National Rugby League CEO Todd Greenberg said that the game's crowd numbers in Sydney are "aligned to the quality of stadia" and is "adamant the only way they can go through the roof is with the transformation of ANZ Stadium into a world-class, purpose-built rectangular venue," according to Barrett & Pengilly of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. Greenberg was "stunned last week" after being told in a meeting with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that there was "no guarantee of a knockdown and rebuild of ANZ" as part of the government's A$1.6B ($1.27B) "stadia strategy." The NRL is "opposed to a cheaper alternative, a modification of the Sydney Olympic Park venue, which would bring the lower bowl closer to the field but leave the upper tier as is." Greenberg's desire is for a new 70,000-seat stadium on the ANZ site to accompany the 30,000-capacity venue at Parramatta due to open in '19, "with Allianz Stadium to be refurbished as well if possible." Greenberg said, "If you be fair dinkum, for two decades Sydney crowds have either been one or two percent either above or below what they currently are now. The reality is that won't change until we have a significant change in the stadiums in the city. ... If we end up having a purpose-built rectangular stadium here at Sydney Olympic Park it will be nothing short of phenomenal for fans in Sydney. It's critical for Sydney because Sydney deserves to have a purpose-built rectangular stadium that is probably world's best. That's the design that I've seen and that's the outcome we are absolutely, desperately hoping for" (SMH, 9/4).
