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NSW Government confident on Eels stadium deal

The Eels won't be playing finals footy. (AAP Image/Craig Golding)
17th October, 2018
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NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian remains confident a deal will be struck between Parramatta and the operators of the Western Sydney Stadium for the NRL club to play at the new venue next year.

The Eels revealed on Tuesday they were yet to reach an agreement with VenuesLive for use of the $300 million stadium, labelling a current offer “unacceptable” just a week before the NRL’s draw is released.

Each of Parramatta’s home games will be marked as venue TBC although the club was expected to open the 30,000-seat stadium in April.

Ms Berejiklian said she believed an agreement would be completed on time.

“We appreciate there’s always those nitty gritty negotiations, and we’re confident as a government we will get to a resolution,” she said.

“We expect all parties to be robust in the way they manage interactions with each other but we also expect a very good resolution for the people of NSW.”

Parramatta’s stadium deal shapes as a crucial component of the club’s future, with the contract understood to be for 15 years with an option in the Eels’ favour for another decade beyond that.

The Eels are already unhappy with their previous deal at ANZ Stadium, which is also managed by VenuesLive.

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The deal was signed by previous club management, and the current regime claim it has contributed to their annual losses.

Parramatta engaged a consultancy group who told the club they were far worse off under the offer than a number of other sporting clubs at different stadiums across Australia.

“It’s still our objective to play there, we just have to make sure it’s on the right terms,” Eels chief executive Bernie Gurr told AAP on Tuesday.

“It’s all dependent on us getting what we believe is a fair and reasonable deal.

“We need to make sure we get those reasonable outcomes so we can invest in our football program, our junior footy program and our community initiatives.”

The stadium’s other anticipated major tenant, A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers, did not want to be drawn into the matter on Wednesday and refused to comment when contacted.

It is understood a deal is also yet to be struck the Wanderers, although they are not expected to play at the venue until next summer.

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