Last week it was reported that the Sydney Entertainment Centre will be demolished and the Sydney Convention Centre closed for three years, as the precinct undergoes a $1 billion makeover.
When I heard the news, I immediately thought it was an amazing opportunity for the football codes in Sydney to be involved in building a state-of-the-art stadium in Darling Harbour.
Roarer ‘Whites’ posted me a link to an article in which New South Wales Premier Barry O’Farrell announced the development of an integrated exhibition and entertainment precinct in Sydney’s CBD. The fully integrated convention centre will increase the size of the existing precinct by two-thirds to 20 hectares.
Now, I’m no architect or builder, but I can’t help but think that this news indicates that there must be the potential to build a state-of-the-art football stadium in the heart of Sydney.
Surely this is an opportunity too good for the city, and its respective football teams, to pass up?
The three main sporting stadiums in Sydney are the Sydney Football Stadium and the Sydney Cricket Ground in Moore Park, and ANZ Stadium in Homebush. While the Sydney Football Stadium is in a reasonable location, the SCG has a mountain of history, and Homebush has brilliant facilities, none of these grounds tick all the boxes that paying fans rightfully demand.
The Sydney Football Stadium is out-of-date and small compared to ANZ Stadium. And while its location is fairly convenient, and it’s relatively close to a number of quality pubs, bars and restaurants, it can still be a bit of a pain getting there.
The SCG is a wonderful ground, steeped in tradition. But it’s not conducive to the rectangle shape required of rugby league, rugby union and football.
Meanwhile, ANZ Stadium’s limitations have been well documented. The stadium itself is fantastic, but it’s an absolute nightmare to get to, lacks soul and the social options available pre and post game leave a lot to be desired.
While logistics and finances would obviously need to be worked out, a state-of-the-art stadium in the heart of Sydney certainly has its merits. In fact, ‘merits’ is an understatement on par with saying Miranda Kerr is good looking.
We should encourage the powers that be to investigate the feasibility of building a stadium in Darling Harbour. The ARU, NRL and the FFA need to jump all over this. Maybe even the AFL as well.
The re-development is already in the plans, so it’s not like all the organisations will be required to dig deep into their pockets. While I’m certain some funding would be appreciated and welcomed by the state government, the organisations’ main involvement would be primarily advisory. Along with their tenancy, of course.
In looking at the pros and cons of such a decision, it becomes a no-brainer.
The main gripes from fans about Sydney’s sporting grounds are that the Sydney Football Stadium is old and lacks the ability to hold big crowds, while Homebush is difficult to get to, and not an ideal start to a night out.
A stadium in Darling Harbour completely eradicates those issues.
Additionally, I would guarantee that erecting a stadium in the heart of Sydney would generate millions and millions of revenue for the city. Business would boom for surrounding bars, pubs, restaurants, etc.
The existing plans for the re-development estimate that the project will generate an extra 3500 jobs. Including a stadium in the plans would only increase that figure.
Overall, it would be a boon for the city, its sporting teams, and fans.
Honestly, can someone please tell me why this would be a bad idea?
Tim
Guest
haven't heard of the proposed new members stand at scg, what is happening there
Poor Boy Blues
Guest
this is why is suggested a design similar to wesfallen stadion, and it be based perhaps slightly west of the city (just outside) or at darling harbour if truly convenient. The cost to build it? A measly 200-300 million dollars. 60k+ and you can alter the seating to make some of it standing, shoving in up to 80k people. The "pov" people of sydney will be able to go then. If you cannot build a stadium such as a copy of the millenium stadium, which I agree is superb, go for westefallen. When full, such a novel looking stadium will be truly imposing and atmospheric, and unlike anything else in this country.
george
Guest
it sounds good we really do need a stadium with a roof on it
sledgeross
Guest
I broke the ring on my pudding can..........
Brendan
Guest
I disagree, every bus going down Victoria rd goes past white bay. A lot more people would go past Victoria rd then on the light rail to wentworth park.
JVGO
Guest
I understand that. Wentworth Park is far better for transport than White Bay.
Brendan
Guest
I hate the 40min train ride from the city after work more than the walk to the stadium... Consolidate the clubs into one purpose built stadium designed to suit NRL, RU and soccer. Memberships are still a new thing in Sydney so if you encourage that and build a first class purpose built stadium people will attend in greater numbers. It’s not rocket science, the afl made those changes years ago and are reaping the benefits
Brendan
Guest
JVGO Wentworth park is not White bay, two totally different areas.
oikee
Guest
Yes, and this is what i was thinking, so your on the right track. Now if we could get someone to even think about this, Whites below makes a good point, but i would go further. Why is Australia so top heavy geared towards aoval grounds, when we have 3 struggling rectangle games, Soccer Rugby Union and League that cant get a decent foothold because of lousy stadiums. Look, Brisbane should be the prototype, and Sydney should build at least 2 new stadiums rectangle, no more ovals to be built in Australia, they are over represented now. Turn homebush into a museum and entetainment centre, and build a new stadium where they were going to put the new convention centre. The peopkle fo Sydney need to stop the premier from building this and get him to look after the 3 codes who really have no voice thanks to bad planning. Start the petition.
