Here is the situation for Sydney FC: they have completed one season removed from their former home ground, the Sydney Football Stadium.
There are five home matches still to be played this season. The timeline for the completion of the new Sydney Football Stadium is currently unclear, but it is expected to be ready for Sydney’s opening home fixture of the 22/23 A-League season.
The club has been and will continue to be nomadic at this point in their history until their home is constructed anew, and this situation has shown faults in the club’s attempt to engage their supporters, along with some positive signs for the club.
Up to this point, a majority of Sydney’s home fixtures following the demolition of the SFS have been played at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah, approximately 17 kilometres south of their old home in Moore Park. The less said about the Leichhardt Oval and the Sydney Cricket Ground experiments, the better.
Jubilee’s two other major tenants are the NRL’s St George Illawarra Dragons and Cronulla Sharks. Clashes with the two NRL clubs are not an issue for the majority of the A-League season and Kogarah is unlikely to play host to the latest Ed Sheeran or Taylor Swift pop extravaganza.
Sydney were routinely booted from the SFS mid-season while major international artists’ concerts were held at the inner-east stadium. Attendees would do so much damage to the playing surface it would have to be relayed and this would keep Sydney from using the ground for weeks at a time, forcing the club to play consecutive away games or move home games to their now quasi-home in Kogarah.
There are positive aspects of playing home fixtures at Jubilee. I’m not disputing that. But there are myriad issues with the suburban ground that cannot be ignored. The ground offers little protection from the elements for supporters not in the main grandstand, which is a majority of them.
The south-of-the-CBD location is convenient for some but adds significant travel time for fans living in the inner city, the outer west or north of the Harbour Bridge as compared to the SFS, forcing some fans to drive when public transport used to be an option.
(Matt King/Getty Images)
Fans hoping for a variety of options for a bite to eat or pre-game beverages in a boozer with some ambiance are sorely disappointed with the offerings in the immediate vicinity of the ground. This factor cannot be understated.
Anecdotally, I am hearing the same from fans I have spoken to and for some, it is not worth making the trip out to Kogarah.
The location of the SFS was perhaps its biggest advantage. A short hike up the hill from Central Station, the trip to the ground was littered with eateries and watering holes full of sky-blue jerseys, scarves and fan-made merchandise in the hours before kick-off.
It helped to create that ‘event’ feel of playing at a major stadium. The new iteration will boast an improved roof to keep patrons dry and vastly improved corporate facilities.
The SCG Trust wanted the SFS Mk. II to be bigger, more grandiose and certainly more corporate, and they have got their wish. The removal of the proposed club mode (under early development proposals the top tier of the ground would be covered with an LED curtain capable of displaying advertisements and helping to retain crowd noise) from development plans is a kick in the teeth and will affect atmosphere.
The capacity will end up being at least ten per cent too big. It will look sparsely populated on an average game-day and it will look terrible on rainy Sunday afternoons against Wellington or Western United.
But know this: for Sydney FC, not returning to the SFS in favour of making Kogarah their permanent home would be a grave mistake.
Micko
Roar Rookie
We wish! :laughing:
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Couldn't agree more. If the stadium is built at 45,000 capacity then it will only be filled maybe 4 times a year MAX. It's a joke. I think it should be built at around 35k capacity which would create better atmosphere, save more money and is more than big enough for the 3 main tenants.
AxeMaster
Roar Rookie
‘45,000 fans” …. What a ridiculously stupid large Stadium. 30,000 would have been more than enough, similar to AAMI park in Mell-booorn. The 3 clubs who share this venue will hardly ever get to 13,000 on average (derby’s will be great though) so the whole spectacle will probably look and feel very ordinary. How much money would having 15,000 less seats have saved the Government? So dumb.
Az
Roar Rookie
I know its extremely unlikely but we can all dream :stoked: Regarding the land, isn't all the surrounding park lands owned/controlled by Centennial Parklands. I believe there has already been talk between SFC/CP for Sydney to build their new training facilities in Moore park west where the Korean memorial is, if approved why not spend a little more and get some stands surrounding one of the fields?
