Pirtek Stadium renovation on hold as tenants disagree on plans

Plans to upgrade Parramatta's Pirtek Stadium’s are reportedly on hold as a result of disagreements between the National Rugby League and Football Federation Australia over what the $29 million refurbishment should include.

A recent board meeting of Venues NSW apparently put the redevelopment on ice until agreement can be reached.

As a result, plans to upgrade corporate facilities in the eastern grandstand in the coming months have been temporarily aborted.

The Western Sydney Wanderers have opposed that part of the redevelopment because it would have cur the venue’s capacity by 3,000 seats during the upcoming A-League season.

With more than 15,000 season ticket-holders, the Wanderers are already struggling to accommodate fans.

The remainder of the money was to be spent on 1,500 additional seats at the northern end and new dressing rooms under the western grandstand.

While both the Wanderers and other major tenant, the Parramatta Eels, want new facilities for players, both clubs have been petitioning for alternative improvements.

The Eels want the training field behind the southern stand to be extended to a full-length field, which would enable them to hold all training sessions inside the precinct. The Eels have trained at a range of venues over recent years, switching their drills between nearby Richie Benaud Oval, Granville and the stadium itself.

While seats may be added to the venue's northern grandstand, Venues NSW is understood to be considering a $100 million scheme to enlarge the Pirtek Stadium to 32,000 seats.

10th October 2013 - PARRAMATTA STADIUM, EELS AND FC THE EPICENTRE FOR SPORT NEWS