Magazine - Rectangular Stadium will be very Busy

By Editor in General News on 24th Nov 2009 20:45

NRL chief executive David Gallop says the opening of Melbourne's new rectangular stadium will help develop interest in rugby league in one of its non-traditional markets.

The stadium, which will be situated in Melbourne's Olympic Park precinct, will open with the Test match between Australia and New Zealand on May 7 before the Storm play their first encounter at the venue against Brisbane two days later. The two fixtures are a part of what the Storm are referring to as the "Festival of Rugby League" and the venue will also host State of Origin matches in the future, in addition to rugby union and football internationals.

The new stadium will not just be the home for the Storm, but also the new Super 15 franchise and Melbourne's two A-League clubs.

Storm chief executive Brian Waldron says he is hopeful finals will also be played at the 31,500 capacity venue, rather than be moved away to the larger stadium at Docklands. "I don't see any need to take games away," he said. "The ideal scenario is that you would sell it out, that's what you want. "If we play finals, I'd be disappointed in the first year if we didn't go close to filling it."

The Storm had hoped to begin playing matches against Manly and the Warriors at the stadium in April, however their maiden appearance has been delayed until the following month.

Source & More: www.abc.net.au

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