WIN Stadium
Encyclopedia
Wollongong Showground (sponsored name
: WIN Stadium) is a rectangular multi-purpose stadium
located in the city of Wollongong
, New South Wales
, Australia
. The stadium was officially opened in 1911. From 1982 until 1998 it played host to every home match for the Illawarra Steelers
NRL team. It is now used as one home ground of the St George Illawarra Dragons
rugby league
side.
began playing at the stadium.
When the Illawarra Steelers
entered the NSWRFL premiership in 1982, they played their home games at the stadium. Six years after their inception into the competition, the Steelers along with the then Showground Trust converted the ground into a rectangle. In 1992 the southern stand was built. WIN Television
purchased the naming rights to the stadium in 1997.
In April 2002, an $8 million upgrade to the stadium saw the opening of a new Northern Grandstand. The 6000 seat grandstand also brought increased corporate entertainment facilities. WIN Corporation provided half of the funding for the upgrade.
In 2006, redevelopment was meant to begin on the stadium's western stand. The western grandstand was to be demolished and replaced by a new stand which was to hold 2500 general seats, 20 corporate boxes as well as media facilities and food and beverage outlets. The $37 million redevelopment was to see a four-star hotel integrated into the stadium which would have allowed fans to watch sporting events from the comfort of their hotel room. The WIN Stadium Trust believed that the redevelopment would provide significant job opportunities locally and bring in new revenue of approximately $2.1 million per year.
However, in late 2006 the NSW State Government decided against funding the much needed upgrade. The financial viability of a $100 million proposal for the redevelopment of the western grandstand was questioned by State Cabinet and three major issues ensured that the proposal did not receive the green light.
In October 2009, the NSW Labor Government announced $28.9 million in funding for the construction of a new western stand, under a revised plan. The new western grandstand will be a much simpler design than the original "hotel stand" but will result in a much larger ground capacity. The new stand will seat 6,170, taking WIN Stadium's ground capacity to approximately 23,150.
On 20 September 2011, high winds bucked the western grandstand roof which was currently under construction, and is at high risk of collapse if wind speeds once again pick up.
finals match, when 19,608 watched the Dragons defeat traditional rivals the Cronulla Sharks
.
WIN Stadium hosted a match during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
, between France
and Fiji
. The stadium has also played host to two pool games of the 2003 Rugby World Cup
: Canada
vs Tonga
and France
vs United States
, and
is also used by the Illawarriors
rugby union
team during the Shute Shield
. It also hosts the Grand Final in the local Illawarra Rugby competition.
The Wollongong Wolves Football Club once played their home games at WIN Stadium until the club went bankrupt. Their successor, the South Coast Wolves, who currently compete in the NSW Premier League, now play their games at WIN Stadium.
An expansion bid
from Wollongong has applied to join the A-League
in 2010. If accepted, they will play at WIN Stadium.
, which is located next to the stadium. The nearest train station is the Wollongong station
, which is approximately within 10 minutes walk from the stadium. As the stadium is located at the eastern end of the Wollongong Central Business District, there is a well suited public transport infrastructure. Street parking is available, though parking complexes (such as the Wollongong City Council Carpark) are usually much more accessible.
On game days when St George Illawarra play at WIN Stadium, a shuttle bus service runs between Wollongong Station and the stadium. Also, surrounding streets (including sections of Harbour St, Marine Dr and eastern Crown St) are closed to traffic.
have strict requirements for World Cup Stadia, including the need for a minimum of 45,000 seats. It would be almost impossible to upgrade WIN Stadium to these requirements as there is very little room to expand and it is unlikely that a stand would be allowed to be built on the eastern side of the ground, where the eastern hill forms part of a coastal sand dune. Also, as further commercial and apartment developments occur in the eastern and southern city areas, parking will become an even bigger issue. WIN Stadium is practically fully reliant on street parking.
Many critics of the stadium claim that the Illawarra region would be better served by moving the stadium from the current site and building a new stadium in a better location. Kembla Grange, J.J. Kelly Park, Thomas Dalton Park and Shellharbour City Stadium in Albion Park are often suggested as alternative sites for a major sporting precinct.
