NSW Sports Minister revives prospect of building a roof on Sydney's Accor Stadium

The addition of a roof on Sydney’s Accor Stadium is back on the agenda of the NSW Government according to media reports.

The revival of plans for the Sydney Olympic Park venue follow comments by NSW Sports Minister, Steve Kamper, after his attendance at last weekend’s NRL season opener at the roofed Allegiant Stadium in the USA city of Las Vegas.

A roof on the Accor Stadium (then known as ANZ Stadium) was part of the then NSW Government’s plan to upgrade Sydney’s venue infrastructure - that included the rebuilding of the Allianz Stadium - through the last decade. However, plans for Accor Stadium’s roof were dropped in May 2020 amid rising costs and moves to boost the local economy during the pandemic.

When the current NSW Government entered office in March 2023, facing $200 billion of debt it shelved plans for venue upgrades and rebuilds beyond projects already committed to.

Now, impressed by Allegiant Stadium, Minister Kemper would appear to want to reverse that, telling Sydney’s The Daily Telegraph “Allegiant has a covered, basically glass roof, which isn’t totally clear so therefore you don’t see clear sky. That also protects from the hot sun, which is relevant to Accor.

“I had a look at what type of roof they have at Allegiant and how it potentially would suit Accor. A roof at Accor is something we’re seriously looking at. When they built Accor, it had provisions for a roof, whereas Allianz Stadium (at Moore Park) didn’t.”

Referencing the thunderstorm that impacted the first of Taylor Swift’s concerts at Accor Stadium last month, Minister Kamper went on to say “I remember the first night at Taylor Swift and we thought there were going to be massive thunderstorms. Everything was out of our control.

“I remember thinking: ‘Oh my God, what are we going to do?’ We were just lucky the storm clouds cleared. If you have a facility that can’t protect against that, then there’s a great chance that you could lose a lot of great performers and content that is so valuable for our economy.

“(A roof) is also valuable in the sense that it’s great for our community so they can be there to witness and experience great artists we can attract because we have the covered protection. That’s key and has reinforced to me that it’s something we are definitely talking about and looking at.”

Minister Kamper’s statements were welcomed by Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue Chairman, Christopher Brown commented “how many times is Beyonce going to knock us back before we get the message that not having a covered stadium is why we do not get the big gigs.”.

“Allegiant Stadium has shown us the importance of an all weather venue … this is the gold standard we have to live up to.”

Kerrie Mather, Chief Executive of Venues NSW, which has operated Accor Stadium, since 1st January this year said now was the perfect opportunity to deliver on Accor Stadium’s original design which had provision for a roof to be fitted.

Mather told The Daily Telegraph “it would give us a unique competitive advantage both domestically and internationally to secure even more world-class artists, bands, sports and other new and exciting events.”

However, NSW Premier, Chris Minns, said any roof project would be cost dependent, broadcaster Nine’s Today program “I don’t want to say we’re not going ahead with it, but like all these things, it’s not my money, it’s taxpayer money.

“We’ve got a budget coming up and the priority for that has got to be essential services and real recognition that cost of living for families is smashing their budget so it all has to be seen in that context.”

However, with Venues NSW already having design images for the roofed venue and Minister Kamper’s comments unlikely to have not been cleared at a higher level, it would appear the project is being seriously considered.

Reports indicate that the cost of a new roof for Accor Stadium would be around $250 million. 

Images: New renders of how Accor Stadium would look with a roof (top, credit: Venues NSW) and NRL Chief Executive Andrew Abdo, Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter Vlandys and NSW Minister for Sport Steve Kamper at the NRL season opening double-header at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA (below).