When the Wanderers run out tonight in a stadium not fit for purpose, it will sum up just how far Sydney has fallen as a sporting city since the 2000 Olympics.
New South Wales’ latest Labor leader, Michael Daley, said during the week that if his party wins the state election in March, they would not rebuild either Allianz Stadium at Moore Park or upgrade ANZ Stadium in Homebush.
That’s despite the fact that, by the time the election rolls around, Allianz Stadium’s demolition will have begun, and it’s already sent major tenant Sydney FC on a peripatetic journey across the city’s suburbs.
Daley says his party will spend the entirety of the $1.5 billion earmarked for stadium upgrades by Gladys Berejiklian’s state government on hospitals and public schools instead.
Depending on your point of view, it’s either a bold move spurred on by the public outcry over the high cost of the stadium rebuilds, or a blatant act of political grandstanding.
It also makes Sydney a laughing stock in the eyes of every other city in Australia.
But then, it doesn’t seem like the Harbour City needs much help in that department.
This is a city in which you can’t buy a normal train ticket from the airport, can’t buy a drink after midnight and can’t afford to buy a house anywhere.
It’s a city that has closed down venues by the dozens, forced out musicians and artists and low-income and creative types by the thousands and made millions for property developers at the expense of its long-suffering public.
How about installing a light rail network without disrupting the city for years? Not possible in a joint like Sydney.
So why should we expect them to be able to do something that cities like Adelaide and Perth have done with a minimum of fuss, and either upgrade or build new stadia that bring plenty of tourists to town?
ANZ Stadium has been set for re-development – but will this actually happen? (Image: supplied)
All of this electioneering leaves clubs like Western Sydney and Sydney FC in a bind.
The Wanderers, at least, will soon have a brand new Western Sydney Stadium to move into – the naming rights of which were just awarded to a bank from Western Australia.
Sydney FC, meanwhile, attracted crowds of 40,000+ to no less than six of their derbies against the Wanderers at Allianz Stadium – not to mention selling out the 2017 A-League grand final – yet their name rarely features in mainstream media discussions around Sydney’s stadium wars.
Anyone who attended those games at Allianz Stadium knows the ground was no longer suitable to host matches of that magnitude – the narrow, dimly-lit concourses funnelled thousands of fans into the same choke points at the exits.
It was never a problem until clubs like Sydney FC and the Wanderers came along because, frankly, the ground’s other tenants rarely drew crowds large enough for it to be one.
And the only thing Daley’s announcement will do is send the NRL grand final north to Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane – and potentially a few key Socceroos and Matildas games while he’s at it.
Meanwhile, Melbourne’s mantle as the sporting capital of Australia isn’t exactly under threat.
By a stroke of coincidence, I’ll be in Sydney this weekend because – among other things – I’ve got tickets to see Wu-Tang Clan at the Sydney Opera House.
Having been born and raised in the Harbour City, I used to be proud to call Sydney home – but I was priced out of the city years ago, like a lot of folks my age.
So I’ll fly into Sydney to enjoy its sights and sounds for a few nights, before hopping on a plane and flying back to somewhere a bit more hospitable.
If only the Western Sydney Wanderers and Sydney FC had that option.
After last week’s Spotless Stadium debacle, the news that one of the city’s key venues may not be rebuilt – despite the fact its demolition is looming – just about seals Sydney’s reputation as the most embarrassing sporting city in Australia.
Note: This article originally stated the demolition of Allianz Stadium has begun. This was incorrect, and has now been amended.
Jonathan Gouy
Guest
This article has it wrong. There has barely been a full house at allianz in years. Its easier to say when the house has been full than small than when it hasnt. While parts of the corridors et al are small, they are rarely so full that this is academic. Its sightlines are pretty good and the roof? So what - people in sydney dont go to the football when it is wet. But they also don't go that much in summer which is when a bigger issue of the sun impacts. Most of the games in summer are at night if not all. So what's the issue question the real issue, and I'm from Melbourne, is that the underlined attendance for the Waratahs Sydney FC the Roosters have not been there and those clubs need to work on expanding their attendance rather than blame in a Stadium. I live in Canberra I know that's the main reason that Canberra Stadium is not well attended is that the Brumbies and Raiders have been average for a long period now. Fans will come when there is on field performance. If it was really about a stadiums why do people pack out Kogarah and Leichhardt Oval at times?
Brendon
Roar Rookie
People sit 500 metres away from the action at the MCG and no one complains.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Maybe for you. But when it comes to crowds, tv ratings and interest the BBL absolutely destroys the A-League and both are played at the same time.
Leonard Colquhoun
Roar Rookie
Please, any chance that independent posters could use the traditional / customary / generic / locational names of 'our' venues, and drop their corporate branding into a language dumpster?
