The New South Wales government will require two out of three Sydney National Rugby League games to be played at ANZ Stadium, Allianz Stadium or Pirtek Stadium "to justify" its A$1.6B ($1.2B) investment into the aging venues, according to Adrian Proszenko of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. The state government "is in negotiations with all major sporting franchises over content agreements to ensure that a sufficient number of games will be secured for the three stadiums undertaking major works." Pirtek Stadium at Parramatta "will be knocked down and rebuilt, as would Allianz at Moore Park, while the remaining funds will be used to give the former Olympic venue at Homebush Bay a much-needed makeover." Figures provided by Champion Data show that 51.2% of Sydney NRL games -- excluding finals matches -- between '11 and '16 "have been played at the major three venues with the remainder played at suburban grounds." Fairfax Media can "reveal that figure will need to rise to roughly two-thirds before the government commits to the major projects." NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres said, "The Premier and I made it clear that content was an important part of our stadium network. We've seen other states commit to stadiums and be well into the construction and build phase without having content agreements. We don't want to expose the NSW taxpayer to that type of risk." Based on current venue allocation figures, "about 15 games currently being played at suburban stadiums will have to move to the big three in order for the figures to stack up." That will raise "further questions about the long-term viability of ageing grounds including Leichhardt, Brookvale and Jubilee ovals." Those boutique venues "are struggling to remain of NRL standard and have no chance of procuring state government funding, which has been redirected towards the larger stadiums" (SMH, 3/12).
QUESTIONED THE WISDOM: In Sydney, Bret Harris wrote departing NSW Waratahs CEO Greg Harris has "questioned the wisdom of any plan to accommodate all of Sydney's nine NRL teams" at three rationalized venues. While Harris negotiated a 16-year deal with the SCG Trust for the Waratahs to play Super Rugby exclusively at Allianz Stadium, "he did not believe a rationalisation of venues would suit all of the Sydney NRL teams." Harris: "If you look at it from Melbourne’s perspective, they have two stadiums in the middle of town and a stadium in Geelong. The great advantage Melbourne has is its transport network. It’s a lot easier to get from A to B. If you look at Sydney, you have an east-west axis, which is Allianz, ANZ and Parramatta. The problem for us is you also have a north-south axis, which is Manly and Cronulla" (THE AUSTRALIAN, 3/14).
