UOW Jubilee oval is open for business

[Father Ted]

http://www.theleader.com.au/story/4285668/uow-jubilee-oval-is-open-for-business/?cs=1255.


UOW Jubilee oval is open for business
Kahlia Beichert
14 Nov 2016, 8 a.m.

Changes: St George Illawarra Dragons fans celebrate at UOW Jubilee Oval. Picture: John Veage



The management of UOW Jubilee Oval will be handed back to Georges River Council after its lease with the St George Illawarra Dragons ends in February.

The current lease with the NRL club was drafted in 1989 and gives them sole use and management of the oval.

However it could be opened up to other sporting codes when the lease ends on February 1.

Administrator John Rayner said council is now undertaking a review of the management options for the oval with the opportunity to expand it into a sporting precinct that could incorporate chiropractic, massage and physiotherapy services for people using the oval.

“By reviewing the current leasing arrangements for the stadium, council has a great opportunity to not only establish a vibrant and accessible sporting precinct in the local area but also provide wider community access to the facility,’’ he said.

My Rayner said despite the changes the oval will still be available to the Dragons.

“Council welcomes the St George Illawarra Dragons continued use of the grounds in 2017 and beyond, however, additional options are being explored to have the stadium opened up to other sporting codes,’’ he said.

‘’Council will continue to provide a commitment to the Dragons to have access to UOW Jubilee Oval for the 2017 NRL season and beyond for games and training.’’

Dragons chief executive Peter Doust said they were interested in re-negotiating the lease after 27 years.

‘’We were prepared to consider various options,’’ he said.

‘’However, since we had facilitated over $30 million in re-development funding since 2005, funded the ongoing maintenance costs of the venue of over $900,000 per year and funded game day costs of over $100, 000 per game we believed it was time to see this vital and substantial community asset repositioned.’’

Despite the changes he said the Dragons were still looking forward to playing in front of a home crowd at Kogarah.

‘’Absolutely, we would like to see arrangements continue into the future,’’ he said.

‘’The club has been keen to ensure UOW Jubilee Oval was included in the NRL Schedule for 2017 – which is presently being developed.’’

 

[Saints Forever]

The fact that the lease is up gives the club the opportunity to negotiate new advantageous terms.

Cannot see any other code taking the ground on a full time basis, hence we have an opportunity to adopt a user pays system with the Council. Hopefully this will drive the cost of Jubilee Oval access down to a more realistic level.

 

[Weipa Dragon]

The best ground in the Sydney should be open to even say the Murri carnival and schoolboy games, let alone Sydney FC. Good transport, great ground, great atmosphere.

 

[Willow]

‘’However, since we had facilitated over $30 million in re-development funding since 2005

The vast majority of the Kogarah redevelopment was paid for by governments at a state, federal and local level. In 2005, the St George Leagues Club met the State government dollar-for-dollar for an investment of $500,000. I'm not aware of any additional building works funded by the Club since then.

The way Mr Doust's statement is worded, you'd think the Club paid for the whole lot.

I appreciate that the Club eventually showed a willingness to get back to Kogarah in the early 2000s - I think this is what is meant by 'facilitated'. But this was fan-driven by R2K and Robert Stone pushed for it at the Club level. Prior to this the Club had all but abandoned Kogarah after the NRL put the knife in. These winds of change were also buoyed by politics, with both Liberal and Labour leaders being St George supporters and promising money for the Kogarah upgrades.

funded the ongoing maintenance costs of the venue of over $900,000 per year and funded game day costs of over $100, 000 per game

Well welcome to the world of business 101. That's the liability side of the ledger, I'd like to see the income side as well thanks. It concerns me that Mr Doust seems more focussed on the overheads than the income generated from sponsorship, gate receipts and broadcasting revenue.

we believed it was time to see this vital and substantial community asset repositioned.’’

Straight out of Yes Minister... clarification required on 'repositioned'.

 

[j0nesy]

Well, you'd like to hope that Doust would be "positioning" the club to get the best deal possible on another lease on the ground. But I think the "yes minister" comment is a little closer to the mark with Doust.

 

[Saints Forever]

Lets hope Doust doesn't use this as an excuse to abandon Jubilee Oval

 

[dragonreddy]

The vast majority of the Kogarah redevelopment was paid for by governments at a state, federal and local level. In 2005, the St George Leagues Club met the State government dollar-for-dollar for an investment of $500,000. I'm not aware of any additional building works funded by the Club since then.

The way Mr Doust's statement is worded, you'd think the Club paid for the whole lot.

