GWS Showgrounds upgrade another box ticked by AFL
Columnist By Ben Somerford, 9 Jun 2010 Ben Somerford is a Roar Expert
- Tagged:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, Greater West Sydney, Sydney Showgrounds
277 Have your say
GWS coach Kevin Sheedy addresses players (L-R) Josh Bruce, Tom Kickett and Adam Flagg before a training session at Blacktown Olympic Park, Rooty Hill, NSW.
The home venue of Team GWS has been a bit of an unanswered question for some time now, but yesterday’s announcement of the move to a re-developed Sydney Showgrounds is a suitable solution from the AFL.
Yesterday the AFL, the NSW state government and Team GWS announced a $60m re-development of the Sydney Showgrounds which would become the new franchise’s home ground when they enter the competition in 2012. There’d been some expectancy about the announcement, but now it is official.
The NSW government will provide the majority of the funding for the project with $45m, while the AFL has committed $10m along with a further $5m from the Royal Agricultural Society.
As a result of the re-development the venue’s capacity will increase from 15,000 to around 30,000. So it’s a significant deal for the AFL, who had few other suitable options to house their Greater Western Sydney club.
Indeed, the AFL have been reluctant to use ANZ Stadium, next door to the Showgrounds, due to its 81,500 capacity which isn’t really ideal for their initial attendance targets in West Sydney of 15,000 to 17,000.
It’s fair to say if the AFL had agreed to see GWS play their home games at ANZ, it would’ve been a bad look and bad for publicity with the majority of the stadium empty. The atmosphere inside the stadium would’ve been awful too.
Also the Blacktown complex was never an option for regular season footy, with its limited seating not ideal for an AFL club trying to attract members.
The AFL may be investing around $200m into their Greater Western Sydney project, but they couldn’t afford to start from scratch with a stadium.
So there’s no doubt the AFL had found itself between a rock and a hard place for sometime finding an ideal home for Team GWS, especially considering former NSW premier Nathan Rees rejected the idea of committing $45m to a Showground upgrade nine months ago, when he said: “We’re not about to give that sort of money to the AFL for a stadium next to an existing stadium. I’d much rather spend the money on hospitals and schools.”
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the proposal also faced opposition from the NRL.
Of course, though, Rees no longer holds his post and the AFL have somehow since convinced the new NSW government to do what he wouldn’t.
And while I don’t profess to know the politics behind the AFL’s manouvering here, it appears they’ve been opportunistic.
Full credit to them for that, though, because the move into a smallish, boutique stadium with lower operating costs which is suited for their expected audience makes sense. There will be those saying Homebush isn’t West Sydney and perhaps that’s worth discussing.
Nevertheless, the AFL’s $10m contribution combined by the fact they say the venue will be used by other sports including cricket, rugby league, rugby union and soccer must have been part of the sell.
The AFL have also been fair in investing in arrangements involving the NSW government and Sydney venues in the past, so that would’ve helped seal the deal.
And it’s a good deal which represents a relatively small portion of the AFL’s $200m investment into Greater Western Sydney so it’s good business.
The AFL have found a good solution here and it’s a deal which makes sense. There’s no doubt it’s another hurdle averted by the AFL and another move forward for Aussie Rules into Greater Western Sydney.
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- Explore:
- AFL, Andrew Demetriou, Greater West Sydney, Sydney Showgrounds
June 9th 2010 @ 9:48am
Ziggy the God said | June 9th 2010 @ 9:48am | Report comment
The AFL has been looked after in NSW…………SCG upgraded, new Blacktown facility, upgraded Showgrounds.
Note: Bubbledome is to be used by 3 codes, not just the NRL.
The Showgrounds will be upgraded for 9 games a year, for one code only.
What a waste of money when there is a Stadium perfect for AFL next door.
No surprise that this is coming from the most inept Government in Australia’s history.
