Media Kennel (Latest News) - Back to Belmore

72nd Annual General Meeting of the Bulldogs Rugby League Club Limited - Questions to the Chairman

Sunday, February 11 2007

<TRANSCRIPT>

LUKE BRAILEY, BACK TO BELMORE INC. PRESIDENT: Mr Chairman, I have two questions this morning. The first is a hypothetical question. Mr Chairman, given the keen and heartfelt desire expressed by most Bulldogs supporters to return to our spiritual kennel in some sort of capacity, what would you do if the Federal Government were to announce that an unprecedented grant of, say, $8 million would be given to the club and if the State Government were to announce an additional $7 million grant for the purposes of upgrading Belmore Sports Ground with a view of staging a select number of NRL home games and also serving the needs of the Canterbury-Bankstown community?

DR GEORGE PEPONIS, BULLDOGS RUGBY LEAGUE CLUB CHAIRMAN: Luke, that's a hypothetical question and, when and if the Federal Government come up with $8-$10 million, and might I add probably twice that amount's needed, then I'll answer that question.

LUKE BRAILEY: Again, Mr Chairman, it is a hypothetical question. What would you do if that were to be presented? Would you accept it or would you say that you were committed to your deal with Telstra Stadium?

DR GEORGE PEPONIS: Luke, I've given you my answer, it's a hypothetical question and I'm not here to answer hypothetical questions. I'm more than happy to answer any questions relating to Belmore Sports Ground and Telstra Stadium, but we can't be talking about hypothetical questions.

LUKE BRAILEY: Very well, Mr Chairman. The objectives and the initiatives outlined by my committee cannot be fully achieved without the full and unequivocal support of the football club. With that in mind, Mr Chairman, what steps are you willing to take to work with my committee and to lobby the State and Federal Governments for funding to ensure that the Bulldogs can call Belmore Sports Ground home again?

DR GEORGE PEPONIS: I've put a few things down, Luke which I'd like to speak on, on behalf of that. We have exhausted all avenues over the last three years...(inaudible)...the extensive funds needed to upgrade Belmore Sports Ground to NRL level. We have had many meetings with [Canterbury] Council and despite their apparent willingness to help if State and Federal money was available, we were told that funds needed to undertake such a project were beyond the scope of local council. There seems to be no prospect of this situation changing in the foreseeable future. The board has recently signed an agreement to play its home games at Telstra Stadium for the next fifteen years. It was imperative to do so to secure our future. The offer from Telstra was a good one from the club's point of view and was unlikely to be offered again if we did not take it up. I'd like to read a letter addressed to you, Luke, by a supporter, which I think sums up all the issues that are involved here:

As a season ticket holder, I recently received your correspondence on this subject. Whilst I fully agree that Belmore Oval has always been, and will always be, the original, and to use your term, "spiritual kennel" of the Bulldogs, regrettably, this is no longer the case. Yes, there certainly have been many years of neglect, and unfortunately, the only thing that should go through the place at the moment is a bulldozer. Whilst the playing surface may be an adequate facility for the players to train on, the dressing rooms etc, leave much to be desired, and our players deserve much better, as do our Administration team.

If it was a simple matter of obtaining sufficient funds to completely gut and rebuild all the necessary facilities, I would join your campaign in a heartbeat. Regrettably, it is not that simple. With time, and continued success, the Bulldogs have outgrown Belmore. I do not believe, due to geographical contraints (ie Railway line on end, houses, Canterbury Road the other), that there is sufficient room/scope to build a stadium of the capacity that our teams needs. Certainly, we do not really need the 80,000 seat capacity that Telstra provides, but we do need a stadium with a minimum seating capacity of 35,000 to 45,000. Our crowds are on the rise, and we need to have the capacity for large crowds to attend, in comfort, and with the appropriate level of facilities provided. Telstra affords the Bulldogs all of this.

Not to mention car parking. A crowd of 18,000 - 20,000 caused absolute mayhem around Belmore. Larger crowds simply could not be accommodated. Telstra is not perfect. Nor was the Showground. But at least at Telstra there is more opportunity to park should supporters prefer to drive. Alternatively, there is rail or bus transport available.

If you and your committee are able to present evidence and plans that show that Belmore is able to be redeveloped to the capacity that our team and supporters require, and also demonstrate how the traffic/parking problems associated with this increased capacity would be accommodated, I would be only too happy to reconsider my position. Unfortunately, I do not believe that you will be able to do this. As such, I will not be supporting this matter when it is raised at the Football Club Annual General Meeting.

And I echo those words. I haven't asked for a permission to reveal their name so I think it's probably unfair if I do so at this stage. Are there any..is there any other General Business?