The Olympic Stadium and the Sydney Football Stadium, which is commercially known as Allianz Stadium, will be demolished and rebuilt in a A$2B ($1.52B) overhaul approved by the NSW Cabinet, "despite fierce opposition" from members of the Australian government and other political stakeholders, according to Macmillan & Gerathy of the ABC. Work at the SFS site at Moore Park is "expected to start next year," followed by the Homebush Olympic Stadium in '19. Senior government sources described Thursday's Cabinet meeting as "robust," with some ministers, "frustrated" at the length of time it had taken to reach a decision, "expressing concerns the handling of the issue had been damaging." It is understood some also raised concerns about the A$2.3B ($1.75B) price tag, up from former Premier Mike Baird's original estimate of A$1.6B ($1.2B). The package also includes the cost of rebuilding Parramatta Stadium. The rebuilt SFS's capacity is expected to be 45,000, "while the Olympic stadium will hold between 75,000 and 80,000 people." Opposition Leader Luke Foley supported the rebuilding of the Olympic Stadium but said that the work at Moore Park was a "waste of money." He said, "I've always said west before east because that's where the people are. They will spend hundreds of millions of dollars on a white elephant, on a stadium that won't host grand finals, State of Origins, Bledisloe Cups or the biggest Socceroos qualifiers. Why are we doing this? Is the Waratahs vs the Bulls in Super Rugby going to get 45,000 people? They struggle to get 10,000" (ABC, 11/24). REUTERS' Nick Mulvenney reported the Olympic Stadium was built as the main venue for the 2000 Summer Games in the "populous west of the city," while the 44,000-capacity SFS was constructed in '88 in the "wealthier east." The move to redevelop both stadiums has been "heavily criticized" by Sydney Mayor Clover Moore, who accused the local government of "blowing out the budget to pander to the influential Sydney Cricket Ground Trust," which owns the SFS. The new SFS will have two modes, a 30,000-seat "club" layout with a screen masking the top tier of seats as well as a layout in which the seats would be removed to allow 15,000 more fans to "watch marquee football and rugby matches." Rugby Australia CEO Bill Pulver said that with a 30,000-seat stadium already under construction in Parramatta, "two more state-of-the-art venues would only improve the country’s chances of attracting major international events" (REUTERS, 11/23). The ABC's Jade Macmillan also reported regarding whether the new Olympic Stadium will have a retractable roof, NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said that the government "still needed to assess whether it would stack up financially." The package includes a deal to keep the National Rugby League grand final in NSW for the next 25 years. In '20, when both stadiums are under construction, the event will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground instead. In '21 and '22 it will be played at the SFS before returning to the Olympic Stadium in '23. NRL CEO Todd Greenberg "welcomed the announcement," saying that it was a "momentous day" for players and fans. The plan has also been "applauded" by Rugby Australia, Football Federation Australia and Cricket NSW (ABC, 11/24).
'PREFERRED DESTINATION': NINE NEWS' Sean Thompson reported NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said, "We want the world's biggest sporting clubs and artists to choose NSW as their preferred destination to showcase their events." NRL side Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said that the new stadium configuration of Allianz would provide an "unparalleled matchday experience." A-League side Sydney FC Chair Scott Barlow said, "We live in one of the greatest cities in the world and it is vital we have the sporting infrastructure to match" (NINE NEWS, 11/24).
SAFE STANDING: In Sydney, Dominic Bossi reported Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend said that the club will have a "major say" on the design of the new stadium to be built on the existing site of Allianz Stadium and will put forward its "active supporter group's request for modern terrace-style seats in the Paddington end of the ground." The firm that designed the new White Hart Lane and Emirates Stadium in London is "understood to be behind the new stadium in Moore Park" and will begin consultation with the Sky Blues about the club's "requirements for a new home." The team wants the wishes of its members to be "factored in to any design" for a new home ground. Townsend: "The first group we will engage with is The Cove. We want to design a purpose-built area for The Cove and we're definitely pushing for safe-standing" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 11/24).