Naming rights
In the private sector, naming rights are a financial transaction whereby a corporation or other entity purchases the right to name a facility, typically for a defined period of time. For properties like a multi-purpose arena, performing arts venue or an athletic field, the term ranges from three...
: WIN Stadium) is a rectangular multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadium
Multi-purpose stadiums are a type of stadium designed in such a way as to be easily used by multiple sports. While any stadium could potentially host more than one sport, this concept usually refers to a specific design philosophy that stresses multi-functionality over specificity...
located in the city of Wollongong
Wollongong, New South Wales
Wollongong is a seaside city located in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. It lies on the narrow coastal strip between the Illawarra Escarpment and the Pacific Ocean, 82 kilometres south of Sydney...
, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. The stadium was officially opened in 1911. From 1982 until 1998 it played host to every home match for the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
NRL team. It is now used as one home ground of the St George Illawarra Dragons
St George Illawarra Dragons
The St George Illawarra Dragons is an Australian professional rugby league football club, representing the St. George and Illawarra regions. They have competed in the National Rugby League since 1999 as a joint venture between Sydney's historic St. George Dragons club and 1982 expansion club, the...
rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
side.
History
The stadium was originally used primarily for agricultural shows and hosted a greyhound track as well, the name of the venue prior to 1911 was the Wollongong Showground. It is considered to be officially opened in 1911, when the sport of rugby leagueRugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
began playing at the stadium.
When the Illawarra Steelers
Illawarra Steelers
The Illawarra Steelers are an Australian rugby league football club based in the city of Wollongong, New South Wales. The club competed in Australia's top-level Rugby League competition from 1982, when they, along with the Canberra Raiders, were admitted into the then New South Wales Rugby Football...
entered the NSWRFL premiership in 1982, they played their home games at the stadium. Six years after their inception into the competition, the Steelers along with the then Showground Trust converted the ground into a rectangle. In 1992 the southern stand was built. WIN Television
WIN Television
WIN Television is an Australian television network owned by the WIN Corporation that is based in Wollongong, New South Wales. WIN commenced transmissions on 18 March 1962 as a single Wollongong-only station, and has since expanded to 24 owned-and-operated stations with transmissions covering a...
purchased the naming rights to the stadium in 1997.
In April 2002, an $8 million upgrade to the stadium saw the opening of a new Northern Grandstand. The 6000 seat grandstand also brought increased corporate entertainment facilities. WIN Corporation provided half of the funding for the upgrade.
In 2006, redevelopment was meant to begin on the stadium's western stand. The western grandstand was to be demolished and replaced by a new stand which was to hold 2500 general seats, 20 corporate boxes as well as media facilities and food and beverage outlets. The $37 million redevelopment was to see a four-star hotel integrated into the stadium which would have allowed fans to watch sporting events from the comfort of their hotel room. The WIN Stadium Trust believed that the redevelopment would provide significant job opportunities locally and bring in new revenue of approximately $2.1 million per year.
However, in late 2006 the NSW State Government decided against funding the much needed upgrade. The financial viability of a $100 million proposal for the redevelopment of the western grandstand was questioned by State Cabinet and three major issues ensured that the proposal did not receive the green light.
- The proposal sacrificed too much of the number two training ground, which is an area that needs to be retained as green space.
- Cabinet requires a larger payment for the development land than the $20 million offered by the proposal.
- The proposal did not include a hotel component, which a 2003 feasibility study considered critical to the overall viability of the site.
In October 2009, the NSW Labor Government announced $28.9 million in funding for the construction of a new western stand, under a revised plan. The new western grandstand will be a much simpler design than the original "hotel stand" but will result in a much larger ground capacity. The new stand will seat 6,170, taking WIN Stadium's ground capacity to approximately 23,150.
On 20 September 2011, high winds bucked the western grandstand roof which was currently under construction, and is at high risk of collapse if wind speeds once again pick up.
