A much-needed $250 million revamp for Allianz Stadium at Moore Park is being proposed to turn the ageing football venue into a world class, hi-tech sporting facility.
The master plan is unlikely to increase the 44,000 person seating capacity, but rather will focus on infrastructural developments to improve the experience for supporters.
Notable features include Sydney’s largest outdoor screen to sit above the main entrance, upgraded seating, quality food outlets, as well as improved Wi-Fi and expanded entry gates. Moreover, a variety of digital video signage and live fan sites will be incorporate new lighting systems to enable the stadium to adopt the colours of home teams.
Most dramatically, though, is the proposal to stretch a clear membrane over the existing structure in order to create Australia’s first, fully enclosed and naturally-lit stadium.
For fans, the latter is most significant for improving game experience and comfort. Dunedin’s newly enclosed Forsyth Barr Stadium has materially increased fan numbers and revenue – with participants now able to enjoy a game without having to worry about Antarctic winds. While Sydney might not get quite as cold as the New Zealand south, anyone who endured the Waratahs vs. Hurricanes in Round 12 will attest to how cold and uncomfortable Allianz Stadium can get.
Artists impression of the refurbishment of Allianz Stadium. (Source: Supplied)
Similar to Dunedin’s new stadium, developments to Allianz should see to increase crowd numbers, particularly for families and consequently revenue. With the elements taken out of play it seems logical that crowd numbers will increase.
Heading the initiative is sports minister Stuart Ayres, who will consider the Allianz upgrade while revising the government’s stadium investment strategy, expressed the need to ‘roll out the red carpet’ to more top American franchises. Also on board, NRL chief executive Dave Smith lobbied for $18mil to be included in the state Budget for modernisation efforts.
Artists impression of the refurbishment of Allianz Stadium. (Source: Supplied)
A similar hi-tech system has been introduced in the SCG’s newest stand, which has already seen a two-fold increase on food and drink when compared to the same site during the Ashes Test in January.
As such is it expected that a rejuvenated Allianz Stadium will yield similar levels of productivity. Mr. Smith went further noting that “Sydney needs a world-class rectangular stadium to attract more spectators and provide a better [fan] experience.”
He added that “better stadiums would drive bigger revenues for NRL clubs, which under different deals, share a cut of ticket and merchandising sales, corporate hospitality and advertising signage.”
On this point, I agree.
Artists impression of the refurbishment of Allianz Stadium. (Source: Supplied)
“From a financial perspective, quality seating, quality facilities and quality corporate areas” all contribute to stronger position for clubs across a number of codes. The project should as see myriad flow-on effects with the potential to lead to cheaper merchandise and increased investment at grassroots levels.
Rugby League in particular has struggled with decreasing crowd numbers.
NSW Rugby Union appears to be in a similar boat, but there are signs in both codes that the crowds are out there – they just need to be coaxed in. More than 20,000 turned out to the Waratahs’ family day on Sunday indicating that there is still a fan base that will come to live games.
Sydneysiders have long been judged as apathetic fans who rarely turn up to sporting events, and if they do they sit quietly, clap when appropriate, and then leave. Like the NRL, I am hopeful that the new development will increase crowd numbers and great an atmosphere similar to the 2014 A-League Grand Final.
Also, wouldn’t it be fine to sit one something other than those hard plastic chairs for a change!
Developments to Allianz Stadium are part of a master plan to improve all facilities across the Moore Park site, including modernising the SCG and its supporting infrastructure. Current proposals have the project completed by 2020, a start date that the NRL is pushing for.
The master plan has been detailed here by Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust chairman Tony Shepherd to The Roar. Importantly to the fans, the goal is to provide a world class sports and entertainment precinct at Moore Park that “integrates the links to the NSW Government transport strategy; and addresses the circulation, interconnection and operation of the entire Moore Park Precinct.”
