PARRAMATTA Stadium Trust has been accused of blocking up to 4000 Eels fans from watching the farewell match of their hero, Nathan Hindmarsh.
Eels chief executive Bob Bentley went to the Trust with two proposals to increase the stadium's capacity, but both have been rejected for safety reasons.
Already the round 26 match, on a Sunday at 7pm, is a 20,000 sell-out to mark the final NRL game for Hindmarsh, teammate Luke Burt and St George Illawarra's Dean Young.
Bentley wanted signage structures removed from the Peter Sterling Terrace and Brett Kenny Terrace so that 3000 to 4000 fans could sit and stand on the bitumen and grass behind the signs.
When rejected, Bentley asked the Trust whether temporary seating could be placed on the playing field against the perimeter fence.
Stadium venue manager Luke Coleman described the request as "laughable".
Bentley, still hoping for approval, told The Daily Telegraph: The club is looking at removing the signage so fans can sit there on the hills at the northern and southern ends.
"We would offer a financial contribution (to the Trust) to enable this to happen.
"It would take a bit of work to pull down the structures and they (the Trust) have spoken about OH&S issues and the need for a Risk Management Report."
Pressed on the alternative, Bentley said: "We are also looking at putting additional seating inside the field up against the fence. I remember the days of Lidcombe Oval when fans were on the running track.
"We will talk to the NRL about it. Given they have given us the 7pm match, they may feel generous. We could get a few more in there to be part of the game and atmosphere."
But Coleman said the Trust could not - and would not - approve either option.
"It (moving signage) would be a major, major exercise with so many ramifications," Coleman said. "Everything from logistics and public safety to crowd control.
"We've looked at the ramifications and it is not something we would do. It seems obvious the club doesn't understand, which is unfortunate.
"But we are trying to do everything we can to make the match memorable."
Coleman rejected Bentley's proposal for extra seating on the playing field.
"That is laughable," he said. "I don't think these people (Parramatta) know much about running a venue.
"We have a safe, secure and controlled environment and we won't compromise public safety with an impractical consideration."
