WAGGA has done all it can to sell itself as the long term home of the Junior State Cup Southern Conference.
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But a minority of accommodation houses who have been intent on taking advantage by dramatically hiking prices, rather than taking a long term view of the economic boost the event provides, remains the "Achilles heel' as council looks to renew hosting rights.
NSW Touch Association general manager Dean Russell said the weekend's third and final instalment of the current deal to hold the event at Jubilee Park, which attracts over 10,000 people, had gone off without a hitch.
COVID restrictions meant teams played games back-to-back, before being asked to leave the premises to make way for other teams.
NSW Touch Association general manager Dean Russell said the venue set up was ideal, but the accommodation issues remains a fly in the ointment.
A decision on the venue going forward is expected sometime before June.
"The way the venue sets up is near perfect. The fields are immaculate which works in its favour, and it's a fairly centralised venue and easy to get to," he said.
"The one thing which probably is the Achilles heel for Canberra is the accommodation, both the numbers of beds and there have been some taking advantage of our members.
"It hasn't gone down too well with our members or us as an organisation either. I don't think anyone would begrudge a motelier making a little bit of money, but there has been examples where (price gouging) is obscene.
"(Wagga) council are really disappointed in it and the correspondence I've seen that's been sent to them by the mayor has been very strongly worded.
"We've been in Port Macquarie (for the northern conference) for 32 years, and the reason is the because the community works with us."
Russell said teams playing in sections was well received, allowing teams to leave the venue if they wish for an extended period and spend more money at businesses in the city, and it may be retained for future years.
He added Wagga's experience in organising the event was another tick in its favour.
"I'll be interested to see the economic impact, because my view is it will be higher than normal," he said.
"Someone might come to the fields under the old format and spend $20. The likelihood is they're going into town spending $50 a day.
"I've had people tell me over the course of the event that they love the venue, and they want it to stay here."
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