At work
Roar Rookie
I loved the old SFS and can’t wait to get back to the new and improved version. Having access to more pubs and restaurants then you can even experience on game day is great. Also sitting in the stands beats standing on the hill every time. Plus Moore Park is actually Central to most supporters, whereas I find Kogarah annoying to get to.
At work
Roar Rookie
Maybe the combined rich owners of SydFC and the Roosters could pay for the LED curtain themselves, which may afford them some kind of enhanced commercial arrangements.
At work
Roar Rookie
Leichhardt Oval isn’t much worse than Jubilee Oval. They’re both fine as temporary options while our true home is being built.
chris
Guest
One thing the NSW govt is good at is spending lots of taxpayer dollars on construction and demolition. And lying of course.
chris
Guest
David - Leichhardt is a relic from a past that is best left there. Old and decrepit comes to mind. It's located in the backstreets of Rozelle so parking is a nightmare. The grandstand is barely that so most people are exposed to the elements, which on a summers evening is not the worst thing, but still. Can't wait to get back to the SFS.
Jimmy
Roar Guru
There is no way the City of Sydney will gift or even sell FC the land after building a giant and grossly expensive stadium, they need Year round tenants and therefore will do anything they can to entice Sydney FC to the new stadium. Plus it will be an awesome- if somewhat oversized venue, 20 000 average is probably a stretch but definitely better crowds than Kogarah.
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
Never been to Leichhardt, David. I live in Adelaide, however I have watched countless NRL games on TV there and watched the Sydney FC v Wellington game earlier in the season. It looks a sight when there’s 12k+ there and the atmosphere is electric, even better when it’s a full house. Leichhardt is in a bit of an odd place though and not much easy transport there from what I’ve heard and read. Last Sydney derby that was north of 40,000 in attendance was in the 2016-17 season (i think, I’ll check that as well). But Leichhardt is a suitable capacity for Sydney FC if you’re not playing the big games there. Could do with a few upgrades though, is a bit run-down.
David Shilovsky
Expert
Cost being the reason for the omission of the curtain would be a safe bet. What stinks is the government's claim it was never part of the original design. Sydney FC CEO Danny Townsend claimed the curtain was a key part of the club's support of the design proposal and he wouldn't have supported a design sans-curtain.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The new SFS seemed to be a good option with that curtain thing to help with the atmosphere, exactly what the A League needs! Plus the other tenants are the Sydney Roosters & NSW Waratahs, who get similar, or even smaller crowds than SFC, which it should presumably help their atmosphere too. Why did they scrap it, too expensive?
David Shilovsky
Expert
It's been a while since there was a crowd north of 40,000 at a Sydney derby. Would be fantastic to see again. Interested to get your take - have you attended games at Leichhardt? If so, what do you like about the experience?
Samuel Power
Roar Rookie
They’d have to move back to the new Sydney Football Stadium once it’s rebuilt. Most if not all seats will be undercover, will have better facilities and will attract bigger crowds than what Kogarah does. Games at Jubilee turn fans that live north of the CBD away, Moore Park is a good location. Sydney FC are averaging around 12,500 per home match this season so far, their first year at the new SFS should be around the 20k mark. I just can’t wait to watch full houses between Sydney FC v Western Sydney in front of 45,000 fans again. The rivalry with Macarthur FC will attract more people to home matches as well and games v Victory will get decent crowds. Games at Leichhardt and Jubilee have been a success, but once they build the new SFS, they have to move back their.
Roberto Bettega
Roar Rookie
The cost of building the stadium is one thing, but getting access to spare land around Moore Park? You'd think that would be next to impossible.
David Shilovsky
Expert
Indeed, that would be ideal. Sydney FC have a very rich owner, but even for him, constructing a stadium would be a huge investment. I don't think it's possible in the foreseeable future.
Az
Roar Rookie
Seems like the only ideal outcome is if Sydney build their own boutique stadium in the grounds surrounding Moore park?