@helmesy Good evening to you sir,
I'm interested in getting your opinion on whether small grounds like ours are going to die off in the future .
Even if they are upgraded, and using LO as an example, is it going to cut it in say 20 years from now. It was a conjested nightmare years ago and I believe nothing has improved so surely it couldn't be a workable complex with even more built up areas. The whole suburb would have to be renovated, roads upgraded, traffic redirections, houses maybe removed, ferries, buses, trains etc. I don't think that will happen.
Unless your simply going for a 20k+ crowd limit.
The area surely couldn't cope with a 30k+ arena.
Anything under 30k+ isn't worth it imo, small club mentality will be ruled by the bigger clubs. That's what the NRL wants imo.
The game is getting more suited to TV since unlimited broadband came in as it's so easy to follow the game now from the comfort of your own home on various media platforms. We have media content overload.
I can hear you thinking all the way from Brisbane and your probably going to say that there will always be a market for going to a small footy groung with the kids, family or mates.
I would agree with that.
So every thought we have with relocation and upgrade etc should have the future at the forefront of planning....I'm saying 20yr because significant changes in infrastructure usually comes around in 20yr cycles, that's just my opinion and observations.
That wasn't a club campaign, it was a hollow threat from Leichhardt Council
I didn't know Justin and Lee worked for the council:
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said the potential closure "would be sad for the club".
Both the council and the Tigers said the ground needs tens of millions of dollars to get it up to standard.
"Without significant funding there is a real risk that we will not be able to continue to play there," Pascoe said.
According to The Daily Telegraph’s Michael Carayannis, Wests Tigers Chairman Lee Hagipantelis has issued an ultimatum to the government that the club could stop using the venue if funds aren’t allocated towards it.
“Distinct possibility David, we are just a tenant of Leichhardt Oval, but a major tenant, we only play three or four games there a year,” Hagipantelis said on Triple M.
“Unless there is money spent on that facility, unless there is an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century, then by the end of 2023 there will be no further elite sports played there.”
The Tigers boss provided a simple solution to the NSW Government — $50 million to resurrect the ground, questioning why other NRL clubs received funding.
“That means the Wests Tigers would suffer, all our supporters and fans would suffer… there is a relatively simple solution, it is $50 million dollars,” Hagipantelis said.
“I don’t put a lot of faith in what politicians tell us, particularly around election time, so I think you might find there is a change of heart either just before or just after the next election.
“If they can find $450 million for Penrith and $830 million for the Roosters, I am sure they can find $50 million for the Tigers.”
Tigers chair Lee Hagipantelis says rugby league has been “shafted” by the NSW government reneging on the stadium deal, which included a crucial upgrade for Leichhardt Oval.
Top 8 2023
Top 8 2023
What’s the exit strategy?
“Unless there is money spent on that facility, unless there is an upgrade to bring it into the 21st century, then by the end of 2023 there will be no further elite sports played there.”
Going by what Lee has said, we aren't playing at LO next year
Top 8 2023
What’s the exit strategy?
There isn't one:
The club’s vision is to secure long-term deals with both Campbelltown City Council and Inner West Council, which will see home games played at Wests Tigers’ spiritual and traditional grounds, namely Campbelltown Sports Stadium and Leichhardt Oval.
https://www.weststigers.com.au/news/2022/09/09/wests-tigers-stadium-plans-for-2023/
I'm confused
Our chairman says we aren't playing at LO beyond 2023 unless funding is provides
While our CEO says the club wants to secure long term deal for LO
- so what's the honest answer if there's no funding allocated for LO in the next 10 years?
- will it be safe and appropriate for NRL?
- has the club done its due diligence on the likelihood of receiving funding?
- and as you say @mike, says the exit strategy of no funding is received and when do you pull the trigger?
Top 8 2023
@helmesy Good evening to you sir,
I'm interested in getting your opinion on whether small grounds like ours are going to die off in the future .
