It’s March. That means it is time for the annual hand-wringing and teeth-gnashing on the state of stadium playing surfaces now that the rugby codes have commenced their seasons and football’s run with good surfaces has come to another end.
This is especially the case in Sydney where the Sydney Football (Allianz) Stadium becomes home ground for Super Rugby’s Waratahs, NRL’s Sydney Roosters, and A-League’s Sydney FC, on top of a venue for various international games, tournaments and concerts.
It happens every year, the powers-that-be know it’s going to happen, and not a thing is done to try and mitigate the damage, both real and aesthetic, as the A-League heads towards its finals series.
Let’s get two inarguable facts out of the way. Rugby union destroys playing surfaces. Contested scrums and rolling rucks chew up the turf as surely as a stump-jump plough.
I once sat in silent disbelief at a local council meeting when a soccer-hating council groundsman tried to tell a forum that round-ball footballers could only wear sneakers on “his” grounds during pre-season because “those new fandangled cleat boots” did more damage to the grass than anything the local rugby clubs did. Some attitudes are hard to change.
The second inarguable fact is that neither league or union are too fussed about the state of a playing surface. Sure, they’d prefer a bowling green with no divots but it isn’t essential and that’s why neither code ever calls off a game.
Given these facts, football is up against it. Paul Okon slammed the state of the SFS pitch after last week’s Sydney FC-Central Coast game. Graeme Arnold was a little more circumspect but is clearly unimpressed with the playing conditions at the Sky Blues’ home ground. Just this week, National Team boss Ange Postecoglou labelled the surface a disgrace ahead of the Socceroos crucial World Cup Qualifier against United Arab Emirates.
General consensus is that the SFS playing surface was severely chopped up by the recent international Rugby Sevens tournament which ran over an entire weekend. Given the tournament attracted big crowds and supposedly generous revenue to the Sports Ground Trust, it’s ridiculous for football fans to become agitated by the existence of what amounted to a weekend of rugby fancy dress. Commercial interests are not concerned with how “serious” the show is, just how much it makes.
However, cross-code fixture-making could be influenced and I’m beginning to wonder whether FFA or A-League ever talks to the rugby codes about what happens in Sydney in March, April and May.
I’m deliberately focusing on Sydney here, while acknowledging that the same problem occurs in Brisbane but appears not to be an issue in Melbourne where AAMI Park magically produces a damn good surface for all, despite hosting 4 major sporting teams in the same time period.
As a case in point, was it really necessary for the Sydney Roosters to play the Canterbury Bulldogs in an NRL game on a Thursday night last week, 24 hours before the Sydney FC-Mariners game? Was there not one other NRL game that round that could have filled the TV schedule requirements for Thursday night, such as Wests Tigers-Penrith Panthers or St George-Illawarra-Parramatta Eels?
Would the Roosters really have been disadvantaged by playing on Saturday rather than Thursday? Did A-League organisers even attempt to negotiate such a thing? I know the NRL gives clubs who host Thursday night games a TV revenue incentive payment due to a perceived drop-off in attendance so I don’t think any of the clubs would have been financially handicapped if they’d played on Thursday.
Perhaps my naivety is getting the better of me, and the Roosters wanted to play on a Thursday for some reason (TV money aside) to which I’m not aware. And yes, I realise this sounds a little like football trying to get everything it wants, but in the case of stadium surfaces, it’s something football needs more than the other two codes.
It’s not like Sydney FC are poor cousins in the stadium-sharing family. In the last two seasons, they have averaged 6,000 more fans per home game than the Roosters. Trying to get average home attendances for the Waratahs is a little like trying to get confirmation of alien activity at Roswell, but one source – Australian Football Code Crowds 2014 – had the Super Rugby franchise on par with Sydney FC’s figures for that year.
I’m not suggesting Sydney FC or FFA go all ‘bully-boy’ just because crowd figures tell us that football draws just as many fans to the SFS as the other two codes. However, surely they could sit down with officials of the other codes along with the SCG/Stadium Trust and try to negotiate an equitable arrangement for the final months of their season.
I know, working harmoniously, hand-in-hand doesn’t seem to be the preferred business model for rival sports codes these days but to my mind, three happy tenants is better than two and I doubt scheduling fixtures with the playing surface in mind is going to seriously disadvantage the rugby codes.
The other looming, unthinkably horrid scenario occurs in May. The Waratahs are due to play the Blues on May sixth at the SFS. The A-League grand final is scheduled for May seventh. Given current form, Sydney FC would appear to be a very strong favourite to win the rights to host the championship decider, which would then be played less than 24 hours after the surface is ploughed into a potato field.