June 9th 2010 @ 9:57am
Joel said | June 9th 2010 @ 9:57am | Report comment
I guess you didn’t read the article then? Cricket, rugby league, rugby union and soccer as well as the royal show will benefit. Of course, rugby league obviously doesn’t want to use modern facilities and would rather stick with grass hills, so we can scratch them.
June 9th 2010 @ 9:59am
Al said | June 9th 2010 @ 9:59am | Report comment
rugby league, rugby union and soccer will “benefit”, yes because those three codes are perfectly suited for an AFL sized ground.
June 9th 2010 @ 10:09am
Joel said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:09am | Report comment
Cool, so you must be happy then.
June 9th 2010 @ 10:34am
Al said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:34am | Report comment
Will be happier once the Tom Wills abomination is sent packing back to Melbourne.
June 9th 2010 @ 10:55am
Joel said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:55am | Report comment
Why would you deport a New South Welshman to Victoria?
June 10th 2010 @ 3:37pm
Dave1 said | June 10th 2010 @ 3:37pm | Report comment
That isn’t going to happen
June 9th 2010 @ 11:12am
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:12am | Report comment
What is the relevance of the AFL size ground? Are they unable to play rugby or soccer at Etihad?
June 9th 2010 @ 11:21am
Jay said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:21am | Report comment
Are they unable to play AFL at ANZ Stadium?
June 9th 2010 @ 11:27am
Joel said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:27am | Report comment
I tell you what, the NRL can pay back the hundreds of millions spent on stadium development in Victoria and the AFL can cough up another $35 million for the showgrounds. Is that fair?
June 9th 2010 @ 11:28am
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:28am | Report comment
They can play AFL at ANZ, but they can also play rugby and soccer at Etihad.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:27pm
The Link said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:27pm | Report comment
ANZ is far superior ground for AFL than Ethiad is for Football / Rugby codes
June 9th 2010 @ 2:08pm
Dogs Of War said | June 9th 2010 @ 2:08pm | Report comment
Etihad stadium has the same problems as ANZ. You are too far away from the action. Now codes need the money to fund themselves, which is why they put up with a stadium like Etihad. If AAMI had been built to say 40-50K size, I guarantee that Etihad stadium would not be used by Soccer or the Rugby codes EVER!
June 9th 2010 @ 5:10pm
JamesP said | June 9th 2010 @ 5:10pm | Report comment
“If AAMI had been built to say 40-50K size, I guarantee that Etihad stadium would not be used by Soccer or the Rugby codes EVER!”
Obviously…AAMI Park 50k….Etihad 52k…der
June 9th 2010 @ 9:58am
Mals said | June 9th 2010 @ 9:58am | Report comment
Excellent after the Showground upgrade is complete the NSW govt can demolish the Olympic stadium & start again.
Make it a proper rectangle pitch with steep stands to rival the likes of Wembley stadium, Millenium stadium etc.
June 9th 2010 @ 10:02am
Jiggles said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:02am | Report comment
Suncorp is clearly the best Rectangle stadium in Australia, and better then millenium and wembley in the UK.
I think it is just the right size to be honest
June 9th 2010 @ 11:08am
Mals said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:08am | Report comment
Personal opinion Jiggles. In my opinion I rate Millenium the best of the 3 you mention.
June 9th 2010 @ 11:32am
Justin said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:32am | Report comment
Suncorp is superior to Cardiff in all but size..
June 9th 2010 @ 11:39am
Jiggles said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:39am | Report comment
Too True Mals,
Like all things on this site its personal opinion. I witnessed the wallabies draw with Wales 28 all a few years back at millenium, and while the atmosphere is great (80 odd thousand singing welsh is pretty amazing) I felt the stadium was a bit far back from the pitch.from where I was it was a bit like watching ants running around.
I noticed that the seats start about 5m from the sidelines, as opposed to suncorp which start about 2m from the sidelines, however you cannot fault the steep stands of either stadium. I guees its just the scale of millenium which makes the viewing not as good from the noosebleeds.
oh and by the way, when suncorp is packed full of 55,000 Queenslanders roaring for cockroach blood its a pretty good atmosphere also!
