SATURDAY night’s NRL clash at Tamworth’s Scully Park has been hailed a success with organisers flagging the possibility of more big games in the future.
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Wests Entertainment Group CEO Rod Laing has praised the behaviour of the 10,000 strong crowd who came along to support the Newcastle Knights and Wests Tigers.
Mr Laing said after months of planning, the event was pulled off without a hitch with well behaved crowds and a great night of football.
But it wasn’t just at Scully Park either, with visiting footy fans piling into the city’s cafes and eateries over the weekend.
“It was unprecedented,” he told The Leader.
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“It was better than I could have imagined. A lot of planning goes into it and a lot of management.
“Credit needs to be given to the team at Wests, they have done the club and the city proud, there is no doubt about that.”
Mr Laing said he’d received positive feedback from the visiting teams on the night with a perfect pitch receiving rave reviews.
He said crowd control worked well, with the grounds empty within 15 minutes after the game.
“Tamworth footy fans came out to support it,” he said.
“The Tigers were in full praise of the event.
“The praise on the ground started when they arrived, and (Tigers Coach) Ivan Cleary even made mention of it in a press conference afterwards.
“The crowds were so well behaved, the hill area where the general admission ticket holders were seated was a sea of blankets. It was great to see so many families.”
Mr Laing said Wests Entertainment Group would be in future talks with the Wests Tigers and the NRL about the possibility for future events at Scully Park.
But it wouldn’t stop with rugby league either with their sights set on other codes too.
“I think both parties are pretty keen to sit down at some point, now that the game is behind us,” he said.
“We’ll be discussing what our options are.”
“The footy fans turned out in droves. Their behaviour was just A-one and it’s encouraging us to do more events.
“We’re in discussions with the A League regarding a premiership game so we hope we can tick that box.
“We have also been in negotiations with the Waratahs in Rugby Union.
“It (Scully Park) is getting recognised very quickly.”
