Wests Tigers has signed a new three-year deal with the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust.

The deal sees four marquee games to be played at the Sydney Football Stadium and Sydney Cricket Ground until the end of the 2013 season.

Wests Tigers were already locked in with the SCG Trust for 2010. Last week, Wests Tigers and the SCG Trust re-negotiated a new deal that sees the club playing four home matches each at Campbelltown Stadium and Leichhardt Oval next season.

The agreement follows Wests Tigers highly successful debut home season at the SFS and SCG in 2009 where the average attendance was almost 21,000 fans.

In 2009, Wests Tigers broke its home crowd record when 29,970 fans attended the clash with South Sydney at the SCG in May.

This record was later smashed when 34,272 fans, strongly decked out in their gold, black and white colours, watched the thrilling encounter with Parramatta at the SFS in August.

Wests Tigers Chief Executive Stephen Humphreys said the three annual games at the SFS and the fourth fixture at the SCG were important to the club and its fans.

“Playing at major venues like the SFS and SCG is an aspect of our business we clearly need to retain,” said Mr Humphreys.

“We feel it is important to settle into a permanent home ground for these four marquee games. It gives us stability.

“The SCG match against Souths has become one of the real blockbusters on the rugby league calendar and has its own identity now. The match has attracted crowds of around 30,000 each over the past two seasons.

“We were very pleased with the SFS experience this season and were happy to extend for a further three years rather than open up to potential offers to keep moving around.

“The feedback from the players and the coaching staff was that the SFS was a great venue to play out of.

“Playing three marquee matches at the SFS gives Wests Tigers the maximum opportunity to allow all fans to be able to watch the games in comfort at one of Sydney’s premier sporting venues.’’

SCG Trust Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley, said the Trust was delighted to extend Wests Tigers partnership. The new agreement with Wests Tigers further increases the Trust’s strong rugby league association which also includes Sydney Roosters home games, NRL finals series fixtures and Australian Kangaroo internationals.

“Wests Tigers play an attractive, attacking style of rugby league which excites NRL fans,” said Mr Barkley.

“Fans love to see Wests Tigers in action at our venues and this was clearly evidenced by the record home crowds they drew to the SCG and SFS in the 2009 season.

“Fans can now enjoy watching Wests Tigers at Sydney’s number one NRL venue, the SFS, plus at rugby league’s traditional home, the SCG,” added Mr Barkley.

“We are happy to partner and assist Wests Tigers play games at Campbelltown and Leichhardt in 2010 and look forward to working with the club over the next four years.

“Wests Tigers’ four annual games at the SFS and SCG will be their four marquee games of each season, and this concept is an initiative which excites Wests Tigers and NRL fans.

“These four games will clearly appeal to the wider rugby league fan base and stand out as the match of the round.”