The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[Bulldog2020]

Is co-ownership of the ground mutually beneficial? Think Cronulla gets more out of it than the NRL. Smart move by Dino, though.

I guess the question is what events do the NRL fund/own that are appropriate for the stadium size/location?

Perhaps only internationals not involving Australia.

 

[Saint Doc]

The Sharks were gifted the land in the first place. If they want a tax payer funded stadium, they would need to gift the stadium/land back to the state government. But there is no way the Gobernment should build a stadium that opens suites into a private Leagues Club. I’m not convinced there would be the land around shark Park to be able to build a mini Bankwest any more, it’s hemmed in by Leagues Club, mangroves, apartments and a road.

Kogarah is a much more central location. You would obviously have NRL and NRLW games. Sydney FC may keep a presence there, particularly Asian Champions League games etc. No reason you couldn’t get Southern Districts rugby playing there. It’s easier the get to. Sharks may say they’ll never play there but when the ability to make money from corporates etc is presented to them, I could definitely see them moving games.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I guess the question is what events do the NRL fund/own that are appropriate for the stadium size/location?

Perhaps only internationals not involving Australia.

Yes plus I think the NRL would want autonomy as well.

 

[Perth Red]

The Sharks proposal is far superior re usage,re revenue ,re State Govt/NRL involvement ,re Shark's Centre of Excellence grant money in the pipeline ,would get far more usage than 10 times per year.
Throw in the Sthn Districts union side and other social activities.
A new Kogarah stadium would not get the benefits of entertainment facilities next door either.Nor a hotel on site.
Having a Leagues club on site, with that revenue throughput brings in far more than a stadium out of the area.

none of the other sports usage the sharks are suggesting requires a $250mill stadium, it could be played at the local park. Sharks selling up and having cleared extra $100mill in the bank to invest and build an asset base makes them a powerhouse into the future,
Unless there are two or three professional sports clubs using a stadium it is unjustifiable for the govt to be spending massive amount of tax payers money on it, imo.

 

[siv]

The Cronulla Sharks have offered the NRL a joint-venture opportunity potentially worth tens of millions of dollars in a unique partnership to build a “mini-Bankwest” stadium at Shark Park.

The Sharks would provide the land, the NRL would lobby the government for funding and in return they would get a shareholding that would become the cash-strapped code’s first major asset.

Sharks chief executive Dino Mezzatesta is soon to put the proposal to independent commission chairman Peter V’landys and the state government as an alternative to building a $200 million facility at Kogarah that would be used only six times a year by St George Illawarra. It would then go to Sharks members for final approval.

Shark Park could be developed into a ‘mini-Bankwest’ stadium.
“We will never leave Shark Park,” Mezzatesta said. “And we believe this is a huge opportunity for not just the Sharks but for the entire game to have an asset with commercial opportunities.”

State treasurer Dominic Perrottet is soon to announce government funding for four new suburban grounds in Sydney in return for a 25-year commitment from the NRL to keep grand finals in the Harbour City.

Kogarah Oval has been earmarked for the first project followed by Liverpool, Brookvale and Penrith. The NRL wants the Sharks to quit their traditional home ground to share Kogarah with the Dragons.

“That won’t be happening,” Mezzatesta said. “I’ve spoken to the NRL about our plans and they have no authority over where our games are played. They can’t tell us to move.

“We have an obligation to our members and fans to keep games at Shark Park.”

Sharks chief executive Dino Mezzatesta insist the club will “never leave” Shark Park. Picture: AAP
The Kogarah plan is a shock in that St George Illawarra already has Wollongong and won’t leave.

“I don’t want to sound disrespectful but our case and is far more appealing than either Brookvale or Kogarah,” Mezzatesta said. “There is huge revenue opportunities for the game from a facility like this. This is a long-term investment for the game.

“We get the a state-of-the-art facility and the NRL shares in the commercial opportunities

“If the NRL is successful in achieving funds for stadia, it’s something we’d talk to them about. We would explore them having part-ownership. Or even the state sharing ownership.

“We’d make it worthwhile for the NRL and the community.”

A new boutique stadium in the Shire would sit alongside the $400 million redevelopment that includes a hotel and an 18,000 sqm precinct for shopping and dining.

The Sharks have grand plans for redeveloping Shark Park. Picture: Brett Costello
“In an area like this, why would you have no rugby league content here,” Mezzatesta said.

There would be a plan to build a southern Sydney rugby league academy as part of the project, similar to the Penrith Panthers.

Cronulla has the third-biggest junior rugby league nursery behind only the Penrith Panthers and the Parramatta Eels with more than 500 junior participants.