At least there is ten days grace between the ground hosting anything prior to the March 28 WCQ. To have the A-League’s biggest game of the season held a day after a Super Rugby game is clearly unacceptable.
Of course, FFA don’t know for sure until a week prior as their altered finals format has painted them into a corner regarding their grand final venue, given the game could go to three possible venues. Maybe in this case, FFA need to bite the turf bullet and move the grand final date, as I doubt they’ll be able to get the Waratahs to swap their game day to Sunday just for FFA to make a temporary booking on the Saturday (the only other “sensible” option in an ideal world). But then again, have they even asked?
Various football fans are calling for A-League clubs and football to build their own “boutique” stadiums. It’s a lovely thought, but much like world peace, Donald Trump’s impeachment or rolling green fields with sugar plum fairies, it remains extremely aspirational in our current market economy.
In the meantime, perhaps we need to be negotiating more than agitating in order to get a better surface deal for the sport.
apaway
Roar Guru
Great point.
Brian
Guest
Given how predicitble it is why didn't Sydney host the Japan game in October and then the UAE game be played at AAMI on a pristine surface.
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
Is there any way that the people who look after Allianz Stadium in Sydney and Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane can find out exactly type of grass/synthetic combo is currently used at AAMI Park in Melbourne and see if there is any possibility of implementing at those stadiums? Suncorp regularly has an absolutely rubbish pitch which just falls to pieces after the inevitable stadium concerts and the start of the Super Rugby and NRL Seasons. Allianz looks much the same. As apaway mentions above AAMI Park hosts all of Victory, City, Storm and the Rebels yet consistently turns out a world class surface for all those teams. Last week is an instructive example - The Storm hosted the Broncos on Thursday night and less than 24 hours later the Rebels hosted the Chiefs yet by the time that City took to the field they had a surface that encouraged good football and not a cow paddock. I am no turf expert but surely those that are paid to look after the surface at Allianz and Suncorp can look at solutions to this ongoing and never ending issue. The A-League should not be impacted to this extent every season and just be ignored because it keeps being put in the “too hard basket”.
Nemesis
Guest
AAMI Park, Melbourne Melbourne Storm played there on Thursday. Melbourne Rebels played there on Friday. Playing surface looked perfect when Melbourne City played on Saturday. Why? It has nothing to do with the stadium’s capacity. It has nothing to do with allowing the turf time to regenerate between events. It’s all about having a hard-wearing turf that is suitable for high utilisation. https://goo.gl/photos/psbLeqQn6bzxD1Da8
Chris
Guest
haha...what does that even mean?
Paul2
Guest
I worry that the law of diminishing returns might limit the effectiveness of soccer fans complaining about how hard done by they are. The NSW Government is pumping close to $2b into stadium upgrades; can't see them having much time for complaints about the pitch condition at SFS.
Paul2
Guest
Hi - I don't think i was very clear. I was referring to attendances at at all four football codes. I'm just pointing to the relatively efficient use of stadiums in Melbourne (and really in each of the other major capitals) as compared to Sydney. Melbourne draws much bigger crowds than Sydney but uses fewer stadiums. Of course there are reasons for this: Sydney is bigger and harder to get around, more decentralised than Melbourne etc. Still, it strikes me that the stadium infrastructure pipeline in Sydney is moving it in a "white elephant" direction, given that there aren't any rectangular venue clubs that average more than 20,000. The commercial viability of the venues are therefore likely to be strained; the venue operators will have strong appetite for alternative revenue streams. e.g. i don't think it'd be too surprising if Parra Stadium sought to entice other NRL clubs to play some home games there.
Paul
Guest
Unfortunately, I think Rugby Union will be using the Western Sydney Stadium. However, getting many leather-patched supporters west of Homebush will be problematic. Sydney looks like it has many rectangular grounds, but A-league regulations require majority seating at grounds. Most of the rectangular stadiums in Sydney are old and require major refurbishment. And most of them are traditionally rugby league or rugby Union grounds. After the Western Sydney Stadium opens, ANZ will be redeveloped into a 3 configuration stadium (20k, 40k and 74k) I would love to have dedicated FOOTBALL grounds, but we do not people who can influence government. If the FFA could support retractable pitches for Stadiums which are multi-use, that would help As an insight, there were a bucket load of NSW politicians at the last Sydney Derby. David Gallop was there but refused to engage them. Apparently he doesn't negotiate with Fox on scheduling either
Midfielder
Guest
Apa Timely article and I don't think there is a simple answer... I think the answer is political.... me thinks Football fans should write to the NSW sports minster and Federal sports minster .. Their details below. Minister for Sport The Hon. Stuart Laurence AYRES, MP Contact details Email: office@ayres.minister.nsw.gov.au (link sends e-mail) Penrith Electorate Office Email: Penrith@parliament.nsw.gov.au (link sends e-mail) Federal Minster is Greg Hunt MP ...
