GWS Giants to save at least $18 million dollars by shifting from Blacktown to Homebush

THE GWS Giants have saved at least $18 million dollars relocating their headquarters from Blacktown to Sydney Olympic Park.

GWS

THE GWS Giants have saved at least $18 million dollars relocating their headquarters from Blacktown to Sydney Olympic Park.

And far from abandoning greater western Sydney, AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou claims the league's newest club has cast its umbrella over a wider area of the city and the state.

"They were realistic enough to know there wasn't $30 million to $40 million out there in public or private money to build an admin and training facility," Demetriou told The Daily Telegraph yesterday.

"What they've done is come up with a solution that for $10 million or $12 million they can tap into the outstanding community facilities that are already at Olympic Park without abandoning anything."

Demetriou was responding to criticism, sparked by Penrith general manager Phil Gould, that the GWS Giants were deserting their western Sydney roots.

"They had a quick look at Blacktown and are moving back closer to Sydney," Gould told The Sunday Telegraph. "We've been there for a hundred years. Maybe they've underestimated the strength of rugby league in that area. They've come in full of promotion and promises for western Sydney. There will now only be token visibility at Blacktown."

Demetriou insisted that Blacktown remained central to the AFL's expansion plans in western Sydney, housing the GWS elite academy and development staff.

"Homebush is in the west of Sydney and this is a unique football club," Demetriou said.

"They also have a relationship with Canberra and are going into the Riverina so its a very broad connection with the community they have to establish."

Demetriou confirmed yesterday that the AFL would invest $120 million in GWS over the next six years, up $20 million on the original estimate of the club's set-up costs.

He claimed Blacktown was just one of 14 municipalities in Sydney's west represented by the Giants.

"We've got a great association with the City of Blacktown which has been going for a number of years. If it wasn't for the city this club wouldn't exist."

Acting NRL chief executive Shane Mattiske said he attended Monday night's match in Penrith, which reinforced the strength of rugby league in western Sydney.

"It reinforces the challenge we have in managing our growth and that's what were focused on," he told the Daily Telegraph.

"We're focused on continuing to drive up our participation levels and continuing to drive up our ratings.

"Our numbers support that. Right now we've got record numbers across the board in participation, membership, community involvement and ratings."

Mattiske claimed the NRL would do a "very good" broadcast deal, which will give it deeper pockets to match the AFL.

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