National Rugby League club Wests Tigers "have 10 days to decide whether to agree to a lease from Leichhardt Council that would lock the club into a minimum of four games a season at the iconic Leichhardt Oval," according to Michael Chammas of THE AGE.
More than 13,000 fans "piled into the picturesque suburban ground on Sunday afternoon," but Tigers CEO Grant Mayer said that the figure "was irrelevant to the club's future at the venue."
In the past it was left to the Wests Tigers "to decide the number of games they played at the suburban ground each season, however the council wants to lock the Tigers into a minimum of four games each year." Mayer "refused to guarantee the club would play games at Leichhardt next season, however is adamant suburban grounds (both Leichhardt and Campbelltown) remained part of the plans for the future." Mayer:
"Can I guarantee anything at the moment? No. But I don't want people to think for a second we're moving away from our heartland. We've said there's a future in suburban grounds for this club. I stay absolutely true to that and I know the board also do." It costs the Tigers almost A$70,000 ($55,000) to play a game at Leichhardt Oval, while they are paid more than A$100,000 ($78,000) per game to take matches to ANZ Stadium (THE AGE, 4/19).
