The controversial proposed upgrade of Allianz Stadium is set to be put aside, with the NSW government green-lighting a $1.6 billion stadium redevelopment package focused on ANZ Stadium.
The news comes just days after the Waratahs, Sydney Roosters and Sydney FC collectively spoke out against the proposed rebuild of Allianz Stadium, which would have required all three clubs to move their home games to different venues for four years.
However, the NSW Government today approved a $1.6 billion stadium upgrade package which does not include rebuilding Allianz Stadium. Instead, Parramatta Stadium will be upgraded into a 30,000-seat facility, and $700 million will be spent on upgrading ANZ Stadium.
Allianz Stadium will also be upgraded, although not rebuilt as previously planned.
The agreement between the NSW Government and some of Australia’s sports organisations will also see a number of sporting events remain in Sydney. The agreement includes State of Origin matches for the next 20 years, and at least one Socceroos and Matildas game per year. The next ten Bledisloe Cup openers will also be played in Sydney.
The news is a major boost for NRL clubs, the majority of whom were in favour of allocating the bulk of the state government’s funding to ANZ, rather than Allianz Stadium.
“This is an historic day for rugby league… one which will give our fans the comfort and facilities they deserve,” the NRL’s CEO, Todd Greenberg, said.
“Our aim was to ensure that rugby league benefited from any allocation of stadium funding – and this package delivers that outcome.”
Under the upgrade, ANZ Stadium will be reconfigured into a 70,000-seat rectangular field, with some seats brought as much as 48 metres closer to the playing surface when compared to the current layout.
According to ANZ Stadium’s website, the upgrade also includes plans for a retractable roof, increased food and beverage areas, and a $20 million home base for the NSW Blues.
One of the major criticisms of ANZ Stadium at the moment is the lack of atmosphere at the ground. However, under the proposed upgrade, the ground will be able to be reconfigured to best cater for three different levels of attendance – 20,000, 35,000 and 70,000.
An LED-lighting method, similar to what was in place at London’s Olympic Stadium, will be used to screen out the top tier of seating when not in use, and the current uniformly-coloured seats will be replaced with a multicolour scheme comparable to what is in place at the Gabba.
Grant
Guest
100% of the population are able to though if they choose to.
Nambucca Rooster
Guest
I'll leave the calculation of what is possible, and what is not, to the experts. However the rail lines leaving Central towards Museum already run under suspended building. No engineering/cost problems there. There is a lot of room between the rail lines, in the area I'm talking, about that could be used for construction. Thank God we had Dr John Bradfield who refused to be distracted from his mission in building the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The detractors said - we don't need it, it's too expensive, it's not possible, we can just use car ferries like at Wiseman's Ferry, etc, etc. He showed the imagination, planning, innovation and determination that we lack now and proved all the knockers wrong. We will have a big stadium with a single rail line - dumb, dumb, dumb.
HarryT
Guest
Yes, all those peak hour motorists will send Baird a silent thought as they spend 30 minutes crawling past this folly.
Gazmon
Guest
Best decision IMHO. Allianz Stadium can only handle around 10-20k of traffic per hour efficiently, where as ANZ was designed to handle up to 60k per hour. Creating a 55,000 seat stadium at Moore Park would have exacerbated this. I know the light rail will help, but will still not be enough. For those asking why only 75,000 for ANZ? Its a space issue. The steeper rake means that you hit the maximum height quicker, and therefore means less rows... and less capacity. It's a great number really, anything 70,000+ is big enough. Suncorp should get the NRL Grand Finals during the ANZ reconstruction, but I can see Melbourne sneaking in with a juicy dollar incentive. At least with the ANZ rebuild ready to go in 2019 this will ensure the Pirtek rebuild goes ahead and is completed on time. I'd imagine ANZ would be out of action for a little while and some tenants would move west to Parramatta for a few years. However, I did hear that they will only reduce capacity to 50,000 during construction... not sure how that will actually work, but we'll see.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
Yeah it would, and it would probably halve the time it takes to get people out after major events.
Epiquin
Roar Guru
It's been a long, long time since a Grand Final hasn't sold out.
Harvey Wilson
Roar Rookie
What is the point? 90% of the population of Australia will never even set foot inside. Where is the financial benefit? Seems like a waste of money that could be better spent elsewhere.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
One of your best. Clipper .Already the ANZ tenants( Souths and Dogs get around 20,000) at home games,despite a non friendly stadium with little element protection.That average will increase once the stadium is reconfigured and brought up to date,and when the NRL actually controls the fixtures from 2018. Using your cynical reconfig comment knowing how you operate,then maybe they should re configure Spotless to 10,000 capacity based on regular or irregular usage.
lester
Guest
Vic Gov is already preparing a bid.
Chris
Guest
60000 for ANZ would of been better but 70000 isounds good.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Sanity has finally prevailed.The SFS knockdown and Moore Park over duck ponds was never really on. The idea also of $40m being available for clubs for Centres off Excellence on a dollar for dollar basis is also a plus. All we need is is the M9 King Georges Road to get to ANZ and everything in the garden will be rosy.
Andy
Guest
The Lidcombe shuffle is a pain when travelling from Northern Line. e.g. Epping to Strathfield, change train, Strathfield to Lidcombe, change train, Lidcombe to Olympic Park, the latter two trains you are on for 5 mins, the former about 15 mins, so 25 mins all up, but the interchange waits often make it a cumulative hour, which is pretty ridiculous when off peak its only a bit over 15mins drive from Epping to Olympic Park.
AGO74
Guest
You could potentially do that.....however the resultant blow out in costs to cover for this engineering masterpiece would be double to triple what is noted for anz stadium. Also I have a sneaky feeling that doing something like this would see large sections of transport shut down and/or seriously effected for a significant period of time. It would be like the George street works currently going on except only about 20 times bigger! Nice idea but it won't work....
What I wish they would do first is redevelop the Carlingford train line so a new line will run from the city through Strathfield, directly to Olympic Park and then carry on to Carlingford and link up with Epping Station... That would be amazing
So Sydney are getting a Millenium Stadium (Principality stadium...)
Martyn50
Guest
"Different levels of attendance – 20,000, 35,000 and 75,000" Any chance of 8,000 for soccer.
nordster
Guest
omg when straya gets its long overdue recession these sorts of boondoggles will be a thing of the past ...absurdly overpriced fingers crossed! :)
spruce moose
Guest
Seats sell out for Grand finals Mark. The challenge is convincing members and corporates to turn up.
Mark
Guest
I recall State of Origin didn't sell out last year. NRL Grand Finals are often not sold out. The reconfiguration sounds like a good move. It is quite funny that all people involved with the SFS couldn't agree on what they wanted, so they are being left with next to nothing.
NobbysNuts
Guest
Yeah that 2 minute wait and 30 second walk across the platform at Lidcombe is a real killer.