- Joined
- Apr 23, 2014
- Messages
- 7,386
- Reaction score
- 12,689
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/ne...pensive-exercise/story-fngr8hxh-1227477341717
THE Bulldogs could play two NRL games at Belmore Sports Ground next year despite it being an “expensive exercise” to play at the club’s spiritual home.
The Canterbury-Bankstown club played its first games at Belmore Sports Ground this year since 1998.
More than 19,000 watched the Bulldogs on a Sunday afternoon against Cronulla, while almost 17,000 watched the Monday night win against Melbourne.
Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle said the club would consider one or two games at Belmore Sports Ground next season.
However, despite a boost for fans and community, staging NRL games exclusively at suburban grounds remains, for the most part, financially untenable.
Ms Castle said taking games back to Belmore cost the club thousands.
“It’s a good experience, but it’s not a world-class stadium,” she said.
The game against the Sharks, marking the club’s 80th anniversary, proved to be “very successful”, Ms Castle said.
“It’s a great experience for our community to share those memories” of the ground, she said, adding crowd behaviour had been “good”.
In monetary terms, it had been “financially beneficial” for the club.
Ms Castle said it had also been “financially beneficial for shopkeepers” with local businesses boosted by greater patronage.
Despite this, it remains expensive to host a game, with costs incurred for security, Wi-Fi, fencing and parking facilities.
That almost 17,000 supporters turned out on a Monday night for the Storm game is perhaps indicative of the growing appetite for NRL games played at suburban grounds.
The matches at Belmore this season each drew larger crowds than five of the eight games the Bulldogs have played at ANZ Stadium.
FAST FACTS:
■ The Bulldogs match against Cronulla Sharks last month attracted a crowd of 19,005
■ Costs included security, Wi-Fi and parking facilities
■ The club will consider one or two matches at Belmore Sports Ground in 2016 after returning to their training base this year for the first time since 1998
THE Bulldogs could play two NRL games at Belmore Sports Ground next year despite it being an “expensive exercise” to play at the club’s spiritual home.
The Canterbury-Bankstown club played its first games at Belmore Sports Ground this year since 1998.
More than 19,000 watched the Bulldogs on a Sunday afternoon against Cronulla, while almost 17,000 watched the Monday night win against Melbourne.
Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle said the club would consider one or two games at Belmore Sports Ground next season.
However, despite a boost for fans and community, staging NRL games exclusively at suburban grounds remains, for the most part, financially untenable.
Ms Castle said taking games back to Belmore cost the club thousands.
“It’s a good experience, but it’s not a world-class stadium,” she said.
The game against the Sharks, marking the club’s 80th anniversary, proved to be “very successful”, Ms Castle said.
“It’s a great experience for our community to share those memories” of the ground, she said, adding crowd behaviour had been “good”.
In monetary terms, it had been “financially beneficial” for the club.
Ms Castle said it had also been “financially beneficial for shopkeepers” with local businesses boosted by greater patronage.
Despite this, it remains expensive to host a game, with costs incurred for security, Wi-Fi, fencing and parking facilities.
That almost 17,000 supporters turned out on a Monday night for the Storm game is perhaps indicative of the growing appetite for NRL games played at suburban grounds.
The matches at Belmore this season each drew larger crowds than five of the eight games the Bulldogs have played at ANZ Stadium.
FAST FACTS:
■ The Bulldogs match against Cronulla Sharks last month attracted a crowd of 19,005
■ Costs included security, Wi-Fi and parking facilities
■ The club will consider one or two matches at Belmore Sports Ground in 2016 after returning to their training base this year for the first time since 1998