June 9th 2010 @ 10:26am
st penguin said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:26am | Report comment
Jiggles,
I went to Suncorp for the first time last year. Have to agree it’s probably the best stadium i’ve ever been to. Similar to millenium with all the bars right on its footstep.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:56pm
danwighton said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:56pm | Report comment
The main reason for the strong broncos and reds crowds – not quite sure about the Roar though….If there was a Suncorp quality stadium in Sydney (cmon Frank Lowy!), Sydney League crowds would have similar numbers to Brisbane.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:47pm
Jiggles said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:47pm | Report comment
Danwighton,
Roar only gets about 8000 I think, not to sure about that figure but as I have never been to a roar game. last year and in the “bad days” for the reds, some games only got 12,000 if that.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:52pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:52pm | Report comment
What is wrong with the SFS? Holds 40K+
League rarely fills it for an NRL game.
June 9th 2010 @ 10:39am
Harvey the Scouser said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:39am | Report comment
will they still do sheep dog trials and parade horses and cows during the show?
June 9th 2010 @ 10:39am
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 10:39am | Report comment
Comparing arguments is interesting when justifying the building of a new stadium.
Etihad is perfectly fine for the rectangular codes. I hear the spectator experience for rectangular games is lessened at Etihad, I hear the same about ANZ. What is the difference ?
The $300M investment by the Victorian Government dwarfs the $45M by the NSW Govt.
The new rectangular stadium was built for two existing teams and two future teams. However, initially Melb Victory did not want to be a part of it and in fact will still play most of their big games at Etihad!
There are serious questions about the viability of the Melb Heart given there is no point of difference to Melb Victory and serious questions about the ongoing viability of the Melb Storm who are propped up by News Ltd.
Due to Melbourne’s population growth, public transport, hospitals, road, schools are stretched. That $300M would go a long to improving infrastructure in Victoria than building a stadium so that fans of the rectangle codes (the minority in Victoria) can have a better spectator experience.
Is it that simple?
June 9th 2010 @ 11:35am
Paul J said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:35am | Report comment
Red B
If it is true that Melbourne did not have a decent modern staduim for rectangle field sports until they built the new one, they would have been the only city on planet earth that did not have one, which is astounding really.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:03pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:03pm | Report comment
Like that is an important box to tick in itself.
I like the stadium, have no problem with it, understand the need for it. Just don’t accept that the spectator experience is only important for the rectangular codes.
I would also add that the Melbourne sporting precinct has few peers in the world.
June 9th 2010 @ 8:37pm
D Gallop said | June 9th 2010 @ 8:37pm | Report comment
I agree wholeheartedly that the spectator experience is just as important in AFL as it is to the football codes however, it is the very nature of the sport of AFL itself which ensures that the spectator is deprived of any real experience.
June 9th 2010 @ 9:05pm
bilbo said | June 9th 2010 @ 9:05pm | Report comment
Is that really you, David?
June 9th 2010 @ 9:29pm
zach said | June 9th 2010 @ 9:29pm | Report comment
Monorail!
June 9th 2010 @ 11:37am
Justin said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:37am | Report comment
Red – I have to pull you up here.
Etihad is crap for soccer and rugby. You are miles from the ground. Give me Suncorp any day.
Also on points of difference what about all the Melbourne AFL clubs? What’s their POD?
June 9th 2010 @ 11:54am
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:54am | Report comment
Surprised you dont know the POD with Melb AFL clubs – suburbs /clubs with 100-120 years of history have built up a point of difference.
ANZ as a 80,000 seat stadium is not suitable for a start up franchise team to use as their own home ground. The MCG is not sutiable for Melb and Rich as their home ground for interstate games either, it is way too big.
The issues rugby/soccer folk have with Etihad is from a spectator experience perspective nothing else. That is ultimately no different than the Showgrounds being more suitable for the spectator experience of a start up club like GWS.
