Fox Sports and Channel Nine are "lobbying for an upgrade" of Sydney's suburban grounds and Allianz Stadium ahead of ANZ Stadium because banks of empty seats on their rugby league broadcasts are a "bad look," according to Andrew Webster of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. As Sydney's "great stadium debate continues to drag on," Fox Sports CEO Patrick Delany and Nine Dir of Sport Tom Malone "approached the NSW government" and the National Rugby League with their views. While both "welcome a significant refurbishment" of ANZ Stadium into a rectangular stadium, they believe the "flat atmosphere of small crowds at the 83,000-seat venue is damaging rugby league." While the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust forecast a new stadium with a capacity of upward of 50,000 seats, Fox Sports argues one of about 30,000 "will provide greater atmosphere at the game and on TV." As it stands, ANZ Stadium is "at the front of the queue" in the state government's "increasingly uncertain" A$1.6B ($1.2B) upgrade of Sydney's sporting stadiums. Fox Sports has been "worried about the adverse effect of poor crowds on ratings at large stadiums for some time." It "saw a spike" in ratings for Monday night matches -- which were abandoned this season -- when they were played at smaller venues (SMH, 9/28).
