By Paul Suttor
March 9, 2005
WOLLONGONG Sports-ground Trust has grave fears for the future of WIN Stadium if the Dragons take matches away from the venue.
Reaction to the Mercury's report yesterday that the St George Illawarra club, the main tenant of WIN, was considering playing some of its 12 matches at Homebush's Telstra Stadium was swift and angry.
The trust declared it would look at attracting alternative sporting teams to the ground if St George Illawarra cut their number of games to a level which made it difficult to keep the venue financially viable.
Trust general manager Stuart Barnes wouldn't say how many matches were needed to make ends meet or nominate a replacement, but other National Rugby League clubs looking to reach a new market would be obvious options.
He said the trust was astounded by Dragons chief executive Peter Doust's comments about potential moves, which would be lucrative but
extremely unpopular with the joint venture club's fans.
The trust and the Dragons will meet today to set a timetable for lease negotiations.
The club's existing lease, which guarantees seven fixtures in Wollongong, will expire at the end of the season.
Doust on Monday floated the possibility of WIN Stadium and Kogarah's Oki Jubilee Stadium staging as few as four matches apiece.
Telstra Stadium management has confirmed it is interested in luring the Dragons to Homebush to join the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and possibly South Sydney.
The news sparked an angry reaction from Australian Workers Union branch secretary Andy Gillespie and Member for Wollongong Noreen Hay (see separate story).
Mr Barnes said any chance of government funding for the proposed redevelopment of the western stand would be affected if the Dragons
altered their arrangement.
"We're extremely surprised. We haven't even started negotiations yet. We've made the invitation on a couple of occasions and we're waiting for them to come to the table. Since before Christmas," he said.
"We thought the basis of a joint venture was half and half. This is not right.
"We need to cover the costs of maintaining these venues (WIN Stadium and WIN Entertainment Centre), much of which is provided by the Dragons.
"There's no way we can go backwards. If we go backwards, we are not viable and at the same time our costs are increasing."
Trust chairman Bill Barnetson said the St George Illawarra players and coaches preferred playing at WIN Stadium and added that the NRL rated the venue's playing surface and corporate facilities as the best in the competition.
"I think there would be a very severe reaction (to a reduction). There's a very significant following locally and if they turned their back on WIN Stadium, there'd be very serious repercussions from their following and that's their bread and butter."
Copyright © 2005 Illawarra Mercury