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Football Federation Australia and the National Rugby League have both applauded a proposed $150 million makeover of ANZ Stadium that would help football’s bid to host the FIFA World Cup.
A retractable and transparent roof over the stadium, changing the venue to a rectangular shape and an extra 7,000 seats are all on the cards in a draft master plan development, News Limited reported on Thursday.
A source close to the plans said the changes would attract many national and international sporting events, including the World Cup.
“We won’t get it with a venue that hasn’t changed much since the Olympics because FIFA will want a stadium that’s a monument for the world game and even bigger than the Olympics,” the source told News Limited.
“This makeover will deliver that. It will knock Melbourne out.”
The final plan and architect designs will be presented to NSW government officials and the FFA bid team that is chasing the rights to the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, News Limited reported.
A spokesperson for the FFA applauded ANZ Stadium’s desire to be involved in the World Cup by creating a showpiece stadium.
“It’s good to see that ANZ Stadium are enthusiastic about the FIFA World Cup,” the spokesperson said.
NRL chief executive David Gallop said rugby league would appreciate any stadium upgrades that come about through hosting the world’s biggest sporting event.
“We would welcome any upgrade to any stadium that we use,” said Gallop.
However the league chief still has reservations about pledging full support to Australia’s World Cup bid.
He will meet with FFA officials on Friday to discuss how hosting a World Cup would affect the NRL schedule and rugby league’s access to stadia across the country.
“Tomorrow’s meeting with the FFA is more about learning what is proposed in terms of disruption to our season,” he added.
A spokesperson for ANZ Stadium did not immediately return AAP phone calls.
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