Wests Tigers boss Shane Richardson has dismissed Campbelltown Council’s pledge to contribute $10 million towards a $100 million upgrade of Campbelltown Stadium.
And he has given notice that unless state and federal governments came to the party with the rest of the money by the end of this month the club would be looking elsewhere to play NRL games from 2027.
Council sought a three month extension for its bid to gain funding but it was rejected by the Wests Tigers, who offered just one month.
In a letter to Mayor Darcy Lound, the club CEO says the “commitment to $10 million based on gaining funding from the NSW and Australian Governments looks to be a bridge too far’’.
“Wests Tigers will do everything possible to assist you to try and get the extra funding from State and Federal Governments over the next 30 days, however, if there is nothing concrete in place, we will have to move on to alternate contracts elsewhere.
“We will of course, as per our contract, be playing at Campbelltown in 2026,’’ says Mr Richardson in the letter, which will be part of the agenda at next Tuesday’s ordinary council meeting.
“It is disappointing that we cannot gain the funding for Wests Tigers to play at Campbelltown,’’ he writes.
“You will find attached letters from the Holman Barnes Group and Western Suburbs District RLFC themselves supporting the stance we are taking.’’
The letter from Daniel Paton, the interim chief executive officer and chief financial officer of the Holman Barnes Group – essentially the owners of Wests Tigers – confirms their “strong support for the proposed $100 million upgrade of Campbelltown Sports Stadium, with the goal of establishing it as a primary home ground for the Wests Tigers NRL team’’.
This letter will also be tabled at Tuesday’s meeting.
“The Wests Tigers have publicly expressed a desire to play more games in Campbelltown and are actively advocating for much-needed stadium improvements,’’ says Mr Paton in the letter.
The third letter that will be tabled is from former Western Suburbs player and current club chief Leo Epifania, who has just been appointed to the Wests Tigers board.
“Without facilities we suffer the issues of attracting quality players, experiencing quality training, having a home that we can call home and the simple but important feeling that we didn’t have what was needed to build around,’’ says Mr Epifania in his letter to council.
“The Wests Tigers are invested in the area and understand the significant growth happening there, but they are just not able to fulfil what they want to achieve without the necessary commitment from Council.
“As the original NRL occupants of Campbelltown and the Macarthur region, Wests Magpies throws its full support behind Wests Tigers and urges Council to do their best to take away any barriers preventing the Wests Tigers from building a future in the region.’’
Wests Tigers, you’re going to lose more supporters and juniors, and members.
I pay for 5 memberships and won’t buy again if you’re not playing games at Campbelltown.
Why can’t Council look at forming a Consortium with big business in Macarthur to redevelope the Stadium and the surrounding area into an International standard sporting arena and cultural/entertainment venue?
Wests Leagues would be one of the major beneficiaries of any redevelopment and their contribution over a 10 year period wouldn’t dent their profit margin they generate each year.
With the money players get and the CEOs on well over millions dollar a year pay packets, the tax and rate payers should not pay for the upgrades – let players and CEOs pay for upgrades.
NRL clubs are a business and need to fund their own stadiums not have the taxpayer pay for their place of business. The government does not pay pay for the building I run my business from.
I can’t believe that west tigers would move out as the club next doors rakes in the dollars. Capacity is not a problem anyway.
Go to Liverpool where you have land rail buses shops university and travel to and from new airport
Why should rate payers put up $10 million to support a privately owned organisation that has millions of dollars in sponsorship and tv rights to pay themselves huge salaries? How about better facilities for people who actually play sport in the local areas?
Most sports fans are losers anyway who would be better off ditching the TV remote control and finding something more productive to do with their lives.
Why don’t the Wests Tigers just be bold and break the merger, reinstate Wests Magpies and give 100% of their support behind the Macarthur and Group 6 regions!
Balmain tigers take the Tiger and all there history to the 20th NRL team in NZ or PNG Tigers. Still playing 3 games at Leichhardt Oval which is all they do anyway,
Never should’ve built that sport centre of excellence at Concord-should’ve been at Campbelltown.
Wests Tigers really? From what I see they are a second rate team anyway. Why should I, as a rate payer, support their business unless I receive some return? The entire NRL needs a reality check.