Use
The primary tenants of WIN Stadium are the St. George Illawarra Dragons rugby league team, who play half of their home games there (the rest are played at WIN Jubilee Oval, in the St. George area). The current attendance record for WIN Stadium was set during a NRLNational Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
finals match, when 19,608 watched the Dragons defeat traditional rivals the Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
.
WIN Stadium hosted a match during the 2008 Rugby League World Cup
2008 Rugby League World Cup
The 2008 Rugby League World Cup was the thirteenth staging of the Rugby League World Cup since the inauguration of the tournament in 1954, and the first since the 2000 event...
, between France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
and Fiji
Fiji national rugby league team
-Competitions:Fiji have participated in:*Pacific Cup *World Cup *World Sevens *Superleague World Nines *Superleague Oceania Tournament *Pacific Rim Competition -Results:...
. The stadium has also played host to two pool games of the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
: Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
vs Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
and France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
vs United States
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
, and
is also used by the Illawarriors
Illawarriors
The Illawarriors are a new rugby union franchise based in the Illawarra, New South Wales, Australia. Although being inducted into the Sydney Tooheys Shute Shield competition in 2006, it wasn't until 2007 that they played their first full season....
rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team during the Shute Shield
Shute Shield
The Shute Shield is a rugby union competition in Sydney, New South Wales. It is the premier grade rugby trophy in NSW rugby. The Shute Shield is awarded at the end of the Sydney Club Rugby season to the team that wins the Grand Final...
. It also hosts the Grand Final in the local Illawarra Rugby competition.
The Wollongong Wolves Football Club once played their home games at WIN Stadium until the club went bankrupt. Their successor, the South Coast Wolves, who currently compete in the NSW Premier League, now play their games at WIN Stadium.
An expansion bid
South Coast A-League bid
South Coast Football is a New South Wales community based group bidding to enter a team in the Hyundai A-League for the 2010-11 season. The bid, led by local businessman Eddy De Gabriele, aims to represent a population of 500,000 in the South Coast, New South Wales region, taking in the Wollongong,...
from Wollongong has applied to join the A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
in 2010. If accepted, they will play at WIN Stadium.
Accessibility
There is a five-bus drop-off bay located at the WIN Entertainment CentreWIN Entertainment Centre
WIN Entertainment Centre is a multi-purpose indoor arena, located in downtown Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia....
, which is located next to the stadium. The nearest train station is the Wollongong station
Wollongong railway station, New South Wales
Wollongong Station is a railway station on the South Coast Line of the CityRail outer suburban network, serving the central business district of the Illawarra region's major centre of Wollongong....
, which is approximately within 10 minutes walk from the stadium. As the stadium is located at the eastern end of the Wollongong Central Business District, there is a well suited public transport infrastructure. Street parking is available, though parking complexes (such as the Wollongong City Council Carpark) are usually much more accessible.
On game days when St George Illawarra play at WIN Stadium, a shuttle bus service runs between Wollongong Station and the stadium. Also, surrounding streets (including sections of Harbour St, Marine Dr and eastern Crown St) are closed to traffic.
Future
Following the announcement of the $28.9mil western stand redevelopment, it would seem that WIN Stadium will remain as the region's major sporting facility. However, the likelihood of Wollongong being part of a potential Australian World Cup bid is now unlikely. FIFAFIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
have strict requirements for World Cup Stadia, including the need for a minimum of 45,000 seats. It would be almost impossible to upgrade WIN Stadium to these requirements as there is very little room to expand and it is unlikely that a stand would be allowed to be built on the eastern side of the ground, where the eastern hill forms part of a coastal sand dune. Also, as further commercial and apartment developments occur in the eastern and southern city areas, parking will become an even bigger issue. WIN Stadium is practically fully reliant on street parking.
Many critics of the stadium claim that the Illawarra region would be better served by moving the stadium from the current site and building a new stadium in a better location. Kembla Grange, J.J. Kelly Park, Thomas Dalton Park and Shellharbour City Stadium in Albion Park are often suggested as alternative sites for a major sporting precinct.