MACARTHUR
Third Sydney stadium priority for Council not Wests Tigers
PETER WAY MACARTHUR CHRONICLE CAMPBELLTOWN DECEMBER 12, 2013 5:26PM
SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 04: Wests Tigers CEO, Grant Mayer speaks to the media during the NRL 2014 Season Draw Announceme…
Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer says the club may be forced to move due to the WestConnex project. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images
News that the Wests Tigers NRL club could relocate from Concord Oval to North Ryde, shunning Campbelltown as a possible home, has angered Macarthur Chronicle readers and Wests Tigers fans.
Wests Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer said earlier this week that the club's future at Concord Oval was uncertain due to the State Government's WestConnex project.
"The WestConnex project could well be using Concord Oval as a car park therefore the Wests Tigers may - and I emphasise may - be looking for a new home," he said.
More than 40 posts were left on the Chronicle's Facebook page with Tessa Louise summarising local sentiment best when she said "this seems like a spit in the face to many loyal fans".
Wests Tigers chief executive Grant Mayer spoke at Tuesday night's meeting of Ryde Council and said the club's future at Concord Oval was uncertain due.
"The WestConnex project could well be using Concord Oval as a car park therefore the Wests Tigers may - and I emphasise may - be looking for a new home," he said.
Campbelltown deputy mayor Paul Lake joked that if the club keeps moving west they may end up in Western Australia.
He also said that Campbelltown Council's main objective was to become the home to Sydney's third major stadium.
"I'm over the Wests Tigers, my main concern as a member of Campbelltown Council is to lobby all relevant parties for the third major stadium in Sydney to be based in Campbelltown," he said.
Cr Lake said the stadium would bring all rugby league, rugby union and football to the Macarthur region and is ideally positioned close to the rail line and with access from all major roads
Campbelltown Mayor Clinton Mead said there was a feeling that the Wests Tigers seem to be moving away from the area.
"I think the people of Campbelltown would appreciate it if they decided to move here," he said.
"I feel there's a big hole in the market, it'd be a good symbolic gesture [to relocate to Campbelltown]."
"I imagine Ryde Council is offering Wests Tigers something to move there, the devil is in the detail.
"It is always good for businesses to be set up and they are welcome in Campbelltown."