Needs of the many against loyalty to a sport: Sydney's stadium upgrade dilemma

Perth Optus stadium deal for AFL to play there the WA government is to give the WAFC over $1M a year to do so. Why to because they the WAFC gave up their lease to Subiaco Oval which was given to them in the first place. And Btw the AFL gave nothing to the government. They will be the main tenant but the one day cricket against England sold out. Be curious to see how many turn up at the double header but for sure we wouldn't have a SOO coming here either that will sell out. The facility does convert to a rectanglular stadium but facts are Aussie rules over here so oval it is. Try an get a ticket to the big bash over here now with the new stadium will be able to. Everyone will benefit here and was a great uplift to the city. Can see both points of argument for stadia in Sydney though I did read that if they refurbished SFS the maintaince would be higher than starting afresh and building a new one with less costs for upkeep. From afar, a rebuild looks more appealing as all sports would then be accommodated. Funnily though since the swans have been there AFL types are infiltrating the top end so that could be worrying for the NRL and others for the AFL's charter is to be the predominant code in Australia no matter what.

No you certainly don't ,your constant swipes at the code,some plain ignorant are evidence enough. And I like codes other than rl,perhaps not to that extent.It is fairly easy to disseminate the AFL fans agenda driven, bagging rl for that very reason alone, to the ones who are interested in rl,and have genuine critical comments.I respect that and have not fired back.And that means re the stadiums. Remember rl fans in the main are hellishly critical of their code, from management down.This is almost part of our DNA.The media also plays its part.

Also having an upgraded stadium at the SCG,didn"t put anyone's nose out of joint. Ask yourself why the AFL honchos ensured post Olympics ANZ remain oval, and not be reconfigured as planned?Stuff the other 3 codes, we do as we say, and you accept

I thought it was pretty obvious, I don't try and hide it, just making the point that there are quite a few posters that like AFL (and that doesn't mean it precludes them liking other sport) that also reside in Sydney

This coming from Clipper who lives in the eastern Suburbs accordion to his comments, with his team within shouting distance,team scheduling fan friendly, a light rail now going past.The irony ..The SCG is a stones throw from the CBD.I've attended games at SFS on the odd occasion after work ATT,and in fact one at the SCG for rl. And the Tv ratings are still ordinary. Comparing a few kms at the most with regular bus transport and for some even walking from Central which i have done, is a walk in the park, compared to getting to ANZ stadium at 6 pm, after finishing worjk at 5pm,and be expected to get home and drive from Cronulla to Homebush and arrive on time.Via King Georges Road at peak hour. Seriously Clip at times,I think you are living on another planet.Rephrase that "I know"You have zero idea of the Sydney traffic situation outside your little east coast abode. It took over an hour in a bus to get to ANZ for the Grand Final,on a Sunday afternoon. "Disingenous" you called me.Mate take a long hard look in the mirror.Hypocrisy at its finest.

I'm not particularly concerned whether you are following my analogy valhalla or not. My experience and those of friends and public comments made,waching rl/ru/soccer from the higher levels of ANZ is like watching...........Add another description" flies in a sandstorm".I sincerely doubt you have watched a game from the higher levels . Why on earth would the AFL ATT (once the Olympics were concluded, and the stadium was set down for immediate reconfiguration) to rectangular status, suddenly throw in a couple of extra million to ensure the stadium retained its oval status?For their benefit, certainly not for the other 3 codes.That code utilises the bulk of the playing areas,thus people are closer to the action. Guess what the Swans won;t go near it, unless it's a semi or a crosstown Battle of the Bulge with GWS. I'm suggesting a rectangular stadium provides a far better visual,atmopspheric ,and nearness to the playing area .an experience for rl and soccer that I have experienced . Ask followers of these codes, what they think of the SCG which on the odd occasion there has been a game.The response too far from the action, and this is a smaller AFL field. Using your comment,then why should the Vic Govt build a rectangular stadium, just use Etihad or the G.Wouldn;'t have anything to do with the fact,rectangular codes are better suited to rectangular games.I could understand if they were a one off game like SOO.And the crowds still seem miles away from the action. I repeat all AFL stadiums in all mainline states have had their "oval" status stadiums upgraded or rebuilt to 21st century standards.The state with the largest population has not.So much for fairness, in a society that supposedly prides itself on such an attribute. I have been to Wembley stadium,Hull,Wigan,Leeds and a Premier league soccer game at these stadiums.They leave ANZ for dead.

Wonder which is the "minus one code" Clip? Sorry LOL .it's painfully obvious ,which one.

DB.So you should have been concerned about State govt funding for the Perth and Adelaide stadiums, but no that would not be true blue,AFL will be the main regular tenants.The irony is mind boggling.