Bozo Gummo-Zeppo
Guest
Jeez people are getting lazy - several people are complaining about walking very short distances - no wonder we are becoming an obese nation p.s. At least there would be restaurants and pubs and other things to do near Darling Harbour - unlike Homebush and other western locations other than Parramatta, I bet they hate the walk from Parramatta Station to the Stadium too!
JVGO
Guest
Wentworth Park is 500 metres from Darling Harbour.
JVGO
Guest
4
jamesb
Guest
Been very busy today, lucky I can catch a breather tomorrow. When I first read Ryans column, my intial reaction is can the state government afford to build a lavish state of the art complex or stadium?. I thought the state was broke, Thats one of the main reasons why the prevoius ALP State government got its backside kicked I do love Whites plans above. Sydney does require alot of forward thinking and planning. Theres no doubt, that Sydneys stadiums are not the best ATM, and its one of the main reasons why crowds don't flock to these big grounds, whether its transport, or structure of the stadium (ANZ) John Qualye will be looking at the venues around NSW, whether there needs to be rationalisation, or building new stadiums. Good to see some of our ''friends" from the south giving us positive feedback as always. PS; Ryan you do write good diverse articles.
Johnno
Guest
I believe Penrith needs to have a stand alone stadia. You have st mary;s , blue mountains, katoomba, emu plains, richmond, and penrith , making up the penrith basin. Penrith will lose it's it's sovereignty Whites.
Whites
Guest
In the 2020's or 2030's when they finally build the ANZAC metro line from the city out to Maroubra via Moore Park and UNSW the SFS should be demolished. In it's place should be built a 60,000 seat rectangular stadium with a retractable roof. I've posted this before and I know it's probably pie in the sky thinking but Sydney needs 3 stadiums with roughly a capacity of 40,000. Ideally they would each have a retractable roof. Moore Park Football Stadium 60,000 capacity rectangular stadium with a retractable roof. Linked to the city by a metro train line and a light rail from Oxford Street. Home to the Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs, NSW Warratahs and Sydney FC. It would also host 4 home games each for Manly, Cronulla and be the Sydney base for St George Illawarra. Their 8 other home games would be at Brookvale, Toyota and Wollongong respectively. Liverpool Stadium 40,000 capacity rectangular stadium with a retractable roof. Located close to Liverpool railway station either to the north at Bigge Park or the south at Lighthorse Park. This would be home to the Bulldogs, Wests Tigers and a 2nd Sydney A-League team. Blacktown Stadium 35,000 capacity rectangular stadium with a retractable roof. Located close to Blacktown railway station at Francis Park. This would be home to the Penrith Panthers, Parramatta Eels and a 3rd Sydney A-League team. This is basically an attempt to mimic the Melbourne stadium setup but with an acknowledgement of the realities of Sydney's geography. There is no real centre of Sydney that can cover every current or future team. It may also be slightly premature to be speculating on a 3rd Sydney A-League team. But given that I'll now speculate on the western stadiums one day hosting a Western Sydney team in some future version of Super Rugby. The most feasible of these in the next 5-10 years would have to be a Liverpool Stadium. Both the Bulldogs and the Tigers would consistently average over 25,000 if they played all their games at a proper rectangular stadium.
Dean - Surry Hills
Guest
1. Turn the SFS into exclusive residences to help fund the Darling Harbour project. 2. Build a light rail network that links Darling Harbour, Central Station, Moore Park, and Randwick Racecourse on a two-way loop. 3. Turn a majority of Homebush Bay into the worlds best convention centre, equipped with new hotels, restaurants and bars to attract and encourage conventions from all over the world. 4. Build a state of the art Suncorp style stadium in Darling Harbour with a retractable roof that doubles as an entertainment centre. 5. Welcome Sydney to the 21st century
ManInBlack
Guest
Etihad is a pain to get to by car - and MyKi makes getting their by train a hassle presently - as you cue up to by a daily metcard and miss the next train 'cos there's so many in the same boat. GA seating is pretty well only on level 3 which is annoying if no one has turned up in the high priced premium Medallion club (the best seats in the house). The MCG is a pain for big games for the average punter because the AFL reserve and MCC reserve take up about 45% of the capacity, so, a sell out might only see 55,000 tickets sold ....... well, many of those will be competing club members with reserved seats too. For people in the outer suburbs - it's still a ruddy big deal to spend an hour or more getting to station/train ride to city - for the footy and then god knows how long a wait to access a train to get back home (esp for night matches where the 'football special' extra service tends to always be pulling out just as you get close enough to see that it is pulling out........). Anyway - AFL now has far more live against the gate coverage - so, amazing to be doing the crowds it does.
Whites
Guest
I lost track. Is that two or three premiers ago?
timmypig
Guest
Turbo I can get my bus ticket from the Hills District to the Olympic Stadium, it's pretty easy to get to ... but the Olympic Stadium is C R A P !!!! Terrible viewing experience, stuff-all pubs and restaurants, zero soul or atmosphere. Awful. Feels empty with 50k people in it (not that any sport gets 50k all that often). Flat seating tiers, seat are miles from the playing surface (OK, maybe not 'miles' ... 'kilometres' might be more accurate), and it's the WRONG SHAPE.
ManInBlack
Guest
I love the monorail......well, the kids love it and it keeps them quiet for a while when visiting Sydney. Monorail == kids be quiet == good thing.