I must really be starting to age because I can clearly remember the opening of Parramatta Stadium.
At the time, it was perhaps the most modern and purpose built venue in rugby league. It was also much needed, after Parramatta fans had burnt down the existing grandstand at the previously named Cumberland Oval whilst celebrating their 1981 premiership success.
The stadium was constructed in 1985 and became an enjoyable place to watch sport. I have been lucky enough to experience the venue from all angles; high in the stands and feeling wet and soggy on the hill in the middle of winter.
As is the wont of administrators and architects, 2002 saw the stadium lose the green space behind the goal posts and become an all seated venue. It was, however, ageing quickly and in much need of invigoration.
When the Western Sydney Wanderers arrived on the scene in 2012, the new franchise was to fill around two thirds of the 21,000 available seats throughout their inaugural season. It was an undoubted shot in the arm for the stadium and its management, yet further exposed some of the outdated facilities in need of refurbishment.
The Wanderers did the unthinkable in Australian football, not only in winning the 2014 Asian Champions League but also by throwing up the ‘sell out’ sign for the home leg of the final.
The Wanderers meet their crowd (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
Soon after, a rethink began around the long-term vision for the venue and its role in the two main codes played in the region. Much to-ing and fro-ing occurred with debate raging in New South Wales over a triad of Stadiums under the microscope.
Thankfully, the new Western Sydney Stadium was a no brainer and September 2015 saw the announcement by the State Government that a state-of-the-art, purpose-built stadium would be constructed.
Debate around the capacity required was rigorous, with some feeling that the figure eventually settled upon might not be enough to hold those keen to climb aboard a future powerhouse of the A-League.
It will certainly be some time before the Wanderers are jamming 30,000 people into their new home ground consistently, however, they will be the only regular tenant capable of achieving it.
The Parramatta Eels have had the Stadium bursting at the seams in the past, yet rarely filled the venue, even for semi-final matches when the club was travelling well.
The design and construction of the Wanderers’ new home is a landmark moment in Australian football. The steep grandstands, dimensions and facilities all indicate that the long-term future of the venue lies with football at its core.
The Eels will enjoy their new home as well. The failure to accommodate for the 22 metre in goal areas required for rugby union play reveals quite clearly the thinking behind the design.
Adopting the first thorough incarnation of safe standing policies in Australia and catering for the Red and Black Bloc with 1,000 seats allocated to active support is also ground breaking.
Western Sydney Wanderers fans. (AAP Image/Dean Lewins)
Since the epic A-League semi-final between the Wanderers and Brisbane Roar in April 2016, the Wanderers have looked somewhat lost. Their temporary home at Spotless Stadium in the Olympic precinct never really became home and the results at the venue had fans longing for a return to Parramatta.
It was somewhat untimely and unfortunate that Western Sydney was forced to search for new digs so early in its existence but something tells me that hindsight will see the hiatus as nothing more than a blip in the history books.
As the crow flies I am 4.8km from the, soon to be, best football stadium in the country and after seeing some images of the construction progress last week, I went down for a look.
If the images in social media were stunning, seeing it in person was spellbinding. As something of a stadium buff, my enthusiasm for the structure might mystify some yet I can assure you, the Wanderers fans will embrace it from day one.
It is big, bold and intimidating, just like the Wanderers can be when in form and supported by their passionate fans.
There is no doubt that the squatting Wanderers’ drop in attendance figures in 2017-18 was a direct result of their homelessness. Along with the Brisbane Roar experiencing a troublesome start to the season, many jumped on board the ‘no one is watching the A-League’ train.
More measured minds could see the potential upside. Once the Wanderers take the keys to their new colossus and if John Aloisi can continue the Roar’s resurgence of early 2018, the numbers might start trending up towards previous levels.
With Marco Kurz building something ominous in Adelaide and Newcastle football re-invigorated by Ernie Merrick’s men, there is potential upswing for this season and the short term future.
Throw in some exciting new signings and a season that looks a potentially tight race without a clear favourite and there are ample reasons for fans to attend.
There is at least one enormous reason to attend the opening home fixture of the Wanderers at Western Sydney Stadium in October 2019 and that will be the stadium itself.
It looks an absolute ripper and the Wanderers’ fans are going to love it.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
It was pretty packed inside Marconi the other week and crowd was around 5000. Where will all the extras fit? I’m sure Marconi was bigger than that in the old NSL days but my memory is probably playing tricks.
Post_hoc
Roar Rookie
Wanderers would play out of Marconi and still get more fans than Sydney FC, Sydney is Red and Black
Buddy
Roar Rookie
That could be quite funny although I suspect that what would follow would be a merger between the two clubs. SFC fans would bedisgruntled at having to travel that far and WSW fans wouldn’t support the entity on principle. The franchise would die a death of a thousand cuts and up would pop Southern Expansion and we’d be back at square one. I recommend the billionaires focus attention on designing a new Football stadium at Moore Park that lasts longer than 30 years and has some future proofing in there somewhere.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Hang on Cousin. I started by talking about the Church Street precinct as being one of the best. Don’t really agree about Fox Studios precinct though. It is a nightmare to exit from after a game and isn’t exactly “on the way” if you heading from the city but I grant, its better than what’s on offer inside the stadium. As for plaing that other sport - its not my nickname and I have walked the planet way longer than Mr Franklin and yes he had a poor game or rather, he was incredibly well marked for the most part but please don’t bring AFL into this discussion!
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Or the Fox Studios precinct right next door to Allianz, or the Parramatta CBD right next to Parra Stadium. Stick to playing Victorian Rules Buddy. You were crrrrappp against the Giants and don't deserve the money you are on, by the way.