“We have 12,000 OzTag participants, 4000 touch footballers and the largest number soccer registrations in the country,” Mezzatesta said, “If you’re looking for multipurpose use, we’re hard to beat. There’s also an opportunity for Southern Districts rugby union.

“The commercial opportunities for the venue and the NRL as a stakeholder are enormous.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...l/news-story/5c078de287bd8d01bc918592b1d7f9b5

Developer waiting to renovate more of that council gifted land into apartments

No room to grow at that site now

Can see future resudents putting in every increasing noise complaints, as each year goes by

 

[Bukowski]

Off topic, but from that article. I'm surprised the sharks have more juniors than Wests.

 

[Vee]

Off topic, but from that article. I'm surprised the sharks have more juniors than Wests.

And Newcastle.

 

[Perth Red]

Off topic, but from that article. I'm surprised the sharks have more juniors than Wests.

I’m surprised 500 puts them that high, we have more than that in WA.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

I’m surprised 500 puts them that high, we have more than that in WA.

WA has ten times the population of the Sutherland Shire, though.

 

[greenBV4]

Sharks were smart to put that proposal forward, and will be very lucky if it gets approved, but I dont see a government paying millions to develop a privately owned stadium that is integrated with a privately owned leagues club

Kogarah will get developed as it is more central and used by atleast 3 codes, sharks to hold out at shark Park until the losses continue to rack up and the corporate boxes of shiny new southern Bankwest will start to look very appealing

 

[Diesel]

Other than the Sharks, who else would play there? You’d get the odd A-League game, maybe a round of NRLW, it’d be competing with other grounds for limited opportunities.

 

[taipan]

none of the other sports usage the sharks are suggesting requires a $250mill stadium, it could be played at the local park. Sharks selling up and having cleared extra $100mill in the bank to invest and build an asset base makes them a powerhouse into the future,
Unless there are two or three professional sports clubs using a stadium it is unjustifiable for the govt to be spending massive amount of tax payers money on it, imo.

Who says $250m is going to be used at Sharks Park to get to 18-20k capacity.How many times does Suncorp get 40k plus in a one team city of it's size..
The club has a grant already in place for the Centre of Excellence that will be incorporated into and around the E.T.stand.How many times does the Storm 'stadium get more than 18k at games for that club/Rebels and the A League..

It's a damn size more sensible for a stadium that will be used much more than Jubilee ,and even the Dragon's Illawarra part don't want it.
The funny part if the Sydney F./C uses Jubilee, it means that is one code less for the new SFS>

The Sharks selling up the football ground is BS, the Sutherland Shire Council will not allow the ground to be used for further retail or housing development, into an already crowded site.The land was granted to the club by the Council for that very reason, recreation and the planning and pathways etc is part of that set up is part and parcel of the development.So your $100m is typical pie in the sky, 1000km away nonsense.
Do you understand how the property market and unit developers are feeling the pinch.Ask Harry Triguboff(spelling) from Meriton.The unit market is becoming saturated, yes the is more popular for sales, but other areas are building units in the Shire in large numbers.Miranda in particular.

They are not going to move, because they have made a commitment financially and personally to the Shire residents.And the Council is/ has been behind the club's Shark Park development.The Sharks will be spending $11m on the refurbished Leagues club, p*ssing off to Jubilee for ever on NRL game days is going to hurt revenues big time.Memberships and merchandise will take big hits,plus ticket sales.

A new development on the Old Toyota site around the cnr on Cpt Cook Drive will involved more commercial and hotel development.Adding to further congestion.

Plus of course a similar situation with Brookvale Oval, one professional NRL club, and a couple of local rugby union clubs to use it.The State money is on the basis of utilisation of as many of the community and surrounds involved .So Brookvale is OK for the State Govt.
The State Govt is looking at infrastructure developments to create jobs and enhance the benefits for the local communities.So stadiums are multi use, from markets to premier matches.
And who knows whether the A league ends up with a Southern team.


I've just had lunch today at one of their assets the Kareela Golf Club building, that happens to be in the Shire not Banksia or Kogarah.They are already building an asset base.

If the Sharks received a hypothetical $100m(choke) for sale of their land, they would put it toward a stadium in the Shire, I repeat in the Shire.It "ain;t " going to happen.

