The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[Tiger Shark]

Unless for example Sydney NRL clubs are going to become as big as European soccer clubs and build their own stadiums then there is very little choice other than shared stadiums.

Also, I think people sometimes underestimate the problems with upgrading these stadiums.

Firstly, the facilities of some of these suburban stadiums are so far behind the times. Even if you did upgrade say Leichhardt it would still not really be suitable. For example there is just not enough parking and you have very little corporate facilities. So essentially you are putting lipstick on a pig. Shark Park and a few other are the same, albeit they are slightly better than Leichhardt.

Secondly the stadiums and surrounding areas are just not big enough. With these facilities, in order for it to actually work, you would need to knock the whole thing down, rezone the land and make them bigger. That’s not going to happen.

Thirdly, people argue against shared stadiums because of accessibility, yet having stadiums in outer suburban areas, particularly when the city is so difficult to get around, is even worse for accessibility. Unless transport becomes so much better in Sydney (a lot is being spent but the whole plans won’t be finished for another 15-20 years) than surely having stadiums in areas accessible to the most amount of people makes so much more sense than having them in inaccessible areas. How many people outside of Cronulla are going to Shark Park for example?

Shared stadiums make sense. Have the majority of the games played at SFS and Commbank with Penrith playing at Bluebet and Manly at Brookvale. That’s manageable. It’s also a lot easier to negotiate upgrades if and when you require due to shared tenancy. Also you could look at a stadium in SW Sydney when the airport brings in massive growth in those areas.

Do you live in Sydney?

 

[Wb1234]

Hadl

In fact, it was the poor facilities for corporates which is one of the reasons South Sydney moved from Redfern Oval to the SFS. They kne4w it was hampering them financially in the longer term.

Hardly a big move though as the sfs is on the border of their territory

 

[Gallen Towers]

Leichhardt is a shithole stuck in a random surburban residential area. At least Shark Park is club-owned and part of an integrated residential and commercial development by the sea. It should be upgraded to become the major boutique stadium of the south.

 

[MugaB]

Being at commbank for the eels v parra game was as good as being at an epl game. It was that level of sports professionalism and fan experience. That should be the target we are aiming for, not some throw back nswrl game from 1985 with 14k and a corporate tent with an esky of tinnies.

This coming from perth red, who loves to watch Storm vs Melbourne, and can't wait for the 18th team to be announced and to be WA

 

[baselinepanther]

14k to 34k crowd avg’s, 15-30k compared to 40-100k members. which model of fan engagement is working best? Hmmmmmmm.

and yet we made 40 million plus in profits & they still lost 40 million plus spending less on grass roots & its clubs

throw up all the propaganda you want , we're flogging em.
Thank you Peter the great.. thank you.

 

[Colk]

Do you live in Sydney?

I have lived in Sydney.

How about approaching the point from the perspective of suburban stadiums and their quality. Most of them are s***house and will always be s***house no matter how much money is poured into them.

Considering the NSW government are backing away from spending money on them and clubs aren’t in the position to build good quality stadiums themselves, what’s your alternative?

Sometimes you have deal in reality and look for compromises

 

[Colk]

Leichhardt is a shithole stuck in a random surburban residential area. At least Shark Park is club-owned and part of an integrated residential and commercial development by the sea. It should be upgraded to become the major boutique stadium of the south.

If Cronulla is the only one using it then they should pay for it

 

[Pippen94]

Leichhardt is a shithole stuck in a random surburban residential area. At least Shark Park is club-owned and part of an integrated residential and commercial development by the sea. It should be upgraded to become the major boutique stadium of the south.

This is funny if u know Sydney. Leichhardt oval is between the two biggest eaat west arterial roads, while shark park was until recently surrounded by sand dunes at the end of a peninsula

 

[Pippen94]

I have lived in Sydney.

How about approaching the point from the perspective of suburban stadiums and their quality. Most of them are s***house and will always be s***house no matter how much money is poured into them.

