Speaking to the Big Sports Breakfast, Panthers Executive General Manager Phil Gould AM explains the ultimate goal behind the Panthers taking home games away from Pepper Stadium.
In summary, Mr Gould said: "Whatever decisions we've made in regards to taking games away to other venues is all targeted towards the long term future of this club. Our long term and (first) option is for the Penrith Panthers to always be in Penrith and that ultimately we have our own new stadium and all Penrith home games are played in this town. That's our ultimate end goal. Now we've got to keep our eyes on that prize and the best way to get there. That may mean, in the short term, we cooperate with the State Government and what they're trying to do for Sydney as a whole with their stadia strategy.
"The stadium we're in at the moment is a boutique little suburban ground. We can't grow our business in that stadium. It's a commercial reality that has to be met. The corporate hospitality areas aren't good enough, membership can only grow to a certain level, we've only got so many seats under cover. Whilst it's nice for us at this present time, it's not a stadium of the future. It's not a stadium where Penrith can grow its business to compete with the teams we compete with these days. The competition has gone up and we've got to rise with it.
"The ultimate end goal is to have our own new stadium in Penrith and play all our home games here in this town, and that's where we deserve to be. If to get to that point, in the short term, we've got to work with the State Government and the NRL to make other things happen, to get that consideration, then that's what we'll do. Our fans and our members have got to understand this is all in the long term interests of the club."
