With all the debate about what to do regarding new grounds in Sydney, does anyone have an answer as to which sport deserves a new stadium? This article looks at the four major football codes before laying out who exactly has the best case for a new ground.
AFL
Sport: Australian rules football
Pitch: Oval
Effect: Kicking, running and tackling with studs can dig up the ground
Ground share: None
2013 Average Sydney attendance: 17,000
Teams: Sydney Swans, GWS Giants
Stadiums: Sydney Showground, Sydney Cricket Ground, ANZ Stadium
The AFL is meant to be Australia’s league. It is our own unique sport played in our own unique league. Yet the core of the support and teams, belongs in Victoria. But are the arenas in Sydney up to scratch?
Yes. Of the three stadiums used for AFL, only one has not undergone major renovations in the past ten years. The Sydney Cricket Ground is currently undergoing major renovations that will see the “old” ground, transformed into the new generation Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Greater Western Sydney Giants also have their own ground, Skoda Stadium. It has been branded especially for the team and has been newly renovated to cater for AFL games rather than the “showground” purposes it was originally designed for.
The next stadium, which is not often used, but is occasionally, is ANZ Stadium.
It is arguably the best stadium in Sydney. It has a capacity of over 80,000 and is located in the heart of Sydney’s Olympic park. It is a world class venue and although it is not ideal for AFL, it is by no means a first choice stadium for either Sydney teams.
A-League
Sport: Association football
Pitch: Rectangular
Effect: Slide tackles and regular kicking can take off top layer
Ground share: rugby union, rugby league
2013 Average Sydney attendance: 15,000
Team: Western Sydney Wanderers, Sydney FC
Stadiums: Allianz Stadium, Parramatta Stadium
The A-League was only started in 2005. One of the inaugural teams, Sydney FC has been playing ever since, however last year, the introduction of the Western Sydney Wanderers saw the competition rise in popularity in the west.
Sydney FC’s home ground is Allianz Stadium. And for the time being Sydney FC should be quite content with this as their home ground.
The ground sharing is sometimes an issue, with rugby teams playing on the field up to a day before and leaving it looking like a war zone, but for the most part, this is kept to a minimum.
However with the new developments at Allianz Stadium, Sydney will certainly not need to look anywhere else for a little while.
Western Sydney Wanderers however, are playing on a rugby pitch, in a rugby stadium.
Parramatta Stadium, while rectangular, is a disappointment. A master plan has been announced but with development a little way off and the support for Western Sydney Wanderers swelling, a new stadium would suit them well.
Super Rugby
Sport: rugby union
Pitch: Rectangular
Effect: Tackling, scrums and running dig up ground
Ground share: rugby league, association football
2013 Average Sydney Attendance: 24,000
Teams: Waratahs
Stadiums: Allianz Stadium
There is only one Super Rugby team in Sydney and it’s the Waratahs. Playing their games at Allianz Stadium, a venue which comfortably fits the average attendance and has major redevelopments planned, they should be quite comfortable that they have the great stadium.
No need for a new stadium here.
NRL
Sport: rugby league
Pitch: Rectangular
Effect: Tackling and running digs up ground
Ground share: Rubgy Union, association football
2013 Average Sydney Attendance: 15,000
Teams: Canterbury Bulldogs, Penrith Panthers, Sydney Roosters, Cronulla Sharks, South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly Sea Eagles, Parramatta Eels, St George Illawarra Dragons
Stadiums: Allianz Stadium, ANZ Stadium, Brookvale Oval, Parramatta Stadium, Centrebet Stadium, Toyota Park, WIN Stadium
Lots of teams and a lot of stadiums. Any teams playing at Allianz Stadium or ANZ Stadium should be extremely happy with the grounds that they have the privilege to play at. However there are some other teams that don’t have the same luxury.
Brookvale Oval has had some recent redevelopments and while the stadium may seem a disappointment to many away fans, the grass hill and feel of the stadiums is something that the home fans love.
Parramatta Stadium, as mentioned before, is a rugby stadium, meaning that it is ideal for Parramatta, however there is a clear need for the master plan that has previously been suggested, to be put into place.
CentreBet Stadium again has an average attendance that is easily catered for by the stadium. The stadium, again has a grass hill and although it doesn’t have most ideal facilities, a redevelopment would fix the small problems it has. A new stadium is not exactly needed.
Toyota Park is another stadium that is not in need of being replaced. It was redeveloped in 2008 and there is again a plan to redevelop it again.
WIN Stadium has also seen recent redevelopment and is not in any need of being replaced.
The verdict
The Western Sydney Wanderers deserve a new stadium. Not only would it boost the profile of the club, it would boost the popularity of the sport in the West. A stadium capacity between 25,000 and 30,000 would suffice.
The previously scrapped plans for the Bankstown World Cup Stadium could be re-addressed to give Western Sydney the stadium it deserves.
