Brookvale Oval will continue to be Manly’s home ground for at least the next two years after the NRL club secured hiring rights for the venue and the chance to sell naming rights at the ground.
The agreement, secured with Warringah Council, could provide an additional $750,000 to Manly’s coffers for the next two seasons.
Sea Eagles boss Joe Kelly welcomed the announcement as vital for the club’s future.
“Brookvale Oval has been our spiritual home since 1947 and we never entertained playing anywhere else in our 70th year,” Kelly said.
“This outcome is the balance between striking a commercially sound hiring fee arrangement at Brookvale Oval and providing the certainty for our members, corporate partners and supporters.”
Manly and the council had squabbled over the tenancy agreement, but now that was over, Kelly said the Sea Eagles could concentrate on football.
“We can all now focus on the season ahead,” he said.
Manly kickoff their NRL season against Canterbury at Brookvale Oval on Friday March.
no one in particular
Roar Guru
And all that public transport from the northern beaches to Homebush will help
Worlds Biggest
Guest
A Private Consortium have offered to pay for a refurb at Brookie. However apparently Scott Penn has knocked it back. Clubs playing in outdated suburban grounds are losing millions in Corporate Hospitality / Sponsorship revenue.
Parra
Guest
Clearly there are certain teams that need their own stadium including manly, Penrith and Newcastle. I would consider granting funds on that basis. Where else can they play other than manly?
jamesb
Guest
I do agree with Mike. Two or three suburban grounds need to be upgraded, while a couple of other suburban grounds should bite the dust. I don't think having Nine NRL teams playing out of SFS, ANZ and Parra will work Sydney is not Melbourne.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
They have made it very clear they only spending this money on ANZ, SFS and Parra. Anything left will go into the "regional" stadium find, i.e. Hunter and WIN. Suburban grounds will get nothing.
Mike
Guest
The Gov't has got 1.6 Bill to spend on stadiums. If they've got any brains they will just fix up ANZ and Allianz and rebuild Parra. That should leave something in the kitty for two or three boutique stadiums. They don't need to start from scratch just make Brooky, Leichardt and one other, covered all seaters with corporate boxes down one side and more toilet and food and beverage outlets. Problem solved.
macca
Guest
manly should play souths, parra, canterbury, an dragons at anz. the big drawing crowds.beginning off 40,000 plus crowds to boost there average. an roosters at alliance stadium. the rest at brookvale
Mals
Guest
Hard to improve crowds when the stadium is falling apart and away fans don't travel to Brookvale.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I don't think you can call Central Coast Stadium a white elephant when an A-League side plays more than 13 matches a year there. I can't see Manly getting a boutique, modern stadium until public transport and crowds improve.
PGNEWC
Guest
Northern Sydney or the Peninsular Needs a Parramatta type stadium to ensure both Rugby codes future and that means Funds from the State and Federal Government. You would think they would be sympathetic as the coalition are entrenched there Its a shame the Gosford White elephant can't be moved to Brookvale