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The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

L

Lakemba Dragon

Juniors
Messages
63
Anybody read the Illawarra Mercury?

There was an article calling for an upgraded Wollongong stadium and Saints playing more games there.

I’m not a subscriber so couldn’t open it

I believe more Dragons fans believe this is the best going forward. Even ones like myself who grew up on the hill at Kogarah.
 
W

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
45,203
Lakemba Dragon said:
Anybody read the Illawarra Mercury?

There was an article calling for an upgraded Wollongong stadium and Saints playing more games there.

I’m not a subscriber so couldn’t open it

I believe more Dragons fans believe this is the best going forward. Even ones like myself who grew up on the hill at Kogarah.
Click to expand...
The club's attendance figures are the worst in the NRL, just behind local rivals Cronulla Sharks' average home crowd of 12,856.
Data shows the Dragons' average home crowd is 12,056 heading into their final round showdown against the Penrith Panthers at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
According to Austadiums, all five of the season's lowest crowds have been in Sydney, the worst turnout being on March 23 when just 6211 fans turned up to Jubilee Stadium as the Dragons faced 2024 NRL grand finalists Melbourne.
The silver lining for Wollongong is that the average attendance at the five games at WIN Stadium this season was 12,860.
This raises the question whether the Red V should play more home games in Wollongong.
But for this to become a reality, work must be done on the ageing WIN Stadium.
The issues of the Wollongong venue were highlighted in July when thousands of people missed the start of the Dragons' victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Community and sporting organisations have long called for upgrades to WIN Stadium and neighbouring WIN Entertainment Centre.
In the meantime, the NRL is on track to break the four-million-attendance milestone for the first time ever in a regular season.
Across the entire NRL, the average crowd figure currently sits at an impressive 20,332 according to Austadiums.
However, only the Brisbane Broncos (40,818) and Canterbury Bulldogs (30,017) averaged more than 30,000 in 2025.
Flanagan rubbishes talk that players won't want to join Dragons


www.illawarramercury.com.au

The people have spoken, more Dragons games should be played in Wollongong

Flanagan rubbishes critics, says Dragons will land star players
www.illawarramercury.com.au www.illawarramercury.com.au
 
Dogs Of War

Dogs Of War

Coach
Messages
13,125
Wb1234 said:
The club's attendance figures are the worst in the NRL, just behind local rivals Cronulla Sharks' average home crowd of 12,856.
Data shows the Dragons' average home crowd is 12,056 heading into their final round showdown against the Penrith Panthers at WIN Stadium on Saturday.
According to Austadiums, all five of the season's lowest crowds have been in Sydney, the worst turnout being on March 23 when just 6211 fans turned up to Jubilee Stadium as the Dragons faced 2024 NRL grand finalists Melbourne.
The silver lining for Wollongong is that the average attendance at the five games at WIN Stadium this season was 12,860.
This raises the question whether the Red V should play more home games in Wollongong.
But for this to become a reality, work must be done on the ageing WIN Stadium.
The issues of the Wollongong venue were highlighted in July when thousands of people missed the start of the Dragons' victory over the Parramatta Eels.
Community and sporting organisations have long called for upgrades to WIN Stadium and neighbouring WIN Entertainment Centre.
In the meantime, the NRL is on track to break the four-million-attendance milestone for the first time ever in a regular season.
Across the entire NRL, the average crowd figure currently sits at an impressive 20,332 according to Austadiums.
However, only the Brisbane Broncos (40,818) and Canterbury Bulldogs (30,017) averaged more than 30,000 in 2025.
Flanagan rubbishes talk that players won't want to join Dragons


www.illawarramercury.com.au

The people have spoken, more Dragons games should be played in Wollongong

Flanagan rubbishes critics, says Dragons will land star players
www.illawarramercury.com.au www.illawarramercury.com.au
Click to expand...

That gong average attendance is still not good enough and is only 4 people more than the belittled Sharks attendances.

I still think the Sharks and Dragons should team up to get a better stadium they can both share that suits both clubs catchment areas. No more than 25k in size. Should do them both for the next 30 years.
 
