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State of play at Brookie
Jason Avedissian
22Sep07
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2007/09/2...ws_feature.html
THEY are enjoying their greatest season in a decade but still play at a venue that belongs in the 1980s.
Poor old Brookvale Oval is not moving with the times - unlike it's primary user, the Manly Sea Eagles. The peninsula's leading team will tonight continue their drive towards their first National Rugby League title in 11 years when they play North Queensland at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Sea Eagles are favoured to win the preliminary final and move through to Sunday week's Grand Final at Telstra Stadium. But regardless of any premiership silverware that may arrive on the northern beaches, it appears funding for Manly's dilapidated venue is still a long way off. Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer met with Premier Morris Iemma last week.
According to both sides, the discussions were progressive, with Mr Mayer asking for up to $5 million in state support to upgrade the ugly ground.
``It was a very positive meeting,'' Mr Mayer said. ``He's (Iemma) offered to work with us and speak to the council (Warringah) if need be.''
For the moment, the Premier has left some strenuous homework for the Sea Eagles with Mr Mayer to gather quotes from builders to make a formal submission for funding. Mr Iemma is expected to make a decision by December with Mr Mayer hopeful works can begin on the ground, subject to council approval, by the end of the 2008 season.
Along with a further $10 million request from the Howard Government, the Sea Eagles are optimistic about securing $15 million to ensure their future at the ground for at least the next 25 years.
``If all this happens, we will be at Brookie long-term,'' Mr Mayer said. ``There's plenty of history from federal and state governments funding venues, it's clearly our turn to get assistance.''
Not that the club has been totally ignored. Combined, the NSW and federal governments have contributed $1.4 million to the Sea Eagles since 2005.
State funding of $400,000 was used to upgrade the scoreboard on the northern hill in 2005, while $1 million from the Howard Government came last year to install four new light towers. But those numbers pale into insignificance when stacked up against those of other NSW-based NRL clubs.
A Manly Daily investigation has found the Sea Eagles are struggling behind all clubs questioned when it comes to combined state and federal government support in recent years, with the following grounds leading the way:
* Newcastle's EnergyAustralia Stadium with a whopping $65 million;
* South Sydney's Redfern Oval has managed $19 million despite the Rabbitohs not even using it for NRL games;
* Penrith's CUA Stadium ($15 million);
* The Dragons OKI Jubilee Stadium ($15 million);
* Cronulla's Toyota Park ($10 million);
* The Tigers Leichhardt Oval ($1.5 million).
The Knights, struggling on the field, appear to be reaping the rewards off it as they await a further $30 million request from the Howard Government.
But as Leigh Maughan, the secretary of the Hunter International Sports Centre Trust which manages EnergyAustralia Stadium, points out, their venue is a multi-purpose ground; catering for the Knights, Newcastle Jets in the A-League, ``community type functions'', potentially Asian Cup matches in 2015 and concerts.
``We have been successful at it (gaining funds) in the recent decade,'' Mr Maughan said. ``Prior to that, we never got a sixpence. Manly's ground certainly needs a dollar spent.
``They are a major club in the competition, they have a very prosperous area and there's no doubt in the world they need an injection of funds to bring them up to the modern day world. The Manly people deserve better than what's in front of them.''
A casual walk around the empty ground during the week, backs up Mr Maughan's strong opinion. In the Ken Arthurson Stand, the newest structure in the ground, a light fitting is dangerously hanging on by a single chain.
The Jane Try Stand is an interesting sight, with seats - incredibly - not numbered in numerical order.
Our role would be to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the actual ground itself, while minimising the costs to our ratepayersOld signs and fencing are literally falling down.Clockwise from top: The family hill at Brookie is largely dirt; broken seats; ageing signs; and damaged facilities.
It may seem a small matter, but on game day, with thousands of fans trying to find their seats, it can be a logistical nightmare. Down below in the dressing sheds, panels are missing from windows, tiles in the showers are loose and decaying, while sponsors' signs on the hill are bent over backwards, waiting to be blown away by the next powerful storm.
The corporate boxes in the Southern Stand are ageing: the decor, stained carpet, rigid seats, television sets which often don't work, missing knobs on cabinets and dirty walls all making a night out extremely uninviting for good paying sponsors.
One sponsor, Eagle Sports state manager for NSW and Queensland, Sean Thomas, said the boxes offered very little in terms of comfort.
``From a view point, the boxes are great,'' Mr Thomas said. ``But the actual facilities, tired is the kindest word I can use. They are bordering on archaic.''
Mr Thomas is being extremely kind. Warringah Council general manager Rik Hart said while the ground was not ``broken'', it was not in good shape.
``It's maintained, but in the modern world, when everything is revenue driven, it's (the ground) not able to maximise the revenue the club is capable of,'' Mr Hart said.
``The NRL are not entirely happy with the state of the ground. We've got to work through a lot of issues.''
Mr Hart said if government funding was forthcoming, decisions on upgrading Brookvale Oval would only be made in consultation with Manly-Warringah League Club, the Sea Eagles and the community.
``Our role would be to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the actual ground itself, while minimising the costs to our ratepayers,'' he said.
High-profile Manly supporter Wendy Harmer, who will wait until after the federal election before deciding whether she will run for Warringah Council, went further. ``I think it is appalling that we still have the old stadium there,'' she said.
``The local pollies should be ashamed of themselves that they haven't got behind getting a new stadium there. The money always goes to the clubs that have marginal seats.''
And with the northern beaches a Liberal stronghold, the cynics will tell you Brookvale Oval will never get a cent from the state while Mr Iemma is in charge.
