Rorting is not good management.
Then again, you are a Storm sympathiser.
Surely Blacktown Council is no longer that stupid? The AFL & Giants have moved to Homebush & Breakfast Point. Which Council covers that? It isn't Blacktown.
How odd that AFL convinced Blacktown & state government to build them a new home and then not long after they decided it was no good as cricket took it up in summer. Hullo!!!! No one could see that problem beforehand?
Now after more AFL lobbying the solution from our governments is to build them a 2nd new training home at Homebush. Now they have two new AFL grounds bases in Sydney paid for by taxpayers.
Dumb luck?
This reminds me of the time I got into an argument with some peanut over at BF that claimed Breakfast Point was culturally in Western Sydney because it was to the west of Leichardt.
I seriously think GWS is trying to claim everywhere to the West and South of the CBD
My guess is the left over figure was the "Freebies".Take 4,500 off 7 or 8k and you're left with not many. The left-over figure is the "new fans" they've apparently garnered.
They'll probably struggle to get any more out of Blacktown.
They got their dough from Blacktown because the ex-Mayor Leo Kelly was pissed off at the NRL when it decided to put it's academy elsewhere, so the AFL stepped in and got the silly old fart to ante up for the white elephant "stadium".
Kelly didn't last long....
Council pacifies NRL at peace talks
PAMELA WHALEY
31 May, 2012 07:00 AM
NRL boss David Gallop has accepted a peace offering from Wagga City Council (WWCC) after expressing concern over the controversial $300,000 partnership deal with AFL newcomers the Greater Western Sydney Giants.
The NRL's executive brigade visited Wagga yesterday to meet with mayor Kerry Pascoe and council officials, looking to broker an equal share of support for rugby league in the city.
Joined in support by Country Rugby League boss Terry Quinn and Canberra Raiders CEO Don Furner, Gallop declared he felt rugby league had been "taken for granted" and requested equal consideration.
After 30 minutes in a meeting room, Gallop received the answer he was looking for as council agreed to consider any submissions for funding the NRL may submit.
"We're looking for some equality from council, and obviously we've had some good indications from our discussions today," Gallop said yesterday.
“It’s a matter for AFL what they’ve secured, but what we’re looking for is something of equal standing for our game, given the importance of our game to this district and the importance of this district to our game.
“What we understand of the arrangement that’s been put in place with GWS is a payment to play games, and we’re certainly interested in something equivalent to that.
“The good news is the mayor said his door is open to submissions and we’re certainly going to go away and work on that.”
With the ball in their court, the NRL and CRL will immediately begin planning submissions for funding partnerships with council, which are likely to include Wagga’s nearest club, Canberra Raiders.
However, Gallop said the Raiders will not be considered exclusively in any partnerships with WWCC.
Although a monetary figure was not discussed, Gallop believes council will keep its word and provide NRL with an equal share of support.
“It’s difficult to say, but we’re looking for equality, and looking to ensure the local game is looked after as well as the professional game,” he said.
“It’s a very important part of our system to ensure the local game is looked after, especially when (players from this region) go on to play in the NRL.”
NRL vows to put profits back into Wagga facilities
PAMELA WHALEY
31 May, 2012 08:30 AM
NRL chief executive David Gallop declared an upgrade to facilities at Equex Centre was the hot topic at yesterday's meeting with Wagga City Council (WWCC).
Parting ways with council's promise to consider any future proposals, the NRL vowed to recycle any money it received back into rugby league infrastructure in Wagga.
Although monetary figures were not agreed upon yesterday, the NRL and CRL said it would flush any funds it gained from council into upgrading facilities at Equex Centre, rather than adding it to a profit.
"Obviously it's infrastructure spending that we're interested in, continuing to upgrade facilities like (Equex Centre) is important," Gallop said yesterday.
Bolstering the show of support, Canberra Raiders boss Don Furner also attended yesterday's meeting with WWCC.
Furner said he believed it was important Wagga ratepayers were aware of how their money was planned on being spent in the region through any future deals with the NRL.
"The main thing for us, though, is that the funding stays in Wagga," he said.
"It's about encouraging the game, so in our proposal we might look at funding for Wagga Rugby League to build the hills at (Equex Centre), things like that to improve the infrastructure in the area.
"Upgrading (Equex Centre) and getting new lights for an NRL game, possibly another City v Country game down the track.
"We'll definitely follow through with that."
Although the full details of council's deal with GWS are confidential, the NRL is eager to forge a partnership of its own, with its own terms.
"We sort of don't know what that deal entails, all these things are different though," Furner said.
"We know what our game wants to do in that area and we're certainly keen to continue that.
"It's not just rugby league (at Equex Centre) and upgrading these facilities can bring so much to the game and to the city."
Fol low @pamelawhaley
1 point
Webster has the same defective brain cell that Perth Red uses. Comparing that to Origin - ffs!For their part, the Giants believe they have done nothing wrong in an area that lauds the rise of Chris and Steve Mortimer as much as Wayne Carey. In exchange for their $300,000, the AFL will bring their product to town, with all the same benefits to the local economy in the same way State of Origin benefits the city of Melbourne.