Leonard Colquhoun
Roar Rookie
What's not to like about a 21st century state government spending billions on schools and hospitals, teachers and nurses? At least, in NSW schools pupils actually have to learn stuff and teachers are really expected to, like, t-e-a-c-h (or at least they were when I taught its HSC Greek & Roman and English a decade or so ago). Anyway, Sydneysiders have so-o-o-o-o much else to do - well, that's what they reckon - that League, Union and Soccer can't draw several 80,000s several games per annum year like that other place Down South.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
There is not a chance in hell that both Governments get nothing out of filling these stadiums, which they do regularly.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
You have to admit, as far as five little words go, it's a sage five words.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
When they were at their previous stadium controlled by the local SAFL. the SAFL owned the local stadium and bled them and the Crows dry, but they would have had to pay to maintain the stadium. The other complication is this weird membership systems the AFL use, so you can attend the home game but the home team dont get the reveunue the SAFL, or the AFL or maybe the opposition do. What does breaking even mean, it should mean how many you need to turn up at the event to break even on the specific matchday expenses, that should not include player and staff wages etc. Now the government has paid for the stadium, the SAFl got not only the land but gets revenue from their matches as well without having put in a cent this time. One bit of the AFL is charging another bit of the AFL for a stadium they never payed for while the government gets nothing thats not rent to the owner. Some similiar arrangement has been brought into WA. Even SFC if the 7k SFS members actually turned up, then they get no money from them and they need another 20k on average to break even on their operation.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The sale was in 2002 so how people have connected the two events is mystery. Something is only an asset if you can sell it, now Docklands if it could be sold for apartments and the government build them a 2 billion dollar stadium rent free then it would be a huge asset. If they sell it as a stadium then its basically handling a monopoly to a third party and they can then charge whatever rent they want, so they would lose money on the deal. If the government owned it and let them have it rent free, then they dont have to pay to maintain it and for it to be rebuilt.
chris
Guest
ANZ needs to be configured so that the main sports of football and league can have a proper stadium and not sit 100meters away from the action.
AR
Guest
This guy gets it.
AR
Guest
My top picks from this opus... “There is no evidence I have seen that the AFL contributed the money from Waverley” - so you have to personally see the bank transfer document for it to be true? “and that was a small amount anyway.” - right, so you now admit the $30mil was paid in 1999, but it doesn’t matter cos it’s chump change to you. “Docklands is not an asset, its an expense” - I actually had to read this one twice from someone calling themselves Brainstrust. In the age of Trump, it seems some people will say anything if it suits their end.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
Umm the NRL are one of the rugby codes I alluded to (even if I did it with a typo...)
Mike Tuckerman
Expert
Solid comment, Randy.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
ANZ was always a compromised stadium after the Olympics. Originally the plans were to have big cricket and AFL matches at ANZ but with the SCG being redeveloped over the past few years (Victor Trumper stand and rebuilt Bradman/Noble stand) along with Spotless stadium there is no need for ANZ to be able to have oval sports on it. Plus ANZ is a terrible stadium when the crowds are small. The original plans for a rebuilt ANZ included a roof and lighting system that would make sub 30,000 crowds much more enjoyable and better the atmosphere. Finally ANZ stadium has a much better ability to pay back the costs of rebuilding it. Allianz will be a massive white elephant for years to come.
Mitcher
Guest
There’s nothing AR doesn’t know best seen through the refracted view from deep within his treasured Melbourne bubble.
Randy
Roar Rookie
cash rules everything around me (CREAM)
Mister Football
Roar Guru
I'm not sure where you're getting your info, I can recall Port complaining that at one point they had to attract 40k to a game just to break even. How do you think SFC would fare if they too had to attract 40k to a game to break even at the new stadium?
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
So they have to pay for the stadium, but not only don't they don't get to own it then they have to pay rental on top of that, plus the SCG trust gets the membership revenue as well. The deals the AFL gets where they put in a token amount and then get rent free use for life are only offered to the AFL. They are old hat anyway AFL has put in nothing in Adelaide and Perth and get it rent free on top of that.
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
The deal that built docklands was saddling the four tenant AFL clubs with the mortgage repayments in the disguise of stadium deal. The land was donated by the government . There is no evidence I have seen that the AFL contributed the money from Waverley and that was a small amount anyway. Docklands is not an asset, its an expense, because in other states governments are paying for stadiums and giving them away rent free to the AFL. Only in Melbourne , instead of the government paying for the stadium they got the four clubs to do it, and the MCC have been paying for the MCG at an indirect cost to the AFL through having all those MCG members attend AFL games while not paying a cent to the AFL. Now they had to payout Etihad, and go beg for more money from the government in funding , I imagine all the development around Docklands stadium had something to do with it ,maybe they were already selling off up front long term leases to the land and pocketing itl If they were looking at playing the long game they would have held onto the Waverley land, that is worth more than Docklands stadium now. The long game in Australia is do nothing and wait for the government to pay for everything.