Both rob the spectator of a good atmosphere and experience.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:04pm
Art Sapphire said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
redb – 3 codes will play at least 45 home club games at AAMI Park next year.
Etihad already has the worst surface in Australia. The last thing it needs is more games to be played on it. Especially, football.
Yes, Melbourne Victory will play 5 home games next season at Etihad and the fans are not happy about it because they are sick and tired of going to an unsuitable stadium. They made a terrible business decision.
Lastly, I would not cast doubt on the viability of second Melbourne A-League club.
A POD will be built up before you know it.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:07pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:07pm | Report comment
Art,
There is doubt, just like there is doubt about GWS.
Getting the right fit stadium is important to both Melb Heart and GWS.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:26pm
Justin said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:26pm | Report comment
In reality there is little POD Red, colours and names. I know about the history but they all have one so what’s the POD?
Pre AFL and draft there was POD but now it’s all the same and that’s not much different to any other pro sport in Australia. Your history has to start somewhere and it will for the Heart and Rebels soon.
Etihads surface is woeful for all codes. Rugby players slip and slide like they are on ice skates! So it’s not just a spectator thing (which is pretty important I might add).
June 9th 2010 @ 12:43pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:43pm | Report comment
Your hinting at the wider recruitment of players, the fans still have a major allegiance to their club which drives that POD.
It is a divergence from the subject, I have no problem with the new Melb stadium per se or the Melb heart.
The surface at Etihad is also irrelevant to this argument.
We are talking about the importance of the spectator experience.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:38pm
danwighton said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:38pm | Report comment
The difference is that Melbourne didnt have a good quality venue for watching rectangularly configured sports….they now do, and it will service four teams (Rebels, Victory, Heart, Storm) and numerous national and international events (Socceroos matches, Australian Union and League Test matches, possibly origin).
Sydney already has two oval stadiums of very good quality – ANZ is a good quality stadium with great facilities, it just isnt any good for watching rectangular sports. Blacktown oval will not be used for Union, Soccer, League or Cricket – just AFL…thats why the $45m seems like a waste of money to everyone except AFL supporters, and the NSW Government..
June 9th 2010 @ 12:50pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Hit the nail on the head, it is only AFL supporters who can appreciate it.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:52pm
danwighton said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:52pm | Report comment
Just like the game itself…
June 9th 2010 @ 12:59pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:59pm | Report comment
At least were getting down to the nitty gritty Dan.
You would oppose it no matter what.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:05pm
danwighton said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:05pm | Report comment
Most accurate thing you have said all day!
No, but seriously, would you not object to an upgrade to Olympic park to bring it to 20,000 capacity with good facilities that cost $45m just because the Government thought it was important for the Heart to have a home ground?
June 9th 2010 @ 1:28pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:28pm | Report comment
Dan,
Please explain to me again just how much the FFA are putting into any venues in Melbourne? or how much they are spending on their game in Victoria.
Collingwood alone sends 10,000 of the black and white army to Sydney, the A League is not is the same stratosphere as the AFL in terms of the ‘economy’ it brings with the game.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:37pm
danwighton said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:37pm | Report comment
See – of course you would not support it – and that’s my point about Blacktown.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:43pm
Norm said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:43pm | Report comment
-”Collingwood alone sends 10,000 of the black and white army”…ah yes hyperbole & overstatement tools of the spin doctor.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:55pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:55pm | Report comment
What point about Blacktown? ,this is about the Showgrouds redevelopment. Changing the goal posts are we?
OK, Blacktown was meant as a training venue and admin base for GWS, plus is used for junior champs, cricket venue, etc.
It was never intended to be a playing venue for GWS. That was never part of the plan.
June 9th 2010 @ 5:22pm
JamesP said | June 9th 2010 @ 5:22pm | Report comment
“-”Collingwood alone sends 10,000 of the black and white army”…ah yes hyperbole & overstatement tools of the spin doctor.”