Jason Avedissian
22Sep07
http://manlydaily.com.au/article/2007/09/2...ws_feature.html
THEY are enjoying their greatest season in a decade but still play at a venue that belongs in the 1980s.
Poor old Brookvale Oval is not moving with the times - unlike it's primary user, the Manly Sea Eagles. The peninsula's leading team will tonight continue their drive towards their first National Rugby League title in 11 years when they play North Queensland at the Sydney Football Stadium.
The Sea Eagles are favoured to win the preliminary final and move through to Sunday week's Grand Final at Telstra Stadium. But regardless of any premiership silverware that may arrive on the northern beaches, it appears funding for Manly's dilapidated venue is still a long way off. Sea Eagles chief executive Grant Mayer met with Premier Morris Iemma last week.
According to both sides, the discussions were progressive, with Mr Mayer asking for up to $5 million in state support to upgrade the ugly ground.
``It was a very positive meeting,'' Mr Mayer said. ``He's (Iemma) offered to work with us and speak to the council (Warringah) if need be.''
For the moment, the Premier has left some strenuous homework for the Sea Eagles with Mr Mayer to gather quotes from builders to make a formal submission for funding. Mr Iemma is expected to make a decision by December with Mr Mayer hopeful works can begin on the ground, subject to council approval, by the end of the 2008 season.
Along with a further $10 million request from the Howard Government, the Sea Eagles are optimistic about securing $15 million to ensure their future at the ground for at least the next 25 years.
``If all this happens, we will be at Brookie long-term,'' Mr Mayer said. ``There's plenty of history from federal and state governments funding venues, it's clearly our turn to get assistance.''
Not that the club has been totally ignored. Combined, the NSW and federal governments have contributed $1.4 million to the Sea Eagles since 2005.
State funding of $400,000 was used to upgrade the scoreboard on the northern hill in 2005, while $1 million from the Howard Government came last year to install four new light towers. But those numbers pale into insignificance when stacked up against those of other NSW-based NRL clubs.
A Manly Daily investigation has found the Sea Eagles are struggling behind all clubs questioned when it comes to combined state and federal government support in recent years, with the following grounds leading the way:
* Newcastle's EnergyAustralia Stadium with a whopping $65 million;
* South Sydney's Redfern Oval has managed $19 million despite the Rabbitohs not even using it for NRL games;
* Penrith's CUA Stadium ($15 million);
* The Dragons OKI Jubilee Stadium ($15 million);
* Cronulla's Toyota Park ($10 million);
* The Tigers Leichhardt Oval ($1.5 million).
The Knights, struggling on the field, appear to be reaping the rewards off it as they await a further $30 million request from the Howard Government.
But as Leigh Maughan, the secretary of the Hunter International Sports Centre Trust which manages EnergyAustralia Stadium, points out, their venue is a multi-purpose ground; catering for the Knights, Newcastle Jets in the A-League, ``community type functions'', potentially Asian Cup matches in 2015 and concerts.
``We have been successful at it (gaining funds) in the recent decade,'' Mr Maughan said. ``Prior to that, we never got a sixpence. Manly's ground certainly needs a dollar spent.
``They are a major club in the competition, they have a very prosperous area and there's no doubt in the world they need an injection of funds to bring them up to the modern day world. The Manly people deserve better than what's in front of them.''
A casual walk around the empty ground during the week, backs up Mr Maughan's strong opinion. In the Ken Arthurson Stand, the newest structure in the ground, a light fitting is dangerously hanging on by a single chain.
The Jane Try Stand is an interesting sight, with seats - incredibly - not numbered in numerical order.
Our role would be to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the actual ground itself, while minimising the costs to our ratepayersOld signs and fencing are literally falling down.Clockwise from top: The family hill at Brookie is largely dirt; broken seats; ageing signs; and damaged facilities.
It may seem a small matter, but on game day, with thousands of fans trying to find their seats, it can be a logistical nightmare. Down below in the dressing sheds, panels are missing from windows, tiles in the showers are loose and decaying, while sponsors' signs on the hill are bent over backwards, waiting to be blown away by the next powerful storm.
The corporate boxes in the Southern Stand are ageing: the decor, stained carpet, rigid seats, television sets which often don't work, missing knobs on cabinets and dirty walls all making a night out extremely uninviting for good paying sponsors.
One sponsor, Eagle Sports state manager for NSW and Queensland, Sean Thomas, said the boxes offered very little in terms of comfort.
``From a view point, the boxes are great,'' Mr Thomas said. ``But the actual facilities, tired is the kindest word I can use. They are bordering on archaic.''
Mr Thomas is being extremely kind. Warringah Council general manager Rik Hart said while the ground was not ``broken'', it was not in good shape.
``It's maintained, but in the modern world, when everything is revenue driven, it's (the ground) not able to maximise the revenue the club is capable of,'' Mr Hart said.
``The NRL are not entirely happy with the state of the ground. We've got to work through a lot of issues.''
Mr Hart said if government funding was forthcoming, decisions on upgrading Brookvale Oval would only be made in consultation with Manly-Warringah League Club, the Sea Eagles and the community.
``Our role would be to balance the needs of the community with the needs of the actual ground itself, while minimising the costs to our ratepayers,'' he said.
High-profile Manly supporter Wendy Harmer, who will wait until after the federal election before deciding whether she will run for Warringah Council, went further. ``I think it is appalling that we still have the old stadium there,'' she said.
``The local pollies should be ashamed of themselves that they haven't got behind getting a new stadium there. The money always goes to the clubs that have marginal seats.''
And with the northern beaches a Liberal stronghold, the cynics will tell you Brookvale Oval will never get a cent from the state while Mr Iemma is in charge.
