News Parramatta Eels knock back deal to play at new Western Sydney Stadium

steeliz

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https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-10...ock-back-deal-to-play-at-new-stadium/10382846

PHOTO: The Parramatta Eels will have to play their home games elsewhere if a deal is not struck. (Supplied: NSW Government)
RELATED STORY: Drone vision shows Parramatta Stadium in ruins ahead of new 'world-class' venue
The Parramatta Eels have rejected a deal to play home games out of the new $300 million Western Sydney Stadium next year.

Key points:
  • The Eels say their home games would be marked as "TBC" when the NRL fixtures are released
  • NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said he was still confident a deal could be struck
  • The club has played home games on the site since 1947


The 30,000-seat rectangular venue is not due to host its first games until April, after a two-year rebuild replacing the old Parramatta stadium which was demolished in 2017.

The club has been negotiating with operators VenuesLive, contracted to run the venue by the New South Wales Government, for six months.

Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr wrote to members saying the deal was unacceptable.

"The current proposal if accepted would adversely affect the ability of our club to invest in our football department, NRL team and junior elite football programs," he wrote.

"We are not prepared to accept a new agreement that will impact the club negatively for the next 25 years."

The club also fears the deal would impact the prices of food, drink and tickets at the ground.

"Therefore, when the NRL draw is released in the near future, the venue for the club's home games in 2019 will be marked as 'TBC' [to be confirmed]," Mr Gurr wrote.

Parramatta has been playing home games on the site since 1947.

Treasurer 'confident' deal can be struck
NSW Treasurer Dominic Perrottet said the Government would continue negotiations.

"I'm very confident we will reach a compromise because why would you not want to play at one of the great stadiums that this country is going to have," he said.

"Western Sydney Stadium is going to be the envy of the west [and] is a world-class facility that will have world-class games played there, and I believe Parramatta will be a part of that story.

"It's going to be a great stadium the Wests Tigers are going to be playing there."

PHOTO: An artist's impression of the new Parramatta Stadium, which is soon-to-be completed. (Supplied: NSW Government)


The club hired a consulting firm six months ago to investigate the deal they were being offered, and compare it to the ones struck by other clubs.

Parramatta said it would continue discussions with VenuesLive, in a bid to reach a "fair" arrangement.

The club's finances took a hit in 2016 after they were fined $1 million for breaching the NRL salary cap.

VenuesLive also runs Stadium Australia.
 

Haza

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Good on them for rejecting the first offer. The government is gonna start sweating bullets that they won’t have Parra playing at WSS. It’s all part of the negotiations and Parra has the upper hand IMO.
 

The DoggFather

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Good on them for rejecting the first offer. The government is gonna start sweating bullets that they won’t have Parra playing at WSS. It’s all part of the negotiations and Parra has the upper hand IMO.
Only upper hand they have is on their dicks.

That stadium was purely built for WSW.
 

Mr Invisible

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Hang on .. so Parra jumped up and down and campaigned for a new stadium, the government bulldozed Parra Stadium and built a bloody brand new one, and now the pricks are getting pissy and can't strike a deal to play there?

Let them play all games at Leichardt then.
 

MatstaDogg

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Only upper hand they have is on their dicks.

That stadium was purely built for WSW.
Exactly, it was because of the popularity of Western Sydney Wanderers and the need of a better stadium. It definitely wasn't because of Parramatta.
 

Wahesh

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I can see Parramatta's point of view here. It's not as simple as knock an old stadium down and build a new one, they want to ensure the deal is right. Plus as mentioned if the tickets are expensive and food and drink is through the roof and impacts on attendances, then it does impact on their revenue. As mentioned by the Treasurer, he is certain a deal will be met, it's just that the first round of negotiations haven't resulted in this, meaning a deal has been finalised... yet. You don't rush things like this - especially considering we're talking long term - 25 years.
 

Bob dog

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Parra should be playing there for next to shit but its their own fault they never bought the place if they have been there since '47.
 

Dogna88

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Move them to Perth. Dogs to absorb Parra district and play games there. So much better than ANZ
 

The DoggFather

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They are "threatening" to move their games to Gosford.

Hope they fkn do. Heaps of room for their 2000 strong crowd.
 

Matilida

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The eels will be the big beneficiary of the new stadium as it is right near their leagues club so whoever plays there will benefit the eels.
 

Bad Billy

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So, the ***** get a stadium built for them, for free, and they expect to use it for free too ??
Fuck em, they can play out of concord.
 

Heckler

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The eels will be the big beneficiary of the new stadium as it is right near their leagues club so whoever plays there will benefit the eels.
Imagine this. Parramatta gets relocated. Dogs play out of the new stadium. Canterbury leagues buys out Parra leagues. The ultimate insult.
 

CroydonDog

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Good on them for rejecting the first offer. The government is gonna start sweating bullets that they won’t have Parra playing at WSS. It’s all part of the negotiations and Parra has the upper hand IMO.
This.

It's all piss and wind. Of course they will be playing there next year, it's just a matter of negotiating the best deal.
 

Shnissss

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Only upper hand they have is on their dicks.

That stadium was purely built for WSW.
Exactly. The WSW have been lining the pockets of that leagues club and stadium for the last few years. Take them away and let’s see the Eels strike any sort of deal

They already have the WSW, Tigers, possibly Bulldogs when ANZ gets refurbed amongst others. They probably don’t even need the Eels
 

Dawgfather

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A deal will be done.

Both the Eels and the operators of the stadium can't survive without the other. Most of this story is just leaks to the media to try and get the upper hand at the negotiating table.
 

Rockford

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Exactly. The WSW have been lining the pockets of that leagues club and stadium for the last few years. Take them away and let’s see the Eels strike any sort of deal

They already have the WSW, Tigers, possibly Bulldogs when ANZ gets refurbed amongst others. They probably don’t even need the Eels
Why would the other teams be any more willing to pay $70K/game (or whatever it is) to play there?
 
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