Improved stadia a focus for NRL: Smith

My idea for ANZ would be to make it a true rectangle, elevate lower bowl seats on side slightly, but cut off as a rectangle the ends. The extra space between the ends can be made into a standing and drinking terrace at one end kind of like a pub. This would go up to near the roof line on an elevation, two levels. The other can be a more upper class restaurant (ish) area behind glass if need be. Surely much better than now

Why would govts commit money to suburban RL grounds when they are used 15 times a year at most, the RL wont put any money in and the RL clubs will move home readily when they get a better deal eg Souths, Manly, Dogs, Saints, Tigers etc. Its all pre-election nonsense...

Thanks Barry, this is kind of what i was getting at. Since Melbournes AFL teams are all traditionally centered around the CBD, the transition to the two stadium system was easy. Unfortunately the way the NRL is in Sydney, most panthers fans are still based in the far west, Manly fans on the north shore, Sharks fans in the shire etc. Expecting Panthers fans to travel 45min+ for every home game compared to 10 or 15 would be a huge challenge. A team like South Sydney has done better in spreading their fanbase to all corners of the city so playing at ANZ works for them.

Maybe AR....although he didn't mention anywhere that AFL fans don't have to travel to get to games and his last sentence is about the 'traditional bases' being next to the centralised stadiums, not that all fans live in their teams' traditional base. Anyway, I agree with him that the centralised stadium model doesn't suit sydney as well as it does melbourne. I also agree with Alex, the stadiums in Melbourne are central and more convenient for most. Mass transit from my experience is much better in Melbourne than it is in Sydney. Whacking a couple of stadiums either in the middle of the city or in parramatta as the centre of Sydney won't work. It inconveniences all fans. Anyway, Smith in the article says specifically "Sydney is not Melbourne." It would be interesting to know where they have in mind for these magical suburbs that have room for 30K seat stadiums, a lively entertainment precinct and all conveniently located on heavy rail lines. Cause that ain't brookvale and that ain't leichhardt. I'm also not sure how familiar Mr Smith is with Sydney's rail network. A stadium can be right on a train line but if you live on another line you're basically going all the way back into central and then out again or you're on a three train odyssey. Trains might leave the ground every 15 mins at 10pm but the trains that connect with them don't. Trains may not be the wonder fix Smiddy thinks they are. I'd also be interested to compare the % of day vs night games in AFL vs NRL. Catching trains to and more importantly after 730pm games is fine when you're with your mates, it's a nightmare when you're doing it with kids.

Barry: "I’m not sure that Kirk was suggesting that AFL fans all live in the suburb of the team they follow." Well, Kirk can clarify if he wants, but his comment - "Melbourne AFL teams are mostly all inner city suburbs which is why the 2 stadium model works so well" - seemed to imply fans are commuting from their traditional inner-city bases. In any event, Alex is right. Melbourne's centered planning gives it a big advantage in terms of logistics

The reason 2 AFL grounds in Melbourne works is that the CBD of Melbourne is actually in the centre of Melbourne. The actual geographical centre of Sydney is closer to Parramatta than the CBD. This can largely be put down to Melbourne being properly planned and Sydney being a bunch of suburbs hacked together without much thought.

Agreed

I don't think it's a dated rationale. I'm not sure that Kirk was suggesting that AFL fans all live in the suburb of the team they follow. If you live on the outskirts of Melbourne but follow Richmond or Carlton or whoever you expect to have to travel to get to a home game. If you live in Penrith or the peninsula you expect to only have to travel to Penrith or Brookie to go to a home game. Why would you have to travel all the way into the city to watch a Penrith home game as you do in Melbourne? You can easily have a couple of stadiums that easily service Richmond, Carlton, Collingwood, Footscray, Melbourne et al. It's more difficult to have stadiums that conveniently and equally service more than one club at a time in Sydney. Having said that I completely agree with your last paragraph.

Smith has committed $750,000 toward a feasability study/plan for the SFS upgrade,so I suggest he is .Bearing in mind the $750,000 will only be returned to the NRL,if the project gets the go ahead.

Where the Entertainment centre is would be the perfect spot. Close to central, allows everybody from every direction to get home easily. Still not far to walk to bars and clubs, and may even get more investment in facilties down that end of town, which it needs.

Its why Manly really need to look at Pittwater Rugby Park if they want to remain in the Northern Beaches away from heavy rail (Though maybe this could be overcome with Shuttle buses from Chatswood to the park, which would need to be free and included in the ticket price). It has everything they need, lots of parking, great sports precinct. Plenty of room to build. It would be a lot cheaper than redeveloping brookvale oval. Then the council can turn brookie into that dog walking park they want.

Is Dave Smith still campaigning for the Moore Park upgrade? His statements in this article seem to suggest not...

The perfect place for a central stadium would be Barangaroo. Walking distance to the city & Wynyard station. Next door to the King St Wharf and Darling Harbour precincts. Friday night games would get huge crowds.

Haha Scott has more 'mail' than an unchecked postbox. Yeah I reckon the plans are amazing, though they were issued before the Swans and Thunder jumped ship so I reckon they should be amended for a more rectangular experience.

Really? Wow it is too. Cool. They should definitely do that then. Well spotted. The 'my mail' was a dig at Scott for yesterdays Foran comments. I had not seen that before though but it does look good. Actually my first time on that site and I have to say this upgrade looks like it would make it a world class stadium. Now I'm Psyched. Thanks epi

You can bet your bottom dollar that ANZ won't be reduced capacity, considering it sells out at least 3 times a year. It's Sydney's little ace up the sleeve for being able to bid for world class events like World Cups etc etc.

Your mail? That was publicly released information that you can view on the stadium website right now.

GWS are asking for another new stadium? are they trying to be the most hated club in sydney or something

'“Strategically we need a footprint of stadiums and there is three criteria,” Smith said.' In regards to Brookvale: "They need to be on transport, principally heavy rail. That is the only thing that does what you need it to in terms of not being stuck in a car park for two hours." That ones a fail, I'm afraid. "And it needs to be in a precinct, then it becomes more than sport." That one is also a fail. Size and modernity can be achieved with a complete rebuild.

There are many who object to sponsor-named stadiums. For me, though, it's a necessary evil. When it comes to choosing one's battles I'm willing to let the coporates have the stadium names.