Designs revealed for new 70,000 capacity ANZ Stadium

The NSW Government has released the first artist's impressions of their $810 million vision for the rebuilding of Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

The latest version of the plan to rebuild the former Olympic venue will see it reconfigured as a rectangle with steeper seating to draw spectators closer to the on field action.

The reconfiguration into a permanently rectangular playing field will see the 20-year-old venue offer 70,500 seats – almost 15,000 fewer seats than its current capacity. It will also have an option of a crowd of up to 90,000 for concerts.

These renovations will bring the east and west stands five metres closer to the field and the north and south stands 18 metres closer.

A new semi-translucent roof will also be installed under the proposed plans which will allow light through while still providing shade and shelter for fans around the stadium.

The design will see most of both ends of the stadium demolished and rebuilt with major upgrades elsewhere in the building for toilets, corporate hospitality and food and drink stands.

Seating in the mid to lower sections on the sides will also be upgraded and brought in at a steeper rake to improve visibility, and changing rooms will be made unisex, while state of the art giant screens will be also installed.

An architectural and design report, published as part of the project's environmental impact statement today, said Cox Architecture would design would include a new roof arching over the structure and changes to the lower and middle seating sections of the Stadium.

The current venue was designed by the Bligh Lobb consortium while Cox is currently being sued for its work on Perth’s Optus Stadium by its builders.

The report advises “the new mid and lower tiers create a ‘cauldron’ effect for approximately 50,000 fans, bringing them closer to the action than Suncorp Stadium or the new Perth Stadium.”

The redevelopment also includes new entrances to the stadium at the southern and northern ends and a refreshed facade.

Acting NSW Sports Minister Geoff Lee said the refurbishment of the venue will be completed in the first quarter of 2023, advising “the NSW Government is committed to the redevelopment of Stadium Australia as part of our commitment to building world class stadia.”

The refurbishment of the venue follows a period when the redevelopment of an all-new venue on the site - at a cost of $1.3 billion - was considered.

That plan was dumped in favour of the revamp and the Allianz Stadium at Sydney’s Moore Park being rebuilt at a cost of $730 million.

Former NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres, who favoured the Allianz Stadium rebuild, has been reported over recent days to have been lobbying for the ANZ Stadium project to be abandoned.

Images: Artist's impressions of the current plan for the rebuilding of Sydney's ANZ Stadium.