N

NWQRabbit

Juniors
Messages
97
A slew of articles about shart park and the nrl finally waking up to the fact it shouldn't hold finals games.



www.smh.com.au

Sharks Stadium will host a final on Saturday night. It might be the last time

The NRL will review its finals schedule, which allows an elimination game to be played at “the worst professional sporting ground in the nation”.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

Not just finals imo, it hasn't been fit to host regular season games in years and I'm surprised it hasn't killed the sharks financially not having access to most of the corporate seats whilst the leagues club has been out of action for so long. I believe the CEO said the break even at the ground is 15k.

They had the perfect opportunity to play a few blockbuster games at the new sfs and get fans conditioned to 'travelling' there. The chooks just averaged 25k whilst scraping in to the top 8, it is a stadium people would make an effort to go to.
 
Desert Qlder

Desert Qlder

First Grade
Messages
9,799
NWQRabbit said:
A slew of articles about shart park and the nrl finally waking up to the fact it shouldn't hold finals games.



www.smh.com.au

Sharks Stadium will host a final on Saturday night. It might be the last time

The NRL will review its finals schedule, which allows an elimination game to be played at “the worst professional sporting ground in the nation”.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

Not just finals imo, it hasn't been fit to host regular season games in years and I'm surprised it hasn't killed the sharks financially not having access to most of the corporate seats whilst the leagues club has been out of action for so long. I believe the CEO said the break even at the ground is 15k.

They had the perfect opportunity to play a few blockbuster games at the new sfs and get fans conditioned to 'travelling' there. The chooks just averaged 25k whilst scraping in to the top 8, it is a stadium people would make an effort to go to.
Click to expand...

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo reveals finals policy will be reviewed in off-season which could kill off Sharks Stadium as finals venue​

Shark Park's limited capacity and outdated facilities have placed the venue in the NRL's crosshairs – and it is set to prompt a major finals policy review.

Shark Park is on borrowed time as a finals venue.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has revealed that the game will review its finals policy in the off-season and his comments would suggest that unless there is a dramatic upgrade of Cronulla’s home ground, it might be on death row when it comes to the postseason.

“I have a view that we need to focus on the fans and fan experience,” Abdo said.

“There comes a time where you have to consider a minimum standard – potentially for finals – that might be above the regular season.

“It’s not unusual in terms of professional sport. I think the time is right to have a close look at that. To be honest, we haven’t actually changed or reviewed the home finals policy for a while.

“I think we’re due for that and that’ll be a conversation that we will have with the ARL Commission at the end of the season.

“It’s two things that we are trading off here. One is being able to play in your regular home stadium and the other is a good experience for our fans.

“They’re both important. I think it’s time to review that at the end of the season and we’ll take direction from the commission.

“But I think it’s fair to say that we would want a minimum standard, particularly for finals, for our fans.”

Shark Park has been in the firing line for years now. Cronulla officials have been begging for financial support from the government to upgrade the venue but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The ground holds less than 15,000 people and the facilities are an embarrassment given it is the home of a professional rugby league club.

Yet the NRL’s existing rules mean they are given the opportunity to host a final on Saturday night when many believe the game should be moved to Allianz Stadium.

That may be about to change for the Sharks unless they can find the cash to fund a renovation in the next 12 months.

“It’s not just about the size of the venue, it’s also about the experience at the venue,” Abdo said.
“So all of that has to be taken into account.

“You want a great crowd, great atmosphere. In this particular case, you’ve got two Sydney teams – you want as many fans as possible enjoying it live.

“I think the players enjoy that and so do the fans. So all of that needs to be taken into account.”

 
Munky

Munky

Coach
Messages
14,159
beave said:
I was listening to Denan Kemp on SEN 2 days ago going on about the South's stadium deal and he was very much (to my knowledge)being very ignorant on the matter and fully behind South's.

