R2K
Bench
- Messages
- 2,640
18 November 2013
R2K is extremely disappointed by todays announcement that Kogarahs Jubilee Oval will need to squabble with Wollongongs WIN Stadium over a mere eight home games that the Dragons havent allocated to Homebush, Allianz Stadium and the SCG.
The St.George-Illawarra Dragons today announced that they had committed to a Right Game, Right Venue strategy which provides four of our home games to Homebushs ANZ Stadium, Allianz Stadium and the SCG.
The Dragons have announced that Kogarahs Jubilee Oval and Wollongong will retain only eight home games per season but they are yet to announce if it will be an even allocation between each venue.
St.George-Illawarra, who finished third-last in 2013 under Coach Steve Price, have decided to reduce their commitment to their spiritual home at Kogarah Jubilee and their southern base at Wollongong for at least the next four seasons.
Kogarah Jubilee Oval has been the homeground of St.George since 1950 after it was constructed in Kogarah Park for Kogarahs Jubilee celebrations in 1936. Saints were based at Kogarah during their world record breaking 11 successive premierships from 1956 to 1966 and they set a remarkable record at Kogarah where they were unbeaten at home for 12 years.
Since their return to Kogarah in 2003, the Dragons have been based at a venue that has acquired over $37 million of Government and community funding. During this time, Kogarah Jubilee has become the paramount boutique facility in NSW - hosting the Socceroos, the Kangaroos, Manchester United, Sydney FC and St.George Soccer.
Kogarahs Jubilee Oval clearly deserves a better outcome than what was announced today by the Dragons Peter Doust and Michael McDonald.
The St.George-Illawarra Dragons want the fans to March with Us but there seems little incentive if the Club will only go marching in to Kogarah on an infrequent basis.
As previously stated, fans love their traditional surburban grounds. They are symbolic of the games glorious past and they need to be a significant component of the NRLs future. St.George fans love Kogarah Jubilee, just as Manly fans love Brookvale and Tigers fans love Leichhardt.
They provide our clubs with a distinct home ground advantage and create community spirit in the districts that the clubs represent. As David Gallop previously said, the NRL needs to fish where the fish are.
Administrators like St.George-Illawarra CEO Peter Doust need to stand up for beloved suburban home grounds and not endorse an agenda that will ultimately weaken the fabric and future of rugby league.