The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[Trifili13]

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?

And developers aren't charities. There weren't going to hand back their profit they were going to make from the development to upgrade Shark Park. Cost of upgrading Shark Park might not have made the deal for the developer stack up and they might have walked away altogether.

 

[jasonstevenswedgie]

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?

This is pretty spot on. We basically had the choice of doing the deal or folding as the bank wanted their money

 

[Dogs Of War]

This is pretty spot on. We basically had the choice of doing the deal or folding as the bank wanted their money

Sounds very on point for the Sharks. I said back when Sharks fans were crowing that the development was going to make them a financial powerhouse. That they will be back on the bread line in a few years. They haven't dissapointed.

 

[yakstorm]

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.

Their average this year at Wollongong was 13,623, versus Cronulla's average at Shark Park was 11,006, so there is 23% difference between the two.

Wollongong offers a lot more promise than Kogarah IMO, the biggest issue, and this is more reflective of the fact a large portion of the population travels for work so Thursday & Friday matches can struggle to get to 5 figures down there (Warriors game there last year was more an exception than the norm).

If the Titans Friday 6pm game was played even at a later timeslot and/or the Raiders game wasn't played in torrential conditions, their figure this year would been similar to last year around 14-15K mark.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Their average this year at Wollongong was 13,623, versus Cronulla's average at Shark Park was 11,006, so there is 23% difference between the two.

Wollongong offers a lot more promise than Kogarah IMO, the biggest issue, and this is more reflective of the fact a large portion of the population travels for work so Thursday & Friday matches can struggle to get to 5 figures down there (Warriors game there last year was more an exception than the norm).

If the Titans Friday 6pm game was played even at a later timeslot and/or the Raiders game wasn't played in torrential conditions, their figure this year would been similar to last year around 14-15K mark.

With loads of teams now averaging close to 20k. It still won't be enough. And those crowds are only going to keep increasing.

Rugby League Tables / Attendances 2025

Rugby League Tables - NRL Stats & Tables

afltables.com

A lot of focus is about what needs to be done with the 2 outlier teams (Dragons and Sharks), who probably should work out how to team up and get a stadium that takes about 25k built that both of them can use.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

This is pretty spot on. We basically had the choice of doing the deal or folding as the bank wanted their money

I’d like to think the Leagues Club when built, is gonna do some reasonable trade with all the residents that the appartments bring. You’d think it might buy the club some time while it works out a stadium plan.

 

[jasonstevenswedgie]

Sounds very on point for the Sharks. I said back when Sharks fans were crowing that the development was going to make them a financial powerhouse. That they will be back on the bread line in a few years. They haven't dissapointed.

Far from the breadline these days. How much of their own money have the dogs put into stadiums

 

[Jetka100]

They should have stopped the Sharks playing finals there this year. Do you think the Dolphins would play a home semi at Kayo Stadium against the Broncos? Souths and any other Sydney team should be allowed to use Allianz as a home stadium where it is appropriate. It is not owned by the Roosters.

 

[Diesel]

Redcliffe to Milton is around 35km. Since the Dolphins cwill play home finals at Suncorp the Sharks should be no exception.
They’ve got 3 stadiums to choose from Allianz, CommBank or Accor. Pick one and stop bitching about it

 

[beave]

I’d like to think the Leagues Club when built, is gonna do some reasonable trade with all the residents that the appartments bring. You’d think it might buy the club some time while it works out a stadium plan.

The only thing that can be done now is a Wollongongesque western stand but go from from dead ball line to dead ball line. .
A stand of that caliber would be $110-$130mil (minimum) but would the NSW gov throw that level of money at a privately owned venue?

Every other side of the joint is basically blocked from further upgrades.

I get the Sharkies had no choice but to take the developers coin but allowing that tower at the SE corner to be built as close to as it is has been done was absolutely crazy.

 

[jasonstevenswedgie]

The only thing that can be done now is a Wollongongesque western stand but go from from dead ball line to dead ball line. .
A stand of that caliber would be $110-$130mil (minimum) but would the NSW gov throw that level of money at a privately owned venue?

Every other side of the joint is basically blocked from further upgrades.

I get the Sharkies had no choice but to take the developers coin but allowing that tower at the SE corner to be built as close to as it is has been done was absolutely crazy.

we are a member based club, nothing is privately owned.

 

[jim_57]

With loads of teams now averaging close to 20k. It still won't be enough. And those crowds are only going to keep increasing.

Rugby League Tables / Attendances 2025

Rugby League Tables - NRL Stats & Tables

afltables.com

A lot of focus is about what needs to be done with the 2 outlier teams (Dragons and Sharks), who probably should work out how to team up and get a stadium that takes about 25k built that both of them can use.

Next year it seems they will play both Roosters & Bulldogs at Allianz, keeping that every year going forward would be a good start.

Wollongong has been pulling ahead of Kogarah in crowds even if they aren’t exactly setting the world alight. Key will be getting a stadium upgrade to ~25k for the majority of their home games, in which case Gong would be well above Kogarah in the pecking order you’d think.

 

[Dogs Of War]

Far from the breadline these days. How much of their own money have the dogs put into stadiums

You guys had to stop taking the extra million a year from the developers, so you could pay back the loan by getting the cash now to pay it off. The leagues club still isn't open.

You guys are slowly bleeding, like you have for most of your history. Everytime you seem to get in a decent position off the field, it's pissed away slowly until you are right back where you started. There is not a lot left to save you guys from this point.

Some serious decisions need to be made to start getting the ball rolling. Like how will you get your centre of excellence up like most other clubs have? You guys couldn't arrange a root in a brothel.

As for the Dogs and stadiums. We probably put a bit in getting Stardome set up, only for it all to collapse and a perfectly good stadium at Homebush being available. Like you guys, we have land at Liverpool that is still allocated for something like that to be setup. And Belmore which is a decent training ground and soon to be a centre of excellence location.

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

we are a member based club, nothing is privately owned.

It’s still a private entity that owns the stadium, not the government.

 

[jasonstevenswedgie]

It’s still a private entity that owns the stadium, not the government.

How can a not for profit be privately owned?

 

[Dogs Of War]

How can a not for profit be privately owned?

your only a not for profit cause you guys can't make a profit

 

[Babyface O'reilly]

How can a not for profit be privately owned?

It’s private in that its nembers are the stakeholders, I guess and they (the club) own the ground. Bottom line, the council is not the owner of the stadium and therefore the government are not obliged to spend taxpayer money on it. Dino’s flogging a dead horse there

 

[Bulldog2020]

Sutherland Shire council has been lucky that compared to most other areas of Sydney they haven't spent any money on a Stadium.

 

[Wb1234]

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?

That’s exactly what happened

They had debts of around nine million and they got an early payout instead of receiving the full lump sum

 

[Perth Red]

Havent even got the LC done after all that money. Having to borrow money now to get it done. And zero stadium improvements. So Cronulla.