Peter V’landys promises Bulldogs, Rabbitohs ‘won’t be forgotten’

Peter V’landys has assured South Sydney and Canterbury that they will be looked after under a revised stadium agreement.

Bankwest Stadium at Parramatta could be the blueprint for investment in new, boutique grounds for NRL teams with a capacity of no more than 20,000. Picture: AAP

ARL Commission chair Peter V’landys has assured South Sydney and Canterbury that they will be looked after under a revised stadium agreement, as he works towards striking a new deal with the state government by the end of June.

After revelations that plans to rebuild ANZ Stadium had been scrapped, V’landys sought to assuage concerns of Bulldogs and Souths officials by insisting they would not be forgotten in talks with the state government.

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Canterbury and Souths are both tied to long-term deals but it is understood the NRL believes that both clubs would be within their rights to void those contracts given the decision to leave the Olympic venue untouched.

In return for scrapping the ANZ Stadium revamp, V’landys wants the state government to honour its agreement with the NRL by directing money towards a series of boutique venues with capacities of no more than 20,000.

The immediate priorities would appear to be Manly and Penrith, two grounds in need of serious work. Neither would benefit Canterbury or Souths, yet V’landys insists neither club will be forgotten as he seeks venues of the ilk of Bankwest Stadium at Parramatta.

“They will be in a much better position,” V’landys said.

“It will be more cost effective because they won’t have to pay for this monstrous stadium. They will be looked after absolutely. We’re there to service our clubs so we will naturally do what is best for the clubs. We’re going to make sure they are in a much better position than they are now, otherwise it is not worth doing.

“That is all in the future. We want reinvestment. We don’t want refurbishment of the current grounds. We want complete brand new stadiums — Bankwest-style grounds.

“We want them smaller than Bankwest so they only fit 20,000 people for two reasons. One, so you are closer to the action but also it is going to cause people to buy season tickets, because if you aren’t one of those 20,000, you aren’t going to get a seat.

“It will enable them to provide better corporate facilities which will provide revenue for clubs. It will make tribalism top of the list. It is not just a rugby league ground, it is a ground for the community for local events. Because they are going to be smaller, they will have roofs on them.

“They will have the latest technology. The government has an agreement with us so they have to rectify the agreement. You can’t walk away even if you are the government.”

Under the memorandum of understanding struck between the NRL and the state government, the NRL agreed to hold grand finals in Sydney for the next 27 years in return for the development of ANZ Stadium.

The NRL would now be within its rights to walk away from that agreement and sell the grand final to the highest bidder. However, V’landys would prefer to reach a new agreement that would compensate the NRL and its clubs by building a series of stadiums.

“They won’t all happen at once,” he said.

“You might get one done at a time. Who knows? If they prove successful, we can get a lot more done.

“The thing about it is that Bankwest has proven very successful. Everyone says how great it is. Why don’t we replicate it?”

The NRL estimates that each new stadium would cost about $200m to build, although costs could be mitigated by building two simultaneously.

The belief is that ANZ Stadium could remain in its current form and be used for big events.

“You want to have a venue that can do mass crowds because you’re going to have events like the grand final and State of Origin,” V’landys said. “People put up with that facility because of the atmosphere. If it is a big stadium like that a quarter full, you don’t get that atmosphere.

“By reducing its size, you go against the purpose of that stadium which is for a mass crowd. And the broadcasters certainly don’t want to broadcast games week in, week out (from ANZ Stadium) because it destroys their product.”