Wests Tigers eye new western stadium as permanent home base

https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/wests-tigers-eye-new-western-stadium-as-permanent-home-base-20180510-p4zehd.htmlWests Tigers will meet with Western Sydney Stadium bosses in the next fortnight to begin talks about making the new $300 million venue their permanent home.A day after coach Ivan Cleary told Fairfax Media about his hopes of one day having the Tigers play out of the one venue - not five different grounds - to create a genuine game-day advantage, club chief executive Justin Pascoe said the new Parramatta-based stadium had plenty of appeal.Pascoe said Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium would continue to be used but just how many games were taken to those popular suburban venues would be reviewed.The Tigers are midway through a deal with ANZ Stadium, which does not expire until the end of the 2023 season.The deal requires the Tigers to play at least four NRL games a season there and ANZ officials are given the first four picks of what games they would like to host.However, with ANZ Stadium due to be ripped down and rebuilt at a cost of $810 million at the end of 2019 the Tigers will need a new regular home.The Tigers like the idea of the new 30,000-capacity purpose-built Western Sydney Stadium, which will already house Parramatta.Should a deal be struck and it is a success, the Tigers will give thought to never returning to ANZ Stadium - nor possibly Leichhardt and Campbelltown."We'll meet in the new couple of weeks with [stadium boss] Daryl Kerry,'' Pascoe told Fairfax Media."We'll see what opportunities exist and how they stack up against our strategic objectives of continual fan engagement."The appeal is it's a brand-new stadium with brand-new facilities for the members, corporates and players to use pre and post-game."Everything is on the table at the moment and no decisions have been made."This is the fifth year of a 10-year deal with ANZ Stadium. But works at the stadium are due to begin at the end of 2019 so we're looking at what other opportunities there are.''The 10-year deal at ANZ Stadium was struck by the Tigers' former management and the financial sweeteners to take games there, which amount to roughly $200,000 a match, will cease at the end of this season.Leichhardt Oval and Campbelltown Stadium create the best game-day atmosphere, especially Leichhardt on a Sunday afternoon.The Tigers hosted North Queensland in the inner west on Thursday night and their round-23 match against St George Illawarra on a Saturday evening is expected to sell out a month in advance, especially if the Tigers remain in the top eight.Pascoe knows the suburban grounds are a highlight for so many of the members but is also mindful of making sure the Tigers are financially viable.There are no rules that require games to be played at Leichhardt and Campbelltown, nor an even split of matches. It would be a bold move to abandon those grounds altogether."Let's just say there are no plans not to play at those grounds but there are a raft of other things to consider and how we best utilise this current deal,'' Pascoe said.Even though the Western Sydney Stadium is located in Parramatta the NRL is prepared to sell the new ground as the property of the west, not the Eels.One drawback for the Tigers taking games to the venue is the fact their members will likely prop up neighbouring and rival Parramatta Leagues Club.The new stadium is expected to open in April 2019, meaning the Eels - and possibly Tigers - will need to play their first few games of the NRL season away from home.Cleary's hopes of gaining an on-field advantage from one permanent home were inspired by the fact the Tigers had already used ANZ Stadium, Campbelltown, Mt Smart Stadium, Tamworth and Leichhardt to host games in the opening 10 rounds.Lol thoughts?

Never understood the fascination with the WSW and their fan base. Sure they get a decent number, but if you have done some research, we average 3k more than they do (2017 and v 2017/18). So technically we actually need the bigger stadium not them. We also have our roots embedded in the area Parramatta Eels, the stadium is located in Parra. Also, ANZ obviously will out do the new Eels stadium, talking about a 500 million difference in spending money, thats like a Toyota Camry racing a Mercedes AMG. Can't compare apples and oranges.

This however also, lays another issue, Sydney just does not have enough fans to house all these teams and enough space. I doubt we are very far away from a few teams either losing their franchise license or having to algamate with another club.

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Replies

Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown May 11, 2018 at 1:08pm

There goes our home advantage against the tigers, who's next, the dogs?
- Longfin Eel > Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown May 11, 2018 at 3:02pm
  
  It's still our home ground, and in the heart of Parramatta - most of the Parra fans could probably walk there, or in the near future catch a light rail for a few stops to get there. It's still a long way from Campbelltown.
Offside May 11, 2018 at 1:17pm

This can't be a surprise a stadium like this owned by the government was always going to be rented out. It can't exist with just 2 tenants
Gucci Flip Flops May 11, 2018 at 1:18pm

A really bad look for the ground if they do this because there’s no way tigers fans will show up. Being from Campbelltown it feels like there isn’t even a team here. Like sort your shit out for your stadiums or collapse so there can be a Perth/2nd Brisbane team. The Balmain MacArthur Tigers at home in Parra. Pathetic.
- BlacJac > Gucci Flip Flops May 11, 2018 at 6:58pm
  
  I don’t know why Tigers do not move to Campbelltown permanently? They have no identity at present. Where do they truly see themselves in 5-10years?
  
  Playing from MacArthur they can utilise Liverpool thru Casula down to Narellen & Camden, then new developments in Leppington, Oran Park etc.
  
  Just a small bit of foresight from the NRL would see this is such a booming area of Sydney tht they should get in early & establish roots into the game
ParraTime May 11, 2018 at 1:19pm

I never understood how a professional game can have 2/3 even 4 teams playing out of one stadium and calling it home. No dopes, that's the home of 25% of the Comp (i.e. ANZ). This games seriously on its last legs.
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > ParraTime May 11, 2018 at 1:46pm
  
  Agree KA, its not a good look, its not healthy for the tribalism of the game either.
  
  Fuck sharing dressing rooms weekly with another team, that should be our sacred turf, the dressing sheds should be lit up in our club colours for half the year.
  
  Who takes the home dressing room when we play each other?
- Parrakeet > ParraTime May 11, 2018 at 2:02pm
  
  Your delusional if you think the stadium was built for Eels. My first thoughts were Wanderers need a bigger stadium. ANZ will rival when rebuilt as well. AFL may request bigger grounds and as to why they are going square shaped in the future.
  - ParraTime > Parrakeet May 11, 2018 at 2:50pm
    
    Never understood the fascination with the WSW and their fan base. Sure they get a decent number, but if you have done some research, we average 3k more than they do (2017 and v 2017/18). So technically we actually need the bigger stadium not them. We also have our roots embedded in the area Parramatta Eels, the stadium is located in Parra. Also, ANZ obviously will out do the new Eels stadium, talking about a 500 million difference in spending money, thats like a Toyota Camry racing a Mercedes AMG. Can't compare apples and oranges.
    
    This however also, lays another issue, Sydney just does not have enough fans to house all these teams and enough space. I doubt we are very far away from a few teams either losing their franchise license or having to algamate with another club.
- Mitchy > ParraTime May 11, 2018 at 2:50pm
  
  Agreed; i thought this stadium at Parra was for Us and the wanderers. Not another NRL club. Totally agree with the sentiments here.

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