PR. ANZ needs reconfiguring,SFS at best refurbishing. IN Sydney there are 3 main codes that play on rectangular fields .3 codes that would use ANZ and or the SFS,regularly regardless of crowds. Crowds for club games may ATM be pretty poor, but there are 3 codes not one using stadiums on a regular basis with crowds of varying sizes, not just one. From that point of view it's called regular throughput,regular usage. I'm fully aware of the additional i costs nvolved in the setting up of the Perth and Adelaide stadiums. The point argued by the naysayers is monies expended on updating and replacing stadiums is better used for hospitals,schools etc. OK let that be the case, then it makes the comments by AFL people who come here and may have signed the petition ,to look not only hollow but hypocritical.The WA and SA Govt were stretched for finances( a public and media acknowledgement) ,there were protests and the result the stadiums have or will be popular. Why is is terrific for the goose and stuff the gander? You can argue till you are black in the face about those cities.the facts remain huge expenditure was outlaid by the state Govts,so some area of Govt responsibility would have been affected.Health and Education,but it's all OK ,it's the AFL.we are above reproach. I find it ironic they gather like a swarm of bees here tut tutting about NSW Govt spending on stadiums, did they do likewise when Perth and Adelaide were decided upon? I have seen in my area the Shire a brand new hospital wing,and a brand new ambulance station being built at the Sutherland Hospital,and work at St George. I see wastage where Govts grant extremely wealthy private schools large sums of money(and I had the opportunity to attend one such establishment).And what happens, they build a swimming pool, chapels ,hall and all those you beaut aspects ,that don't teach the Laws of Physics.Fitzy's old school was one of those beneficiaries, you see him asking for a petition to reduce this expenditure? Has he queried (and i in fact got the figure wrong for the Kurnell desal plant).it cost in fact $1.803bn (not my figure of $500m) and has cost $535m since when it ceased to operate in 2017 in its state of hibernation. Homebush has had large NRL and S15 crowds and A league at times. The point is we would not be arguing the point about this expenditure,if the AFL had not stuck their nose into the stadium post Olympics ,throwing in a couple of million to ensure it would remain as is (an oval config,)

And valhalla and his predictable entourage of 8 poster' brigade an advocate for extremely costly oval stadiums perfectly suited to one ,repeat one football code in this country. One who completely ignores the fact, after the Olympics ,ANZ stadium was destined shortly to be rectangularly reconfigured. But no ,the AFL decided to throw in a couple of million of the folding stuff,so it would remain in oval mode. I've been to wembley stadium and to the rectangular stadiums used for soccer and in some cases rl in england.It;s chalk and cheese comparing rectangular sports played in rectangular stadiums to the same sports played in oval stadiums. None better exemplified when SOO is played at the MCG. These same naysayers are quite happy for state GOvts that are struggling financially to spend $535m and $1,6bn on oval stadiums. The AFL fan approach in summary, do as I say,not as i do.

Investing in junior facilities in cities all over the state is investing in sport.not mega stadiums in Sydney that only highly paid elite sports play in for two or three footy codes .who could easily pay for their own stadiums .what was the NRL tv deal worth.

Well said, Bob.

as well as having them on Foxtell. It's an absolute nightmare to get to the SCG around peak hours - especially with the light rail work. Crosscoder complaining that ANZ is a lot harder to get to is disingenuous at best.

I'm more of an all code person (minus one) and I live in Sydney and I think a few of the AFL posters do as well. It may well be the case that plans couldn't be halted even with a change of Govt.

"another advocate of the “…. they look like ants” brigade lol" Yep, it's hilarious. This ranks right up there in the contest for silliest attempt to justify knocking down and re-building a 17 year old stadium (and it’s a competitive field). Other stadiums used for Olympics (e.g. in Rome and Berlin) are also not rectangularly configured but seem to work fine as a home venue for far bigger clubs than those that use Homebush. I mean seriously, Wembley was used for an Olympics (1948), had a dog-track between the playing field and spectators, and remained in its non-ideal configuration until it genuinely needed to be rebuilt (note that the old Wembley was 80 years old when demolished, not 18). Still, it’s just not good enough for Homebush, right? *mumbles* “a world class stadium for a world class city…. Oh, and return on investment.... Plus, we've already spend on health and education”.

I'm struggling with the arguments about upgraded stadiums being necessary to attract events and fans. What event would skip the largest population centre in Australia? Simple supply and demand suggests no promoter would ever overlook Sydney. Concerts and other events are currently held at Homebush so why would that suddenly change unless the joint is renovated? As for the fans and match day experience as others have said spending billions to redo these stadiums won't alleviate problems of location and poor transport. The light rail near SFS will certainly help but Homebush needs a lot of work transport wise, who knows what that answer is. A lick of paint, some new bars and loos and WiFi are great but have these really been deal breakers for attendance? I would think atmosphere is most important provided the minimum and basic facilities are in place. Heck, we go to Leichhardt, shark park and Henson more than any other grounds each year. Whilst not disagreeing that some stadium improvements are a good idea I can't help thinking such public money could be better spent elsewhere. Or, you know, ask the citizens and fans of the codes what they want to see in their sports and stadiums now and in the decades to come if the projects are going ahead. Over the past decade Sydney has increasingly felt as though it's being governed for a minority and this just feels like another step in that direction.

Ha ha!

yes lets blame rugby league

And then their supporters are out calling 'blue murder' when other sports get AFL type funding for new facilities. Smells too much hypocrisy round here

Exactly CT. GWS has "potential for growth" but the other sports don't.