Pirtek Stadium Renovation Put on Hold

Pirtek Stadium renovation on hold as Eels and Wanderers debate how the money should be spentJOSH MASSOUDTHE DAILY TELEGRAPHAPRIL 18, 2014 12:00AMWanderers have objected to the redevelopment schedule for fear it will affect attendances. Source: News LimitedPIRTEK Stadium’s $29 million facelift has been sent back to the drawing board following a dispute with the NRL and FFA over how the funds should be spent.The Daily Telegraph can reveal a board meeting of Venues NSW on Tuesday resolved to freeze all development plans indefinitely.As a result, plans to upgrade corporate facilities in the eastern grandstand from August have been temporarily aborted.The Western Sydney Wanderers had staunchly opposed that leg of the redevelopment because it would have slashed the venue’s capacity by 3000 seats for next summer’s A-League.Western Sydney Wanderers are concerned the planned renovation will affect attendances. Source: Getty ImagesWith more than 15,000 season ticket-holders, the Wanderers are already struggling to accommodate fans.The remainder of the money was to be spent on 1500 additional seats at the northern end and new dressing rooms under the western grandstand.While both the Wanderers and other major tenant, the Parramatta Eels, want new facilities for players, both clubs have been petitioning for alternative improvements.The Eels want the 70m pitch behind the southern stand to be extended to a full-length field, which would enable them to hold all training sessions inside the precinct. Parramatta have been nomadic over the past two years, switching their drills between nearby Richie Benaud Oval, Granville and the stadium itself.Eels boss Scott Seward wants the leftover money to be saved for a major redevelopment that would increase capacity to 32,000. Venues NSW believes a project of that magnitude would cost in excess of $100 million and possibly leave both clubs homeless for at least a year.The Eels also want to be able to use the stadium as a training ground. Source: Getty Images“Both the Wanderers and Parramatta agree that we need to look at the scope of works,” Seward said. “We’ve had numerous discussions with Venues NSW about that, and they’ve increased in the past six weeks.“We want to call Pirtek Stadium home for many years, but we also want to dramatically increase our membership. We don’t see the point of spending the money on an upgrade that will barely increase the capacity.“As for the training field, that was something we were promised when we signed our new lease with the stadium (in 2012).”WANDERERS EYE TOP SPOT IN ASIAN CHAMPIONS LAAGUE GROUP 0:34A source close to Venues NSW said the authority had decided to take stock after realising the tenants weren’t going to be happy.It’s understood Venues NSW still wants to push ahead with additional seats on the northern stand, as those works will not disrupt current operations.A spokesman for the NSW Sports Minister confirmed renewed talks would now commence with the Eels and Wanderers.“It is important that the upgrade plans suit the needs of the teams who regularly hire the stadium,” the spokesman said. “It is equally important that the venue secures long-term commitments from those teams.“There are ongoing discussions between Venues NSW, the Parramatta Eels, the NRL and the Western Sydney Wanderers to ensure these objectives are met.”http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/pirtek-stadium-renovation-on-hold-as-eels-and-wanderers-debate-how-the-money-should-be-spent/story-fni3ga7r-1226888496743Sorry if is there's any problem with this thread as I copied and pasted it from my iPhone

Tonight we see the battle of Brooky with the Eels again up against Manly, but this time on their turf and with a no doubt strong sense of redemption after a controversial win for the Eels a few weeks ago. Sanders makes his debut in a massive game,…

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Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown April 18, 2014 at 6:19am

Says here we want to use parra stadium as our training ground, about bloody time, most teams around the globe use their home ground to train on, having been in the horticulture/greenkeeping trade for 15 years i can tell you its a myth it will destroy the turf for game day, it will just cause a bit of MINOR wear and tear, its a very well drained ground with plenty of natural slope from centre to edges,i cant believe we dont train on parra stadium, ridiculous we arnt.

I agree with holding off till we can get more seating approved, but it could seriously never happen.
- Cʜɪᴇғ - > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown April 18, 2014 at 9:04am
  
  How hard is it to extend the training filed? Get some bulldozers and some soil, then plant a bit of grass.
  
  Council job?
  30 million should cover it.
- Yobz > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown April 18, 2014 at 6:34pm
  
  No, but the federal government did grant Manly funds to renovate Brookvale Oval, because Abbott is a fan.
  
  "During the election campaign, Abbott promised $5 million to the Brisbane Broncos - owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corp, no less - to ''kick-start the revitalisation'' of their ''sporting precinct at Red Hill''. The Manly Sea Eagles were offered $10 million to renovate Brookvale Oval, which just happens to be in Abbott's electorate of Warringah and where he's the number one ticket holder."
  http://m.theage.com.au/comment/tony-abbott-opposition-leader-bites-...
Cʜɪᴇғ - April 18, 2014 at 7:59am

Also the motion that we fans don't need the extra seats, because Parramatta Stadium rarley filled to capacity is a load of crud.

I recently orderd 2 tickets to the upcoming Parramatta v Dragons game scheduled in FIVE WEEKS time!
The Thornett stand is totally booked out, and the only remaining tickets are located in the corners of the stadium.

The stadium needs a major overhaul with a minimum 30000 capacity.
bondy April 18, 2014 at 8:00am

This is a good move. Saving money for a bigger redevelopment will make our boutique stadium financially viable for the future
Glenn Lifetime Eel April 18, 2014 at 9:38am

Are you for real Mark? If it wasn't for the Wanderers do you think other than the $29m would be spent to basically support just Parra. The more viable the stadium the more will be spent to upgrade & expand it.
Ham Sammich April 18, 2014 at 9:54am

Not only that but the money the Wanderers supporters are pumping money into the leagues club is massive. That club basically wasn't being used from late September until early March, now it is being used all 12 months of the year and at times is packed to the rafters.
Tin Tim April 18, 2014 at 12:46pm

We spent years away from parramatta stadium for what we have today. Now we have to make sacrifices again. Not that hard really!!
slip April 18, 2014 at 12:57pm

Who cares about the Wanderers. I don't want to read about their opinions.
Dorki wizard April 18, 2014 at 1:16pm

Unfortunately we're going to have to read about their opinions because it affects us greatly..