Tigers want meeting with government over Campbelltown
Scott Bailey |
Wests Tigers chairman Barry O’Farrell has called for an 11th-hour meeting with the NSW Government as the clock ticks down on the NRL club’s threat to leave Campbelltown Stadium.
Campbelltown’s council last week pledged $10 million to upgrading their stadium, but say they need state or federal support to meet Wests Tigers’ demands for the ground.
The Tigers have given Campbelltown City Council an extension until July 31 to secure a $50 million upgrade for the ground, but say they will otherwise have to leave the venue.
Campbelltown City Council’s commitment is conditional on support from higher levels of government, and would go to increasing the capacity of the ground to 21,000 with improvements to the western grandstand.
The chances of the state or federal government coming to the party appears to be dwindling with nothing pledged since the Tigers threatened to leave the ground in April.
Tigers and Campbelltown council representatives have met with the NSW government in recent months to push for the funding and are keen to speak with treasurer Daniel Mookhey again.
“Barry O’Farrell has made representations to the treasurer to try and catch up now that the budget is over,” Tigers CEO Shane Richardson told AAP.
“It’s to have one last try at trying to get funding for Campbelltown council.”
Western Suburbs have played out of Campbelltown since 1987, before the merger with Balmain in 2000 saw the Tigers split their games with Leichhardt.
The number of games at the club’s traditional home grounds has since reduced, but the Tigers will commit to playing up to eight games at Campbelltown if upgraded.
Campbelltown mayor Darcy Lound had previously hoped the Tigers would play the long game and stay in the city regardless of upgrades, but that now appears unlikely.
“Ultimately it’s important that we definitely try and keep the stadium fit for purpose, which this would do,” Lound told last Friday night’s council meeting.
“I think it’s really important that we fight as hard as we can, and we’re showing the Tigers we want them here.
“I know it’s very difficult for any council across Australia to find $10 million across Australia.
“We have been put in a position ultimately by the Tigers saying that our stadium is not fit for service, and we need to do something about it.”
A previously announced $40.3 million sporting and health centre of excellence is scheduled to be complete by 2027 at Campbelltown, doubling corporate spaces from 450 to 900.
But the Tigers consider that separate to the requested upgrades.
The club is locked in to playing four games at Campbelltown next year, but would play the bulk of their matches at CommBank Stadium from 2027 if they do leave the venue.
Leichhardt Oval would host either three or four matches a year, but it too could be unavailable in 2027 while it receives $50 million in upgrades that were locked in last year.
AAP
