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.
NCB619
Guest
Tick for you Springs. To me, they are a waste of time, unless it will actually mean something to the sport, like the one's at Wimbledon, or any on any Cricket Ground, such as the Telstra Dome (it can hold cricket matches)
KB
Guest
MC, we are talking about the world game here, the future holds no bounds for it ... What did happened in 2002 there was a FIFA World Cup somewhere I'm sure... ;)
KB
Guest
Does the Manchester City FC home ground have a running track around it now?? The old Commonwealth Games venue... Now that's proper planing for real football, four sides all permanently moved forward close to the touch line...
Michael C
Roar Guru
was there a soccer tournament? I only remember Cathy Freeman and some nightmare about boguns pushing lawnmowers......although in more recent times it's been merged with another nightmare about a goose and a dread fear of Ron Barassi drowning....... seriously though - soccer overates the value of 3 or 4 games in isolation if they really reckon that's worth a brand new stadium.....especially back in that lead up to the 2000 Olympics in the NSL era.
KB
Guest
yes 2000 it was...
Michael C
Roar Guru
I thought it was 2000......but, I can't remember pacificially..... ;-)
Aljay
Guest
"We thought we were going to get one as a legacy after the 2002 Sydney Olympics was won, but as always it was sabotaged by the oval configuration advocates" You mean like the advocates who wanted a running track for the Olympics???
Turner
Guest
Face it Punter. The world cup is nothing to so so so many Australians. It shouldn't stop us getting it though. It's no different anywhere else. As long as there is the passionate few.
KB
Guest
good for you...
Last Minute Hero
Guest
The '94 FIFA WC had games played indoors (Pontiac Silverdome, Detroit). Agree about Sydney being more likely than Melbourne to host the WC Final but I'd be just as happy with either. As long as it's in Australia ...
Springs
Guest
Understand the seats being brought closer but why the roof? The only time it wil be closed is for rain and then it will take away the weather element of Rugby League. With the amount of games played at ANZ it will be terrible to take away the wet weather aspect. There is no need for a 100 million-dollar roof
Chris
Guest
I have heard people pronounce "specifically" as "pacifically" but I have not seen it actually written down until today.
Timmypig
Guest
There is a Facebook group "ANZ Stadium is a Total Sh1thole" .... now whilst I concede that this group doesn't have many members, it's indicative of the level of disdain that many in Sydney have for the Olympic Stadium. I've basically stopped going to it, I don't think I've been there since the 2006 (?) State of Origin. I live in Sydney's north west, so it's easy to get to, but I still go to the SFS for various matches, despite that being an $80 cab fare or over an hour on public transport. A reconfiguration to make it genuinely football / rugby / rugby league friendly would go a long way to encouraging more people to go to games there. As it is, with occasional AFL & ODIs, it's neither fish nor fowl, and suffers. A stadium should be rectangular or oval. If it tries to be both it's a compromise and suits nobody. So three cheers for a football - friendly reconfiguration of the Olympic Stadium!!! Now, if we could only do something about the cultural wasteland that is Homebush Bay .....
Michael C
Roar Guru
correct - locked in until 2037.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Oh, don;t know what Gatto is going on about I think the AFL final is locked into melbourne for the next 20 plus years or something else ridiculous.
M1tch
Roar Guru
Great news, hopefully it will be like a bigger suncorp
Dom ROmeo
Guest
AFL FInal^^
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
,
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
The plan is for the ends to become moveable, like the docklands corners. Comes in for RL and Football goes out for AFL
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
If this is official FFA policy, it appears Mr.Lowy has made his choice – I guess is what we can take from this Like Brett I think this is the stadium trying to become relevant again. It's not as big as the MCG yet it's oval shape.....but the only times it sell's out are for rectangular events.