Last week, the winner of the Sydney stadium stoush was finally announced.
After a heated final month of negotiations the $1.6 billion set aside for stadium redevelopment was finally allocated, with $700 million going to ANZ Stadium for its redevelopment into a rectangular stadium, $350 million allocated to the new stadium at Parramatta, and $450 million allocated for the refurbishment of Allianz Stadium.
The big catch is that the priorities will be the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium and the new stadium at Parramatta.
Only leftover funds will be allocated to the refurbishment of Allianz Stadium, and the amount allocated will likely be much less than $450 million. If I were the head of Allianz Stadium, I would only be thinking about minor touch-ups.
The winner was ANZ Stadium and rugby league, rugby union, rugby sevens and football – essentially, the sports that are played on a rectangular field.
The loser was Moore Park, which at one stage was set to receive most of the funding for a new 55,000-seat stadium at Kippax Lake.
The biggest loser was the AFL. Should the Greater Western Sydney Giants continue to grow into the powerhouse that the AFL dreams about, where will they play when they outgrow Spotless Stadium?
Following allocation of the funding, another issue arose. Where will the NRL grand final be played during the four-year upgrade? Should the game go north to Suncorp Stadium or south to the MCG? Why not play it at the SCG?
Debate is set to continue, with Stadium Australia Group chief executive Daryl Kerry saying, “our view is that what we should do is keep the stadium open under its refurbishment and reduce the capacity at key times.”
But continuing to hold the grand final at ANZ Stadium in the midst of construction would be a foolish move.
The biggest gripe about ANZ Stadium are that it lacks atmosphere. Sometimes this is because the stadium is empty and sometimes this is because the crowd is too far away from the action. The other major complaint is that once fans leave the stadium, the positive energy created by the event quickly disappears, as spectators disband and celebrate at home instead of staying in the precinct and celebrating there.
Both these issues are largely solved by moving the event. So let’s take the opportunity to do so.
Despite the word ‘national’ in the NRL’s name, the reality is that rugby league heartland is NSW and Queensland.
What better way to celebrate the importance of Queensland to the game than by having the grand final at Suncorp Stadium? The 55,000 seat stadium creates an electric atmosphere, which spills out into the streets following the conclusion of an event. The NRL would have no problem selling out the ground for an event as epic as the grand final – particularly if a Queensland team features – and if the atmosphere is anything like State of Origin, fans are guaranteed a spectacular evening.
The other option, the MCG, also has positives – I get goosebumps thinking about 100,000 people at the MCG enjoying the most exciting football code in Australia (despite what Malcolm Turnbull says).
When the event is over, the party will continue. The MCG is in the centre of Melbourne, and this means the celebrations will continue well into the night.
If the success of State of Origin at the MCG is anything to go by, then a grand final would also be a highlight of the state’s sporting calendar.
We need to have confidence in the NRL product. It is good enough that should a NSW team make the grand final in the years the game is relocated, fans will travel – Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys fans did last year, and Melbourne Storm fans have done in the past. There is nothing more special than seeing your team take part in a grand final (other than, of course, seeing your captain lift the trophy at the end of the night!)
We should forget about the SCG. It may evoke nostalgia, which is the appeal for holding ‘heritage’ themed rounds there, but let’s take this opportunity to grow the game and share the grand final experience with fans in other states.
I want to share the grand final experience with as many fans as possible so let’s hold the NRL grand final at Suncorp for two years, and at the MCG for two years.
Then it will be time for the party to return to Sydney to what, I hope, will be one of the southern hemisphere’s premier sporting venues.
This is @mary__kaye from @ladieswholeague
J
Guest
1 Brisbane, 1 Melbourne, 1 NZ. If there's a 4th it's a toss up between the SFS or 2 Brisbane.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Judging by the lack of responders,few did and even less cared.
clipper
Guest
Yes, a long time - it took the Swans over twenty years from being less attended than any league team in Sydney to be the top attended team in Sydney and in over twenty years the Storm have gone from being less attended than any AFL team in Melbourne to being less attended than any AFL team in Melbourne.
EastsFootyFan
Roar Guru
" It’s the home of NZ rugby more chance of seeing aliens Warriors fans don’t even like playing at Eden park bcoz they call it a “rugby union stadium” so don’t waste your time" I'm not 100% sure what this sentence is trying to say, but given the NRL 9s seem to do ok at Eden Park, an NRL GF surely wouldn't have too hard a time.
AR
Guest
Glad someone got it..!
The Barry
Roar Guru
That was pretty funny...
The Barry
Roar Guru
Paraphrasing John Lennon? Tradition is what happens while you're busy making other plans...
Johno
Guest
Auckland becoming a league town? Geez where do u get your info from? League is big in a couple of suburbs in South Auckland outside of that no one gives a stuff it's still all All Blacks and rugby union league over here is what Union is in Australia an afterthought all u deluded league fans that keep writing false crap are just laughable I mean 99% of kiwis think the Warriors get far too much coverage considering how small the sport is in NZ especially the South Island not interested in league one bit so stop wasting your time trying to "grow the game" Warriors been around 21yrs yet league still way behind rugby doesn't even come close plus Eden Park to host a rugby league GF? It's the home of NZ rugby more chance of seeing aliens Warriors fans don't even like playing at Eden park bcoz they call it a "rugby union stadium" so don't waste your time
Mark
Guest
The Grand Final and SOO are very competitively priced for major events and are not difficult to get tickets to. I suppose where people hold expectations that they should be able to walk up on the night of SOO and get a ticket for $20, the NRL really can't do anything to make them happy.
