The new stadium is at risk of opening without one of its major tenants, NRL side Parramatta Eels.GETTY IMAGES
The A$300M ($214M) Western Sydney Stadium "is at risk of opening without a major tenant" as National Rugby League side Parramatta Eels "are locked" in a standoff over a rental agreement with the venue’s operator, according to Brent Read of THE AUSTRALIAN. The NSW government’s billion-dollar stadiums strategy "is once again in the crosshairs" after Parramatta said that it would not be held ransom "over any stadium agreement." The row leaves the NRL with "no choice" but to release its draw next week without a designated home for the Eels. The team had hoped to play its first game at the new stadium on Easter Monday next year against the Wests Tigers. It is understood that the A-League’s Western Sydney Wanderers, the ground’s other major tenant, "are also yet to strike a deal with the state government over use of the venue" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 10/16). In Sydney, Adrian Proszenko reported the Eels "rejected a deal to play their home games at the venue," claiming the current offer would "impact the club negatively for the next 25 years." The Wests Tigers "have already done a deal" with operator VenuesLive to stage four matches at WSS from '19. However, anchor tenants Parramatta and Western Sydney Wanderers are yet to come to terms amid reports they are "being asked to pay a rate almost twice that of other clubs" at other 30,000-seat venues. Eels CEO Bernie Gurr said that the current WSS deal -- which will run for 15-25 years -- is "not acceptable." He said, "The reality is, and you can’t sugarcoat a bitter pill, the negotiations aren’t going well. All we want is a fair and reasonable deal." The timing "has been viewed cynically by those who believe the decision was made to exact maximum leverage" before the NRL draw is announced (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 10/16).
THE STICKING POINT: FOX SPORTS' Mark St John reported Gurr said, "Historically, NRL clubs have had very poor stadium deals and we have not generated sufficient amounts of revenue out of those stadiums to help fund our NRL football team, our junior elite programs and our community initiatives." One of the "sticking points for the deal is the price of food and beverage, which Gurr does not believe is fair" for the club’s fans. Gurr: "When you are signing a deal for 15 years with a 10-year option, you have to get the deal right. We are not trying to rip them off. ... One of our commitments from day one was that one of the paying points for fans going to sporting events in Australia is the cost of food and beverage, particularly in Sydney. We want to make sure that fans that do come to Western Sydney Stadium, that we will end up with fair and reasonable food and beverage prices" (FOX SPORTS, 10/16). In Sydney, Riccio & Brennan reported one thing both parties did agree on was that they "would be willing to attempt to close the gulf between club and stadium." Gurr said, "We’re still open to keeping the dialogue open." A VenuesLive statement said, "While a deal has not been reached at this time, we remain committed to working with the Eels to ensure their Members and fans get to see all that the magnificent new Stadium has to offer in season 2019 and beyond." NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres "urged the Eels to sign up for the Parramatta stadium." He said, "Western Sydney Stadium will offer a fantastic new experience for fans, unlike anything they have seen before. If I were the CEO of a sporting organization, I would have signed up yesterday" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 10/16).