Work underway on replacing playing surface at ANZ Stadium

Within hours of the South Sydney Rabbitohs winning their historic first NRL premiership in 43 years, workers began stripping the ANZ Stadium surface bare as part of a $2 million turf replacement program.

After hosting 46 events so far in 2014, including many of the biggest and most memorable sporting contests in the nation, the Stadium surface is to undergo a facelift to have it in pristine condition for the upcoming cricket season and the AFC Asian Cup football tournament in January.

A completely new surface has been growing on a turf farm in the Sydney suburb of Wilberforce for the past four months while the old turf is being reused at two golf courses in the city’s western suburbs.

In addition, before the new surface is laid by HG Sports Turf, the ANZ Stadium surface will be re-levelled and a new irrigation system installed.

The Stadium also hosted one of its most popular events – the Monster Jam monster trucks spectacular – on Saturday 18th October, attended by more than 50,000 fans.

For this, the ANZ Stadium arena laid down a custom-designed dirt track laid down over a plywood floor to accommodate the giant trucks.

ANZ Stadium Head Curator Graeme Logan said the venue was using a break in the events schedule to replace 18,000 metres2 of turf from fence to fence, with the turf to be re-laid now that the big trucks have gone.

Logan explained “many people, including NRL legend Brad Fittler, said they had never seen the Stadium surface in better shape on Grand Final day ... but this turf replacement program is all about us getting the arena in the best

possible shape for a busy summer of sport, including the AFC Asian Cup, and setting us up for a great 2015.”

The curator added that the improvements to the irrigation system would further improve drainage and give the Olympic venue more flexibility with its watering of the Stadium surface.

The Stadium will also be installing it drop-in cricket pitches in preparation for the T20 international between Australia and South Africa on Sunday 9th November.

The Stadium will also host two Big Bash League T20 games – Sydney Thunder v Brisbane Heat on Sunday 21st December and Thunder against cross-city rivals the Sydney Sixers on Saturday 27th December. The Thunder v Heat game will feature the Big Bash debut of champion South African all-rounder, Jacques Kallis.

The biggest football tournament ever staged in Australia – the AFC Asian Cup – will be held between 9th and 31st January, with all seven Sydney games, including a semi-final on Australia Day and the tournament Final on Saturday 31st January, to be played at ANZ Stadium.

Logan adds “no other city in the world has such a diverse sporting landscape (which) makes our job at ANZ Stadium a little more challenging.

“While many grounds cater for only one sport each season, or at least prioritise one sport, we have the unique challenge of fitting everyone in. We squeeze a lot into our year and we are getting better all the time at meeting these unique demands.”

Sydney’s climate also presents a unique challenge, with the natural transition of winter rye to summer couch ensuring there are additional demands on the surface heading into each season.

More than 1.6 million fans – and 2 million visitors – will pass through the gates at ANZ Stadium by the end of the calendar year.

Melbourne-based HG Sports Turf are also completing the returfing of the MCG and the Hunter Stadim, Newcastle.

For more information contact 03 9329 8154, E: info@hgsportsturf.com.au, www.hgsportsturf.com.au

Click here to visit the ANZ Stadium website.

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