The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust has made a "desperate bid" to convince several Sydney National Rugby League clubs to back a proposal for a new 55,000-seat stadium at Moore Park "over a major upgrade of ANZ Stadium," according to Michael Chammas of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The SCG Trust made a presentation to representatives from the NRL, South Sydney, Canterbury Bulldogs, Sydney Roosters and Wests Tigers on Tuesday, "providing a design briefing for what a new stadium at Moore Park would look like and how it would benefit the clubs." Under the watch of former CEO Dave Smith, the NRL had previously indicated it would back the construction of an A$800M ($575M) stadium at Moore Park, and the SCG Trust is "working overtime to ensure the NRL's position doesn't change." However, since Smith's departure, Premier Mike Baird has provided the NRL with the "opportunity to consult with its clubs" before finalizing the breakdown of A$1B ($720M) between ANZ Stadium and the SCG Trust. The NRL has since "begun deliberating with the clubs, which appear to support backflipping on the initial funding proposal" in favor of remodeling ANZ Stadium (about A$800M), while giving Allianz Stadium a A$200M ($144M) facelift (SMH, 2/24).
