Adam SutcliffeBulldogs must return to Belmore, NRL Rugby League back to the suburbs
July 6th 2008 11:33
There has been a loud cry from the fans of Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs to return to Belmore.For over a decade now the Bulldogs have played their home games at the show ground at Homebush and at the poultry ANZ stadium . Malcolm Noad would not have a bar of it , and now Todd Greenberg has stated that Belmore is not viable option at the moment.Not once did it feel like a home game.
It does not feel like a home game due to many other games are played there , test matches,state of origin,finals,and having to share with four other clubs.
What about NRL results at smaller suburban home grounds? Statistics show that teams have an advantage in a home ground with a vocal, snake pit type closed in supporter base.
Who is important to your clubs survival , your sponsor ? Nope !!! ,sponsor come and go , fans stay for ever. so Mr Todd Greenberg would it be your fans? . Answer yes !!!. The Bulldog team have a very large following behind them , most of their living in the area close to Belmore Sports Ground . For one travelling to Homebush is to far,they also share the ground with other clubs , I am been following the bulldogs since 1974 and always felt Belmore was home.Not once did I feel the ANZ stadium or the show ground next door feel like home.
The fans have not been happy from the very start , having moved away from Belmore.A few years ago they were going to build a stadium at Liverpool right in the heart of the West Tigers territory,that would have been a very bad move as well.The name Canterbury Bankstown says it all , stay at Belmore.A return to Belmore would see a large group of fans return to the game for the Bulldogs. It goes to show you how loyal you fans can be. A large percentage of the Bulldogs who come from the local area , travelling to Homebush then the return trip seems to take for ever.now fans don't want that anymore , they never did like it in the first place,yet they still turn up , imagine what it would be like at Belmore.
In a recent letter , the bulldogs CEO have said that they are looking at playing a home game next year against the Cowboys at Suncorp Stadium , what a ridiculous move that would be, I live In QLD now , about half an hour from Suncorp and I would not travel there to see the bulldogs play a home game there, it would have the same atmosphere as the Homebush stadium.It would also feel like an away game .
In the past when the Bulldogs played at Belmore against teams (who are sharing Homebush now) ,it felt like a home game, when we travelled to see any of those teams at their home ground the atmosphere would change ,knowing we were in enemy territory,but now seeing any of those teams at Homebush is not the same.Look at the response at Leichhardt last week end would the Tigers v/s Warriors clash have attracted the same amount of a crowd at Homebush.
Money should not be an issue for the Bulldogs,they were going to spent millions in the Oasis project at Liverpool.
At Belmore the Grand stand would need to be rebuilt of course, smaller stands could be built at both ends of the field, however the hill must stay, it works at Brookvale and Leichhardt Ovals. The hill must stay , have a look at Parramatta and Penrith , they have grand stands at both sides , they don't feel right A hill opposite the main grand stand is what a rugby league is all about,and it would be cheaper for families to be on the hill.
Leichhardt Oval home of the Tigers, Brookvale Oval home of Manly, Redfern Oval Home of the South Sydney Rabbits,ANZ stadium home of the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs, it does not sit right , its in Parramatta territory.
Belmore Sports Ground Home of the Canterbury Bulldogs , that's much better ,that's what the fans want.I certainly would flight back to Sydney to be part of the first game back there , and I'll keep coming back during the year to see other clashes.I would not travel from QLD to Homebush or Suncorp to see the Bulldogs play a home game there.
Mr Todd Greenberg listen to your fans ,we make the games .
A big sign about the main grand stand at Belmore "Welcome Home Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs ".
John
Hate Qld
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