More games to go to ANZ

http://m.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-looking-at-shift-to-anz-stadium/story-fni3ga7r-1226658949837EXCLUSIVE: THE new Eels board is entertaining the option of moving more games away from Parramatta Stadium, with ANZ Stadium in line to host a greater number of fixtures from 2014.The Daily Telegraph can reveal Eels CEO Ken Edwards sought legal clarification on the club's tenancy at Parramatta Stadium, before the issue of transferring more games to Olympic Park was raised at a meeting of the newly-elected board late last month.The development has emerged amid the biggest clean-out in the club's 66-year history, which began on Wednesday when Edwards and coach Ricky Stuart told 12 players - including co-captain Reni Maitua - they weren't in the club's plans beyond this season.Fellow co-captain Jarryd Hayne yesterday slammed the manner in which the news was delivered, accusing the club of putting his teammates "on show" in front of "their peers and staff" at the extraordinary meeting.Under their current agreement with Parramatta Stadium, which runs until the end of 2015, the Eels are permitted to move four of their 12 games away from their spiritual home.But The Daily Telegraph can reveal the deal is yet to be signed off, with both parties currently respecting a Heads of Agreement based on a Memorandum of Understanding that was drawn up last November.The agreement allows the Eels to transfer further games to ANZ Stadium should their ticket and membership sales forecast a crowd in excess of 20,000.However, the club must compensate Parramatta Stadium Trust $70,000 for any further fixtures that are moved to Olympic Park.Fellow co-captain Jarryd Hayne yesterday slammed the manner in which the news was delivered, accusing the club of putting his teammates "on show" in front of "their peers and staff" at the extraordinary meeting.Under their current agreement with Parramatta Stadium, which runs until the end of 2015, the Eels are permitted to move four of their 12 games away from their spiritual home.But The Daily Telegraph can reveal the deal is yet to be signed off, with both parties currently respecting a Heads of Agreement based on a Memorandum of Understanding that was drawn up last November.The agreement allows the Eels to transfer further games to ANZ Stadium should their ticket and membership sales forecast a crowd in excess of 20,000.However, the club must compensate Parramatta Stadium Trust $70,000 for any further fixtures that are moved to Olympic Park.With Parramatta targeting 20,000 members by the end of 2013, Edwards, the former ANZ Stadium CEO, sought advice about playing more games there from club solicitor Brian Belling - who yesterday declined to comment - in April.The club has scheduled three matches - against Canterbury, South Sydney and St George Illawarra - at ANZ Stadium this year.Edwards last night said he regarded the Heads of Agreement with Parramatta Stadium as "binding", but vowed: "It will depend on how our membership sales go."There is a possibility that we will play more games at ANZ Stadium."We've got a new board in place and we're reviewing all those things at the moment."We have every intention of honouring our agreement with Parramatta Stadium."New chairman Steve Sharp vowed that Parramatta Stadium would remain home of the Eels during his successful election campaign last month. He did not return calls.

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Replies

ParramAddict June 6, 2013 at 11:21pm

What a load of shit
Moray Eel June 6, 2013 at 11:28pm

Is this legit? I have never read such a poor piece of journalism in my life. Perhaps it was written by some year 10 student on work experience.
- ParramAddict > Moray Eel June 6, 2013 at 11:32pm
  
  Soooooo, new board, how awesome are they
ParramattaFB June 6, 2013 at 11:32pm

Link?
- FME > ParramattaFB June 7, 2013 at 1:14am
  
  http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-looking-...
SuperEel 22 June 6, 2013 at 11:42pm

With all the work Parra First did to get into power I doubt they'd stab all the supporters in the back and move games away from Parramatta Stadium. I'd only imagine that games would move away if we were almost certain to get an upgrade and the ground needed to be closed for a period of time. If more games are moved from Parramatta I'll be holding Parra First accountable at the next election.
- Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown > SuperEel 22 June 6, 2013 at 11:49pm
  
  for sure super, im not buying into this yet as i dont believe it could happen after what PF promised.
  
  But if they let this happen they will lose in a total and utter landslide at the next elections, this would be political suicide.
  
  I have full faith in PF to deliver what they said they would.
- Bob Kennards. > SuperEel 22 June 7, 2013 at 1:58am
  
  They shit themselves when they realized that it costs the club 70k to use Parra Stadium yet they make 150k to use ANZ. They got members voted by telling them what they wanted to hear. Now reality kicks in. members can sugarcoat it all they like. Liars.
Brad Hanns June 6, 2013 at 11:42pm

Parramatta stadium is our home ground not Anz .Please ask supporters first see what they want dont forget the supporters.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown June 6, 2013 at 11:45pm

Theres no doubt the reason why Edwards is pushing so hard to get memberships up is to try and make parra stadium not a viable option for the club.

If the new board let edwards get his way with this i will be withdrawing all my support for them.

Staying at parra stadium was one of sharps selling points, i heard him on the radio touting that, if he sells out over this he should step down from the board.

I will wait to see what happens here before i put the knives in, but if we take more games from parra stadium it will be an unforgivable act and a total backflip.