The Sharks and the Future

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The Shark Whisperer

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I was having an interesting discussion about the future of the Cronulla Sharks last night with an influential RL individual, who fears the club certainly hasn’t secured its future in Cronulla and maybe not even the Shire.

My colleague noted the lack of industry and/or major benefactor as a big hindrance to the club growing commercially and keeping the relocation wolves at bay over the next 15 years.

His other major concern for the Sharks is the lack of opportunity to spread its geographical base beyond the Sutherland Shire, hemmed in to its existing border by other existing NRL clubs.

My counter to this was that the Sutherland Shire has one of Australia’s largest junior and grassroots sports participation rates. It is has a growing population and is also increasingly becoming one of the most affluent suburbs in Sydney. With all that said, I made my vision clear that the Sharks don’t need to grow their region, they just need to make those existing residents, fervent ambassadors.

The opportunity I see for the Sharks is to become a multi sports club operation and incorporating the elite of all club sports in the Shire under the Cronulla Sharks banner. If the Sharks brand was to align itself with the top basketball, soccer, netball, softball, baseball, cricket and the pathways beneath, the Sharks would secure their future and more importantly, potentially pave the way for a new multi purpose sports stadium/complex at Seymour Shore. I don’t see how Shark Park can remain a part of our long term future.
 
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That guy in the states could be a major benefactor and I won’t be surprised if he gets more involved eventually

In regards to playing out of Shark Park it’s a tough one.

We need to upgrade the stadium but gov funding doesn’t seem close but if we leave I can’t see us getting many people travelling to another stadium, also what stadium would it be? SFS makes no sense geographically and can’t blame them if no one wants to go there all the time.

It would be nice for the club to come out with a stadium plan, even if it’s minor stuff each year.

Let’s not forget when the leagues club eventually opens it’s a cash cow when games are on
 
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We need to upgrade the stadium but gov funding doesn’t seem close but if we leave I can’t see us getting many people travelling to another stadium, also what stadium would it be? SFS makes no sense geographically and can’t blame them if no one wants to go there all the time.
Need more stadiums like ours TBH. The smaller, boutique ones look much better when they are packed compared to the Olympic stadium graveyard. Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide is a good example in the A-league
 

The Shark Whisperer

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Need more stadiums like ours TBH. The smaller, boutique ones look much better when they are packed compared to the Olympic stadium graveyard. Hindmarsh Stadium in Adelaide is a good example in the A-league
I couldn’t disagree more. Our stadium is a dump with poor amenities which does not meet the hospitality demands in this day and age.

We don’t need more of those stadiums. We need more like Parramatta Stadium and the NRL and the clubs need to do a better job at filling them.
 

HaroldBishop

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I couldn’t disagree more. Our stadium is a dump with poor amenities which does not meet the hospitality demands in this day and age.

We don’t need more of those stadiums. We need more like Parramatta Stadium and the NRL and the clubs need to do a better job at filling them.
Yep, ours is terrible in its current state.
 

The Shark Whisperer

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That guy in the states could be a major benefactor and I won’t be surprised if he gets more involved eventually

In regards to playing out of Shark Park it’s a tough one.

We need to upgrade the stadium but gov funding doesn’t seem close but if we leave I can’t see us getting many people travelling to another stadium, also what stadium would it be? SFS makes no sense geographically and can’t blame them if no one wants to go there all the time.

It would be nice for the club to come out with a stadium plan, even if it’s minor stuff each year.

Let’s not forget when the leagues club eventually opens it’s a cash cow when games are on
Per my post, I think the club needs to change its thinking. By becoming a multi sports organisation I think Seymour Shaw is a great location to build a new 25-30k stadium. Lots of space for a true multi sport complex servicing tennis, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, union and of course the Sharkies. That would get government backing too.

Leaving Shark park as a centre of excellence.
 
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Given the Sydney sporting culture, I feel we don't need large stadiums. Sure the population is growing but we aren't Victoria. Majority would rather watch on the telly and I dont see that changing anytime soon...
 

The Shark Whisperer

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That's never happened in our history though, can't see it changing. Sure, more capacity would be good but that costs more money.
I refuse to believe it isn’t achievable. I don’t see us getting the funding to improve Shark Park to make any suitable difference.
 

Art Vandelay

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theres no political will and no money at the moment

seymour shaw would be interesting

youd want 25k. why not dream to be bigger?
 

HaroldBishop

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Per my post, I think the club needs to change its thinking. By becoming a multi sports organisation I think Seymour Shaw is a great location to build a new 25-30k stadium. Lots of space for a true multi sport complex servicing tennis, soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, union and of course the Sharkies. That would get government backing too.

Leaving Shark park as a centre of excellence.
None of those sports would contribute to funding for a new stadium imo, they aren't going to attract large number of spectators.
 

The Shark Whisperer

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Given the Sydney sporting culture, I feel we don't need large stadiums. Sure the population is growing but we aren't Victoria. Majority would rather watch on the telly and I dont see that changing anytime soon...
Cultures are moulded and change. Melbourne AFL clubs haven’t always been averaging crowds of 46,000. Those numbers have increased to that figure now by working on the memberships, match day experience and facilities.
 

Gumby

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We don't need capacity that high. I nice new stadium holding 20k would be ideal.
With mens & womans sport growing all around the world I say we do need to go bigger. Gold Coast Titans stadium would be perfect for us. Holds around 28k and are now getting Soccer matches sent there, rugby world 7's has been there in the past, rugby union international matches, monster truck shows and all those kinds of things which bring in revenue.
 

The Shark Whisperer

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None of those sports would contribute to funding for a new stadium imo, they aren't going to attract large number of spectators.
Governments support multi sport programmes. I don’t anticipate those other sports to contribute a lot, but I do see huge value in bringing the top level of those sports in the Shire under the Sharks branding.
 

Art Vandelay

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seymour shaw area may not be big enough anyway

gwaley park on taren point road theres atleast more room, but really the best option for a new build would be loftus at the tafe right?
 
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