St. George & Sutherland Shire Leader
December 17th 2002
St. George-Illawarra will add an additional 1000 seats to Kogarah Jubilee Oval after receiving approval of a State Government grant worth nearly $1 million.
Fans will see 2002 NRL finalists Cronulla Sharks, Brisbane Broncos and New Zealand Warriors play at Kogarah after the Dragons announced their draw for next season.
Marketing manager Michael McDonald said 700 new bucket seats will be installed in front of the grandstand, with another 300 seats replacing old bench seating on the southern side of the grandstand.
"The timing of the state government approval means it will greatly help us complete stage one of our renovations in time for the first home game at Kogarah (against the Sharks) next season," he said.
"It also gives our supporters the chance to buy seats, after all
grandstand seating was quickly snapped up by season ticket-holders after
the announcement we were again playing at Kogarah. Over time, we hope
to extend seating even further."
Stage one will see the old ground receive a facelift, with a new toilet block, catering facilities, as well as a refit of media facilities and corporate seating.
The grant of about $800,000 adds to the $400,000 funding from the St.George licensed club and $100,000 from Kogarah Council.
The Dragons confirmed the local derby against the Sharks round 8 (May 2-4) will be Kogarah’s first since the Dragons abandoned the ground in 1999.
The four other Kogarah games are against the Cowboys (round 12, May 30-June 1);Broncos (round 17, July 4-6);Raiders (round 18, July 11-13) and Warriors (round 22, August 8-10)
Copyright © John Fairfax Holdings Ltd 2001
| R2K Comment: This is the best Jubilee Oval news since the return on September the 5th. Any doubts about the Saints playing 5 games at Jubilee in 2003 have been put to rest by the State Government’s decision to help fund the refurbishments. Morris Iemma (Minister for Sport, Recreation and Public Works), Cherie Burton (Member for Kogarah), George Thompson (Rockdale) and Kevin Greene (Georges River) have done an excellent job in securing the funding. Kogarah Council and Robert Stone should be congratulated for their hard work with the grant application, along with the supporters who signed the funding petition. R2K collected over 5,000 signatures in support of the grant application and are exceedingly pleased that the State Government were responsive to the wishes of the St. George community. |