Three new stands and the largest big screen in Australian sport will be up and ready at the SCG for the 2014 Ashes Test against England.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard and NSW Premier Barry O’Farrell have announced a $186 million upgrade to the Bradman, Noble and Messenger stands at the iconic Sydney ground which is this week celebrating its 100th Test match.
The NSW Government will contribute $86 million and the Australian Government and Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust have pledged $50 million each.
Reconstruction work will begin in March and will be complete in time for the New Year’s Test two years from now.
Premier O’Farrell said the SCG was “looking tired” and Prime Minister Gillard said the best way to honour the ground was to preserve it for the future.
A key part of the refurbishments is to remove columns in the new seating areas so the sight line of spectators isn’t obstructed and ensuring up to 85 per cent of seating is under cover.
Plans also include the largest video screen at any Australian sports ground and provision for state-of-the-art corporate and media facilities.
A 700-person dining room, three new bar areas and secure player facilities are part of the plan and the capacity will increase from 45,000 to 48,000 spectators.
Premier O’Farrell said aspects of the SCG “don’t come up to scratch” compared to other grounds around the country.
“She is looking tired, the facilities aren’t up to scratch and $186 million will ensure this is a first class stadium once again,” he said.
“The new development will ensure spectators have fantastic facilities, while preserving the history of the Members and Ladies Stands.”
Prime Minister Gillard said the announcement was a fitting way to honour the 100th Test at the SCG, starting on Tuesday between Australia and India.
“This ground has wonderful history and we want to honour that history by making sure we preserve and also make this ground ready for the future,” she said.
“That does mean that three stands need redevelopment.”
Justin
Guest
World class or not the crowds in Sydney for sport are a f...king joke. And where did I mention Melbourne anywhere?
Seano
Guest
Why make more empty stands!!!!! Hahahahahahahah lazy Sydney siders never turn up for any sport!!!!!! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Brendon
Guest
Nice spot. At the end of the video. Only thing about baseball at the SCG is http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/more-sports/red-sox-heading-to-australia/story-e6frey6i-1225807298825 Co-Written by Rebecca Wilson so you know its crap ... and the Red Sox soon denied it. The two News Ltd geniuses who wrote it were too stupid to even look at the (at the time) already announced Red Sox 2010 calendar which had already been scheduled.
Brendon
Guest
Oh, please. How many world class sporting events doe Melbourne have? 1. The Australian Open. Motor"sports". Please. Horse racing? Oh, that mega international event the AFL grand final.
Brendon
Guest
I'll send you photos and videos if you like. I was there that day. The official attendance was around 84,500 even though all public tickets had been sold. I checked on ticketek beforehand, I saw the announcements in the paper and on TV. There was talk of a 90,000+ crowd. http://youtu.be/Jv9XoqsxmrQ There you go. You can clearly see the Great Southern Stand completely pack and then I pan around to the the MCC section in the last couple of seconds and theres clearly thousands of seats empty. If the corporate sections didn't sell out then thats a management issue. ANd the SCG could easily get more than 20,000 members to turn up if there was the facilities for that number
Jaceman
Guest
The AFL website quotes Gillon McLachlan "The AFL, who will kick in $50 million to the project to add to a $50 million guarantee from the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, and $86 million from the NSW government, praised the upgrade on Tuesday." "We wish to thank most sincerely the New South Wales and federal governments for their funding commitment to the project along with the SCG Trust," AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan said. The SCG website speaks of Major league baseball in 2014?? http://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/news/video-gallery/ The question is whether the northern goal will move northwards as the south east boundary was made larger when the SCG was upgraded in 2005?
Jaceman
Guest
The better facilities will create income - better than school halls. The $50m was from the SCG trust or the AFL - different media outlets have different views - NSW Gov $86m, Feds $50m, SCG trust or AFL $50m. The $50m from the AFL was quoted on the AFL site so maybe...
Justin
Guest
Waste of money for a few extra thousand seats in a town that seems ambivalent to world class sports events. Crowds are a laugh...
Dave, MCC Library
Guest
Actually, looking at the official attendence figures, on Boxing Day in 2010 the MCC Pavilion was just under 5000 people below the 25,000 capacity (with higher crowds in the members on days 2 & 3 (over 22,500 in the members on Day 3!). There were also 10,000 public tickets not sold out of the 75,000 corporate and public seats. Still, they attracted 84,000 on Boxing Day 2010. And for 2011 we had 70,000 on Boxing Day, a record for a day of Australia v India Test cricket in Australia - double the crowd at the SCG yesterday.
TW
Guest
The AFL has also kicked in 50 million - Not mentioned above - Also the NSW govt is to plan and build a Light Rail service from the Eastern Suburbs to the ground. This is a Cricket upgrade - The AFL Swans are a side issue who will however benefit and are talking it up for personal correctness reasons.
Chris
Guest
Farmer, I know it's fashionable to bash Sydney Airport, but there are plenty worse experiences that the International Terminal, let me tell you! Feds are putting $50m, and their state counterparts are putting in $86m. It's a lot of money no doubt, but it certainly wouldn't make much of dent in improving the airport or building a new hospital. And there are plans for improving the transport links to the ground - it's just that it's part of a bigger picture.
Chris
Guest
The problem with the O'Reilly Stand is that it was designed and built when rectangular codes of football were played on the ground - for that purpose it was great. But it's too far forward now and obstructs the view of the top level seating in the Trumper Stand. I'm a little surprised they didn't deal with this problem first and continue the Trumper Stand around the eastern side of the ground.
Brendon
Guest
The SCG will be filled for the 2014 Ashes and the 2015 world cup. The new stand will have more and better corporate features. The current corporate and dining facilities in the MA Noble stand is limited. So its just not bums on seats. Plus the members section will be expanded. Unlike the MCG the SCG members section is ALWAYS filled. For example the last Ashes boxing day test there was 10,000 members seats left unfilled even though all public tickets had been sold.
Brendon
Guest
Couldnt be any worse looking than the M.A. Noble stand currently (which is still members section). SCG looking tired according to B. O'Farrell? It was only 4 years ago that the Victor Trumper was completed though it is definitely time the Noble/Bradman and Messenger stands are revamped. The rest of the stadium is great. The Bill O'Reilly probably needs to be redone by 2020.
Farmer
Guest
Frankly , I cannot see how this funding from the public purse is justified. The SCG is hardly ever full, it is only used for tests a few times a year and home games for Swans. I am as big a sport fan as anyone but $186 million is like pouring good money down the drain. Better spent on improving the transport link to the ground or doing something about Sydney International Airpot Arrival facilities. Sydney Airport International Arrivals is Third World standard and a joke. If all else fails, spend it on hospitals.
Chris
Guest
Looks reasonable - the main issue will be how they link (visually) the new stand with the old Members Pavilion. If they can do that well then I'm all for this redevelopment. Although it does seem like a lot of money for just one stand... And while the new giant video scoreboard looks good, I'm dreading the vast amount of advertising that will surround it. The existing one (which is big enough) is dwarfed by the sponsorship signage around it. Looks cheap and tacky.