I appreciate that the Club eventually showed a willingness to get back to Kogarah in the early 2000s - I think this is what is meant by 'facilitated'. But this was fan-driven by R2K and Robert Stone pushed for it at the Club level. Prior to this the Club had all but abandoned Kogarah after the NRL put the knife in. These winds of change were also buoyed by politics, with both Liberal and Labour leaders being St George supporters and promising money for the Kogarah upgrades. Well welcome to the world of business 101. That's the liability side of the ledger, I'd like to see the income side as well thanks. It concerns me that Mr Doust seems more focussed on the overheads than the income generated from sponsorship, gate receipts and broadcasting revenue. Straight out of Yes Minister... clarification required on 'repositioned'.

That's simply HIS way ,the bloke is unable to put anything across without involving some form of deceit.

On the repositioning ,perhaps he is hoping to negotiate new GPS coordinates, one day the club will see the light and bid this galah farewell.

 

[Weipa Dragon]

The bit that does not add up is how Doust states that playing at ANZ helps to pay for game days at Kogarah and the Gong showground. I call bullshit because how could Newtown play at Henson park and pay with the minimal crowds they get through the door. How could the north Sydney Bears play their games for NSW Cup at the oval and not be financially sound. How could all these grounds that were once for NSWRL teams still manage to afford playing a NSW Cup team out of their grounds, and we can't, supposedly, afford to play an NRL team with ten times the fans through the gates? Answer that and stay fashionable.

 

[getsmarty]

UOW Jubilee Oval Lease
Wed 23rd November, 12:00PM
A A

The St George Illawarra Dragons advise that the newly formed Georges River Council had been recently informed by St George District RLFC representatives that the Club wanted to undertake a review of the lease arrangements for UOW Jubilee Oval, Kogarah which will expire in February 2017.

The representatives of St George District RLFC presented a number of co-operative, working options to the Georges River Council for consideration, including returning to the Council, the overall responsibility for the valuable community asset, with respect to maintenance and management.

The Dragons still want to play at Kogarah, and St George District RLFC want to see Rugby League continue to be featured at UOW Jubilee Oval.

Subsequently, Georges River Council has advised that they will take over the management of UOW Jubilee Oval, on the expiry of the lease.

The Dragons are committed to playing four home games at the venue in 2017 and requested confirmation of availability, from the Council, so that the Dragons can consider this when making decisions about home game venues when the NRL draw is released.

“UOW Jubilee Oval is an iconic suburban stadium in our heartland that St George District RLFC and the Dragons have worked very hard to develop and maintain for over more than 10 years, in particular – since its major re-development,” said Dragons CEO Peter Doust.

“Since 2005, the Dragons and the St George District RLFC have facilitated over $30million in re-development funding and with the assistance of our major shareholders, St George District RLFC, and St George Leagues Club, have funded the ongoing maintenance costs of the venue which total over $900,000 annually plus the Dragons incur an extra $100,000 per game in event costs, compared to costs at other venues.

“We believed it was time to see this vital and substantial community asset repositioned in terms of ongoing management, ongoing strategic development and availability for use.

“In conjunction with St George District RLFC and St George Leagues Club Management, we believe that reinvesting such a financial commitment would deliver the best outcome and would fit more appropriately with our business strategies including our Rugby League Pathways and Participation objectives.

“The Club remains committed to playing four NRL Premiership fixtures at the home venue next season which is why we sought confirmation for 2017 and presented the options.

“Our four year ‘Right Game Right Venue’ strategy will be reviewed throughout 2017 - this strategy has enabled us, by virtue of the savings made through the venue arrangements at the major stadia, to continue to play games at our suburban venues in Kogarah and Wollongong, which are significantly more expensive per event.

“We also want to continue to play games at Kogarah beyond 2017 and have begun negotiations in the new year with Georges River Council on a hiring agreement for 2018 and beyond.

Georges River Council Administrator John Rayner recognises the Club’s strong local supporter base and his intentions of keeping the Dragons at UOW Jubilee Oval, Kogarah have been noted and appreciated.

The Council will now also explore additional options to have the venue utilised by other sporting codes.

“Council will continue to provide a commitment to the Dragons to have access to UOW Jubilee Oval for the 2017 NRL season and beyond for games and training requirement,” said Rayner.

“By reviewing the current leasing arrangements for the stadium, Council has a great opportunity to not only establish a vibrant and accessible sporting precinct in the local area but also provide wider community access to the facility and look to the long-term commercial viability for the stadium.”

The 2017 NRL Draw is scheduled to be released on Thursday, November 24.

http://www.dragons.com.au/news/2016/11/23/uow_jubilee_oval_lea.html

 

[FlameThrower]

So $100K Doust reckons it costs to stage a game in Wollongong or Kogarah? I recall I number around $100k we get for paying at ANZ? Wonder how the numbers a re crunched and what factor of reduced membership, attendance and merchandise plus giving away 'home ground' advantage is factored in to balance this out. In the end, we may clear $10K or $20k. Doust also conveniently glosses over the Govt funding a big chunk of that money in refurb budget.