Adam
Guest
what is the point spending hundards of tax dollars in building a new stadium when NSW has already to many that sit empty for 360 days of the year then host 5 games & struggle to half fill them. the NRL average 15k to their games & so does the A league. there are two 40k plus stadiums already and large games are moved there. the AFL started moving to playing in large stadiums in Melbourne due to clubs regularly selling out their own suburban venues of 30k plus the AFL will own Etihad in a few years but superannuation funds where used to pay for it. & the MCG the MCC members & Victorian tax payers pay for the up grades to the MCG, but there are contracts in place for the AFL saying so many games have to be played there to recoup the costs. the AFL also contributes to grounds being build or up graded that is uses, where the NRL & A league just expect hand outs for it
Adam
Guest
yeah they can share it with all of the NRL teams from the west of sydney. then at least the stadium wont look completly empty then when the NRL has games being played
Stavros
Guest
So up until about 18 months ago you didn't have any passions, sound about right. At least you will have one of your passions until the day you die, but I'm not sure what the lifespan of WSW will be.
Allan
Guest
You might have missed the red and black tsunami that hit Western Sydney at the start of the year.
Allan
Guest
Like I said before I have 2 passions, the Wanderers, and running the GWS Giants out town. Don't think for a second I like AFL.
George
Guest
Cricket
Post_hoc
Guest
Yes and the first documented game with AFL players wearing numbers was in 1911 I think? Rugby predates that by 14 years.
Bearfax
Guest
Thank you for explaining your drift Matt. By the way I live ten minutes from the Olympic Stadium, so its interesting that I should be fighting for those in the north to get a fair share and you in the north opposing. There is no way they need yet another stadium out west here. Unlike areas of the north, access to many of the stadiums is just a train ride away and the stadiums they have out here are under-utilised as it is. My position about the north is that I was raised in Dee Why and know how hard it is to get to the city by private vehicle. Only a reasonable bus service, no trains, so getting to those stadiums in the city and out west is costly of money and time. I would assume those in the upper north shore would think similarly. In my opinion it would be better to enhance (raise the capacity to 25-30000) of a few of the northern districts fields, such as Brookvale and North Sydney Ovals, make them multi sports oriented, rather that spend huge amounts of money on another under utilised stadium out west. Given that a large proportion of the Rugby Union players come from the northern and eastern areas, having a sizable ground say at North Sydney would be logical for even the NSW sides especially if a second Sydney based side joins the three nations comp.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Mate, I live on the North Shore so don't give me this "anti-North Shore bias" rubbish. I don't want another stadium in the "south" either. As I've said repeatedly, yet you keep ignoring, there are too many stadiums in Sydney right now. The idea that we should build another one anywhere is insanity, especially in the North where there aren't any teams that will use it. The only possible way that a new stadium could ever be justified would be if it was built out west (where there are actually teams that would use it, unlike the North Shore) and came with the condition that suburban grounds like Leichardt, Campbelltown, Parramatta and Penrith (among others) would no longer be used and all teams that play at those grounds would share the new stadium Where is this 'south" you keep referring to anyway? Do you mean everywhere south of the Harbour Bridge, because that's really east, south and west....
Matt F
Roar Guru
$10m? Of course. But that is assuming that the rest of the funding can be found from other sources. At the moment all we have is a vague goal. The government has made it quite clear that it's not interested in funding suburban grounds anymore so that rules out public funding (and as I've said before, the government should have more important funding priorities than a stadum redeveopment) and the private investment is yet to appear. Right now any potential expansion to Parramatta Stadium is simply an unfunded goal. If they can find that funding then great, but that's a long way off right now
Australian Rules
Guest
Yes but the Richmond reference....that's going back some years. Impressive stuff.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
AAMI Park: 30,050 seats Cost: A$268m Cost/seat: £5.9k AAMI Park would be considered a "state-of-the-art" stadium, with national iconic design & incorporates the latest technology & "green systems". Of course it's going to be at the most expensive end of the construction spectrum. Unless an A-League club grows to be the size of ManUtd, it would be fiscally irresponsible to construct a "Rolls Royce stadium", when all we need is a Holden. If Swansea's stadium is good enough for the biggest & most watched domestic football competition in the world, I daresay a stadium with similar construction costs would be adequate for the A-League.
peeeko
Roar Guru
i find it amazing that somewhere like AAMI park cost over 220 million to build
peeeko
Roar Guru
how about you make a decent comparison, the new melbourne ground which seats 30k as its what the new stadium would resemble cost 268 million, a l ot more than your irrelevant expamples
peeeko
Roar Guru
another super rugby team in sydney - that would be interesting
peeeko
Roar Guru
"so sad" all NRl teams have had their own grounds over the years, they are just looking to upgrade and that is hugely expensive. i cant understand how you think that A league teams will get their own stadiums
Time Traveller
Guest
The stadium will need to be oval to house AFL. It would be madness to cut out potentially the biggest earner a stadium will get over it's lifetime. The SCG would have been mothballed long ago but for the Swans.
Ian
Guest
i know melbourne fans were abusing the players too, not exactly great footage of fans supporting their team. i daresay i saw it on the offsiders one sunday morning. no biggie.
Titus
Guest
z
Stavros
Guest
Allan - for a guy from Western Sydney that reckons he hate AFL, you sure do know a lot about it. To know that Melbourne fans abused their players is impressive, but to know that Richmond fans did it before them, shows that you really follow the game. How long ago was that Allan?