Backing Campbelltown: Wests Tigers’ Call for Investment
On a special episode of Behind the Roar, Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson discusses the club's plan to ensure that Wests Tigers will play at Campbelltown over the next 10-15 years.
Wests Tigers, Campbelltown Council, and the NRL are working together to try and ensure that Wests Tigers play at Campbelltown over the next 10-15 years. Campbelltown Sports Stadium is not a fit-for-purpose, modern venue that meets the standards for professional rugby league in Sydney’s southwest.
A significant investment of $50M in the short term (3 years) and $100M over the next 5-10 years is required. This would upgrade the venue to a stadium that makes it financially viable for NRL and NRLW games to be played there.
These upgrades would seat 24,000 fans and accommodate 1,500 corporate guests. We will also see improvements to dressing rooms, big screens, LEDs, and general fan comfort. The council is aware that a commitment needs to be made to these upgrades by June 30th, 2025; otherwise, the club will be forced to explore other options.
By June 30th this year, Wests Tigers will need to lock in a long-term plan for our future growth and commercial support from our stadium partners. If that commitment cannot be given, we must reconsider our commitment to the stadium.
Communities throughout Australia are desperate to gain an NRL team in their region. Campbelltown has one of those teams, Wests Tigers, for the long term, depending on what can be committed to.
Ongoing discussions are continuing regarding revamping and upgrading Leichhardt Oval as part of the new strategic plan.
Wests Tigers have already made significant strides in embedding themselves in the South-West and building a strong rugby league presence from the ground up. Over the past year, the club has:
- Invested more than $2 million into the Wests Tigers Empower program focused primarily on the prevention of domestic violence.
- Delivered the inaugural Pasifika Youth Summit, supporting young leaders in the region.
- Reached over 4,700 students across 34 schools through our Community Blitz.
- Opened a dedicated Campbelltown office to strengthen local engagement.
- Built stronger links with junior league through the Club Ambassador Program, working toward a target of 10,000 junior players.
- Delivered a series of fan engagement and community events to unite and grow our supporter base.
Wests Tigers are already playing games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium and want to play more. If the redevelopment is supported, the club will commit to hosting a minimum of seven to nine home games per season for the next ten years across both NRL and NRLW teams, ensuring equal access and opportunity for men’s and women’s rugby league in the region.
Wests Tigers CEO Shane Richardson said:
“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.”
Tune into this special episode of Behind the Roar via YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts for more information.
