News NRL approaches Bulldogs and Tigers as governing body looks to build and own new stadium

sideswip

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Belmore is awful for parking, and getting in and out. Realistically need a better venue. Homebush was bad getting out after game also.
Spend the money on Belmore , Buy some houses and add the carpark ...its not like it hasnt been done before.
 

berryboy

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NRL approaches Bulldogs and Tigers as governing body looks to build and own new stadium
By Michael Chammas and Chris O'Keefe
November 17, 2021 — 7.30pm
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The NRL has made preliminary enquiries about building its own stadium in south-west Sydney, approaching the Wests Tigers and Bulldogs to gauge their appetite in playing out of a potential new venue in Liverpool or Rossmore near Western Sydney airport.
The Herald can reveal that ARLC chairman Peter V’landys and NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo spoke to both Bulldogs and Tigers officials this week as the code considers a move to acquire an asset similar to the AFL’s ownership of Marvel Stadium in Melbourne.
The Bulldogs and Tigers have both been approached by the NRL about the potential of a new stadium.

The Bulldogs and Tigers have both been approached by the NRL about the potential of a new stadium.CREDIT:NRL PHOTOS
Sources with knowledge of the situation said the NRL, which announced an $80 million profit in 2021 and is close to striking a new free-to-air broadcast deal with Nine Entertainment Co worth between $550-$600 million, recently approached the NSW state government about funding for a new stadium in south-west Sydney.
The NRL was met with resistance given Penrith, Brookvale and Sydney Olympic Park were about to be announced as the beneficiaries of the $800 million investment pledge into Sydney stadia underpinned by a long-term commitment to keep the grand final in NSW.

The NRL is now exploring the possibility of purchasing a piece of land and building its own stadium that it could rent out to rugby league clubs, other sporting codes and the entertainment industry.
The two likely options on the table would be a new stadium at the 26,000sq metre former Oasis site in Liverpool, which is currently owned by Canterbury Leagues, or a vacant block of land near Western Sydney Airport in Rossmore. The NRL declined to comment.
The Oasis site isn’t big enough for a stadium with a capacity greater than 20,000 and would require Liverpool City Council to give up nearby land.
"The Bulldogs are open to hearing proposals and have the good of the game in our thinking," Bulldogs chairman John Khoury said. "But at the moment we have not received any formal proposals."
The NRL signalled its intention this week when it approached the two western Sydney clubs to gauge where they want to play future matches.
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The Wests Tigers are desperate to find a permanent home having spent the past two decades in multiple venues across the city.

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/th...id-to-keep-brandon-smith-20211117-p599q4.html
Is this the initial stages designed to merge the 2 clubs in the future?
 

Alan79

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Not to mention that as we own the rest of the land, things like a Centre of Excellence can be built in the precinct and really draw talent from around the area. Who knows, maybe even build another leagues club in that land to bring in some extra money.
Back when we were trying to get the go ahead for the Oasis project, one of the issues we faced was that we needed council approval and a significant portion of the council were also involved with the RSL there. They saw the potential for a leagues club near the stadium as a massive source of competition and blocked the development applications if what I was told is true. So I'm not sure if the development of a new leagues club with pokies there would still be getting competition.



I'm seeing a few people that think this will be a scenario where our club have the controlling interest in this stadium in Liverpool. But it sounds to me like the NRL have plans on being full owners which would require that we relinquish our ownership of the land. From a financial perspective I'd say the club should hold onto it. Might be a while until they can develop something there, but the real estate is something we're unlikely to be able to purchase again and hopefully it eventually becomes viable to build something there that gives us a clear home ground advantage again. Childhood memories of Belmore still give me nostalgia, but I don't think we're ever going to make it a viable home ground again.
 

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Back when we were trying to get the go ahead for the Oasis project, one of the issues we faced was that we needed council approval and a significant portion of the council were also involved with the RSL there. They saw the potential for a leagues club near the stadium as a massive source of competition and blocked the development applications if what I was told is true. So I'm not sure if the development of a new leagues club with pokies there would still be getting competition.



I'm seeing a few people that think this will be a scenario where our club have the controlling interest in this stadium in Liverpool. But it sounds to me like the NRL have plans on being full owners which would require that we relinquish our ownership of the land. From a financial perspective I'd say the club should hold onto it. Might be a while until they can develop something there, but the real estate is something we're unlikely to be able to purchase again and hopefully it eventually becomes viable to build something there that gives us a clear home ground advantage again. Childhood memories of Belmore still give me nostalgia, but I don't think we're ever going to make it a viable home ground again.
Totally agree Alan. It's a chance for the Bulldogs to secure their future, who knows what the future holds, what happens when we go through another dip then relocation or promotion/relegation or a merge enters the discussion? I know we're a wealthy club but we need to continually advance, lead the pack.

Re Belmore. we could always play a home game at Belmore we'd pack it to the rafters, should be against a travelling non Sydney team our headquarters identifies as a lesser travelling fanbase and drawcard (no disrespect) like a NQ Cowboys or GC Titans game. It'll give us a solid home ground advantage and please myself & the local home support. I think the Belmore game this season is against the Dragons, dumb move, we would've jam packed Commbanks' 30'000 seater.
 

Como Dog

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Surely somehow somewhere Dogs deserve there own home ground to play match's out of.
Been in the comp 85 years, why should we share a stadium with Tigers FFS.
That doesn't worry me so much. Tigers will eventually either die out, be absorbed by us or relocate.

Funny thing was that when West's Tigers formed, the Magpies had said no to merging with us because they had just spent a few million upgrading their shitty Campbelltown stadium plus a couple of other sticking points. That went well.
 

