The SSLC Board voted by a 4-3 majority to accept a proposal put forward by the
South Sydney Football Club (SSFC) which will see the Club become poker
machine-free in Redfern.
The proposal will see South Sydney Football Club seek to work with SSLC:
- to develop a 2500m2 club on Level 1 of the Rabbitohs Building at 265 Chalmers
Street, Redfern; - to form a partnership with an experienced food and beverage venue operator,
to manage the new facility; - to create a family friendly club where children are welcome to enter the club
restaurants and function spaces with their parents; - to increase the parking available to SSLC members;
- to make this facility a consistently profitable operation which financially
supports the South Sydney Rabbitohs, to help ensure it becomes a consistently
successful football team well into the future; - to support the Leagues Club with services such as marketing, membership
services, co-promotion, management support, media/PR, events and business to
business opportunities.
SSFC Executive Chairman Peter Holmes a Court said this is the best decision for
the community of Redfern.
“We want to thank the Board of the Leagues Club for their support of
this concept and their commitment to help make the proposal a success,”
Mr Holmes a Court said.
“We will work with the Leagues Club Board to create a family friendly
Club where children are welcome to enter the club restaurants and function
spaces with their parents. The Football Club will be able to hold large events
in the Club and the two organisations will work closely together to provide
facilities for the community.
“This decision is about what is best for the community of Redfern and the
work of both organisations within that community. Supporters of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, and its stance, can personally
support the Club by becoming a Football Club Member. The days of massive
Leagues Club grants from poker machines to Football Clubs are things of the
past.
“The AFL has shown the way on this. They don’t have more Members per Club
or bigger crowds because people think it’s a better game. It’s because they
have made the game about Membership and about Members playing an active role
within their Club. This is what needs to happen across Rugby
League, especially in NSW.
“Significant increases in Football Club Membership (at the Season Ticketed
level) will form the foundation of financial stability for NSW Rugby League
Clubs going forward, with the Rabbitohs calling on its faithful to lead the
charge in NSW, as over 9000 Members have already done including 4300 Ticketed
Members. A large and strong Football Club Membership base will drive more
people through the doors of the Leagues Club and the other facilities the
precinct will have to offer.
“SSFC Membership (which includes access to the Leagues Club in 2008) is
how thousands of Rabbitohs fans show their support for what this Club does on
the field, in the local community and throughout the country.
“SSFC and the Leagues Club have made a united move to focus supporters’
energies on becoming Members of the Football Club to support their endeavours
in this community.”
Chairman of South Sydney Leagues Club
Bill Alexiou-Hucker said the decision of his Board opens up some exciting
opportunities.
“We’re looking forward to working on a poker machine-free Club and
working with the Football Club and the local community in creating a new-style
licensed Club for the people of Redfern,” Mr Alexiou-Hucker said.
“We will not only have a Club that is more family friendly and more
welcoming, but we will again be working with the Football Club, that represents
this district, to provide the best support for the community.
“The deal we have struck will mean SSLC Members will have a better venue
that will be 2500m2 instead of the original 1500m2, there will be better
facilities for Members and the Leagues Club Board will be able to offer Members
better deals and promotions at the Club.
“It also means the Football Club will be able to hold large events at the
venue, something which hasn’t been able to happen in recent years.
“We, as a Board, have made a commitment to do everything we can to make
this work and we’re excited about the challenge ahead.”
Source: World of Rugby Leauge from www.souths.com.au