New stadium - 2025

[herbert henry1908]

Wasn’t it done so the rest of the stadium could have more verticality?

That rings a bell as well. But I remember when bankwest was being built there was someone posting on the main forum who was clearly an insider, they talked about having all corporate facilities on the one side meant less kitchens, less dining facilities etc.

 

[franklin2323]

Hopefully if Bankwest is used. The club runs buses to there. Parking or lack of it is a punish. Play more games in the bush

 

[cumbrian Mackem]

Fantastic news for both panthers fans and RL fans in general. The more modern 21st century RL stadiums the better imo.

A quick question for panthers fans. What’s the panthers catchment area and what’s its population?

 

[franklin2323]

Fantastic news for both panthers fans and RL fans in general. The more modern 21st century RL stadiums the better imo.

A quick question for panthers fans. What’s the panthers catchment area and what’s its population?

Penrith do a bit of work out west but Generally it is Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Penrith about 25,000km2

Population is expanding out here too. So population will get crazy

 

[cumbrian Mackem]

Penrith do a bit of work out west but Generally it is Hawkesbury, Blue Mountains and Penrith about 25,000km2

Population is expanding out here too. So population will get crazy

What’s the current population of the panthers catchment area? 250k? 300k?

 

[franklin2323]

What’s the current population of the panthers catchment area? 250k? 300k?

Penrith alone is 220k. 80k up the mountains. Same in Hawkesbury

 

[herbert henry1908]

Hopefully if Bankwest is used. The club runs buses to there. Parking or lack of it is a punish. Play more games in the bush

Buses won’t get many there, need to promote train travel. Include it in the price of membership, I’m sure they could strike a deal with the govt.

 

[franklin2323]

Buses won’t get many there, need to promote train travel. Include it in the price of membership, I’m sure they could strike a deal with the govt.

Yeah you would need express type trains home. The GF was good like that I was home in 20 mins or so after the game.

Either way it is short term pain but just some issues that will come up with the move.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Yeah you would need express type trains home. The GF was good like that I was home in 20 mins or so after the game.

Either way it is short term pain but just some issues that will come up with the move.

I doubt they put on specific express trains, but most trains between Parra and Penrith only take 30 mins.

 

[franklin2323]

I doubt they put on specific express trains, but most trains between Parra and Penrith only take 30 mins.

Are they late at night? Getting home is always the issue. I often get stuck on an all stations from Lidcombe or some rubbish after waiting 20mins for a train.

I'd move more games around. Have the blockbusters at Bankwest. Could do a bush tour Bathurst, Dubbo, Mudgee.

 

[The Realist]

I am not sure what to think of this. Penrith Park has a great open, family friendly feel. BankWest is a completely soulless stadium. Tiny seats that are way too close to each other, too steep, nowhere for restless kids to run around - the very opposite of 'family friendly'. I hope we can increase capacity by 5-10K without completely killing the family friendliness of the facility.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I am not sure what to think of this. Penrith Park has a great open, family friendly feel. BankWest is a completely soulless stadium. Tiny seats that are way too close to each other, too steep, nowhere for restless kids to run around - the very opposite of 'family friendly'. I hope we can increase capacity by 5-10K without completely killing the family friendliness of the facility.

Bankwest has driven up Parra’s crowds, that’s all that matters. If clubs want to survive they need good revenue streams from corporate and membership.

for most people the steepness of the stands is an improvement. Provides better viewing.

 

[Pomoz]

Bankwest has driven up Parra’s crowds, that’s all that matters. If clubs want to survive they need good revenue streams from corporate and membership.

for most people the steepness of the stands is an improvement. Provides better viewing.

Spot on. I love the Panther's stadium, but the club has got to be able to make money to survive and more corporate dollars will secure its long term future so we can see more Brandy's, JFH's and To'o's. I hope the new stadium can keep that element of closeness you get at our current stadium. When JFH hits a player in a tackle you can feel the force of it in the first three rows. Homebush is so bad because of that remoteness, I hate watching games there. A terrible stadium, with a terrible atmosphere.

 

[tripster]

I confess I have mixed feelings about this, and if anything would prefer that it didn’t happen.

The thing I love most about Penrith Park is the atmosphere. Even with 13-14,000 people it has an incredible atmosphere. That’s something that has kept me coming there for many years even when we were struggling as a team and generally drawing poor crowds. I honestly have not enjoyed a live game anywhere else as much as I have at Penrith, and I have been to all of the Sydney stadiums with the exception of Belmore and WIN.

The current stadium is admittedly old but perfectly functional. It has a capacity at the moment of about 21,000. It also has a lot of character.

If we knock it down and replace it with a stadium that allows 4,000 more people, I think it is a very small gain for a real risk that it gets replaced with something that looks flash and shiny and where it is easier to get in and out of or go to the bathroom or buy a beer, but has a shit atmosphere. That’s a big risk to take.

