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How other codes can survive the World Cup

chief — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 15:30:39 +0000

Australia celebrate their win over Uzbekistan in their World Cup Asian Qualifying match in Sydney, Wednesday, April 1, 2009. Australia defeated Uzbekistan 2-0. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)

If the FIFA World Cup comes to Australia during 2018 or 2022, the four football codes could be in for a big dispute, with each other, with FIFA and with the government.

As with every controversy, not everyone comes out pleased.

But here could be a possible solution to keep a few parties happy during the World Cup.

The 12 Stadiums that could probably be used for the FIFA World Cup are:
- Adelaide Oval
- ANZ Stadium
- Canberra Stadium
- Cararra Stadium (Gold Coast)
- Central Cost Stadium (Gosford)
- Dairy Farmers Stadium
- Energy Australia Stadium
- Melbourne Cricket Ground
- Melbourne Rectangular Stadium
- New Perth Stadium
- Suncorp Stadium
- Sydney Football Stadium

Of course, for the FIFA World Cup, all the venues would need to be upgraded. Every one of them. A very severe upgrade, as well.

You will notice Ethiad Stadium has been left out. This is due to the AFL desperately needing a fairly big venue to play at.

FIFA regulations are very strict. They do not allow for the stadiums to be used during the World Cup. Melbourne would need to sacrifice that stadium to please the AFL loving population, which crowds the Melbourne area.

Midweek games during the NRL, AFL, Super 15, would all have to be explored to ensure that the major stadiums are being shared. Who knows? The 500,000 plus people who come to visit Australia might decide to check a game or two out during the week.

NRL teams in NSW will have to revert to other venues.

The SCG is a certainty, Sydney Showgrounds is an alternative venue, Belmore Stadium, Concord Oval … These stadiums too would have to undergo an upgrade to ensure that the needs of the fans are met.

For example, temporary seating, and more staff on hand to scan the tickers, and temporary food and drink outlets. As well as lighting.

It is not ideal, but it is how it needs to be done for about eight weeks.

NRL teams in Queensland will be allowed a slightly better deal.

North QLD Cowboys could play at a re-developed Stockland Park at the Sunshine Coast for a few matches. This would need to be developed into a stadium to cater for about 20,000. This upgrade is already on the cards for the next ten years.

Gold Coast Titans would not be affected in all of this, because Skilled Park would not be used for the World Cup. The Brisbane Broncos have really three alternatives: that is to play their games at QSAC (former ANZ Stadium) or to play games at Ballymore or possibly the Gabba.

For AFL, Ethiad Stadium would need to be made available, as well as taking the game to places like Geelong (Skilled Stadium). A lot of games would have to be held at Docklands.

If FIFA were to take Ethiad, the AFL would be very hard to go ahead.

The new Super 15 competition is set to be going until July.

This competition couldn’t be shortened due to the Rugby World Cup the next year and its International status. Games in Melbourne, NSW, Queensland, and possibly ACT would be affected by this quite severely.

If the MRS was to be selected, there would be very big problems.

Melbourne have no real alternatives, as Ethiad would be solely based for AFL games as they desperately need the ground.

Melbourne has no other stadium that would cater for the Rebels.

Sydney Football Stadium could not be used, so one would think the possibility of Concord Oval or the SCG would be explored. Concord is ideal for rugby, but lacks the facilities, while the SCG is round in shape and doesn’t provide the best view for the fans.

Queensland has Ballymore, but the stadium is dying a slow death, thanks to the Queensland Government.

An immediate upgrade to cater for this would certainly be needed as the Broncos could possibly play there as well as the Reds.

It is only about a ten minute drive away from Suncorp Stadium.

The stadium would probably need about 15,000 seats or even the more if they wanted to have the possibility of hosting a State of Origin match.

If Canberra were to receive hosting status, Manuka Oval would be explored. However, it is far from being fit to host a Super 15 rugby game.

Viking Oval would also be an option, with temporary seating, and lighting a priority.

State of Origin would have to explore a few options: delaying it a few weeks to go for the traditional rotating system of one game in Sydney, and one in Brisbane. Move one game overseas to say New Zealand, one game in Melbourne at Eithiad, and one game in Brisbane or Sydney.

Sydney and Brisbane missing out on a game is rubbish, I agree.

But with SFS, and ANZ Stadium, and Suncorp being only available to the World Cup, only it makes it incredibly difficult to fit the schedule.

The Gabba could potentially hold it, but its lack of capacity and its oval shape makes it difficult.

The Wallabies mid-year tests which are played annually would have to be moved overseas. You could not, for example, play a team like France at Skilled Park. It couldn’t be given the go ahead, because so much more money is to be made overseas for that game.

I think what the FFA needs to acknowledge, as well as the Government, is that they cannot put our sporting codes out of business for the eight weeks while the FIFA World Cup is occurring.

Answers need to be sought immediately, because a lot of codes could be left out to dry while the FFA becomes premier.

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