The fiasco surrounding Macarthur FC’s requirement to move their game to Newcastle from Campbelltown Stadium highlighted a much bigger issue at play.
The Campbelltown region has barely embraced the Bulls. Crowds of 3000 prove that.
The Bulls have also struggled to win over other local stakeholders.
Firstly, the club was forced to shift its training base to Fairfield Showground, even though they initially planned to train in the Macarthur region as well.
The Bulls’ owners purchased land at Cawdor in Camden to build training facilities to house their youth teams and future women’s teams.
The facilities were supposed to commence this month but according to Camden Council, the DA hasn’t even been provided by the Bulls.
A number of locals are opposed to the club building facilities there. It is considered a rural area and any development the Bulls are planning would compromise that.
A school project for the same site was proposed but was knocked back due on planning grounds and due to traffic impacts.
While a Bulls facility won’t impact traffic, there are other issues at play.
(Photo by Speed Media/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
It is believed the area is also flood prone, which may have an impact on DA approvals.
The club’s other proposed base for their senior men’s team at Macarthur Heights is yet to be approved by Campbelltown Council. The DA is sitting with council at the moment.
The fact work hasn’t commenced on the proposed site is a major concern considering the club’s major selling point when getting the A-League licence was they would engage closely with their local community.
A number of existing fans have already questioned the club’s commitment to Campbelltown. Many feel the unavailability of Campbelltown Stadium is a sign of a poor relationship the club has with council.
There is talk a number of the club’s home games will be moved from Campbelltown. This doesn’t go well for building a close relationship with locals.
Many fans are demanding refunds on memberships.
Where the club would move too is an interesting story in itself. With proposed stadiums in Liverpool and existing grounds in Edensor Park and Bossley Park, there is every chance the club may relocate in the future.
If their investment in Campbelltown isn’t rewarded with more fans or more support from local councils, you wouldn’t blame the owners for walking away.
We must not forget the original Bulls bid stemmed from a merger of the Campbelltown and South West Sydney (Fairfield) bids.
Campbelltown has had its chance, maybe it’s now Fairfield’s?
Hudddo
Roar Rookie
the position of the CCC, comes from the population of over 50's who somehow think the NRL want to be there. As a Bears fan and a CC resident I'd love to see it happen, as a person who now understand the NRL's direction I know it never will.
josh
Guest
I would not at all be surprised if they are, and we can all agree that the Bulls are nothing more than the FFA's attempt at creating a G rated version of WSW.
Dennis
Guest
WTF I see they are in Penrith for round three. Does anybody know why they are in wsw territory (Nepean is a massive recruitment area for wsw) ? Are they there for the whole season?
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
And yet, Western Sydney have still never beaten Macarthur.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Marconi is the furthest north, though the other options Edensor Park and Bonyrigg aren't that much further south. How do you manage to play in Newcastle as the alternative surely that is about as dumb as it can get.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The leagues club has mainly creek areas reserves industrial around it , no high density, a suburban area to the east . Wests Ashfield would have the whole population from Glenmore to MAcarthur in close proximity around it. The main population growth in the region will be coming around the new railway line not near this leagues club.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
You can borrow on the value of the land which would have increased. The big mystery though is the so called super credible Sutherland bid backed by Fozzie and most of people on here. Stadium location = tafe at Loftus somehow approved in principle by non owner Sutherland council without consulting the NSW government who is the owner and had no idea and completely ruled it out. 100% total failure. Development land in deal = Zero, 0.00000000sqm of development land. Nothing absolutely zilch. Sutherland shire is surrounded by national park and army base. So much for all the people that backed the Sutherland bid, and it was a conspiracy by Sydney to keep them out, there is zero proof they had any money apart from what they gave to Fozzie and co. There is zero prospect of a stadium they proposed.
Mark
Guest
Can't build if you have no money or if someone (a bank) won't give it to you, doesn't matter how much land you have
NUFCMVFC
Roar Guru
Yeah while I can understand the "3rd Metro Sydney team for broadcast $" argument I'm wondering if it is better to have a Wollongong/Southern NSW Sydney/Southern Sydney team rather than a further West WSW team
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Well that was when WSW were top of the table, for some reason the WSW jerseys got shelved when they were a failure apart from game days.
Redcap
Roar Guru
Interesting piece, thanks Con. I was wondering aloud about Campbelltown in a recent piece I wrote in the league section. It was proposed as a saviour for Newtown back in the early '80s, but that didn't work out because the leagues club wasn't viable. It didn't work for the Wests Magpies and the Tigers only pay it token attention. At face value, the population is there, the transport links are there. Clearly I'm missing something...
josh
Guest
It's not a rivalry wanting a team to be removed from the A League, some of you struggle with something so basic. A rivalry is what WSW have with SFC. The Bulls have tried to get a rivalry going with WSW since day 1, to give them credibility, they even tried calling it the 'Western Sydney derby' - hang on I thought they were South-West Sydney, so how can that be a derby?
John P
Guest
Lol, y'all just forget that crowds have been locked out of stadiums since MacArthur Bulls inception? Hasn't even had a chance.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Roar Guru
You need to work on your indifference, josh :laughing:
josh
Guest
So you saw something years ago opposed to what I see every day? Got it.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Who were the investors for the so called super viable alternative in Sutherland? Since your such an expert can you give us a run down on that bid. Evergrande are in trouble because they cant sell their properties in China. Australian property on the other hand is skyrocketing, if the whole deal is tied in to building a stadium then they might have no choice but to build it.
Gogo Barz
Roar Rookie
More of a reason to cut loses and hand the license to Illawarra/Wolves.
Bazza
Guest
If what you write about the Macarthur area is true, it sounds like there shouldn’t have been an A League team put there until about 2040 or 2050. Until then they are likely to have to put up with small crowds of averages of 3000- 5000 in Campbelltown. Crowds of that size are actually not really a problem unless the players are being overpaid for their talents. Unfortunately we know that A league players across the league are being ludicrously overpaid given their skills. They should really be semi professional again not fully professional.
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
“There is no rivalry between WSW and the Bulls” – WSW fan that despises the Bulls
Jordan Klingsporn
Roar Guru
Parramatta and Campbelltown are 40 minutes away I honestly doubt much of WSW attendance came from the area