The site of the current Parramatta Stadium is due for a massive upgrade, and the Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ Stadium are also due for touchups as a result of a significant announcement from the NSW government.
Parramatta will get a brand new stadium as part of the $1 billion investment, which Sydney A-League and NRL clubs stand to benefit from.
In particular, the Western Sydney Wanders and Parramatta Eels will no doubt be very happy to have a bigger stadium to call home.
It signals what is the largest investment in sporting infrastructure in Sydney since the city hosted the 2000 Olympics.
While the full details of the deal haven’t been released, it is understood Moore Park will have a new rectangular stadium built, which will seat 50,000 and 55,000 people.
There is also talk of a retractable roof and redevelopment of ANZ Stadium at the Olympic Park.
The SCG upgrade is also set to be completed.
“A global city like Sydney needs world-class sporting venues and this investment will ensure fans and sporting teams have the facilities they deserve,” NSW Premier Mike Baird said.
“Our first priority is building a new 30,000 seat stadium at Parramatta on the site of the existing facility, with work to begin as soon as possible and construction expected to be completed by 2019,” he said.
NRL CEO Dave Smith said it was a significant boost to the game.
“This is a fantastic result for Rugby League and especially the fans who deserve world class facilities,” Smith said.
“This is the biggest investment in Rugby League infrastructure in the game’s history.
“The NRL has worked closely with the NSW Government over many months to secure better facilities for fans – and this is just what we need.
“It means we will have a world class stadium at Parramatta – right in the heart of western Sydney.
“This is an ideal site, close to transport, restaurants, bars and other services.
“We will also have a modern stadium, purpose built for Rugby League, at Moore Park and an upgrade of Stadium Australia.
“Sydney has been crying out for quality sporting venues – and now we are going to get them.”
FFA CEO David Gallop also weighed in on the announcement.
“I commend the Premier Mike Baird and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres for giving priority to the Parramatta project in the government’s sports infrastructure program announced today,” Gallop said.
“This is a great outcome for football and the Western Sydney Wanderers. It demonstrates football’s strength and popularity in the west of Sydney.
“If not for the thousands of Wanderers fans who regularly fill the current Parramatta Stadium, there wouldn’t have been a compelling case for the funding.
“We also welcome the investments to be made in a new rectangular stadium at Moore Park and the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium. These investments will provide much-needed new facilities for football fans and will showcase football’s major events.
“I’m delighted that Sydney FC will get a brand new home for their growing fan base. It’s worth noting that the Sydney derby between Sydney FC and the Wanderers is the biggest annual event at Allianz Stadium.
“It’s important that ANZ Stadium becomes a world-class rectangular stadium with a 70,000-plus capacity to enable Sydney to compete with the likes of Melbourne’s MCG. I’ve been saying that from the outset of this debate. Sydney needs a world-class, major event venue for big Socceroos matches, A-League Grand Finals and big games with European clubs.
“All football fans will congratulate the Baird Government for the commitment to more than $1 billion in investment. Having the right mix of sports and entertainment venues will make a huge difference to Sydney’s stature as one of the world’s great cities.”
ANZ Stadium said the investment continued the progress toward the venue being a world-class rectangular stadium.
“We are looking forward to working with the NSW Government to finalise the scope and design for the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium to ensure it is again a truly world-class stadium – and one that provides a rectangular arena for football, rugby league and rugby union,” ANZ Stadium CEO Daryl Kerry said.
Courtnie Hayes
Roar Rookie
Why are we obsessed with making stadiums that won't fit fans? 30,000 seats is next to nothing.
Post_hoc
Guest
The average is actually 12502, so get it right, plus what is the eels average for pirtek? The figure you quoted includes games at ANZ which is 4 times the size. The other point is all games at ANZ give reciprocal rights to the other team supporters, so the other team gets free entry, who's home game is it really?
Steve
Guest
Such a simplistic and incorrect argument. If you sell widgets (memberships) at a low price because the business case relies on a certain portion buying ancilliary services (food and drinks, merchandise), then how often they use the widget is of massive relevance. There are plenty of products or companies that use widgets or whatever as loss leaders.
josh
Guest
Makes sense, performing CPR on the GWS Giants.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Of course I will do a complete analysis of the calendar year on 1 January 2016, that goes without saying, unfortunately my time machine is being serviced presently.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Perhaps, if you do the analysis on 1 January 2016, for calendar year 2015 there is merit. Otherwise the data is biased - it could be biased for, or biased against; but it is biased - because the data points are incomplete. Basic stuff. Don't need to be a statistician to understand this.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Post hoc there is a very good reason, you can put your conspiracy theories away. I am collecting stats for all the football codes in the 2015 calendar year. It's as simple as that. As I said in the post above: I happen to have the figures for 2015.
