Canberra Raiders Chairman calls for all new stadium for the ACT

Citing that “it is not cost effective to enhance an existing facility”, Dennis Richardson, Chairman of the NRL’s Canberra Raiders, has expressed his “hope” that the ACT Government’s consideration for the stadium needs of the nation’s capital will be for an all new venue.

Welcoming the ACT Government’s newly released vision to develop a new stadium in Canberra by 2033, Richardson said he was looking forward to working constructively with the ACT Government to advance the plan, noting that the Territory’s GIO Stadium is “no longer fit for purpose”.

With the ACT Government to consider three options in relation to the Australian Sports Commission (ASC)-owned GIO Stadium, Richardson advised that the club “wants to work constructively with the ACT Government in giving substance to the plan”.

As released earlier this week, the ACT Government is to undertake a feasibility study that will consider three options:

• A new stadium on a different site within the ASC’s Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) precinct that would enable the current stadium to operate while the new stadium is being built

• Demolition of the existing stadium and the building of a new stadium on the existing site

• Staged, significant upgrades to the existing stadium

Noting the three options, Richardson commented “in every other jurisdiction in Australia that has looked at these issues they have, without exception, come to a view that it is not cost effective to enhance an existing facility.

“GIO Stadium was never built as a football stadium and whatever enhancements are made it will not be possible to deliver an enhancement that would provide modern-day facilities that you get at football stadiums such as Allianz in Sydney, Parramatta, Optus Stadium in Perth and the Adelaide Oval.”

He added “we very much hope that the outcome of the feasibility study is a commitment to a new stadium.”

Richardson went on to explain that, in the club’s view, a new 30,000 capacity stadium would be ideal in terms of delivering game day impacts and fan experiences, highlighting that a new venue with a larger capacity than GIO Stadium would also cater for the growing population of Canberra, suggesting that a new venue.

In addition, Richardson mentioned that the NRL might contribute to the cost of a new venue, noting the AFL's contribution towards the planned new Hobart stadium and suggesting that the rugby league might match this benchmark.

Images: GIO Stadium by night (top) and Canberra Raiders Chairman Dennis Richardson (below).