Parramatta has unveiled its ambition to be a regular semi-finalist, become the NRLs premier development club and get into the black by 2022.
For the first time in a decade, the Eels have produced a strategic plan that outlines their blueprint for the next three years. Like all sides, they have set themselves the goal of participating in the play-offs every season, but also a raft of initiatives off the field.
Home and hosed: Mitchell Moses celebrates a try as the Eels christen Bankwest Stadium in style.Credit:AAP
They include branding their feeder team, currently Wentworthville, as ''Parramatta'' to ensure NRL aspirants wear the blue and gold all the way through their progression up to the top.
Another goal is for the football program to be self-sustainable within three years, ending the reliance on the leagues club to meet the shortfall. The football club losses have been coming down over the past three seasons, from $12 million to $10 million to a projected $4 million for the next financial year.
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Now that new home ground, Bankwest Stadium, is operational, the expectation is for the trend to continue.
“I would be disappointed if it wasnt [in the black] by 2022,” Eels chairman Sean McElduff said.
“On the commercial side there is real uplift and opportunity. If you look at the NRL data for 2018, we are in the bottom 25 per cent for revenue. If you look at what were spending, were in the top 25 per cent.
“Its about maximising our advantages. On the commercial and expense side, if were at $4m, its not hard to turn both of those around by a $1 million.
In five years you will have a centre of excellence at Kellyville and our stadium will still be the best stadium for rugby league.
Bernie Gurr
“All of a sudden that $4m is $2m without thinking about fans and attendances, hospitality etc.
“There are some realistic opportunities and were getting smarter. Our information and understanding of corporates and western Sydney businesses was neglected during the bad days. We need to get better at investing, and that will monetise opportunities.”
For long-suffering fans, the biggest take-out will relate to on-field performance. The key line in the strategic plan is: “To be the premier development club in the NRL and deliver sustainable on-field success including regular finals football.”
On-field success will help with another off-field goal of increasing membership to 40,000 by 2021.
The club lost some of its most promising juniors in the period after the 2009 grand final appearance but has some of the games best young talent currently in its local nursery. To ensurRead More – Source
Parramatta has unveiled its ambition to be a regular semi-finalist, become the NRLs premier development club and get into the black by 2022.
For the first time in a decade, the Eels have produced a strategic plan that outlines their blueprint for the next three years. Like all sides, they have set themselves the goal of participating in the play-offs every season, but also a raft of initiatives off the field.
Home and hosed: Mitchell Moses celebrates a try as the Eels christen Bankwest Stadium in style.Credit:AAP
They include branding their feeder team, currently Wentworthville, as ''Parramatta'' to ensure NRL aspirants wear the blue and gold all the way through their progression up to the top.
Another goal is for the football program to be self-sustainable within three years, ending the reliance on the leagues club to meet the shortfall. The football club losses have been coming down over the past three seasons, from $12 million to $10 million to a projected $4 million for the next financial year.
Advertisement
Now that new home ground, Bankwest Stadium, is operational, the expectation is for the trend to continue.
“I would be disappointed if it wasnt [in the black] by 2022,” Eels chairman Sean McElduff said.
“On the commercial side there is real uplift and opportunity. If you look at the NRL data for 2018, we are in the bottom 25 per cent for revenue. If you look at what were spending, were in the top 25 per cent.
“Its about maximising our advantages. On the commercial and expense side, if were at $4m, its not hard to turn both of those around by a $1 million.
In five years you will have a centre of excellence at Kellyville and our stadium will still be the best stadium for rugby league.
Bernie Gurr
“All of a sudden that $4m is $2m without thinking about fans and attendances, hospitality etc.
“There are some realistic opportunities and were getting smarter. Our information and understanding of corporates and western Sydney businesses was neglected during the bad days. We need to get better at investing, and that will monetise opportunities.”
For long-suffering fans, the biggest take-out will relate to on-field performance. The key line in the strategic plan is: “To be the premier development club in the NRL and deliver sustainable on-field success including regular finals football.”
On-field success will help with another off-field goal of increasing membership to 40,000 by 2021.
The club lost some of its most promising juniors in the period after the 2009 grand final appearance but has some of the games best young talent currently in its local nursery. To ensurRead More – Source
