Considerable public attention has been given to Sydney’s three new or refurbished football stadiums that will be built by 2023 at a cost of around $2 billion.
They are the April 2019 opening of the Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta (30,000 capacity), the new Allianz Stadium (40,000-45,000) due to be completed by 2022, and the planned reconstruction of the ANZ Stadium (70,000) by 2023.
Sure, Sydney needs many good stadiums. Very few cities in the world play host to so many popular football teams given the interest in various codes (rugby league, Australian rules, soccer and rugby union). The city’s 14 club teams had an attendance average above 10,000 per home match in 2018.
In addition, both ANZ and Allianz stadiums held a number of near or sell-out crowds for major matches that included a State of Origin match, rugby and soccer internationals, and major club matches and finals.
With the $2 billion investment in three stadiums, Sydney will rank high among world cities when it comes to the range of quality football venues, especially when taking account of the Sydney Cricket Ground (capacity 48,000) and other quality smaller suburban stadiums with a capacity of 20,000-25,000.
Leichhardt Oval is one of Sydney’s many suburban grounds. (Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
With such an array of stadiums, Sydney can ensure fans a favourable spectator experience and quality playing fields, as was the case when the Matildas attracted a crowd of 15,000 to Penrith’s Panthers Stadium on November 10, 2018, when playing Chile.
From 2023, Sydney’s two AFL teams, playing an average one match per fortnight in two all-seater stadiums of 24,000 and 48,000, will easily cope with small- to medium-sized crowds and have good playing surfaces.
As for the many rectangular stadiums, new technology for ridding the field of excessive water at Bankwest Stadium, which can be passed onto the Allianz and ANZ Stadium rebuilds, should go a long way to maintaining good surfaces even with two to three matches per week, assuming more NRL teams ultimately decide to play more fixtures at the big three rectangular venues.
But Sydney will be extremely lucky to have three world-class rectangular stadiums by 2023, simply because recent history may not justify the expense.
In this era where many Australians prefer the comfort of their homes to watch live sport via television, with Sydney crowds already lacking any large-scale attendance tradition for club matches, it remains to be seen whether the new grounds can increase crowds for rugbies league and union and soccer.
Yes, Parramatta has achieved crowds well above 20,000 at the new Bankwest Stadium in 2019, but other NRL clubs have averaged well below that mark despite playing at Allianz and ANZ with their vastly superior facilities when compared to most suburban crowds.
In 2018, the Sydney Roosters, playing in their premiership-winning year at Allianz Stadium, averaged just 13,274 for home matches, lower than Penrith’s average crowd of 14,264 at Panthers Stadium.
The simple truth is Sydney often disappoints with its club crowds, regardless of the quality of its stadiums. In April this year, at the brand new Bankwest Stadium, the Waratahs attracted a paltry crowd of 10,605 for their Super Rugby match against the crowd.
At ANZ Stadium, just 7919 turned up for the A-League match between Western Sydney Wanderers and Melbourne Victory that same month, and just 6711 attended the NRL fixture between the Canterbury Bulldogs and North Queensland Cowboys the day after Anzac Day.
Sydney is indeed very lucky to have a government spend such high amounts of public resources on new stadiums given its crowds hardly justify them.
In London, arguably the world’s greatest sporting city which boasts six all-seater stadiums with a capacity between 40,000 and 90,000, albeit its largest stadiums are mainly used for occasional club matches and international fixtures (Wembley and Twickenham), its soccer stadiums have long been developed in line with demand from loyal fans.
Besides the new Tottenham Stadium (62,000 capacity) which only hosted a few 2018-2019 matches due to its late opening, London’s other Premier League clubs averaged near capacity crowds. Even second-tier teams attracted two-thirds capacity crowds.
With regard to London’s two major rugby union teams, Saracens and Harlequins, their home matches were mostly confined to local grounds with capacities of 10,000 to 15,000, unless high demand encouraged the use of a larger stadium.
So, given that Sydney’s new stadiums are hardly likely to regularly draw near-capacity crowds, its various clubs will need strategies to attract higher attendances.
After all, few sporting leagues are as prosperous as England’s Premier League teams given its high television revenue and attendances, despite high average match ticket price of £31 for the 2018-19 season.
(AP Photo/Frank Augstein)
With smaller sporting leagues needing to be smart when seeking to boost matchday revenue, this will depend on a lot of factors which include the price of attending in terms of tickets, food and travel. Such realities are already evident with cheaper food prices and the NSW Government often helping to provide free public transport with matchday football tickets.
With various football codes competing for the spectator attendance dollar, however, Sydney’s 14 major clubs will have a tough time increasing crowds, even with three world-class rectangular stadiums intended to enhance the spectator experience.
It remains to be seen whether Sydneysiders are willing to leave the comfort of their chair given they can view most football club matches on television, especially when faced by uncomfortable weather.
My feeling is that Sydney by 2023 will soon have a quality stadium capacity that far exceeds the willingness of its sports fans to attend. I hope I am wrong.
Paul
Roar Guru
"At some point, and at some level, you have to conclude it’s the games themselves." Hi Go, not entirely sure where you're going with this comment, but you're right in one way, new stadiums can only lure a certain extra few to games. Probably best to leave it at that.