Can peeps confirm for me this abbreviated version-

south's agreed to stay at Accor on the proviso that the stadium was going to get upgrades, upgrades got turned off so in 2021 (?)the stadium deal was then re-negotiated by Solly to be heavily more in favour of souths (more guaranteed cash per game/lower hiring fees)due to the cessation of the stadium upgrades?
Click to expand...

Kemp will never say anything negative about anyone involved in the game.

A player can knock on six times, miss four tackles leading to tries and get sent off in the 25th minute above all the above and he'd call them a future smokey for Origin.
 
Dogs Of War

Dogs Of War

Coach
Messages
13,125
Desert Qlder said:

NRL CEO Andrew Abdo reveals finals policy will be reviewed in off-season which could kill off Sharks Stadium as finals venue​

Shark Park's limited capacity and outdated facilities have placed the venue in the NRL's crosshairs – and it is set to prompt a major finals policy review.

Shark Park is on borrowed time as a finals venue.

NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo has revealed that the game will review its finals policy in the off-season and his comments would suggest that unless there is a dramatic upgrade of Cronulla’s home ground, it might be on death row when it comes to the postseason.

“I have a view that we need to focus on the fans and fan experience,” Abdo said.

“There comes a time where you have to consider a minimum standard – potentially for finals – that might be above the regular season.

“It’s not unusual in terms of professional sport. I think the time is right to have a close look at that. To be honest, we haven’t actually changed or reviewed the home finals policy for a while.

“I think we’re due for that and that’ll be a conversation that we will have with the ARL Commission at the end of the season.

“It’s two things that we are trading off here. One is being able to play in your regular home stadium and the other is a good experience for our fans.

“They’re both important. I think it’s time to review that at the end of the season and we’ll take direction from the commission.

“But I think it’s fair to say that we would want a minimum standard, particularly for finals, for our fans.”

Shark Park has been in the firing line for years now. Cronulla officials have been begging for financial support from the government to upgrade the venue but their pleas have fallen on deaf ears.

The ground holds less than 15,000 people and the facilities are an embarrassment given it is the home of a professional rugby league club.

Yet the NRL’s existing rules mean they are given the opportunity to host a final on Saturday night when many believe the game should be moved to Allianz Stadium.

That may be about to change for the Sharks unless they can find the cash to fund a renovation in the next 12 months.

“It’s not just about the size of the venue, it’s also about the experience at the venue,” Abdo said.
“So all of that has to be taken into account.

“You want a great crowd, great atmosphere. In this particular case, you’ve got two Sydney teams – you want as many fans as possible enjoying it live.

“I think the players enjoy that and so do the fans. So all of that needs to be taken into account.”

Click to expand...

But you'd figure that whatever applies to the Sharks, also applies to Manly and the Dragons as well. So that would be 3 teams impacted. Tigers could be thrown into that mix as well, but they do call Bankwest one of there 100 home grounds they play out of.
 
T-Boon

T-Boon

Coach
Messages
17,926
Kick the Sharks out of the comp for a few months. Let them bitch and moan and do a protest march across the Tom Ugly Bridge. Then allow them back but on the condition they move all but 3 games (against lesser teams like Penrith, Brisbane and Gold Coast) from Shark Park to Moore Park.
 
W

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
45,203
So if the lc gets finished do finals continue there or not

And does that apply to all suburban grounds and Campbelltown or even the gong
 
N

NWQRabbit

Juniors
Messages
97
Dogs Of War said:
But you'd figure that whatever applies to the Sharks, also applies to Manly and the Dragons as well. So that would be 3 teams impacted. Tigers could be thrown into that mix as well, but they do call Bankwest one of there 100 home grounds they play out of.
Click to expand...
Shark park is orders of magnitudes worse than brookie, but yes, I believe manly would draw a minimum of 20k to any finals game at allianz (easily 25k plus against sydney sides) and as such should be made to play there as well. After all they are nrl hosted games and are a bigger game and occasion then regular season, so must be at a venue befitting them.

If brookie ever gets fully redone into a 23k all seater like the masterplan that was made a couple years ago, then atleast week 1 against out of town teams would be suitable there, a similiar situation to penrith.