Considering the NSW government are backing away from spending money on them and clubs aren’t in the position to build good quality stadiums themselves, what’s your alternative?

Sometimes you have deal in reality and look for compromises

How old r u?! Big, newer, shiner isn't better. Time after time fans by way of polls show they prefer suburban grounds which give connection to history & identity for local clubs.

 

[Pippen94]

Being at commbank for the eels v parra game was as good as being at an epl game. It was that level of sports professionalism and fan experience. That should be the target we are aiming for, not some throw back nswrl game from 1985 with 14k and a corporate tent with an esky of tinnies.

Great when NRL is one of the four biggest sporting comps in the world with teams owned by billionaires, then each club can get an EPL stadium. Until then fans are happy with upgrades to local venues

 

[Wb1234]

I have lived in Sydney.

How about approaching the point from the perspective of suburban stadiums and their quality. Most of them are s***house and will always be s***house no matter how much money is poured into them.

Considering the NSW government are backing away from spending money on them and clubs aren’t in the position to build good quality stadiums themselves, what’s your alternative?

Sometimes you have deal in reality and look for compromises

A well located dump is better than a central located brand new ground that nobody wil travel too

have. A look at the tigers

clubs need an identity

 

[Colk]

How old r u?! Big, newer, shiner isn't better. Time after time fans by way of polls show they prefer suburban grounds which give connection to history & identity for local clubs.

How old are you? Your refusal to adapt to changing circumstances shows intellectual immaturity. You can’t be everything to everyone

As stated earlier, if the state government aren’t willing to pay for very good stadiums in every corner of the city and they are well within their rights to do so, considering there is no other city that I can think of that have done the same, what is the alternative? Charge ever increasing entry fees to games to dilapidated stadiums and then wonder why crowds remain stagnant

Like everything, people may be resistant to change, notwithstanding that change is warranted but like everything else people will eventually get over it. It happened with Melbourne with the AFL and it will happen here because there is little alternative.

 

[Colk]

A well located dump is better than a central located brand new ground that nobody wil travel too

have. A look at the tigers

clubs need an identity

Huh? That makes no sense. Has Commbank been a positive or a negative for Parramatta?

I agree the Tigers need an identity and it is not Leichhardt. At all

 

[Bukowski]

The

How old r u?! Big, newer, shiner isn't better. Time after time fans by way of polls show they prefer suburban grounds which give connection to history & identity for local clubs.

Tigers average bigger crowds at homebush than their two suburban grounds.

 

[Bulldog2020]

In this whole discussion, it is interesting how a big argument against suburban grounds in the success of Parramatta at CommBank. When essentially hundreds of millions of dollars was spent replacing a suburban ground in the exact same location.

Parramatta are lucky the Wanderers were the flavour of the month at the right time, otherwise they could be in the same boat as the other Clubs.

 

[Colk]

The

Tigers average bigger crowds at homebush than their two suburban grounds.

Exactly. In any case, if you are going to sell to corporates and try to flog memberships, how are you going to grow that side of your business by playing at small suburban grounds?

 

[Colk]

In this whole discussion, it is interesting how a big argument against suburban grounds in the success of Parramatta at CommBank. When essentially hundreds of millions of dollars was spent replacing a suburban ground in the exact same location.

Parramatta are lucky the Wanderers were the flavour of the month at the right time, otherwise they could be in the same boat as the other Clubs.

True but in saying that has it not helped them significantly? Also the new stadium is a massive improvement on their last ground

 

[Bulldog2020]

It has. But they had their traditional home replaced. It's different to asking Club's to move across the City.

 

[Pippen94]

The

Tigers average bigger crowds at homebush than their two suburban grounds.

Ha - biggest crowds this year for bulldogs & tigers were at belmore & Leichhardt respectively

 

[Pippen94]

Exactly. In any case, if you are going to sell to corporates and try to flog memberships, how are you going to grow that side of your business by playing at small suburban grounds?

A packed belmore or embarrassingly empty stadium Australia