GoGWS
Roar Guru
It’s not just about transport though is it. Why do the Swans pull bigger average crowds than NRL teams that play in a stadium next door? Are the Swans fans somehow immune to travel concerns? Why do the Storm pull much smaller crowds than than AFL teams - like the Swans they have an entire city to themselves yet don’t regularly sell their small stadium. Why do AFL average crowds in WA, SA and Victoria more than double the NRL crowds? At some point, and at some level, you have to conclude it’s the games themselves. NRL game can be counted on to pull around 10-20K give or take, and AFL game average maybe around 30-40K more or less. And those asserting that shiny a few new stadiums will somehow dramatically change things in the long term are kidding themselves.
Make it free entry with complimentary beer
Guest
There is actually a very good chance attendances at venues will actually decrease. With these whizz bang grounds, it will cost a lot of money to pay back the banks. The punter pays for that(and tax payer). Also, food and beverages will go up. Then to top it off, 4k tv broadcasts (or 8k) and you will wonder why you want to shell out a lot of money to attend some far off venue. There better be free beer served by a hot girl in bikinis in your seat or who in their right mind would attend?
chris
Guest
Punter I thought Tassie was AFL as well? There must have been at least 3k people watching Melbourne v the midgets the other day. Where is Mr AFL giving us the cold hard stats on this?
chris
Guest
Agree totally. What is with the blasting rock riffs every time there is a break in an NRL game at Homebush? Seriously annoying.
Paul
Roar Guru
I'm sure you're right about the NRL, BD, but I'm equally sure the gov't is doing it's own due diligence and must clearly realize what the NRL is telling them, should be taken with a very large grain of salt. I haven't lived in Sydney for years but clearly remember the struggles to get to ANY ground to watch the footy, unless you drove and of course parking became the big issue then. The Melbourne model with great transport to sporting venues is something Sydney should have adopted 30 or 40 years ago, but that stupid interstate rivalry stood in the way. I'm sure you're right, more people would go to the footy if they could get there and away, quickly and cheaply.
Fadida
Roar Rookie
Give me a minute while I compile AFL stats for London and other overseas countries. I'm back. Zero grounds, zero crowds. Quite a benchmark
Buddy
Roar Rookie
I hope it is just the NRL that do those routines. The PA playing “Parra, Parra” sounds hideous and I found three tiers of advertising all flashing at once quite disconcerting. You need dark glasses and ear plugs!
Big Daddy
Guest
Paul, I think the NRL are in the present governments ear saying you build the stadiums and we will fill them,but that is obviously not happening. Was looking at union on t.v. this afternoon and Concord Oval is a wasted ground but I would like to seethe government spend something on that. Only downside is it's not near a rail station and people / fans want grounds accessible by train services as parking and sydney buses are a waste of time which is why I'm not in favour of SCG.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
When am I not. Banter is as old as the game itself and much more fun than a mutual admiration society. But in this case, I'm just stating the obvious. Sydney IS the greatest city in Australia with the best fishing! ;-)
Paul
Roar Guru
Chris, I think you need to get your comparisons better lined up when comparing sport in this country to that in the UK. Soccer is by far the most popular sport in London and the UK whereas, League is the most popular sport in Sydney, but runs a distant third behind cricket and the AFL in terms of followers. A fair comparison would be cricket versus English soccer and Sydneysiders attendance would stack up pretty well IMO. They're not afraid to go out and support the New Years Day Test and there have been some excellent crowds at BBL games, I believe. Sure the NSW gov't is spending money on these grounds, but they are not exclusively League grounds. I'm equally sure the same gov't who committed the funds, would have done a proper cost analysis and found these grounds would be viable in their eyes, regardless of the NRL crowd numbers. I'm sure the NRL would love more people to go to games, but it's still doing very well out of TV revenue and the TV watching population for League regularly tops the AFL. At the end of the day, does it matter, as long as we have a viable code to enjoy?
Paul
Roar Guru
someone's in a stirring mood, eh Papi?
Timmypig
Roar Rookie
This fan will stop going unless the stadium authorities turn down the PA volume and the constant meaningless announcements. I don't care how good Bankwest is (and it is - it's great) but the game day experience is made diabolical. I prefer sitting behind the posts at Shark Park, frankly, or on the verandah at TG Milner. There I can actually hear the game and get some real atmosphere.
Kangas
Guest
Sydney based government wasting money on stadiums that were unnecessary forgetting the rest of the state basic living needs or public service are not getting met . It’s the harsh reality that myself and many others in nsw
Punter
Roar Rookie
We talking Sydney here, if the AFL struggles.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
A bit unfair to compare to Australian Football, this is a benchmark that no other sport can achieve.
Punter
Roar Rookie
Where's AF, this is his favourite sport!!!!
Big Daddy
Guest
AFL fans will turn up rain , hail or shine. The NRL fan if it drops a centimeter of rain or the temperature drops below 15 degrees immediately head for the pub or prop themselves on a lounge. South's have largest Sydney membership but against newcastle about 8 k turned up. Probably not their fault it was scheduled 6 p.m. Friday night.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
There will be a honeymoon period, the real test will be a few years after they are built. Might also see a new stadium in Canberra by that time (which will happen if Canberra gets an A-League side).
Brendan
Roar Pro
A very good article. Sydney, it appears, is in the middle of a building boom. How do the former architects feels about their once-loved stadiums being demolished? Sydney crowds can’t compete with Melbourne’s higher patron numbers. So, why rebuild everything at a staggering cost?