- Messages
- 100,958
Newcastle Knights face being booted out of EnergyAustralia Stadium By Todd Balym
March 31, 2009
Newcastle faces the prospect of being evicted from their home ground with Hunter Venues issuing the club a notice of default for $792,000 in outstanding rent.
Just five days out from their first home game of 2009 at EnergyAustralia Stadium, the Knights have confirmed they owe money and have until the end of next month to settle the debt.
But the Knights are refusing to pay and instead claim Hunter Venues owe them more than $1 million for maintenance and compensation due to the stadium redevelopment.
In an extraordinary move, Knights chief executive Steve Burraston went public with the negotiations because he believes Hunter Venues leaked the default notice to the media, breaking an agreement for private negotiations which have been ongoing since December.
Burraston recorded a video message to sponsors and fans on the club's website to reassure them that the club was still operating business as usual''.
We are of a belief that Hunter Venues owes the Knights money and we're of the understanding that we were still negotiating and would be for at least the next two months,'' he said.
To receive the default notice was a surprise, but the breach of confidentiality by putting this in the public arena through the media is extremely disappointing.
We have been in negotiations since December on not only this issue but also outstanding monies we believe Hunter Venues owes the Newcastle Knights.
Our claim and invoice is for in excess of $1 million, a greater amount than the claim Hunter Venues has on the Newcastle Knights.
As of our last meeting on the 23rd of March we were of the understanding we had two months to further negotiate these issues before any action would be taken.
One can only guess at what games are being played, I don't want to speculate.''
http://www.foxsports.com.au/story/0,8659,25271804-23214,00.html
KNIGHTS EXPRESS DISAPPOINTMENT
Tuesday 31 March, 2009
The Newcastle Knights were extremely disappointed to learn today that Hunter Venues has leaked details of a Notice of Default to the media with regards to the EnergyAustralia Stadium tenancy agreement.
This is a matter the Knights CEO and his board believed was still under confidential negotiation, along with claims the Knights have on Hunter Venues for maintenance and compensation due to the stadium redevelopment.
As the backbone of Newcastles flagship sporting organisation, CEO, Steve Burraston believes Newcastle Knights members and supporters deserve to hear the facts in full from their club.
Mr Burraston recorded a special message this afternoon assuring Knights members and supporters its business as usual despite what you will read tomorrow, and that all efforts will continue to negotiate a mutually beneficial outcome between the Newcastle Knights and Hunter Venues for the ongoing use of EnergyAustralia Stadium.
He said negotiations had been ongoing since last December for two amounts the Knights are claiming from Hunter Venues for over $1-million and the $792,000 claimed by Hunter Venues for outstanding rent from the Knights.
We are of a belief that Hunter Venues owes the Knights money and were of the understanding that we were still negotiating and would be for at least the next two months, he said.
To receive the default notice was a surprise, but the breach of confidentiality by putting this in the public arena through the media is extremely disappointing.
One can only guess at what games are being played, I dont want to speculate.
Knights media release
Video of Burraston here: http://bigpondvideo.com/NRL_Knights/117852