SVB
Guest
If Wanderers take the derby to ANZ Stadium the way the Eels do their big games, then their average would also rise. Everyone is hung up on that average figure in which they came second last and played some terrible football with bad weather conditions at most games. That's about as bad as it is going to get. Remember it is only a 3.5 year old club. If anyone has a 20 year plan it is WSW (not the GWS 20 year wait and see plan lol). The stadium is going to be there now. That is the first part of the jigsaw puzzle. Next is the philosophy, culture and style of play which is starting to be addressed. Many supporters have bought into the club, but there is also still a lot of work to do in this area. Remember you also have 100 year old NRL clubs which are regularly getting below or just above the 10k mark. I think the competition will be good anyway, and I think we will see in 5 to 10 years time who will bear the most fruit.
Kirk
Guest
Wanderers 2015 ave: 11,707 Parramatta Eels 2015 ave 14,967 hmmm....
SVB
Guest
Yet they send 20,000 to the derby every year. They easily sold out the grand final at the SFS in their first season. Sent 10,000+ to the second season grand final in Brisbane. ACL final and other major games all sold out. Build it and they will come. A bigger stadium will simply sell more memberships which means more people will have a chance to watch more football in Western Sydney. Is that what you are scared of?
Post hoc
Guest
yet they got 15,000 to two years before so you really don't know what you are talking about do you.
Post hoc
Guest
why did he think people wouldn't pull him up on it.
Post hoc
Guest
I assumed that, but was wondering what 'excuse' he could muster. Horto, I think Victory will be in for a big season crowd wise, how many derby's you got this year? that will go a long way to pushing that figure. I am really keen to see how many you pull if you get into the knockout rounds of the the ACL.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
Does it matter how many attend the match, or how many have purchased tickets to the match? WSW Memberships mean the ticket has been sold. The seat is occupied. It can't be sold again. If people with a ticket don't turn up WSW doesn't lose any money. In fact, depending on the variable component of the stadium deal, WSW may make more money from Members staying at home! I know if I sell widgets, my focus is on selling widgets to customers. How often they use the widget they've bought is of little relevance.
Kevin dustby
Guest
WSW can o my get 12k to a game, a new stadium won't change that
Kevin dustby
Guest
Is this the wanderers club that averages 12k per game
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
Great post asanchez. Can't agree with you more. We need to facilitate growth. I think it's not beyond the realm of possibility or logic that MV should aim for a minimum membership base of 50k or thereabouts.. Basically 'up' our current situation by around 20k or so. This is what having our own, 50k "non afl sanctioned oval" will eventually allow for. And in my humble opinion, I don't think we can truly say that we've fully arrived as a club until we smash this target. I also see what fuss is saying re atmosphere but 30k is thinking too small for a club with the potential and track record of MVFC. Look what we've managed in such a short history.. If you think for a second what this new stadium and "aami effect" will have on wsw as an entire entity.. From a financial perspective..the facilities.. The quality of surface..The prestige of the club..and in terms of the fan/membership base and the matchday experience etc.. every facet of the organisation.. 'Phenomenal' would be an understatement. They will reach the heights of MV..and beyond.,and in order for us to maintain our own curve of success, then a new 50k rectangular stadium and all the positivity it brings, will continue to further invigorate the slalom ride of expansion and consolidation we ourselves are currently on.
Fussball ist unser leben
Roar Guru
“why wouldn’t you have the full season stats instead” Come on, post hoc. The full season averages doesn’t suit Mr AFL’s anti-SOKKAH agenda. He knows the crowds dipped after the Asian Cup, so he concentrates on those matches only. That sort of nonsense may impress ARules fans but it’s obvious football fans don’t bother with data & analysis provided by Mr AFL.
Horto Magiko
Roar Rookie
"why wouldn’t you have the full season stats instead?" Don't be silly post hoc, that wouldn't suit the narrative of desperation and despair that mf likes to peddle. Thanks for the *correct* figures btw. I'm tipping this season MV will match or break their personal record they set in the 2nd or 3rd season of roughly 31k.
Post hoc
Guest
why wouldn't you have the full season stats instead? Melbourne Victory 27,260 Sydney FC 18,050 Adelaide United 13,138 Western Sydney Wanderers 12,502 Brisbane Roar 11,660 Melbourne City 10,374 Perth Glory 9,542 Newcastle Jets 8,968 Wellington Phoenix 8,689 Central Coast Mariners 7,585