The proposed WIN Stadium western stand development has been talked about on here before, i just wanted to illustrate my thoughts.

I think that it would be a real shame for the Hotel Stand to go ahead as is currently planned. For Rugby League and soccer, it would be a shame for the best seats in the house to be hotel rooms rather than a good sized stand.

I think the Hotel idea would be better suited at the back of the southern stand with the roof removed. With rooms looking into the ground and back ones facing south to the practice field (which would be moved roughly 10-20ms back). A replay screen could be incorporated into it. All rooms would have ocean views and more importantly, the Western side could have a major Grandstand.

From this...

To this...


The Northern Stand which could be continued right around the Western side of the ground




(Red markings give a rough idea of new stand, road could become one way with angle parking).

Ideally the hotel concept should have been used at the northern end so it could also be attached to the entertainment centre. The current northern stand would of been better on the western side. Anyway, just my thoughts. It'd be a real shame to see the Western side reduced to a concourse and hotel rooms.

They can do what they like.

After they have finished with Kogarah Jubille Oval, the Drags will play all 13 NRL home games there instead

Is this actually going to happen? I have heard the th wolves plan to build their own football stadium as part of a push to join the A-league. I seem to remember them buying spare seats for this last year. That would leave only League using the ground.

If you're trying to convince people of that, at least try and get the number of games in a Rugby League season right!



It'll be something close to 50-50 for the foreseeable future. 5 or 6 for WIN, with 6 being the more likely.

And yes, Tancred, you're right. Although I'm still suspicious of the whole Lysaghts proposal. It simply doesn't seem too feasiible.

And Illawarrior I agree that the Southern Stand is the ideal location for any hotel. I doubt however that the hotel plan will ever get off the ground in any shape or form.

If that is the case, can they just demolish the old western stand and get on with extending the northern stand around the western side? Is it a case of hotel or no upgrade?

Liked your thoughts too Illawarrior. They road width on the western side may not have to be reduced if they get a good cantilevered stand.

That's a good question.

On the one hand the hotel solution increases the viability of an upgrade by giving the Wollongong Sportsground Trust increased income and also potentially facilitates the Trust's ability to hosts conventions.

On the other, Wollongong's convention hosting business seems to already be booming and a major hotel is being built at Market Square already.

Illawarrior's idea sounds better than the current Western Stand proposal.

As for the A League, a city the size of Wollongong could only really house one decent stadium.

Agreed.

Could you please tell the Wolves?

I did - but they wouldn't listen, and they had good reasons not to listen.

Remember, stadium seats are made from plastic. Plastic comes from OIL. Haliburton works in the oil industry. I suspect the Wolves want to build their own stadium to show other companies how good they are at building stadiums. Eventually, the Iraqi Football Assocation's Reconstruction contracts will go for tender and the Wolves can show off their good work. The Iraqi's - assisted by Dick Cheney who is pulling the strings by supplying the oil that makes the plastic that makes the seats - will the give Wollongong stadium building contracts in Iraq. This will fund their position in the A-League.

This is all from memory, and hazy at that. I seem to remember that the Wolves got rather burnt when they shifted from Brandon Park to WIN stadium. They lost money from food, drink, advertising etc, crowds did not increase and they were paying a lot more in stadium rent. I think this memory is why they want their own football stadium.

I believe you're right Tancred.

It's still laughable that Wollongong would have 2 rectangular stadiums within a few kilometres of each other.

That's right. And to top it all off they were never happy with the playing surface, not soccer friendly.

There's been remours of a 2nd Illawarra group planning A-League entry. So perhaps soccer won't be lost to WIN Stadium after all.

Apparently rent is excessive and a lot of soccer supporters don't really like WIN Stadium...

Blah we need a Wollongong team in the A-League even if they have to be at their 3rd venue

So come on Wolves get your act together.

Want to continue the fiery rivalry we had.

Note the rivalry was intense, but Glory and Wolves supporters got on famously well...the other rivals we had in the NSL...well you saw the dramas that happened at Edensor Park and Knights Stadium

The day the Wolves come alive again, is the day I am a happier bloke

I would love the Wolves to get into the A-league - that would be three away games that are easy to get to

Canberra and Wollongong into the A-league in 2007!

Agreed.



Just not at the expense of my mob.