Canterbury chief executive Todd Greenberg believes the Bulldogs can play NRL games at Belmore Sports Ground within the next five years.
Greenberg couldn’t hide his pleasure as a sell-out crowd of more than 10,000 crammed into the spiritual home of the club on Sunday to watch a trial match against the Sydney Roosters.
And while he admits it is not feasible for the ground to host games in the immediate future, he said the club was confident of it becoming possible with some more government funding.
As it stands, after their most recent upgrades of which $8.4 million came from state and federal governments, Belmore has 7000 seats and cannot accommodate more than 10,000 at the ground.
And with the Bulldogs anticipating 16,000 members in 2012, Greenberg argues they would require more seating to make the ground a viable option.
“Down the track, absolutely (regular season games could be played at Belmore),” Greenberg said.
“There are obvious restrictions but, if we can get some additional investment from the government to put a little bit more into the ground, then we could play one or two games a year here.
“And that is exactly what our plan would be.”
Part of that plan would be to move matches against lower-drawing clubs, such as North Queensland and Gold Coast, for the Belmore fixtures.
“We’re not going to play Parramatta, St George or the Wests Tigers here but you might play one of those clubs who you don’t draw those bigger numbers (against),” Greenberg said.
But Greenberg said there was no chance the Bulldogs would make a permanent move to Belmore.
“I’m not ever suggesting we’ll play all our games here,” he said.
“We are very accommodating to ANZ (Stadium), but one or two premiership games a year here would be great.
“(But) we can’t do that at the moment.”
King of the Gorgonites
Roar Guru
i am in total agreement witrh BA sports. There are so many sporting bodies crying out for help, but still the government seems willing to fund a suburban ground to host one match a year. there are not only sprots crying out for money, there are people. surely the money could be better spent.
B.A Sports
Johnno The NSW Govt have not given out their 2011 grants to the hundreds of clubs who asked for a share of $2million to go toward the decaying state of local and regional venues. I know it was the previous State Govt, but how a Govt can give $4m to a professional sports club for a training venue and give nothing to amateur clubs makes zero sense!
Johnno
Guest
Belmore sports browned is perfect for sport in sydney. I am for spending more on it. It is perfect for so many reasons. On a train line, the stadium is just next to the train station, so a simple train ride from central or redfern, or if you are coming west easy to get too as well. Sydneysiders hate long walks and having to use lots of transport, like the nightmare that is getting to the SFS. Belmore is like Campelltown sports ground just next to the train line which is how it should be. Sydneysiders are sick to death of being inconvenienced when watching sport the endless public transport and long walks to the ground. Belmore is perfect for people who just want easy access to a stadium
B.A Sports
The innaugural "Multi Cultural Day" - What a shocker of a day that was - if you were wearing an Eels jersey on the Hill! While I am all for more "boutique stadiums, if Belmore gets any more State Govt money, it will be an absolute disgrace given the other sports and facilities crying out for money in NSW! We just got rid of a Minister who spent all his tax payer money on his beloved Dragons. Lets share it around...
Mark Swanborough
Guest
Have they had to decrease maximum crowd size for safety reasons at Belmore? I was at the ground in 1994 v Parramatta & the official crowd was 28,000 but they reckoned another 5,000 snuck in! Anyway I think it's a good move to play smaller drawing crowds there; get some real atmosphere going - not like ANZ :(