Three new Sydney sports arenas -- including an A$800M ($587M), 55,000-seat venue to replace Moore Park’s Allianz stadium -- "would be built under the findings of a confidential government report," according to John Lehmann of the Sydney DAILY TELEGRAPH.
A new A$150M indoor arena for tennis, basketball and netball "is also recommended for construction near Sydney’s CBD," along with a A$300M, 30,000-seat venue at Parramatta "to replace Pirtek Stadium."
The report, written by former New South Wales Liberal leader John Brogden for the Baird government, outlines a A$1.85B ($1.4B) Sydney stadium plan "to be implemented over more than a decade." The report, expected to be considered by NSW Premier Mike Baird’s Cabinet within the next month, "calls on sporting codes" such as the National Rugby League and Football Federation Australia "to help fund the Sydney stadium upgrades." Baird "has been focused on limiting stadium expenditure" to A$600M ($440M) but well-placed sources said that the state government "was now exploring how further funds could be raised." One source said, "If you only spend A$600 million you’re just sprinkling around a bit of fairy dust -- you won’t be building the world-class stadiums Sydney needs to compete with Melbourne and other cities." Brogden also suggested the government "sell off surplus land at Sydney Olympic Park," which could raise about A$50M ($37M).
He also said that a super trust "should be set up to manage the stadium network and borrow monies needed to help fund construction" (DAILY TELEGRAPH, 8/18).