Midfielder
Guest
Shi On Liver You have joined my non read group ....
apaway
Roar Guru
Once again, SonOfLordy, the facts are a little different. Sydney FC's home crowd averages for the last 3 seasons including the current one are 16,087 (2016-17), 16,071 (2015-16), and 18,050 (2014-15). That's more than "10k to non-derby games." If I was to reflect your own logic back at you, why wouldn't the Waratahs, as a team representing a state of 7.5 million who can only attract 15k to non-derby games, move to North Sydney Oval?
Glen
Guest
Didn't they announce it this morning?
Lionheart
Guest
you're back, after all that. unbelievable. Are you the sports news writer for ABC TV, whose headlines tis morning said 'Soccer announces Champions League draw'?
apaway
Roar Guru
Can you show me where I "bashed" the other sports, Bob? I was relating an experience where one groundsman in particular had the delusion that grounds were not affected by rugby union. I don't blame rugby union or league - those codes are just not as reliant on a smooth surface.
Bolter
Guest
Why not move the rugby team, they draw a lower crowd and they damage the pitch. It's a win-win.
apaway
Roar Guru
Asking for a 7 day window in the lead-up to an international match is, I think, a fair call, and indeed FFA have a 10 day window before the WCQ against UAE. Trying to get 4 days between a Super Rugby game and an A-League game at Allianz is certainly more problematic. It's certainly possible at Parramatta with only two tenants but at the SFS it is impossible. I just wonder whether Sydney FC's recent two Friday night games were an attempt to get "first use" of the surface - good in theory but stymied by the Roosters' Thursday night fixture. When you compare Sydney and Melbourne are you only comparing the three codes who use rectangular grounds? In that case, football is a clear leader when combining the crowds of Victory and City (even on their own, Melbourne Victory outdraw both the Rebels and the Storm). The crowds are bigger than Sydney but not by 2 or 3 to 1. However, if you include AFL crowds, yes, the number does rise significantly but that adds in two grounds to the mix, one of which football doesn't use (MCG), the other it only uses for the Melbourne derby and the Big Blue (Etihad).
SonOfLordy
Guest
Considering the Sydney FC (as one of two teams representing a city of 5 million) can only attract 10k people to non-derby games at SFS, wouldn't it make more sense for Sydney FC to move to somewhere like Marconi Stadium or North Sydney Oval?
Cugel
Roar Rookie
Yeah, I mean when someone says soccer they could mean AFL or league or union. So confusing.
Bob
Guest
I like how you mentioned Soccer hating groundsman then just bash all the other sports, I am sure the groundsman are doing all they can to make sure the pitch is up to quality, and Aami park last year had plenty of issues whith the field being ripped up.
Paul2
Guest
Hi Apaway. Yes, I gathered that from your piece. For what it's worth, the article seemed pretty sensible to me. Sydney FC are going to need to co-exist with the other tenants at SFS, so the FFA may as well engage with other bodies to see if they can't avoid outcomes like the one last week. My comment was directed to the other Paul who - like many soccer fans - appears to be confused about the code's bargaining power when it comes to stadium use. Indeed Parramatta Stadium's upgrade was, I assume, enabled by Wanderers' attendances. Still, can you imagine the stadium operator's response if the Wanderers declared they'd only enter a contract to play their games there under the condition that the venue be free of use for 4 days prior to each home game? I'd suggest they'd have politely said to the Wanderers, "No f%#king way". Drawing an average of 15,000 fans to their home games really doesn't put them in a position to be barking out orders. On a related point, it strikes me that Sydney is going to be seriously over-supplied with stadiums, in view of the upgrades to Parramatta and Homebush. Aggregate football code attendances in Melbourne are larger than those in Sydney by (I would guess) a factor of 2 or 3 to 1. Yet while Melbourne makes do with 3 stadiums, Sydney will soon have 3 rectangular stadiums (two of which will have been freshly refurbed), plus the 2 AFL venues, plus the suburban venues that Rugby League clubs use. On the one hand this will help to alleviate scheduling conflicts b/w codes. On the other hand, it's likely to exacerbate the problems. Those stadiums cost a lot to build and maintain; the venue operators are not likely to have much patience with low-drawing clubs complaining that staging pop concerts leaves the pitch in a rubbish condition.