Proposal for Rabbitohs to play out of Parra Stadium

The plan for 10 Dragons games in Wollongong and Rabbitohs to move to ParramattaApril 18, 2016 - 2:29PMBy BRAD WALTERSt George Illawarra would play up to 10 home matches in Wollongong and South Sydney would move to the new stadium at Parramatta under a Sydney Stadium Strategy proposed by former Roosters chief executive Bernie Gurr for the city's nine NRL clubs.Gurr, who was touted as a candidate for the NRL CEO job and is considered a pre-eminent thinker on big issues within the game, recently sent a 14-page document to NRL chairman John Grant and NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres outlining his vision for where each Sydney club should play in the future.The announcement last week of how the State Government would spend $1.6 billion allocated for Parramatta, ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium has left open the question of where clubs will play as the NRL is no longer required to commit 65 matches per season at those venues – only State of Origin and grand finals.While Gurr supports ANZ Stadium hosting major events, including the NRL's Easter weekend blockbusters, he quotes statistics showing the average attendance at the 2000 Olympic Stadium for 242 premiership games between 2006 and 2015 was18,460 – or 22 per cent capacity – to argue for most matches to be played at smaller venues.However, Gurr does not support clubs playing at "archaic suburban grounds" such as Kogarah, Leichhardt, Campbelltown or Belmore and urged the NRL to adopt the model of Major League Soccer in the US, where he lives and works as chief financial officer of Crown Pacific."Major League Soccer in the USA has developed, and continues to implement, a stadium policy of building 20,000-25,000 seat stadia," Gurr wrote. "The intention was to build atmosphere, cultivate an outstanding game day experience and, when full, is a great 'look' for the league – [which] makes it look more attractive."The 'right-size' for a Sydney Rugby League stadium of the future is a capacity of 25,000 to 40,000."The new stadium at Parramatta will have a 30,000 capacity, Manly has received $20 million in funding for what they hope will eventually be a 23,000 seat stadium at Brookvale and the State Government has outlined long-term plans for a stadium in greater western Sydney – possibly at Liverpool, whose council have released designs for a 30,000-seat covered stadium.With more than 7,000 of Souths members living west of ANZ Stadium and 2015 ticketing data revealing that 16 per cent of Rabbitohs fans reside in the Parramatta, Hill District or Greater West and 22 per cent come from the south-west corridor between Strathfield and Campbelltown, Gurr suggested the club should share the new Parramatta Stadium with the Eels."South Sydney continually justifies their presence at Stadium Australia, rather than their traditional spiritual precinct at Moore Park, on their research data that shows many of their fans live in western Sydney. Parramatta Stadium is only 10 minutes further west than Stadium Australia," Gurr said.He also said a new stadium at Liverpool would be ideal for Wests Tigers and Canterbury, who had been set to move to a new stadium in the area which was part of the ill-fated Oasis development before the 2002 salary cap scandal, while the Dragons should play 10 of their 12 home games at WIN Stadium, which has a 23,000 capacity."From promotional and demographic perspectives, we need to continue to 'regionalise' and push our game into the outer-Sydney areas, such as south-western Sydney (Tigers & Bulldogs), inner-western Sydney (Parramatta – the geographical heart of Sydney), outer-western Sydney (Panthers) and the Illawarra region (Dragons), plus solve the northern beaches/north shore stadium issue (Sea Eagles)," Gurr wrote."The St. George Illawarra Dragons should play at least 10 games a year at Wollongong, which has had taxpayer-assisted funds dedicated to it in recent years. The NRL should want the Dragons to be the 'flagship' team in promoting our game in the vast Illawarra region."Another NRL premiership game, plus a pre-season trial, could be played at Kogarah Oval, the Dragons' spiritual Sydney home. The other premiership match may be played at the most appropriate Sydney venue, maybe Parramatta Stadium or Liverpool Stadium, given the Dragons' large fan base across Sydney. "Gurr said Wests Tigers could play one premiership match and one pre-season trial per year at Leichhardt Oval, and the Bulldogs could play one premiership match and one trial per year at Belmore Oval.http://m.smh.com.au/rugby-league/league-news/the-plan-for-10-dragons-games-in-wollongong-and-rabbitohs-to-move-to-parramatta-20160418-go8s5g.html

"I did modern day as 1998 onwards as I didn't see them play, as some here haven't. Where I believe majority of people here have seen all the modern day players play.
Plus it frees up some spots like we all know who 5/8 will be but now no idea."

"Old vs New. Pre 1998 Eels best team wearing the original Gold Jerseys vs post 1998 Eels best team wearing today's Blue jersey. The best from both eras playing against each other in a virtual stadium online. Jack Gibson coaching Gold, Brian Smith…"

"He played 134 of his 264 games as a winger. Didnt complain once like a Lomax when required on the wing. Was a team man through and through. He deserves to be in the Modern Day Best Eels team somewhere. Perhaps now that we have 6 interchange players…"

Replies

craig marsh April 18, 2016 at 4:10pm

Sweet. Souths home games at our home ground. Winner!
Joshuatheeel April 18, 2016 at 4:23pm

Brillant !! About time someone supported more games in the Illawarra !! Only 4 NRL games a year in the gong is joke!!
- Bup > Joshuatheeel April 18, 2016 at 5:26pm
  
  I'd be happy with that Frankie.
Alan Hunt April 18, 2016 at 4:47pm

Very good operator Burnie Gurr, we could do a hell of lot worse then have him as our CEO.
- Robert Lloyd > Alan Hunt April 18, 2016 at 5:42pm
  
  Alan: Burie Gurr would be very good as a hands on Chairman. But he could be far too good for Paramatta.
Nitram April 18, 2016 at 6:58pm

Lucky fitzgerald isnt still the boss he'd be pushing for a merger. I can hear it now... "the rabbit is a more marketable mascot than the eel"
Kurupt April 18, 2016 at 9:46pm

Yuk
- Robert Lloyd > Kurupt April 18, 2016 at 10:17pm
  
  Kurupt : I think it a good idea to have Souths at Parramatta Stadium. They could start next year as the Stadium is being demolished. Then stay there for the two or three years it takes to build the new stadium--then they can go back to Redfern Oval, their spiritual home!
colin hussey April 18, 2016 at 10:28pm

I still think its nuts only going to 30000 for the new Parra stadium, it needs to be at least 40000 to take the game into the future. The old stadium has a record crowd of 27000 odd spectators, which is the number quoted by the government for paying fans whilst there will be 3000 corporate seats to take it to the 30000.

Huge money for little future gain.
SEQld Eel (formely NZ Eel) April 19, 2016 at 4:35am

Not sure that you need more than a 30 000 stadium. As mentioned here before, except for the occasional derby and of course finals and sofO we rarely see crowds above 20 000 these days. I think 30 000 capacity keeps some sort of atmosphere

This reply was deleted.

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