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Wednesday 14 Feb 2007 12:12
by Matthew O'Neill
ARL face a big decision in the coming months when it decides on who'll be the host City for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup with the Queensland State Government set to pour in a massive offer for the main matches to be staged in Brisbane.
Whilst the Brisbane bid is working on money, facts and figures, the Sydney bid at this stage is relying on sentiment, mate's rates, the same old arguement that the game supposedly starts and ends in Sydney and not much else. Any remote financial shortfall of hosting the Final in Brisbane rather than Sydney is going to be made up by the Queensland State Government in their bid.
Telstra Stadium boss Ken Edwards is keen on the event to be held at the 80,000 capacity venue but has called on the NSW State Government to match Queensland's bid for hosting rights.
Edwards said, "For the World Cup final to be watched by 50,000 people when we can fit in 80,000 at Telstra Stadium would be an absolute travesty.
"We can compete with any stadium in the world when it comes to attracting big events but we can't compete with state governments.
"If the New South Wales government chooses not to get involved in bidding for an event, New South Wales loses out.
"League started in Sydney; it doesn't make sense to have an event celebrating the centenary anywhere but Sydney.
"It's Australia's biggest commercial centre, there are more people who support rugby league in Sydney than anywhere else in the country."
In fact, League actually started in Huddersfield back in 1895 and New Zealand competed on the International stage before Australia and Sydney came into the reckoning.
The Queensland State Government is expected to put in a strong bid for the World Cup hosting rights that will include the opening ceremony, the opening match, possibly a semi-final and of course the final.
Going in Brisbane's favour for hosting the event is that the Peter Beattie State Government has proven to be very supportive of Rugby League with the three NRL Clubs in Queensland receiving plenty of Government assistance whereas the Morris Iemma NSW State Government has been anything but supportive of Rugby League jumping on various bandwagons.
A representative from the NSW Sports Minister's Office said, "We are always interested in securing major events and talks are planned for next week with the ARL."
Queensland Rugby League boss Ross Livermore said, "There's no doubt that the Test matches we've staged up here in recent years, and the Origins for that matter, have been huge successes.
"On that basis, I'm confident we could stage major events in the World Cup."
Even though Telstra Stadium holds 30,000 more people than Suncorp Stadium, it's really an easy decision for the RLIF, NRL and ARL to make in which City gets to be the major host. As much as it hurts me to say as a proud Sydney-sider, Brisbane deserves to be the host and all the logic and facts points to Queensland.
In two International matches last year Suncorp Stadium attracted 44,000 to both the clashes whereas the two International matches in Sydney attracted 24,000 (the real figure was believed to be around 17,000) and only 27,325 for the Tri Nations Final. The Sydney public have showed in the last 15 years that they simply don't want International Rugby League and aside from the bleatings from Edwards, no one else in Sydney is seriously interested in attending or promoting the fixtures.
So much for Sydney's boycott of last year's International fixtures that the ARL had no other option but to allow Brisbane to host this year's Anzac Test despite already staging two of the three Origin matches. The crowds for all three representative fixtures are expected to be sell-outs showing Brisbane's value as being on par with Sydney as a Rugby League city and certainly above Sydney in the representative stakes.
Nothing points to Telstra Stadium hosting anywhere near 50,000 yet alone 80,000 whereas everything points to Suncorp Stadium being chockers with over 50,000 with ticket prices being sold at premium prices and packed Suncorp Stadium is the best Rugby League Television viewing in Australia.
The Queensland State Government is willing to throw money into the coffers of the RLIF, ARL and NRL to host the event and on top of that the Brisbane public is certain to attend the matches where the price of tickets can be bumped up as the 52,000 seat venue will be filled to capacity.
As has been shown and exposed in recent times, the decision makers in Rugby League often make decisions outside of the best financial interests in the game and decisions to suit certain factions and agendas. The logical and easy decision is to go with Brisbane and Queensland, which has been a strong Rugby League tradition since 1908 (same as Sydney and New South Wales) and reap what will be massive crowds, extreme interest and excellent financial windfalls from the Queensland State Government.
However, it's not so easy as the Sydney-centric and mates attitude of Rugby League authorities will most likely choose Sydney as the major host and as shown in the last 15 years, the Sydney public simply doesn't want International Rugby League.
