Shane Richardson has issued a bold ultimatum regarding the future of Wests Tigers games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, warning the club will pull fixtures from the venue unless a $50 million upgrade is confirmed by June 30.
The Tigers CEO emphasized that his stance isn’t a dramatic bluff, but rather a reflection of Campbelltown’s current inadequacy as a top-tier NRL venue.
Following a successful campaign that secured $40 million in upgrades for Leichhardt Oval last year, Richardson is now turning his attention to Campbelltown, insisting that unless Campbelltown City Council commits to substantial redevelopment, the Tigers are prepared to walk away.
The club is seeking a formal agreement by the end of June to expand the stadium’s seated capacity to 24,000 and enhance its corporate facilities.
“If it’s not brought up to standard, we simply won’t play there,” Richardson told the club podcast. “I’m not making empty threats. It’s just the reality—Campbelltown isn’t currently fit to host NRL games.”
He added that Campbelltown has a golden opportunity to keep the Tigers playing in the area, but it hinges on delivering a stadium that can generate revenue and meet professional standards.
Looking ahead, Richardson estimated the stadium would need close to $100 million in investment to meet long-term requirements, especially considering the venue is shared with A-League Men’s side Macarthur FC.
Despite being a stronghold for emerging rugby league talent, the Macarthur region has not yielded consistent benefits for the Tigers, in contrast to Penrith’s success in cultivating local juniors.
The Tigers currently have agreements to split home games between Campbelltown and Leichhardt until 2026, with an option for 2027. They are also committed to hosting games at CommBank Stadium and Brisbane’s Magic Round through to 2027.
Richardson expressed his desire for a revamped Campbelltown to become the club’s main Sydney base, with plans to host between seven and nine games there each season over the next five to 15 years.
However, he cautioned that without firm funding commitments, those plans will not go ahead.
“There’s been plenty of talk, but talk is cheap,” Richardson said. “We need real, locked-in investment before we can make any long-term commitments to the venue.”
