Study recommends $1.85 billion spending on Sydney stadiums

A new study on the future of Sydney's sporting venues is reportedly set to recommend a lavish $1.85 billion spending program on the city's major venues, with the construction of three new Sydney sports facilities - including an $800 million, 55,000-seat venue to replace Moore Park’s Allianz stadium.

The findings of the 'confidential' study, written by former NSW Liberal leader John Brogden for the NSW Government, have been released this week in Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper suggests that the plan outlines $1.85 billion in venue spending to be implemented over more than a decade, with a new $150 million indoor arena, along with a $300 million, 30,000-seat venue at Parramatta - to replace Pirtek Stadium.

It recommends $300 million be spent on Homebush’s ANZ Stadium after 2020, either fully roofing the 83,500-seat mega-venue or moving lower-level seats closer to the field.

The study, apparently due to be considered by NSW Cabinet within the next month, calls on sporting codes such as the NRL and Football Federation Australia to help fund the Sydney stadium upgrades.

With the NSW Government having announced that $600 million would be spent on sporting venues after the sale of part of its electricity infrastructure, lobbyists have sought to secure even greater levels of spending on new stadiums for Sydney.

The plan would see the Allianz Stadium at Moore Park, only opened in 1998, demolished and replaced with a new 55,000 to 60,000 'rectangular' stadium.

The new stadium, which would be connected to the CBD by light rail, would be built on the existing Allianz site, with work projected to start in three years.

Brogden's plan backed away from building the new venue on adjacent parklands after The Daily Telegraph revealed the proposal in May, triggering anger from local residents and the Centennial Park and Moore Park Trust.

The most likely location for the 10,000 to 12,000-seat indoor arena would be Wentworth Park, where greyhounds presently race.

Any work at ANZ Stadium, the Sydney 2000 Olympics arena, would not begin until after the new Allianz venue was completed.

The new Parramatta stadium, home to the Western Wanderers and the Parramatta Eels, would be the first venue completed.

The Brogden report also envisages the need for ­another $300 million, 30,000-seat stadium servicing ­Western Sydney in 10 years or more but did not nominate a site.

Possible locations could include Liverpool, Campbelltown and Penrith.

Brogden also suggested that a new 'super' trust should be set up to manage the stadium network and borrow monies needed to help fund construction.

While having a developed a corporate career since leaving politics, currently Brogden is Managing Director and Chief Executive of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, John Brogden is best remembered for drunken behaviour and making unwelcome sexual advances to two female journalists at a political function in 2005.

This led to an apparent suicide attempt and psychiatric care prior to his exiting the NSW Parliament.

Brogden is not known for having any experience of stadium or sports management.

Click here to view the original news item in The Daily Telegraph.

Image shows current plans for the roofing and upgrade of Allianz Stadium.

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