If saints ever make finals again, history has shown they have enough fans that allianz would be the minimum for any game.
 
jim_57

jim_57

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
4,984
20k for week 1 finals would be an appropriate minimum standard. Even then I’d say if it’s an all Sydney clash it should be at Allianz, Accor, Commbank or Penrith (25k+).

Sharks, Brookvale, Campbelltown, Leichhardt, Wollongong & Kogarah all out of finals until they get the necessary upgrades.

Wouldn’t hurt to slap some criteria on non-Sydney teams too.

Broncos, Dolphins & Titans are good. Cowboys & Raiders should install temp seating for finals, likewise Warriors for a week 1 game, weeks 2 or 3 should be at Eden Park. New team Perth should be at Optus beyond week 1 until they get their ground above 25k. Arguably Melbourne could host any prelims at Marvel but 30k isn’t the worst.
 
P

Pjf04b

Juniors
Messages
711
There should be no home preliminary finals. Play them all at Allianz, Suncorp or Accor.
Why should Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra be given home ground advantage in the second most important game of the year?
 
P

Pjf04b

Juniors
Messages
711
How do they earn it when Sydney based teams can’t play a Week 2 final at home, let alone a PF?
It needs to be the same for all teams!
 
W

Wb1234

Immortal
Messages
45,203
Pjf04b said:
How do they earn it when Sydney based teams can’t play a Week 2 final at home, let alone a PF?
It needs to be the same for all teams!
Click to expand...
Home state from week two

Commbank / Penrith / Allianz / Accor are club grounds too

Brisbane v cowboys in Sydney in week two or three is stupid

Plus the higher clubs get rewarded for not having to travel
 
Delboy

Delboy

First Grade
Messages
8,459
As an outsider, what I don’t understand is why the Sharks didn’t include a stadium upgrade as part of the sell off contract with the developers. Surely they knew how poor their stadium was, given that they own it thats is the underlying reason why the govt won’t pay for an update as it’s not a community asset , ie councillor or govt owned for for maintenance and use.
 
B

Billythekid

First Grade
Messages
7,141
NWQRabbit said:
A slew of articles about shart park and the nrl finally waking up to the fact it shouldn't hold finals games.



www.smh.com.au

Sharks Stadium will host a final on Saturday night. It might be the last time

The NRL will review its finals schedule, which allows an elimination game to be played at “the worst professional sporting ground in the nation”.
www.smh.com.au www.smh.com.au

Not just finals imo, it hasn't been fit to host regular season games in years and I'm surprised it hasn't killed the sharks financially not having access to most of the corporate seats whilst the leagues club has been out of action for so long. I believe the CEO said the break even at the ground is 15k.

They had the perfect opportunity to play a few blockbuster games at the new sfs and get fans conditioned to 'travelling' there. The chooks just averaged 25k whilst scraping in to the top 8, it is a stadium people would make an effort to go to.
Click to expand...
It’s a bad experience for fans and it’s a bad look for the game. Should have been done years ago. Shark park isn’t fit for NRL standard let alone finals.
Dogs Of War said:
But you'd figure that whatever applies to the Sharks, also applies to Manly and the Dragons as well. So that would be 3 teams impacted. Tigers could be thrown into that mix as well, but they do call Bankwest one of there 100 home grounds they play out of.
Click to expand...
For the dragons Allianz kinda makes sense anyway. We see with big games like Anzac Day that dragons fans are willing to attend the stadium in big numbers (they likely get more fans to that game than the capacity of their other stadiums).
 
Babyface O'reilly

Babyface O'reilly

Coach
Messages
12,710
Delboy said:
As an outsider, what I don’t understand is why the Sharks didn’t include a stadium upgrade as part of the sell off contract with the developers. Surely they knew how poor their stadium was, given that they own it thats is the underlying reason why the govt won’t pay for an update as it’s not a community asset , ie councillor or govt owned for for maintenance and use.
Click to expand...
Only thing I can think of is they needed money quickly given their debts which the developers would’ve known about so they likely had no bargaining power?
 
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