The scope of the Master Plan:
1. Sports Central: This project will link the SCG and Allianz Stadium with new connections between Moore Park, Paddington and greater Sydney. Sports Central will create a new headquarters for Cricket in NSW with player development and elite training facilities; sports university campus, administration facilities and a new public plaza connection which includes an ANZAC memorial and Museum of Sport.
2. Allianz Stadium: This project will provide Australia’s leading fully covered all-weather venue for sport and entertainment. The refurbished Allianz Stadium project includes a new roof over the field of play, new entries and public concourses to improve fan experience and crowd flow, new corporate suites, upgraded seating throughout the stadium and encasing the stadium entries with an interactive LED mesh, allowing the venue exterior to be lit in a variety of colour and designs.
3. SCG Master Plan
Bill O’Reilly Stand: The profile of the proposed new O’Reilly Stand will match the Victor Trumper Stand, offering increased venue capacity, increased roof coverage, well positioned corporate facilities and significantly improved patron access, public seating, catering outlets and amenities. This final stage will provide a unique but symmetrical profile of the four new stands at the SCG, each paying homage to the heritage listed Members and Ladies Pavilions.
Churchill and Brewongle Stands: The profile of the proposed new stand will mirror that of the new MA Noble, Don Bradman and Dally Messenger Stand.
This project will provide a new headquarters and Centre of Excellence for the Sydney Swans. The new stand will complement the heritage-listed Members and Ladies Pavilions with 13,100 seats and facilities for Sydney Swans members, cricket supporters, general public, corporate users and sponsors.
Jaime O'Donnell
Guest
Yep there are a few in the US: AT&T Stadium, Dallas Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans Georgia Dome, Atlanta NRG Stadium, Houston Edward Jones Dome, St Louis Ford Field, Detroit (though the climate is very cold so may not count) University of Phoenix Stadium, Phoenix Lucas Oil Stadium, Indianapolis Then probably one of the most famous World Stadiums Wembley, London We even have 1 here in Australia Etihad Stadium, Melbourne Maybe more just can’t think of them at moment. IMO I think it is a great oppurtunity to improve on existing infrastructure at a reasonable cost. In saying that though I would like to see an additional Centralised Stadium built in Sydney's West, be it Parramatta, Penrith or further out. Being selfish though, I'd also love to see and roofed stadium built in Canberra too (even if they put a top over GIO Stadium would be great).
Rodney
Roar Pro
Still that's 26 games at Parra Stadium with just the Wanderers + Eels alone In Wanderers ACL years that goes up to 30+. There's also potential for the Greater Sydney Rams NRC team to play out of Parra stadium, as the Rams in the previous ARC used Parramatta as their home. That could be another 8 games. That total of 35-38+ games per season at least matches what Allianz hosts domestically. Parra has also hosted rugby league internationals before, and could probably again if given the upgrade. Especially when Australia plays minnow nations or in World Cup/ 4 nations years. If they could bump the capacity up to 30k it would be ideal.
70s Mo
Guest
My observations. 1. The roof is a good idea because the current stadium roof is terrible. It looks really neat but it doesn't keep any rain off at all. The only place to get shelter is on the first tier where it is underneath the top tier. I'll tell you an interesting story - I was sitting in this section at an NRL semi final one day and all was good. Then suddenly it clouded over and began to hail. Everybody in the lower part of the first tier came up the steps and crowded around the steps and this covered area. Of course I couldn't see a thing. There was about 20,000 people there so it wasn't too big a drama. If the stadium were full and this happened this could become a very dangerous situation. So I see it as partly a safety measure. 2. I would echo some sentiments of others that is will see the demise of the suburban football grounds. I can't see any other government money going to stadiums other than Moore Park, ANZ and Parramatta stadium.
70s Mo
Guest
I agree about the regional stadiums - the problem is WIN doesn't get much use. I say it would need St George to be based there full time and an A-league club wouldn't hurt either.