Next time you whatch a Collingwood v any Interstate team outside of Victoria, have a look at the number of black and white shirts, scarves etc…and you will see that is a very realistic figure.
June 9th 2010 @ 5:58pm
Norm said | June 9th 2010 @ 5:58pm | Report comment
Sure James and I can take your word for it!
June 9th 2010 @ 12:53pm
Paul J said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:53pm | Report comment
Exactly right Dan.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:54pm
The Link said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:54pm | Report comment
chalk and cheese.
Melbourne stadium meets the needs of at least 3 codes, with at least Football being an entrenched part of the Melbourne sporting fabric
Homebush showground meeting the need of 1 code and a side no-one asked for.
June 9th 2010 @ 1:04pm
JF said | June 9th 2010 @ 1:04pm | Report comment
Even Nathan Rees said it was a waste of money.
June 9th 2010 @ 11:04am
Billo Boy said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:04am | Report comment
It’s also no secret that the AFL will abandon the Showground IF its IWS team becomes the crowd success it hopes.
So ultimately it is all a waste of money either way.
If AFL fails it returns to being a white elephant.
If AFL suceeds it returns to being a white elephant.
The team’s name should be the Inner Western Sydney White Elephants.
June 9th 2010 @ 11:06am
rugbyfuture said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:06am | Report comment
i do not agree with the funding support from the nsw government for this, they already anwered their call with blacktown, which everyone knew wouldn’t be viable. i also disagree with any of the 45 mil paid to league too, its great for afl (however it is only at the head of western sydney, not central) and will give another venue, but niether codes should be proud of attracting the funding of an incompetent state government, which is falling to bits.
June 9th 2010 @ 11:45am
Brett McKay said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:45am | Report comment
I’m just going to ask the unasked question here..
When GWS move into the Showgrounds from 2012, what will happen to the, um … SHOW??
June 9th 2010 @ 11:49am
Jiggles said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:49am | Report comment
sheep dog trails in stadium Australia?
June 9th 2010 @ 11:53am
Simmo said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:53am | Report comment
the show will go on. It’s the AFL that will move out for a few weeks, like the bulldogs did when they were tenants there.
June 9th 2010 @ 11:55am
Brett McKay said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:55am | Report comment
pity the first player tackled after the cattle parade…
June 9th 2010 @ 12:02pm
Farqwar said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:02pm | Report comment
” It’s the AFL that will move out for a few weeks, like the bulldogs did when they were tenants there”
By my maths that will require at least $100million in annual compensation to the AFL, can the NSW tax payers afford this?
June 9th 2010 @ 12:50pm
Ben said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:50pm | Report comment
Either that or they’ll have the write-off the whole AFL season . . .
June 9th 2010 @ 12:55pm
Farqwar said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:55pm | Report comment
If they have to cancel their entire season every year, the figures could be astronomical!
June 9th 2010 @ 11:57am
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 11:57am | Report comment
Royal Ag society has put in $5M, I’m sure that means they beleive something is in it for them.
June 9th 2010 @ 12:09pm
Brett McKay said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:09pm | Report comment
I’m tempted to say something about glossy brochures and Tim Shaw, Redb, but you’d like to hope they’ve been looked after appropriately…
June 9th 2010 @ 12:12pm
Redb said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:12pm | Report comment
all of out steak knives, sorry
June 9th 2010 @ 12:04pm
gazz said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:04pm | Report comment
Yep tick
June 9th 2010 @ 12:21pm
JF said | June 9th 2010 @ 12:21pm | Report comment
Why does ANZ still have to be an oval configuration if no AFL is to played on it? The ground should be modified to move all the seating closer for RL/RU/Soccer. The odd AFL and T20 game does not justify compromising the spectator experience for the rectangular codes.
June 10th 2010 @ 9:50am
Baz35 said | June 10th 2010 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Um, cos the AFL paid for it to be. More people have been to australian football games (1.4 million at an average of 45,000) than soccer games since it was reconfigured – by some distance