Mark
Guest
The problem with Eden Park is that organising travel to NZ on one week's notice is prohibitively expensive. Not a lot of people will travel from Australia for it. If the Warriors don't make it and the locals don't get totally behind it, it will be a bust. At least with Melbourne or Brisbane, travel is much more affordable. For Melbourne, even if the locals don't get fully behind it, the number of travelling supporters will make up the difference.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
No problemo! :)
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Seems like that is the attitude of so many in response to this article. It is infuriating!
Redb
Roar Guru
Point taken Mary. Apologies read it too quick.
Crosscoder
Roar Guru
Oh dear AR venting his frustrations ,rugby league in addition to the other rectangular codes will benefit.Nice script for a Tom Cruise movie.Call it Envy." Basically gifted" ,for use by 3 codes,major events sporting,entertainment.Of course only the NRL will benefit . Just keep ignoring large sums of Govt monies spent not only in this state ,for the oval codes including the leaping,jumping,running one).for very little code outlay.Jefff Kennett says "hi". BTW you do understand the money from the Tv deal doesn't hit Greenberg's code's pockets til 2018.Just a minor (LOL) consideration),when ATT the NRL will also be putting $100m pa into grassroots.The NRL under Smith had put in close to $1m exploring (feasibility study)the "new" stadium replacing the SFS,which will not be refunded.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
AFL Grand Final is normally the day before the NRL Grand Final.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Those Mexicans have no clue. I'd rather go poor than take their money.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
How was it no good? Melbourne people's money no good to League? 90k turned up. ANZ Stadium wasn't even at capacity for Game 1.
Train Without A Station
Roar Guru
Very logical reason against it.
AR
Guest
GREENBERG: Hi Mike, thanks for calling back. Been wanting to chat about something. BAIRD: Hey no prob Tone. You still on cloud nine? Yeeww! I still am. Man it's an exciting time! Sure, we're all a little nervy about the spend, but it's great for Sydney, great for NSW, great for you guys, great for the soccer boys, for rugby...and I came out looking like a total champion! GREENBERG: Yeah, it's exciting isn't it, great stuff. And again, can't thank you enough. You've really set us up for the next 50 years. BAIRD: Well, we gotta do what we can do yeah? As I said, good for the state - a real legacy-builder. So anyway, what's up? GREENBERG: Well, we've been chatting...and we're tossing up some really exciting interstate options for the Grand Final while the upgrades are happening. BAIRD: (silence) GREENBERG: Mike, you there? BAIRD: Are you f@#$% serious? GREENBERG: Look, I know it may seem a bit jarring, and it's only for a few years... BAIRD: Jarring..?!! Is this a prank call? GREENBERG: Mate everyone's really stoked with the stadium plans and we're not ungrateful... BAIRD: This better be a "dare" Greenberg. This better be some joke that someone has put you up to. GREENBERG: Mike, ANZ will be a construction zone for at least 3 years, what are we meant to do? BAIRD: How about put it at the Sydney friggin Football Stadium!! How about repaying your overly-generous government!! GREENBERG: Yeah but...but...that barely holds 43,000. BAIRD: (silence) So f@#$% what?!!!! GREENBERG: Well, we need to maximise our gate revenue. We have stakeholders and bottom lines too Mike. BAIRD: Don't talk to me about stakeholders Greenberg, I've got f@#$% VOTERS you ingrate! GREENBERG: Look I really think... BAIRD: Let me get this straight...despite the fact that your sh*tty little comp pulls in less than 15,000 mugs per game, I've went ahead and basically gifted you 1.6 BILLION DOLLARS in NSW taxpayer money, so you can have large shiny new stadiums, despite the fact that it barely merits any real business case, and the first thing you do is move your biggest event OUT OF NSW???!!! Just because you want to make a little bit MORE money??!! GREENBERG: Look, it'll return as soon as ANZ is finished. It's a great opportunity for the code to... BAIRD: I can't even believe what I'm hearing. Here's an idea... next time, why don't you put your hand in your own pocket Greenberg and pull out a couple of dollars from your billion dollar tv deal?? GREENBERG: (pause) that money is needed for grassroots. BAIRD: (muffled) f@#% grassroots. At least tell me this...it's not going to Melbourne is it? GREENBERG: Um... BAIRD: Don't f@# with me Greenberg. Tell me it's not going to friggin Melbourne. GREENBERG: (pause) the MCG is obviously a consideration. BAIRD: Oh for f@#% sake. GREENBERG: Mike, it's only temporary. BAIRD: I've heard enough. I cannot believe what I'm hearing. I just... GREENBERG: Mike, before you go, there's is one other thing. BAIRD: What? GREENBERG: It's about Origin... BAIRD (silence) GREENBERG: Mike..? You there? (dialtone.................................)
yusef komene
Guest
would love it to come to Auckland - would the time zone difference be an issue though ?