ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr "floated the option of buying Canberra Stadium off the Australian Sports Commission with the parties set to renegotiate" a A$350,000 ($265,000) lease, according to Chris Dutton of the CANBERRA TIMES. Barr also said that news the "ACT Brumbies would not be cut from Super Rugby" would see the government "progress" with a future plan to build a new stadium in Civic. However, the playing surface has emerged as a "major sticking point" between the government, the Brumbies and National Rugby League side Canberra Raiders. The government was "keen to use a fully synthetic grass and have the venue with a roof on the site of the Civic Pool." But the Brumbies and Raiders are "keen for a blended grass, which would change the orientation of the way the stadium faces." The future of the proposed A$350M ($265M) stadium was "clouded two weeks ago" when Barr said that building it was "dependent on Canberra having an A-League team." The government is "keen to ensure the venue is used all-year round," not just during the 20 weeks required for the Super Rugby and NRL seasons. Asked if the government would buy Canberra Stadium, Barr said, "I believe that can be on the table as an option. But it's not ours to acquire, it's theirs to sell. We don't own the asset. If we did own the asset it would be a different conversation" (CANBERRA TIMES, 4/13).
