Sydney stadium developments to be fast tracked by NSW Government

With the redevelopment of Sydney’s major stadia seldom out of the media, multiple news report this week indicate the NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian is to fast track the upgrade of Sydney's ANZ and Allianz Stadiums.

Premier Berejiklian is apparently set to dump a schedule that would have seen ANZ Stadiuma and then Allianz Stadium, with Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph reporting that both venues could be rebuilt at the same time - even if it costs more than the $1.6 billion already set aside for the projects.

On a visit to the Japanese capital of Tokyo this week, where she is looking to encourage investment in infrastructure projects in NSW, Premier Berejiklian said both stadiums could even be rebuilt at the same time, provided sporting codes could find a way to manage their games as work progressed.

Premier Berejiklian said she was determined to push ahead because the presence of world-class facilities “means jobs, it means tourism”.

She added “the only thing that would prevent me from doing that with (the) Allianz (Stadium) is the content issue. If we can find an innovative way to deal with the content issue - and it does require further discussion with the codes - then that’s the big challenge for us.”

Estimates for the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium range from $900 million to $1.6 billion while a rebuild of Allianz Stadium will cost between $400 million and $800 million.

With Allianz Stadium managed by the influential Sydney Cricket and Sportsground Trust, The Daily Telegraph has promoted the redevelopment of the Allianz Stadium on an ongoing basis.

However, while the NSW Government is backing the redevelopment of Sydney’s major venues, which also includes the new Western Sydney Stadium in Parramatta, NRL fans would reportedly prefer money to be spent on updating suburban grounds.

Almost 65% of respondents to a survey by The Daily Telegraph said they would rather watch matches at the more traditional suburban venues.

In contrast, just 19% said that they would prefer to attend games at an updated Allianz Stadium, and a further 19% said they would opt for a revamped ANZ Stadium.

Amid declining NRL crowds in metropolitan Sydney, the survey also found that 22% of fans will not attend games due to high ticket prices, while 14% criticised the cost of food and drinks in stadiums.

In addition, the five NRL clubs that play home matches at the ANZ Stadium are today meeting to discuss slashing ticket prices.

The newspaper said that the clubs have united to lobby the NRL to take action over scheduling issues at the stadium and a sharp downturn in attendance figures.

Blake Solly, Chief Executive of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, one of the teams that plays at the ANZ Stadium, explained “(we want) to push forward with initiatives ... to trial towards the end of this season and then bring in next season

“We know there is an issue about making tickets more affordable. Different clubs will price different levels in different areas.

“We want to agree to a joint pricing offer but more importantly it can be consistent right through the season so people have an understanding of what they are getting.”

Images: ANZ Stadium yesterday (top) and previous plans for the redevelopment of Allianz Stadium (below).

23rd August 2017 - SYDNEY’S ALLIANZ STADIUM PREPARES FOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL SPECTACULAR

20th August 2017 - BROADCASTERS FAKE NRL LIVE ATMOSPHERE WITH HISTORIC CROWD FOOTAGE

21st July 2017 - NSW GOVERNMENT RELEASES ‘COMMERCIALITY FRAMEWORK’ FOR STADIA

19th July 2017 - POLLSTAR MID-YEAR RANKINGS SHOW AUSTRALIA’S OUTDOOR VENUES ECLIPSING INDOOR ARENAS

23rd June 2017 - ANZ STADIUM REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT HIT BY RISING COSTS

21st June 2017 - RECORD NSW FUNDING COMMITMENT TO SPORT AND RECREATION

19th May 2017 - MAJOR SPORTING EVENTS DRIVING MILLIONS OF VISITS TO SYDNEY

8th May 2017 - NEW VENUES NSW BOARD ANNOUNCED TO OVERSEE MAJOR VENUES

14th February 2017 - NRL REDUCES OPERATING LOSSES TO $2.6 MILLION IN 2016

7th December 2016 - ANZ STADIUM ROLLS OUT MASSIVE 2017 CALENDAR OF EVENTS

28th August 2016 - OVER 61,000 ATTEND COLLEGE FOOTBALL SYDNEY CUP AT ANZ STADIUM