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BATHURST Regional Council is bracing to take a major hit on the second year of its five-year deal to bring NRL action to the city. Just 850 tickets have been sold so far ahead of next weekend’s clash between the Penrith Panthers and Gold Coast Titans at Carrington Park. City treasurer Bob Roach admitted yesterday sales were tracking well below last July’s clash between the Panthers and Cronulla Sharks and council was not expecting to match last year’s attendance of 8824. But he said there were a number of factors affecting this year’s sales, including the much earlier timing of the match. “I think the biggest problem is most people are still talking cricket and the rugby league season has not kicked off yet,” he said. “Last year we were 22 rounds into the competition when Bathurst hosted a match and everyone was talking footy.” Mr Roach said off-field dramas at the Titans – where five players have been stood down after being charged with the supply of cocaine – could also be having an impact on ticket sales with the prospect of an under-strength team taking the field next weekend. Council sets the prices for the NRL tickets and receives the income from ticket sales, but Mr Roach admitted they would have to sell “a lot” to cover the costs of bringing the match to town. While no figure has yet been confirmed by council, the Western Advocate understands ratepayers are forking out at least $200,000 a year to Penrith Panthers – and quite likely more. But Mr Roach said the benefits of hosting an NRL clash still outweighed the costs. “We’re certainly getting a lot out of hosting the matches and good exposure on television, and we have to remember this is a five-year deal,” he said. “When we look at the Bathurst 12-Hour that council supports, it cost us money in the first few years but it is now quite a profitable event. “It’s a similar thing here – each year it will become bigger and there are also other benefits like some of the work we’re doing up at Carrington Park. “This year we’ve fixed up the surface on the ground and replaced the seating in the grandstand, and next year we will fix up a lot of infrastructure down there like the toilets.” Tickets to the Panthers v Titans match are available from Ticketek. Grandstand seats are still available at $40 each with general admission tickets selling at $25 for adults, $10 for children and $45 for a family. Special package tickets are also available.

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