So much has been made of the brand spanking new Bankwest Stadium.
As an Eels fan, I’ve been waiting for this for years. I was eager to finally be back home and no longer travelling to the soulless Olympic Stadium.
The one thing that worried me about the new stadium was that the members who had tickets in the old western grandstand – the Ken Thornett Stand – were informed we’d been moved to the eastern stand to accommodate corporate facilities.
This was disappointing. When the stadium was being built, we’d been told we would be given a seat in roughly the same spot as our old seat.
When I found out about being moved to the eastern side – in the direct line of the afternoon sun, something many of us had avoided by sitting on the western side at both the old stadium and at ANZ – I asked the membership department how they were hoping to combat that issue.
I was assured the stadium was being constructed to ensure the sun wasn’t an issue.
At the end of 2018, we were also issued our new seat details, and we’d all been moved further down the field.
Where I once sat on the 20-metre line, I was now sitting on the goal line. We also had our membership prices jacked up by nearly $100.
If we wanted to sit in the seats we once occupied, it would have nearly been a $200 increase.
I decided to keep the same membership category given the new stadium was supposed to provide the best viewing experience in Australian sport.
I could cope with being moved down to the goal line and this was reinforced when I attended the open day. A clear view wasn’t going to be an issue.
Fans roasted in the sun at the new Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta. (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
That was until I turned up at 2.00pm on Easter Monday to watch Wentworthville play Wests in the NSW Cup.
Only a brave person was sitting in their seat as the sun scorched down onto the eastern grandstand.
Huge numbers of fans were standing out the back, waiting until only a few minutes before kickoff to take our seats in order to avoid roasting in the sun.
The difficulty with this is that they have very few areas to sit when you’re behind the stands. Standing around for two hours before kickoff with the only seats available being those roasting the sun is not ideal – particularly for older supporters.
It wasn’t a comfortable first half to watch with the sun not dipping behind the stadium until half time, providing us with some respite.
I’m likely going to downgrade my membership next year. The only reason I purchased a membership there as opposed to a general admission ticket was to avoid the sun in those afternoon games.
Well, the general admission supporters were in the shade an hour before kickoff.
It’s disappointing for myself and a lot of other members who are in the same boat.
We’ve been pushed aside for the corporate dollars and lied to over the positioning of our seats.
To sit on the western side requires a financial investment far beyond what I can afford, while it was perfectly affordable three years ago.
I would’ve preferred if they were completely honest with us from the outset and told us upfront that almost the entirety of our old stand was going to be corporate.
I also feel sorry for the Wanderers supporters who will cop it worse when the summer months hit – 40-degree days will be far from comfortable in that stand, and from the looks of it, there isn’t much in the stadium to allow for any form of cooling system.
I like the new stadium. The atmosphere was amazing. It’s a brilliant place to watch live sport.
But the want for corporate dollars has clearly replaced the comfort and concern for members.
Boz
Guest
Have collated all WSW home games at the former Pirtek Stadium as follows 2012/13 - 2015/16 14 Saturday games after 7pm 9 Saturday games before 7pm 10 Friday games after 7pm 8 Sunday games before 7pm 1 Sunday game after 7pm 10 Midweek games after 7pm. That is 52 games, 17 games being before 7pm (33%). 2012-13 had 6 before 7pm games 2013-14 had 5 before 7pm games 2014-15 had 4 before 7pm games 2015-16 had 3 before 7pm games Move to Sydney Olympic Park for the figures of time fixtures 13 Saturday games after 7pm 4 Saturday games before 7pm 9 Friday games after 7pm 4 Sunday games before 7pm 5 Sunday games after 7pm 4 Midweek games after 7pm 39 games, 8 games (essentially 20% of games at SOP) were before 7pm Total the games at Parramatta and SOP (Not including community rounds at Penrith, Campbelltown or Mudgee), the data is as follows: 91 games, only 25 being before 7pm. That is on average 3 home games a season. In 2016-17 WSW had 1 before 7pm game, 2017-18 had 6 before 7pm games, 2018-19 only 1 game before 7pm. Based on that, 27.47% chance of a game with heavy sun rays at a WSW game. However in the last 3 seasons. For those odd 2-3 games a season bring the sunglasses and a bucket hat for those games starting before 7pm
Mama
Guest
Its hard to defend stadium spending when allegedly 6,800 (hahahaha) turn up to Homebush for Bulldogs game. There is always some complaint for low NRL crowds - timing of games, too much sun, too late, too early, games suited for TV not spectators, opposition codes, public transport is rubbish, too much traffic, high food prices , crappy suburban grounds - the list never ends. Though I do feel sorry for the apparently senior gentleman above for being shunted from his seat. 80 Queenslanders a day are hospitalised for skin cancer issues and as the population ages this will become a bigger issue with longer Indian summers encroaching into RL season.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The stadium is a joke and the Eels would be the primary reason behind this really stupid design. It seems to be designed to make corporates feel important by having less people in the best viewing area and pack most people in the corners and the ends. I actually suspect there are less seats on the side than the old ground. Certainly less seats for normal spectators on the sides. Then to top it all off you have the Eels threatening not to play at the ground till they get a cheap deal. Its like consulting a homeless person over building a huge designer mansion for them to their specifications and then arguing over what percentage of their dole cheque is going as rent. The Eels should be paying an extra fee for every event at the ground as every event attacts extra business at their leagues club built not getting a cheaper deal than everyone else.