The Queensland State Government have proven themselves to be great supporters of the game and the Brisbane public love watching Australia in action. It's time they get rewarded for their loyalty and passion for the game
by Matthew O'Neill
ARL face a big decision in the coming months when it decides on who'll be the host City for the 2008 Rugby League World Cup with the Queensland State Government set to pour in a massive offer for the main matches to be staged in Brisbane.
Whilst the Brisbane bid is working on money, facts and figures, the Sydney bid at this stage is relying on sentiment, mate's rates, the same old arguement that the game supposedly starts and ends in Sydney and not much else. Any remote financial shortfall of hosting the Final in Brisbane rather than Sydney is going to be made up by the Queensland State Government in their bid.
Telstra Stadium boss Ken Edwards is keen on the event to be held at the 80,000 capacity venue but has called on the NSW State Government to match Queensland's bid for hosting rights.
Edwards said, "For the World Cup final to be watched by 50,000 people when we can fit in 80,000 at Telstra Stadium would be an absolute travesty.
"We can compete with any stadium in the world when it comes to attracting big events but we can't compete with state governments.
"If the New South Wales government chooses not to get involved in bidding for an event, New South Wales loses out.
"League started in Sydney; it doesn't make sense to have an event celebrating the centenary anywhere but Sydney.
"It's Australia's biggest commercial centre, there are more people who support rugby league in Sydney than anywhere else in the country."
In fact, League actually started in Huddersfield back in 1895 and New Zealand competed on the International stage before Australia and Sydney came into the reckoning.
The Queensland State Government is expected to put in a strong bid for the World Cup hosting rights that will include the opening ceremony, the opening match, possibly a semi-final and of course the final.
Going in Brisbane's favour for hosting the event is that the Peter Beattie State Government has proven to be very supportive of Rugby League with the three NRL Clubs in Queensland receiving plenty of Government assistance whereas the Morris Iemma NSW State Government has been anything but supportive of Rugby League jumping on various bandwagons.
A representative from the NSW Sports Minister's Office said, "We are always interested in securing major events and talks are planned for next week with the ARL."
Queensland Rugby League boss Ross Livermore said, "There's no doubt that the Test matches we've staged up here in recent years, and the Origins for that matter, have been huge successes.
"On that basis, I'm confident we could stage major events in the World Cup."
Even though Telstra Stadium holds 30,000 more people than Suncorp Stadium, it's really an easy decision for the RLIF, NRL and ARL to make in which City gets to be the major host. As much as it hurts me to say as a proud Sydney-sider, Brisbane deserves to be the host and all the logic and facts points to Queensland.
In two International matches last year Suncorp Stadium attracted 44,000 to both the clashes whereas the two International matches in Sydney attracted 24,000 (the real figure was believed to be around 17,000) and only 27,325 for the Tri Nations Final. The Sydney public have showed in the last 15 years that they simply don't want International Rugby League and aside from the bleatings from Edwards, no one else in Sydney is seriously interested in attending or promoting the fixtures.
So much for Sydney's boycott of last year's International fixtures that the ARL had no other option but to allow Brisbane to host this year's Anzac Test despite already staging two of the three Origin matches. The crowds for all three representative fixtures are expected to be sell-outs showing Brisbane's value as being on par with Sydney as a Rugby League city and certainly above Sydney in the representative stakes.
Nothing points to Telstra Stadium hosting anywhere near 50,000 yet alone 80,000 whereas everything points to Suncorp Stadium being chockers with over 50,000 with ticket prices being sold at premium prices and packed Suncorp Stadium is the best Rugby League Television viewing in Australia.
The Queensland State Government is willing to throw money into the coffers of the RLIF, ARL and NRL to host the event and on top of that the Brisbane public is certain to attend the matches where the price of tickets can be bumped up as the 52,000 seat venue will be filled to capacity.
As has been shown and exposed in recent times, the decision makers in Rugby League often make decisions outside of the best financial interests in the game and decisions to suit certain factions and agendas. The logical and easy decision is to go with Brisbane and Queensland, which has been a strong Rugby League tradition since 1908 (same as Sydney and New South Wales) and reap what will be massive crowds, extreme interest and excellent financial windfalls from the Queensland State Government.
However, it's not so easy as the Sydney-centric and mates attitude of Rugby League authorities will most likely choose Sydney as the major host and as shown in the last 15 years, the Sydney public simply doesn't want International Rugby League.
The Queensland State Government have proven themselves to be great supporters of the game and the Brisbane public love watching Australia in action. It's time they get rewarded for their loyalty and passion for the game