SPEARTAKVIDREFS

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That doesn't worry me so much. Tigers will eventually either die out, be absorbed by us or relocate.

Funny thing was that when West's Tigers formed, the Magpies had said no to merging with us because they had just spent a few million upgrading their shitty Campbelltown stadium plus a couple of other sticking points. That went well.
Youd think the merging of Wests and Balmain would have made for a strong Club but theyve been shit for years lol.
 

Dogtime

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I think this is bullshit as it was marked for a clone of Suncorp, a hotel and casino and water park.

I say get rid of the shitty Canterbury race track and build our own Suncorp there.
Much as this would be 100% ideal we can't make this happen. We can't get the Govt to co sponsor a project just for us....and as we saw when Macq Bank pulled the pin on Oasis, the Club can't go it alone. Liverpool gives the Club access to Liverpool district junior rugby league...increasing our development footprint and a project at Liverpool will be funded by NSW Govt.
Tigers supporters are spread from Leichhardt to Campbelltown....that is a massive corridor in Sydney....we can't allow the growth west of Liverpool to fall in a benign manner to the Tigers so far better we establish a presence there in Liverpool exactly as we envisioned in 2000.
Stadia in Liverpool can be used as home base by both Dogs and Tigers. Makes perfect sense to the NRL and I trust the Dogs and Tigers Boards.
 

Como Dog

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Youd think the merging of Wests and Balmain would have made for a strong Club but theyve been shit for years lol.
Yeah it's weird. Tigers were crap and always will be, thought Northern Eagles would have been strong but they went balls up and St Merge were strong at first when 2 good sides formed a really good one, but since then and despite many very good juniors they lose good players, attract average replacements and never seem to have any money.
 

Dogtime

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I like it. Canterbury Park is ordinary and all premiere Sydney racing is Rosehill/Randwick with no prestigious events there. V’landys would likely oppose knocking a race track though being CEO of Racing NSW.

This would be very central, the heart of Bulldog territory (actually in ‘Canterbury’ - and close to Belmore), close enough to public transport, plenty of space etc. If we move from Homebush I’d back this over Liverpool. Sounds like renovations to Stadium Australia could be back on the cards though…
It just won't happen as neither the NRL nor NSW Govt want this and the Club has insufficient standing to seek finance itself. Your talking upwards of $200m.
You monkeys have no idea about infrastructure finance obviously.
 
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DinkumDog

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It just won't happen as neither the NRL nor NSW Govt want this and the Club has insufficient standing to seek finance itself. Your talking upwards of $200m.
You monkeys have no idea about infrastructure finance obviously.
Thanks Glen. As insightful as a fortune cookie.
I said I like the idea, not that it would happen.
And I pointed out that there’s talk of Stadium Australia renovations being back on the cards.
Since you’re so well versed in infrastructure finance, how about you now learn to read?
 

XR6T

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It's not happening at all now....they have done a backflip....

NSW government set for change of heart on stadium upgrades
A big winner, but an equally big loser.



SCOTT PRYDE
EDITOR
NOVEMBER 29, 2021 - 11:24AM



The New South Wales government have reportedly revealed new stadium upgrade plans for Sydney, with Leichhardt upgrades back on the agenda as Liverpool misses out.

It had previously been reported that Liverpool was set for a new stadium to house both the Wests Tigers and Canterbury Bulldogs - a central location between Belmore and Campbelltown where the population is expanding.

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It had also been reported that Penrith was set for a brand new stadium, which would see the Panthers play out of Parramatta during 2023 and 2024 while it was being built on the site of their current venue, with the stadium set to model that of CommBank Stadium in Parramatta.

NRL Rd 3 - Roosters v Rabbitohs
While Penrith is still set for major upgrade works according to a new Daily Telegraph report, the proposed stadium in Liverpool for the Bulldogs and Tigers - as well as Macarthur FC in the A-League and likely some Waratahs Super Rugby games - has been scuppered by the government, who have had a change of heart.

Australian Rugby League Commission chairman Peter V'Landys has made no secret of his desire for upgrades to suburban grounds, and the government agree, with new state premier Dominic Perrottet saying as much recently.

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According to the reports, the plans for Penrith and Brookvale to receive funds for upgrades are still on, while Stadium Australia is still set to get a retractable roof put over it in lieu of earlier upgrade plans which were supposed to see it turned into a permanent rectangular stadium with a 70,000 capacity.

Those plans were dismissed when COVID hit New South Wales, but upgrade works will still be carried out at the Homebush venue, while it is also reported that the government will set aside money for Leichhardt Oval and Shark Park to upgrade facilities.

Shark Park has just been offline as far as hosting NRL goes for two years following club upgrades, while Leichhardt was reportedly going to miss out on funding for upgrades, but if latest reports are to believed, that is now back on the table, although to what extent remains to be seen.

The government have previously earmarked a formal announcement by Christmas.
 
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Total Fool

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Isn’t Shark Park privately owned? WTF would the government be giving them c{}nts a cent?
 

red-dog

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Guess we are doomed to play at the souless Stadium Australia for eternity
 
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Papa Emeritus

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New stadiums I am all for. I think the South West needs a new stadium like Bankwest.

Having said that, how many Bulldogs fans are going to travel that far for games? Especially if it is a lot of games. I wouldn't. I also wouldn't travel to the SFS for a lot of games either.

Olympic Park is a good spot for Bulldogs fans. What we ideally should push for is knocking that POS stadium down and building a proper one.
 
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