Wests Tigers make Campbelltown demand

Wests Tigers has threatened to depart Campbelltown Sports Stadium unless a commitment is made for up to A$100m (£46.8m/$60m) worth of renovations to a venue it believes is currently not fit-for-purpose when it comes to modern National Rugby League (NRL) standards.

Located in Leumeah, a suburb in South Western Sydney, Campbelltown Sports Stadium is currently one of the Tigers’ core home venues. The Tigers are committed through the 2025 and 2026 NRL seasons to four NRL games per campaign at Campbelltown, along with two at Leichardt Oval and another four at Venues NSW grounds such as Allianz Stadium and CommBank Stadium.

However, while the club, Campbelltown Council, and the NRL are working together to try and ensure the Tigers play at Campbelltown over the next 10 to 15 years, team officials are becoming frustrated at what they see is a lack of progress as they plan for 2027 and beyond.

The Tigers say a significant investment of A$50m in the next three years, and A$100m over the next five to 10 years is required to bring Campbelltown up to a standard that makes it financially viable for NRL and NRLW games to be played there.

These upgrades would seat 24,000 fans, up from the stadium’s current capacity of circa 17,500, and accommodate 1,500 corporate guests. Improvements to dressing rooms, big screens, LEDs, and general fan comfort are also said to be required.

The Tigers have said they need to lock down a long-term plan for their future growth by June 30, adding that if no commitment is given on Campbelltown upgrades then the club must reconsider its commitment to the stadium.

Stating that communities throughout Australia are desperate to gain an NRL team in their region, the Tigers state that if the redevelopment is supported, the club will commit to hosting a minimum of seven to nine home games per season for the next 10 years across both NRL and NRLW teams.

Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson told the club’s Behind the Roar podcast: “Simply, we want to play out of Campbelltown Stadium as part of our strategic plan. However, we cannot do this under the current stadium setup.

“A modern venue will unlock much-needed revenue through corporate hospitality, enhance the match-day experience, and increase broadcast value. As the game continues to evolve, so must the Wests Tigers.

“If we want to compete at the highest level against other NRL clubs based in modern venues, we need to address the financial advantage those clubs currently have.”

Richardson threatened to leave Leichhardt Oval last year if renovations were not made, leading to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and NSW Premier Chris Minns committing to a A$40m upgrades package.

Concerning Campbelltown, Richardson added: “I don’t do ‘Trumpian’ threats, but we won’t play there, it’s as simple as that. At the moment, it’s not at a standard that’s required to be an NRL ground.

“To be the great club we want to be, and to have the quality of players we need to have; to have the vision we need to have, we need a stadium to build ourselves around, other than just Leichhardt. If we don’t have that stadium, we need to find one.”