Even if they are upgraded, and using LO as an example, is it going to cut it in say 20 years from now. It was a conjested nightmare years ago and I believe nothing has improved so surely it couldn't be a workable complex with even more built up areas. The whole suburb would have to be renovated, roads upgraded, traffic redirections, houses maybe removed, ferries, buses, trains etc. I don't think that will happen.
Unless your simply going for a 20k+ crowd limit.
The area surely couldn't cope with a 30k+ arena.
Anything under 30k+ isn't worth it imo, small club mentality will be ruled by the bigger clubs. That's what the NRL wants imo.
The game is getting more suited to TV since unlimited broadband came in as it's so easy to follow the game now from the comfort of your own home on various media platforms. We have media content overload.
I can hear you thinking all the way from Brisbane and your probably going to say that there will always be a market for going to a small footy groung with the kids, family or mates.
I would agree with that.
So every thought we have with relocation and upgrade etc should have the future at the forefront of planning....I'm saying 20yr because significant changes in infrastructure usually comes around in 20yr cycles, that's just my opinion and observations.
I’m not in Brisbane 😆 haven’t lived there in 15 years!
Leichhardt will never get a significant upgrade, just won’t happen.
We might see a facelift but this will only keep existing configuration and capacity.
Re stadium size, I hate to say it but CommBank stadium is perfect for today and tomorrow (for club games).
Wests Tigers Podcast - Talking everything Wests Tigers!
I can't see any real money being spent on Leichhardt any time soon. There is no political capital in it for a seat that will be fought over between the greens and ALP for the foreseeable future.
Re stadium size, I hate to say it but CommBank stadium is perfect for today and tomorrow (for club games).
I think we need a big stadium for big games (SFS or Commbank) and heartland stadium for community (CS) - with 1 heritage game at LO
I'd be happy with either SFS or Commbank
WT fans seem to hate Commbank - but I think if we start winning that changes. Location and size is perfect for us.
SFS looks great, amazing atmosphere. Would be great in generating big crowds against other big Sydney clubs
Top 8 2023
I can't see any real money being spent on Leichhardt any time soon. There is no political capital in it for a seat that will be fought over between the greens and ALP for the foreseeable future.
Its a pretty heavily used facility. State soccer, A League, schoolboy RL, Some RU, Tahs recently.
That's my sentiments exactly, so I'm an old LO boy, but we need to let it go. It's not a home ground advantage anyway 🤣 It's the same as CSS isn't it. If we don't want to relocate then just adopt CommBank stadium as our own home ground and embrace it.Leichhardt will never get a significant upgrade, just won’t happen.
The COE can be our hub for media, captain's runs, training, supporters BBQ's and a place for my tent 😁
You misunderstood me, I'm in Brisbane 🤣🤣🤣I can hear you thinking all the way from Brisbane
CommBank is not the answer. It’s set up for the media, not the fans. It also has the Eels club right next door and it is in the heart of Parramatta. You are literally walking down enemy territory to get to it. 🤢 🤮That's my sentiments exactly, so I'm an old LO boy, but we need to let it go. It's not a home ground advantage anyway 🤣 It's the same as CSS isn't it. If we don't want to relocate then just adopt CommBank stadium as our own home ground and embrace it.Leichhardt will never get a significant upgrade, just won’t happen.
The COE can be our hub for media, captain's runs, training, supporters BBQ's and a place for my tent 😁
I can't see any real money being spent on Leichhardt any time soon. There is no political capital in it for a seat that will be fought over between the greens and ALP for the foreseeable future.
Its a pretty heavily used facility. State soccer, A League, schoolboy RL, Some RU, Tahs recently.
Lots of junior RL, but the Waratahs and Sydney FC have gone back to Allianz now that it's reopened.
Still plenty of scope for minor events, and it does seem to get used more than any of the other Sydney suburban grounds.
Still, that doesn't mean too much when it comes to funding. Penrith wasn't getting a new stadium because it needed expansion/improvements - it was a marginal seat that the outgoing govt needed to (but couldn't) hold on to.