It is also a lot of money to spend for something that isn’t essential. I don’t know if anyone saw the article in the paper recently but waiting times at Nepean Hospital’s emergency department are not good at all.

I appreciate that it may not be a popular opinion but I would rather the money be spent upgrading Nepean’s emergency department than knocking down and rebuilding Penrith stadium.

 

[GongPanther]

Huge news.

Talking 25k or 30k, sounds strange but 25k might just be preferable. Sell outs build interest, and it could produce a better atmosphere.

Although I’d be perfectly happy with 30k

Should be built more in the central part of the Penrith region. Putting this ground in a place where there would be less traffic problems, and less parking congestion would be to move it to Rooty Hill. There is more of a population catchment area were it would be sold out every game. One other point is to get a soccer team out there as well to utilize the ground in summer.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Should be built more in the central part of the Penrith region. Putting this ground in a place where there would be less traffic problems, and less parking congestion would be to move it to Rooty Hill. There is more of a population catchment area were it would be sold out every game. One other point is to get a soccer team out there as well to utilize the ground in summer.

Aleague won’t happen unless a Sydney team or central coast fold, even then it’s probably a stretch.

 

[Abacus]

Should be built more in the central part of the Penrith region. Putting this ground in a place where there would be less traffic problems, and less parking congestion would be to move it to Rooty Hill. There is more of a population catchment area were it would be sold out every game. One other point is to get a soccer team out there as well to utilize the ground in summer.

Rooty Hill?! May as well just save the cash and have a permanent move to Bankwest! Stadium needs to be further from Parra rather than closer to it. Traffic/parking congestion will exist while ever people don't want to pay to park or use public transport. 30k venue on roughly the current footprint gives options with the train & Penrith CBD a 10-15 minute walk.
And the soccer thing has been tried - no money in it in Oz.

 

[Thirsty Panther]

I confess I have mixed feelings about this, and if anything would prefer that it didn’t happen.

The thing I love most about Penrith Park is the atmosphere. Even with 13-14,000 people it has an incredible atmosphere. That’s something that has kept me coming there for many years even when we were struggling as a team and generally drawing poor crowds. I honestly have not enjoyed a live game anywhere else as much as I have at Penrith, and I have been to all of the Sydney stadiums with the exception of Belmore and WIN.

The current stadium is admittedly old but perfectly functional. It has a capacity at the moment of about 21,000. It also has a lot of character.

If we knock it down and replace it with a stadium that allows 4,000 more people, I think it is a very small gain for a real risk that it gets replaced with something that looks flash and shiny and where it is easier to get in and out of or go to the bathroom or buy a beer, but has a shit atmosphere. That’s a big risk to take.

It is also a lot of money to spend for something that isn’t essential. I don’t know if anyone saw the article in the paper recently but waiting times at Nepean Hospital’s emergency department are not good at all.

I appreciate that it may not be a popular opinion but I would rather the money be spent upgrading Nepean’s emergency department than knocking down and rebuilding Penrith stadium.

Don't worry about the Nepean Emergency Department.
Currently there is a new 14 story building being built on the Hospital site.
The entire bottom floor will be the new Emergency and it should be open sometime next year.

I agree its a lot of money to spend to replace an already functional space but if the new stadium is designed to be a multifunctional space ( concerts, corporate and other sports) then I'm all for it. The Penrith area is growing rapidly and needs more up to date infrastructure.

 

[soc123_au]

Should be built more in the central part of the Penrith region. Putting this ground in a place where there would be less traffic problems, and less parking congestion would be to move it to Rooty Hill. There is more of a population catchment area were it would be sold out every game. One other point is to get a soccer team out there as well to utilize the ground in summer.

Rooty Hill is in Blacktown. Penrith ends at at around Marsden Rd St Marys.

 

[GongPanther]

Rooty Hill?! May as well just save the cash and have a permanent move to Bankwest! Stadium needs to be further from Parra rather than closer to it. Traffic/parking congestion will exist while ever people don't want to pay to park or use public transport. 30k venue on roughly the current footprint gives options with the train & Penrith CBD a 10-15 minute walk.
And the soccer thing has been tried - no money in it in Oz.

I can envision public bus services to and from from the Rooty Hill railway station, and there would be planning for roadways leading to the freeway and other routes were congestion shouldn't be a problem.

My point is that I guess that 70-80% of Penrith fans live outside of Penrith, so you have to cater for that support especially when it doesn't take then too long to get home after a game, not to mention for the away fans.

But of course the Penrith Leagues Club would be against this being they need home games to cater for their after game patronage for their Casino.

But can you imgine having a 30,000 seat stadium in the current location if they don't improve the exit roads and parking?