Bar changes raise concerns
THE TRL semi-finals will be played at Gold Park this weekend and this could become a more regular occurrence if changes to how Clive Berghofer Stadium is run are adopted.
These games will be played away from the home of rugby league in Toowoomba at Clive Berghofer Stadium and, according to TRL chairman Allen Pyne, there could be more of this to come.
The State Government, who runs the facility, has decided to put out to tender the running of the bar at Clive Berghofer Stadium.
Users currently derive considerable income from running the bar at their event and could lose some income with someone else running the sale of beverages.
A portion of profits will filter to the user but a final percentage is yet to be decided.
Pyne is against the move as it will take away a much-needed revenue stream for the TRL, who traditionally hold finals matches and President’s Cup games at the venue.
He says it along with the cost of hiring the venue and other demands placed on users by stadium management could force the TRL to move matches to Gold Park.
“I think the demands put on the tenants are too high to accept. The demands of a fiscal nature and of operational nature are just driving us away,” he said.
“The final nail in the coffin will be when they outsource the liquor licence. No one can hire that place out if they don’t get the profits from the bar or the canteen, or a portion of it.
“It’s a wonderful oval and it should be something rugby league is proud to call its home but we’re just losing (it) through red tape.”
The State Government said the bar had been put out to tender in a bid to alleviate the extra workload placed on users by running the bar.
Southern Suburbs Rugby League Club uses Clive Berghofer Stadium as its home during the TRL regular season and president Josh Klein is keen to stay so long as an arrangement can be reached in regards to profit sharing from the bar.
“I’m very optimistic and hopefully the State Government is going to do the right thing by the club,” he said.