With the NSW Government announcing $1.6 billion in stadium development, rugby league benefits massively through the development of ANZ and Parramatta into modern rectangular stadiums.
ANZ becoming a rectangular stadium should boost attendances for South Sydney and the Bulldogs along with the high-drawing games the Eels bring to Homebush. ANZ should be used as a match of the week venue on Sunday Afternoons to create more ‘event’ games in NRL.
The upgrade of Allianz Stadium will benefit the Roosters, Waratahs and Sydney FC in providing a better match-day experience. As for the beloved suburban grounds, there will be a time it which rugby league has to move on, and fully transition to modern stadiums.
The likes of Brookvale and Leichhardt Ovals wouldn’t be fit for any other professional sporting competition, and are pub level grounds compared to Suncorp, AAMI and ANZ. Nostalgia and fond memories blind the fact suburban grounds do not have adequate facilities when compared to modern stadiums.
The NRL’s TV deals should chip in a couple of million to the suburban grounds and, over time, they should become boutique stadiums. The days of sitting on the hill will be long gone once rugby league has enough modern stadium throughout the competition.
peeeko
Guest
illawarra? how about if most of their fans live in sydney?
MikeTV
Guest
Penrith, Cronulla and Manly need to play atleast 10 matches at their suburban grounds because their geographic location and isolation is part of their identity. Illawarra should be playing atleast 8 matches in Wollongong for the same reason. These grounds will survive if the Local City Councils can create and integrate sustainable entertainment precincts around the stadiums. Wests Tigers, Souths, Canterbury and Sydney (4 Clubs) will need to share the Major Venues with Representative RL Matches and other Codes, ie Rugby Union (Super 15) and Soccer (A-League) Now, Parramatta - are they are suburban ground or Major Venue ? The proximity of Parra Leagues means that other NRL Clubs might be reluctant to share the ground.
Fix the scrums
Guest
Agreed. The reduction of capacity at ANZ stadium is a strange move. Sydney will be consigned to the second best sporting events city for many years to come. The massive MCG is the winner from this. Should've given ANZ and Allianz/SCG stadiums an unbelievable make over and leave the capacity at the venues the same.Fix the transport issues and precincts around the stadiums. Forget about a new Parramatta stadium as it is too close to ANZ.
Gus Paella
Guest
Why should the NRL chip in to upgrade suburban stadiums? Which stadiums would you favour? Have you just committed the NRL to turning all suburban grounds into boutique stadiums and maintaining them?
mark
Guest
Waste of tax payers money. Leave the old stadiums and build new ones. Or if you want to renovate make both the scg and stadium australia bigger.... 100000 seaters. Reducing capacity at stadium australia.... Stupid. It consigns sydney to number 2 behind melbourne. Melbourne will always have the advanage to nab big events from sydney. Also rail access to moore park would mean much larger scg attendances.