The pizza shop owner who saved Cronulla's home ground has backed calls for a government-funded upgrade, believing a growing supporter base desperately needs an bigger venue.
The Sharks are keen to expand the capacity of Southern Cross Group Stadium and are hopeful of gaining the government funding required to help make it happen. North Queensland captain Johnathan Thurston used last year's grand final presentation speech to demand a new stadium in Townsville and the Sharks are planning to do likewise should they win their maiden premiership on Sunday.
However, had it not been for Paul Ellams, they would have no home ground at all. Ellams – the owner of Al's Pizza, Pasta and Ribs on The Kingsway – stepped in when the club was on the brink of financial collapse in 2014. With the Sharks reeling from the ASADA scandal, Ellams stepped in with a $3.5 million cash injection just as St George bank were set to foreclose. The local business identity believes the decision has been more than vindicated by Cronulla's march towards a grand final, but believes the Southern Cross Group Stadium now needs government assistance to give a growing fan base the home they deserve.
"It would be magnificent if they chip in," Ellams said.
"Everyone loves Shark Park. They may call it Remondis or [Southern Cross Group Stadium] but it's still Shark Park to me. That's the way it's always going to be. If that ground went you'd love the Shire and the Sharks. If you get around the Shire and ask those who support the Sharks, they would say exactly what I'm saying.
"If you can pack 22-23,000 at Shark Park every game, that's beautiful. You get the same amount at ANZ Stadium and you don't know where anybody is.
"Everyone knows the Sharks can win home games, no one wants to play us here. The atmosphere at Shark Park is mind blowing, it's a lot of fun."
The state government is investing $1.6 billion in the upgrade or redevelopment of ANZ, Allianz and Parramatta Stadiums, raising fresh questions about the long-term feasibility of ageing suburban grounds. The Sharks are in the unique position of owning their own venue and will be seeking a slice of the $40 million on offer from the state government for the creation of centres of excellence.
Cronulla officials have sold all of their ticketed memberships and hope that an expansion of their home ground capacity to 25,000 will provide an opportunity for more fans to experience rugby league in the region.
Ellams praised the work of Cronulla CEO Lyall Gorman and the board but never envisaged such a quick turnaround at the club when he first stumped up the cash.
"The first year was a bit of a downfall with the drugs and ASADA, but this year has been really good," he said. "I thought we would get [to a grand final] sooner or later but I didn't think it would be that soon."
Gorman said it was his goal to establish a centre of excellence and a stadium upgrade within five years. "It will never be a 35,000-seat stadium out here," Gorman said.
"But if we can get it up to 25,000 with more reserved seats, and better facilities around infrastructure, food and beverage outlets, better facilities for the fans and a centre of excellence inside the venue, we could get to that point with a five-year plan," Gorman said.