Cousin Claudio
Roar Guru
Syney FC's billionaire Russian owners were so impressed with the new Parramatta Stadium that they have outbid Wanderers for the tenancy of the new Stadium thanks also to a huge cash donation from FIFA and Frank Lowy jnr., so Wanderers are forced to find a new home and will have to continue using Spotless MeIbourne RuIes Stadium as their home venue.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Thanks for that recommendation. Looking at the map it seems quite obvious but in all my visits to AAMI, we are always heading from the city or sometimes East Melbourne so there tends to be something of a gap between the venue and the surrounding areas. Something new to explore this season! Better than going to Etihad at least!
AB13
Guest
"as someone who attends most games and has visited all other A League grounds that are in regular use," "Brisbane is the only other venue that has a really good range of pubs, bars and eateries close to the stadium" Never been down Swan Street? in Richmond?
Waz
Roar Rookie
You would be correct in that. The Caxton Street association was quite dismissive of the sok-ha a few years back and do little to support football. Park Road (where the Eiffel Tower is) is completely football mad, owned by Italians they love football and are always doing something. But certainly try out Railway Terrace, it’s excellent ????
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I do hope SFC have looked and learned from the WSW experience and that the stadiums work out well. I do believe the SCG for the derby may well be an error of judgement, or at least the crowd will be heavily sky blue. I have spoken to numerous WSW fans who won’t be heading down there as the experience of Spotless is bad enough. I confess I am on that list. I’m doing a trip to Wellington for a long weekend instead of the derby so it is nothing to do with expense! Whilst many criticize the expanse of Westpac stadium, it is still an enjoyable experience going there and Nix supporters are very hospitable and good to have a beer and a yarn with.
Buddy
Roar Rookie
Thanks Waz, I’ll try the railway terrace in a few weeks when I am up ... not football sadly. Been to Newstead brewing its excellent. There are some great establishments all around the area. I am not a fan of stadium beer or food so we are always on the lookout for good hospitable establishments. Am I correct in feeling that local business doesn’t engage and support the Roar the way that business in Parramatta appears to support WSW?
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Actually, if memory serves me correct, the Parramatta Stadium hadn't been confirmed before Eels fans razed Cumberland Oval, instead it actually forced the state government to build the ground. And if it weren't for the Friends of Parramatta Park, the original Parramatta Stadium would've had seating around 40,000 and an entertainment precinct.
Paul
Guest
Allianz should not have slated for a rebuild. No public funds should have granted to the SCG Trust. Unfortunately the Parrot got his way using his so called power for elections. It should have been Baird's plan 1. Western Sydney Stadium - rebuild 2. Stadium Australia- rebuild in stages 3. Sydney Football Stadium - refurb The SFS is not a death trap.
Paul
Guest
I think you will find that planning permission has already been granted before the end of the season. so some of the Eels fans decided to speed up the construction process as they saw it. The crossbar ended up at my school during muck-up day activities that year.
jamesb
Roar Guru
It will be interesting to see what happens to Campbelltown Stadium if the Sydney south west A League bid gets the nod. With the Wests Tigers as co tenant, it might get an upgrade of some sort. Also if Parramatta get their act together, they are more than capable of filling up the venue. Both the Eels and the Wanderers are very important teams in their respective codes.
Waz
Roar Rookie
@ Buddy Suncorp Stadium is blessed with pubs n restaurants around it with Caxton Street the most famous but also Park Road at Milton Station, and opposite the stadium itself there is the XXXX Ale House as well as the new Newstead Brewing Company. I’d also recommend the new craft brewery on Railway Terrace called Aether Brewing which does outstanding beer and food and well worth a visit the next time you’re up (better than anything on Caxton Street for sure).
Stuart Thomas
Expert
That first night will be special. I agree about the tearing down of stadiums that were built in the last thirty years or so. I guess legislation and the expectations on facilities changes but surely we can build something with scope made for minor tweaks and refurbishment in the future. The knock down rebuild is obviously costly and inconvenient for all.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Already talk around South Sydney and Canterbury using the ground when they are wandering around Sydney without a home. ANZ is to be refurbished and that affects Dogs, Rabbits, Tigers, Dragons and Eels. Although Parramatta should be well and truly in its new digs by then.
Stuart Thomas
Expert
Paul, A correction on your correction. There were discussions at the time about building a new stand. New CEO Denis Fitzgerald seemed to have it quite high on his to do list, yet no formal decision had been made. That was 1981 and the Eels were homeless for some time until the new stadium was announced in 1984. They were actually playing their games at Belmore for some period.
AGO74
Guest
Yeah the WSW fans I know are really just in a holding pattern until the stadium is built - the showground is not conducive to football and the Olympic stadium is awful for the sort of crowds WSW are attracting. And best not to mention the Homebush precinct compared to what fans have previously had in Church street as you mention. I’m genuinely surprised WSW didn’t try a few games at Penrith or Campbelltown which are much more conducive to viewing football. Call me naive but i don’t thinksydney FCs experience will be as dire as WSW. The grounds we are playing at are generally well regarded for watching rectangular events like the NRL and football and there is a strong correlation between the two sports I do believe re Sydney FCs fan base (although Sydney FC will be hoping for games on dry days). Plus these grounds (kogarah and Leichhardt) will actually be closer to where fans a lot of the clubs fans live. Personally I’m finding the SCG the least attractive option. I believe Sydney FC lobbied hard for more earlier games this year and their request has been supported after having only 1 early game all last year. I know Sydney FC copped a lot of flak for their crowds last year and I think the fact virtually every game was played at 745pm rules out a lot of fans with young families was a significant contributor to this. I’m curious to see how we go with three home grounds this year and there will probably be some fallout of being homeless but I’m quietly confident we should not have the same issues that WSW have faced.