I cannot read the story but the picture looks like it is about Maitland. It definitely should at least have an east hill built (brought in) so that it is rectangular. Its a very good western stand.
Currently this is essentially a cricket oval shaped field the Maitland Pickers play on.
Maitland is probably the heart of the heartland and Maitland Pickers the most legendary/historic country RL club in the game's history. It is a crime they play on a cricket ground.
Adam Devcich, the general manager of Newcastle Rugby League, believes the Hunter is desperately lacking a venue with a capacity of up to 15,000 people.
He feels one of the region's councils could seize an opportunity to create a "massive missing" piece of sporting infrastructure, a stadium that could cater to rugby league, soccer and rugby union, at both community and professional level.
"I think we've got a massive missing part of sporting infrastructure in the Hunter," Devcich said.
"Below McDonald Jones Stadium, which seats nearly 30,000, the next level down is a Maitland Sportsground or [Newcastle] No.2 Sportsground, and they don't have corporate facilities.
"We don't have a boutique, medium-sized stadium, that houses 12,000 to 15,000 people."
Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe, which can accommodate about 10,000 fans, Inset, NEWRL general manager Adam Devcich and the view of the ground.
Kayo Stadium in Redcliffe, which can accommodate about 10,000 fans, Inset, NEWRL general manager Adam Devcich and the view of the ground.
After first floating the idea in 2023, Devcich has issued a renewed plea for the stadium proposal to be investigated following last month's NEWRL grand final.
More than 6000 people passed through the gates of the Broadmeadow venue for the NEWRL's biggest day of the year, which included four grand finals and culminated with Maitland's win over Cessnock in the first-grade decider.
On crowd size alone, in terms of creating an atmosphere with a full house, the NEWRL would be better off playing at one of the region's smaller venues, rather than having more than two-thirds of McDonald Jones Stadium (MJS) empty.
But they have played their grand finals at MJS for more than a decade, despite the cost to hire the venue, because it has corporate facilities which can generate additional revenue.
Their deal is due to end next year, but will more than likely be extended.
"We sell a lot of corporate tickets to our grand final day, and there's no real other option than McDonald Jones Stadium to do that," Devcich said.
Scores of empty seats at the 2023 NEWRL grand final at McDonald Jones Stadium. Picture by Peter Lorimer
Scores of empty seats at the 2023 NEWRL grand final at McDonald Jones Stadium. Picture by Peter Lorimer
"We sell most of the western grandstand corporate [spaces]. It's the only place we can do that at.
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"There needs to be within our region [a stadium] somewhere between McDonald Jones and [the] Maitland or [Newcastle sportsgrounds]."
Devcich's call for a boutique stadium isn't solely born out of an interest for his sport, he believes it would help the Newcastle Jets A-League sides, particularly the women who already play out of No.2 Sportsground, and the Knights' NRLW team.
When playing before their male counterparts, the Knights' NRLW side draws a decent crowd at MJS, but in standalone games in the regular season, the crowd sizes are usually less than the capacity of smaller venues like Newcastle and Maitland sportsgrounds, which can accommodate up to about 8000 people.
A Knights NRLW match at McDonald Jones Stadium in September, 2025. Picture Getty Images
A Knights NRLW match at McDonald Jones Stadium in September, 2025. Picture Getty Images
"We need, somewhere between Swansea and Port Stephens, a 12,000 to 15,000-seat stadium, with corporate facilities, that could have multiple tenants," Devcich said.
"From the Jets, to the Jets' women, the Knights' NRLW women, our finals series for example. There's so many options for a stadium like that."
Newcastle and Hunter Rugby Union played its finals series at Newcastle's No.2 Sportsground this year, while the NEWRL finals were shared around grounds across the Hunter and Central Coast.
If there was a stadium slightly larger than the Newcastle and Maitland sportsgrounds, which had corporate facilities, both codes could potentially play their finals there.
The Jets, who won the Australia Cup this month, could also play those types of matches there and potentially lower-drawing A-League Men's games.
Maitland Sportsground.
Maitland Sportsground.
The stadium could host other one-off matches, tournaments and events throughout the year.
A former National Rugby League referee who oversaw games at venues right across Australia, Devcich believes Kayo Stadium, the Dolphins' traditional home at Redcliffe, is an ideal example venue.
It can accommodate about 10,000 people and hosts a couple of NRL matches each year.
It is also used by the Dolphins' lower-grade sides, and has hosted A-League team Brisbane Roa
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