George Walton
Guest
Yeah, wouldn't it be great to have the Melbourne model where you can incorporate a drink and or a meal into the walk to or from the ground.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I disagree with how you interpret the saying, as it's really more of a variation on the old "no pain, no gain" mantra. I don't even understand the whole Chinese corn chip analogy. I'm not saying that spending money on Allianz would definitely be a winner, I'm just saying if money COULD be made from the outlay I'd be supportive. I'm sure there's committee with a lot more facts than you or I who can make those decisions.
mushi
Guest
Because the focus is on the outlay not the return (and even then in a counterproductive way) that’s what’s wrong with saying it. By that rationale you paying the GDP of china for a corn chip is as reasonable as buying a government bond. It’s a crock line usually used to disguise that you are spending too much money. In terms of the government getting the ancillary benefits sure in some circumstances like if a stadium didn’t exist but I really doubt there is any significant uplift in attracting new events to Sydney city via this (what ones have we missed out on because our mid sized rectangular stadium wasn’t state of the art enough?). Are meaningful global event organisers really not coming to Sydney because of the SFS? And even if that happens do we believe there are mass tourism benefits from this? Those claims seem spurious to me meaning that most to the “benefit” is simply a cannibalisation from elsewhere within the state/city (the classic in those reports you see on how much an event delivers is they rarely highlight business forgone due to capacity constraints or cannibalised from within your existing constituency) – and I think there is no way anyone can make a credible argument that commercial enterprises in the suburbs surrounding Moore Park such as Surrey Hills and Paddington are in need of a relocation of consumption in their favour. So I look at this as the only real benefit is a stadium only enterprise. And I look at it against the back drop of a governments banging on about reduced spending on the essential services that I actually want them to focus on. So yes if the government spend a cent I think it is wasted during a time they can’t afford to be wasteful.
Dogs Of War
Roar Guru
I like that proposal to build a new stadium in Civic. Much better idea, things to do, central to everybody, roof on the stadium. As long as it's a rectangle it's money that should be spent. Then AFL can have Canberra stadium.
paul craggie
Guest
Tax payer funded subsidies to the government's "development" lobbying mates have made such a mess of Randwick Racecourse that I have cancelled my membership and left it to the 20 something yobbo drunks that they seem more interested in attracting.
George Walton
Guest
A roof over Canberra Stadium would be magic, I hate wearing my snow clothes to the footy!
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Fans: Hey Government, can you please build us a new stadium in the west? Parramatta is a bit too small. Government: But we already built you won with an 80,00 capacity. Fans: Yeah but we don't like that one. Government: So you want us to spend hundreds of millions on a new stadium, because you don't like the one that's already there? Fans: Yes please. Could you make it not too big and not too small and make sure it always has atmosphere? Government: But those are completely subjective things. How could we possibly do that? Fans: Oh you just don't care about the fans. Typical...
Obelisjk
Guest
This seems unlikely - any mention of funding???For mild winter Sydney??Does any other stadium on the world exist for outdoor sports except where there are extremes of climate (Dunedin, Tampa)
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Helicopter Suncorp over from Brissy?
Patrick Effeney
Editor
Comment of the day.
AR
Guest
So the NRL can just "make" the Panthers relocate from their home suburb and becomes tenants at a stadium which represents the heart and soul of a rival club. Ditto the Tigers. Yep, makes sense.
BlakeW
Guest
Yes, you can rub your wooden spoons together and start a nice fire.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
I love that walk heaps. But I'm usually with some whinger who hates walking to the fridge let alone a stadium.
fiver
Guest
Dugan will give it a test run if the NRL supplies the vodka cruisers.
Lion Down Under
Guest
Yeah I worked at Lords 1996 - 1999 and they had those 16 pint machines. Saying that you've got to be absolutely desperate for a drink (I hesitate to use the word beer) to get a Fosters or John Smiths served in a plastic glass by a 16 pint pouring machine.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Yeah but in the corresponding games last year it was also wet and they could barely give tickets away.