- Messages
- 100,961
THE Bulldogs have attacked St George Illawarra for not moving Friday night's blockbuster from WIN Jubilee Stadium, where a sellout crowd is expected to leave thousands of fans stranded in their loungerooms.
Dogs chief executive Todd Greenberg believes the season's biggest clash is capable of attracting up to 40,000 people - double the capacity of suburban WIN Jubilee Stadium.
But Dragons opposite Peter Doust is sticking with the Kogarah venue - in the process sacrificing a potential $200,000 bounty of additional ticket sales alone.
Both ANZ Stadium and the SFS were prepared to host the top-of-the-table clash, for which only 3000 tickets now remain available.
A livid Greenberg last night hit out on behalf of Bulldogs fans, who he believes will be locked out of 2009's most- anticipated game.
"We've got to play the right games at the right locations and this is a perfect example of playing the wrong game at the wrong location," Greenberg said.
"In such tough economic times, our game can't afford to turn people away.
"We are going to lock out around 20,000 fans and I can't understand that at all.
"From the feedback we're getting in the office, we suspect there's going to be a lot of Bulldogs fans locked out of this game.
"They'll have to sit back in their loungerooms or go to the leagues club because they can't get in.
"That can't be a good sign for a game that's looking to build its crowds."
Greenberg said he had no preference for an alternative venue, despite the fact ANZ Stadium is his club's home ground.
"I'd be equally happy if the game were moved to the SFS," he said. "It should be played at a venue capable of accommodating more fans and generating more revenue for the game. The players
deserve to play in front of a bigger crowd and I think a lot of families have reservations about sitting on the hill at night."
Doust's loyalty will please hardcore Dragons fans, who demanded the team's return to Kogarah after an unsuccessful move to Homebush last year.
He refused to comment last night, instead directing The Daily Telegraph to a statement released last Friday.
"Whilst it may be commercially advantageous to host our game against the Bulldogs in a larger venue, this is not something we have contemplated," Doust's statement read.
"Returning all our home games to our local communities has been a key initiative for us this year and it has thus far been rewarding for our bottom line and for the players who have thrived on the support from the red and white faithful."
Doust also argued the "commitment" to split home games entirely between Kogarah and Wollongong had helped boost membership beyond 10,000.
Greenberg said he would like to see the NRL have the ability to determine scheduling, enabling league boss David Gallop to move marquee games to bigger venues.
The AFL has the power to dictate where games are played, but Gallop last night said rugby league did not enjoy the same relationships with its stadiums.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25465458-5001023,00.html
Gotta be honest, I don't 100% agree with Todd. From a business perspective it's stupid to keep it at Jubilee, but there's far more sentiment involved and the match day experience for everyone will be second-to-none. Leave it as is.
Dogs chief executive Todd Greenberg believes the season's biggest clash is capable of attracting up to 40,000 people - double the capacity of suburban WIN Jubilee Stadium.
But Dragons opposite Peter Doust is sticking with the Kogarah venue - in the process sacrificing a potential $200,000 bounty of additional ticket sales alone.
Both ANZ Stadium and the SFS were prepared to host the top-of-the-table clash, for which only 3000 tickets now remain available.
A livid Greenberg last night hit out on behalf of Bulldogs fans, who he believes will be locked out of 2009's most- anticipated game.
"We've got to play the right games at the right locations and this is a perfect example of playing the wrong game at the wrong location," Greenberg said.
"In such tough economic times, our game can't afford to turn people away.
"We are going to lock out around 20,000 fans and I can't understand that at all.
"From the feedback we're getting in the office, we suspect there's going to be a lot of Bulldogs fans locked out of this game.
"They'll have to sit back in their loungerooms or go to the leagues club because they can't get in.
"That can't be a good sign for a game that's looking to build its crowds."
Greenberg said he had no preference for an alternative venue, despite the fact ANZ Stadium is his club's home ground.
"I'd be equally happy if the game were moved to the SFS," he said. "It should be played at a venue capable of accommodating more fans and generating more revenue for the game. The players
deserve to play in front of a bigger crowd and I think a lot of families have reservations about sitting on the hill at night."
Doust's loyalty will please hardcore Dragons fans, who demanded the team's return to Kogarah after an unsuccessful move to Homebush last year.
He refused to comment last night, instead directing The Daily Telegraph to a statement released last Friday.
"Whilst it may be commercially advantageous to host our game against the Bulldogs in a larger venue, this is not something we have contemplated," Doust's statement read.
"Returning all our home games to our local communities has been a key initiative for us this year and it has thus far been rewarding for our bottom line and for the players who have thrived on the support from the red and white faithful."
Doust also argued the "commitment" to split home games entirely between Kogarah and Wollongong had helped boost membership beyond 10,000.
Greenberg said he would like to see the NRL have the ability to determine scheduling, enabling league boss David Gallop to move marquee games to bigger venues.
The AFL has the power to dictate where games are played, but Gallop last night said rugby league did not enjoy the same relationships with its stadiums.
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/story/0,22049,25465458-5001023,00.html
Gotta be honest, I don't 100% agree with Todd. From a business perspective it's stupid to keep it at Jubilee, but there's far more sentiment involved and the match day experience for everyone will be second-to-none. Leave it as is.