RbbAnonymous
Roar Rookie
A few things to clear up for you Josh. Greenberg and the Rugby League community can say whatever the like even if its not true. The stadium is not an NRL ground nor is it an A-league ground. It is owned by the NSW government and run by venues live. Even though the Wanderers are the major tenant the Eels are entitled to name their stands on game day how they see fit. It doesn't mean that the Wanderers have to follow suit. After all it is not owned by the Eels. As per usual on game day the Wanderers will be replacing or covering up the names of the stands as they normally do on game day. This has been done every year we have played at the stadium. So lets not get all outraged over nothing.
Heather Burrow
Guest
It should be for the eels only the other teams have their own
John Wilkes
Guest
I am a Foundation Member of the Western Sydney Wanderers F.C. and held a Bay 6 seasonal ticket with my wife since 2012 for 3 seasons at Pirtek Stadium in the Western Stand because of the summer heat and oppressive summer sun. In conversations with Wanderers Management, CEO: John Tsatimas over the last 18 months, this was noted as a concern for members in the Eastern Stand and he was upfront that access by Red Members to Western Stand seating was very limited and at a higher cost. The TV media i.e. Nine & Foxtel wanted viewers to see stands 'full', not half empty and Wanderers had NO say in the process. Furthermore, Wanderers Management will push the new A-League Administration for more evening matches with an 8:00 pm kick-off but the downside is that families with young children may decide not to attend.
marron
Guest
I feel for the people from the west side. Worthwhile keeping in mind a couple of things. In order to get 30000 people in there at a low cost, while giving it the modern wraparound concourse, the all corporate west side was pretty much non negotiable. It was the only way it was going to work. In most situations that wouldn't be an issue, but Parramatta had height restrictions as well. I'm first in line to bash on the corporates, but these decisions weren't just about chasing their dollars. As well as that, the westside patrons shifting across are pushing out the old eastside patrons from their prime possies on the halfway line - so they are missing out too. Finally, I think too much emphasis is placed on creating creature comforts for modern patrons. I think people have a right to be upset that they are going to be paying more for less, don't get me wrong... but it's spectator sport; being out and amongst it is kind of part of the deal. 2 hours waiting in the shade of the stadium to keep out of the sun? There's a hundred cafes and eateries within a stones throw, not to mention the park! As fans walk through the streets you are still part of the buildup in those areas.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
The Roosters are currently tenants of the SCG Trust, so they have the SAME status as the Rabbitohs who are the tenants of ANZ stadium. Central Sydney is the Rabbitohs home, your mob are headed to Perth so pack your bags. Just ask Dutski, he wrote a story on it a few weeks ago.
Insider
Roar Rookie
But you don’t have a home ????
Alek O'Connor
Guest
It was nice and shady behind the goal posts! The steepness of the stand got a few with fear of heights i observed.
sav18
Guest
Umm...stadium was built with PUBLIC money. Its a multi-code stadium. If you want your own exclusive ground get your head body or media sugar daddies Murdoch/Ch 9 to fund it .
Carl Roseworn
Guest
How are the wanderers the major tennant It’s an NRL ground that u borrow
Ben Thomas
Guest
With only 27% of NRL games being played in the day.. not that much of an issue.. Tv needs a crowd behind it on the Eastern side of grounds.. best way to guarantee a crowd is to whack all season ticket holders on the east
Daneel
Guest
The stand names are not permanent. They can change with each tenant.
Renegade
Roar Guru
Major tenant is the wanderers?? Hahaha nice one
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Channel 9 is supposedly the " home of rugby league". It happens to treat rugby league as the weekender, and last Monday was a class example of (9)being away from their abode. Sun setting in the west!!! There's got to be an investigation.
Insider
Roar Rookie
It belongs to parramatta, should be theirs only ( as far as league is concerned) west’s should fix Campbell town or Leichhardt. I have a view that NRL teams should have there own grounds 20/30 thou seating capacity, just because AFL are doing it doesn’t mean NRL have to. Fans don’t go to games because of scheduling based around TV broadcasting and a poor public transport system
afistfulofdollars
Roar Rookie
So if Wests played Manly at Bankwest Stadium they wouldn't be entitled to the 'home side' status? Even though both Balmain and Wests' catchment areas border Parramatta's. Interesting logic.
Insider
Roar Rookie
Then don’t call it a “home game” it’s like Canberrans claim to GWS how pathetic
afistfulofdollars
Roar Rookie
The stadium was built predominantly by Government funding. Sure the main tenants are the Eels and WSW but why let it sit dormant when other teams (with a footprint in the area), play at sub-par venues.