 

[baselinepanther]

I’m surprised 500 puts them that high, we have more than that in WA.

thats 500 teams , not players as the article suggests , so probably 5000 players

 

[baselinepanther]

And Newcastle.

id question that statement , as i dont think they do

id think they mean in sydney / metro
illawarra would have more too btw & possibly canberra

 

[MugaB]

thats 500 teams , not players as the article suggests , so probably 5000 players

Probably including the womens comp aswell as juniors, plus Touch,Tag, etc, might even be roping in Newtown as the feeder for that count too
Im actually surprised that the NRLW didn't start off with Cronulla and Souths instead of St.George and Roosters, as they already had the womens comp set up already... must be RL politics again

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

Probably including the womens comp aswell as juniors, plus Touch,Tag, etc, might even be roping in Newtown as the feeder for that count too
Im actually surprised that the NRLW didn't start off with Cronulla and Souths instead of St.George and Roosters, as they already had the womens comp set up already... must be RL politics again

Cronulla were still getting their finances in order at that time so perhaps the NRL lacked faith

 

[Quicksilver]

Cronulla were still getting their finances in order at that time so perhaps the NRL lacked faith

we were pretty good at that stage.

Baldy just didn’t like us very much.

 

[blue bags]

Other than the Sharks, who else would play there? You’d get the odd A-League game, maybe a round of NRLW, it’d be competing with other grounds for limited opportunities.

remember the bid for a new south southern Aleague team. shark park be home ground. and southern districts rugby can play there

 

[Perth Red]

thats 500 teams , not players as the article suggests , so probably 5000 players

thought it didn’t seem right!

 

[wazdog]

Probably including the womens comp aswell as juniors, plus Touch,Tag, etc, might even be roping in Newtown as the feeder for that count too
Im actually surprised that the NRLW didn't start off with Cronulla and Souths instead of St.George and Roosters, as they already had the womens comp set up already... must be RL politics again

Here's the reason why we apparently didn't have a team.

Souths general manager Shane Richardson claim forming an NRLW is “financial insanity”
The Daily Telegraph
March 27, 2019

South Sydney fear for the future of the fledgling women’s competition, declaring the money the NRL is asking clubs to outlay as “financial insanity”.

The Daily Telegraph on Wednesday revealed the NRL women’s competition was costing the four participating clubs a combined total of $1.5 million a season.

Brisbane, Sydney Roosters, St George Illawarra and New Zealand Warriors have even discussed withdrawing but fear that would “embarrass” the NRL.

“We’re supportive of women and the competition but we’re not supportive of going broke doing it,” Rabbitohs general manager of football Shane Richardson said.

“We’re not prepared to pay the ridiculous money simply to say we have a successful team. The NRL has to support it more than just lip service. The clubs are going to get very sick of it very quickly.”

Each club is being forced to outlay up to $400,000 a season to operate a side in the women’s competition — which runs for just four weeks through September — without a financial grant from the NRL.

Richardson said he warned the NRL of the competition’s financial perils.

“The NRL scoffed at us last year when we raised the fact we had done a P&L (profit and loss) on it – we are pretty good with figures at South Sydney – and realised it was going to cost us $350,000 more than they were saying,” Richardson told The Daily Telegraph.

“For that, they got dirty with us. It was insanity what they were trying to do financially. We put our hands up and they didn’t like it but it has turned out to be true. That’s the bottom line.

“They overlooked us, we didn’t withdraw. But one of the factors was we questioned the financials. We have no doubt about that.”

Unless there is an influx of money through sponsorship or from the NRL, there are fears the competition’s long-term future is not sustainable

The inaugural NRLW competition kicked off last season. AAP Image/Craig Golding.

“Not as it is now,” Richardson said. “It’s sustainable if the clubs are willing to lose $400,000 a year, more.

“The reality is this is an NRL-propagated competition. I’m not dirty on the four clubs because of their franchises but to go forward, the NRL has to support more than just lip service.

“They never did a reality check. They got it right on numbers, four teams, not trying to spread the talent too much, I got that, but they never got the financials right.

“At the end of the day, once again, the clubs are paying for it. It’s got to be there for the long-term. If you keep taking losses on it then clubs are going to struggle with it.”

Richardson is one of the game’s greatest administrators. Picture by John Grainger.

It is understood the AFL pay each club fielding a women’s side $250,000 a season. The NRL, which seeks a $50,000 entry fee, covers staff, administration, travel and accommodation.

The NRL says clubs were aware of the potential costs when seeking inclusion in the competition last year.

NRL officials will meet later this year to review the competition and discuss possible expansion to six teams.

“If they can set up a viable model then we’d be keen to be involved,” Richardson said.

“We would put our hand up for (inclusion in an expanded) comp but we would, like all clubs, want a say in the financials. That’s not too much to ask.”

Players who have sought a pay increase have been rejected.