down to,heres a couple of examples for you,player manager wanting more money for his top line player,poor admin not taking notice of a young gun in our system,coaching showing bias toward favourites,club trying to save $$$ or just very ordinary football club management skills ???

 

[Demps]

What do you put losing Tedesco down to,heres a couple of examples for you,player manager wanting more money for his top line player,poor admin not taking notice of a young gun in our system,coaching showing bias toward favourites,club trying to save $$$ or just very ordinary football club management skills ???

I think Teddy wanted to play for the club he supported throughout his childhood and win the big prize - which he couldn't see happening at the Tigers.

Put his ambitions first over any loyalties and I guess he made the right choice for himself.