The Who
Journey Man
As for you Point 1: I do think it is time we stopped giving the Donkeys a leg up by playing our home matches with them at Suncorp. I know that in the past it was for financial reasons but surely now with the new stand at Brookie almost certainly going to attract larger crowds that we give what we local fans want and that is a match with Brisbane at home.I would like to see an eventual full rebuild go ahead, but your right Stuey, it probably doesn’t stack up economically. The only way it might be is if we:
1: Play every home game there;
2. Return to the old days of being a consistently successful club - every year, thus attracting higher average attendances;
3. Attract other codes to play more regular season games there;
4. Become a preferred venue for rep. fixtures - e.g. minor league/rugby/soccer internationals;
5. Utilise the new stands for leasable office space (possible at the S-E corner, according to current proposals); and
6. Move the LC into the new stadium.
Point 6 could be fraught with danger (Penrith Panthers appropriating a govt grant for grass roots league ending up funding new leagues’ club car parking anyone?), so it would have be handled well. Most people would not be keen on a leagues’ club being financed with public money to move onto public parkland.
As I keep saying, the club and Council need a plan B, in case the big rebuild doesn’t eventuate. One where $12-15 million sees the older facilities receive a meaningful overhaul.
However, I am happy that the club takes one match to a rural centre and I am an enthusiastic supporter of the Mudgee venue as it enables we locals to make it a weekend away holiday at what is one of the best tourist towns in NSW.