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Plan to expand Jubilee
By Brad Forrest - St.George Leader 18/08/2005
St.George Illawarra wants to increase to around 20,000 the ground capacity of Kogarahs OKI Jubilee Stadium, which is again sold out for Sundays league blockbuster against the Parramatta Eels.
However, the relatively small 17,000 ground capacity is unlikely to change before 2007, with the Dragons now examining moving two of their blockbuster games to larger venues next year and sharing the remaining 10 games evenly between Kogarah and WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
The success of the third-placed Dragons this season has put the boutique suburban ground under the spotlight, which both high-profile Dragons fans number one ticket-holder, Prime Minister John Howard and newly elected NSW Premier, Morris Iemma will see first hand when they are guests of the Clubs St.George Heritage Day celebrations on Sunday.
Better facilities and ground improvements, part of an $8 million Federal Government grant, have not transpired to increasing the spectator area, resulting in thousands of fans missing the sold-out local derby against Cronulla three weeks ago and Sundays Parramatta match.
As well, Kogarah cannot schedule an NRL semi-final and even with new lighting next year, is no certainty to pass criteria necessary for a finals match in 2006.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust told the Leader this week the club does plan to increase ground capacity to around 20,000, including the construction of a small grandstand on the eastern side of the ground.
That will be part of stage three. It wont be anything like a big 10,000-seat stand but will provide more undercover seating for more fans, around near the scoreboard, Doust said.
But we cant start that work until after our stage two developments are completed next year (new lighting, extra seating, new turnstiles). Weve worked on providing better facilities first, so it wont be until either the end of next year or 2007.
In saying that we do hope the State Government, like Council and the Federal Government, continues to recognise the importance that OKI Jubilee Stadium has with our community.
With local supporters of both Kogarah and WIN naturally canvassing for more home games, even though earlier Dragons matches did not attract big crowds, Doust admitted the club has a difficult decision to make about future scheduling.
He indicated that the club is looking at holding back two home games, like the traditional Dragons-Roosters Anzac Day match, and stage them at larger grounds like Aussie Stadium or Stadium Australia.
That could mean splitting the remaining home games next season 5-5 (between Kogarah and WIN), he said.
This year the split was again 7-5 WINs way, with delayed work seeing Kogarahs five matches pushed back.
The action group R2K (Return To Kogarah) this week congratulated the Clubs decision to reject moving the Parramatta game to the larger Aussie Stadium, where the game could have attracted 40,000 fans from both the second and third-placed teams and thus forego increased gate takings of around $300,000.
But group spokesman Lachlan McLean said if future blockbusters are relocated, the sacrifice does need to be shared between both the St.George and Illawarra key communities.
The Dragons should not lock themselves into any new contract with a fixed number of home games at WIN Stadium, he said.
It would be completely unacceptable if any future switches of Dragons home games are only deducted from the St.George District and not the Illawarra as well. With Wollongong with a capacity of 19,500 set to host a home final, the Dragons must ensure that any future lease agreement with WIN Stadium ensures equity between the St.George and Illawarra regions. WIN Stadium has enjoyed a 7/5 advantage since 2002.
By Brad Forrest - St.George Leader 18/08/2005
St.George Illawarra wants to increase to around 20,000 the ground capacity of Kogarahs OKI Jubilee Stadium, which is again sold out for Sundays league blockbuster against the Parramatta Eels.
However, the relatively small 17,000 ground capacity is unlikely to change before 2007, with the Dragons now examining moving two of their blockbuster games to larger venues next year and sharing the remaining 10 games evenly between Kogarah and WIN Stadium, Wollongong.
The success of the third-placed Dragons this season has put the boutique suburban ground under the spotlight, which both high-profile Dragons fans number one ticket-holder, Prime Minister John Howard and newly elected NSW Premier, Morris Iemma will see first hand when they are guests of the Clubs St.George Heritage Day celebrations on Sunday.
Better facilities and ground improvements, part of an $8 million Federal Government grant, have not transpired to increasing the spectator area, resulting in thousands of fans missing the sold-out local derby against Cronulla three weeks ago and Sundays Parramatta match.
As well, Kogarah cannot schedule an NRL semi-final and even with new lighting next year, is no certainty to pass criteria necessary for a finals match in 2006.
Dragons chief executive Peter Doust told the Leader this week the club does plan to increase ground capacity to around 20,000, including the construction of a small grandstand on the eastern side of the ground.
That will be part of stage three. It wont be anything like a big 10,000-seat stand but will provide more undercover seating for more fans, around near the scoreboard, Doust said.
But we cant start that work until after our stage two developments are completed next year (new lighting, extra seating, new turnstiles). Weve worked on providing better facilities first, so it wont be until either the end of next year or 2007.
In saying that we do hope the State Government, like Council and the Federal Government, continues to recognise the importance that OKI Jubilee Stadium has with our community.
With local supporters of both Kogarah and WIN naturally canvassing for more home games, even though earlier Dragons matches did not attract big crowds, Doust admitted the club has a difficult decision to make about future scheduling.
He indicated that the club is looking at holding back two home games, like the traditional Dragons-Roosters Anzac Day match, and stage them at larger grounds like Aussie Stadium or Stadium Australia.
That could mean splitting the remaining home games next season 5-5 (between Kogarah and WIN), he said.
This year the split was again 7-5 WINs way, with delayed work seeing Kogarahs five matches pushed back.
The action group R2K (Return To Kogarah) this week congratulated the Clubs decision to reject moving the Parramatta game to the larger Aussie Stadium, where the game could have attracted 40,000 fans from both the second and third-placed teams and thus forego increased gate takings of around $300,000.
But group spokesman Lachlan McLean said if future blockbusters are relocated, the sacrifice does need to be shared between both the St.George and Illawarra key communities.
The Dragons should not lock themselves into any new contract with a fixed number of home games at WIN Stadium, he said.
It would be completely unacceptable if any future switches of Dragons home games are only deducted from the St.George District and not the Illawarra as well. With Wollongong with a capacity of 19,500 set to host a home final, the Dragons must ensure that any future lease agreement with WIN Stadium ensures equity between the St.George and Illawarra regions. WIN Stadium has enjoyed a 7/5 advantage since 2002.
I'll try and drop around the clubhouse later on during the pissup.
