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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...y/news-story/ed90992e33b8277313b2f2fc8789d7b2
Nervous NRL clubs want some clarity over stadiums strategy
The Australian understands several Sydney clubs are keen to hold talks with ANZ Stadium executives and the NRL as they look to turn up the heat on the state government and ensure they honour their pledge to turn the ground into a state-of-the-art rectangular venue.
The latest developments come only days after leaked documents suggested a cost blowout at ANZ Stadium — a move which was viewed in some quarters as a scheme to place fresh pressure on the state government to redirect funds to Allianz Stadium.
Such is the concern among clubs who use the Olympic venue, they have begun moves to gain clarity from ANZ Stadium and the NRL. It is understood at least one club has reached out to the NRL’s head of government and community relations James Boland-Rudder, the former chief of staff for ex-premier Barry O’Farrell who played a crucial role in securing the $1.6 billion commitment from the state government to spend on Sydney stadiums.
The NRL has taken a neutral view. Their primary concern is not so much where the money is spent, but that the government doesn’t reduce the $1.6bn commitment it provided to the game and their clubs last year.
Such is the level of concern, it is understood there has been thought given to a meeting between the affected clubs and key ANZ Stadium officials — managing director Daryl Kerry and Venues NSW chair Christine McLoughlin.
Any change of tack by the state government would have significant ramifications for clubs across the Sydney rugby league landscape. Canterbury and South Sydney stand to be the greatest beneficiaries out of the existing situation given they both play out of ANZ Stadium on a permanent basis.
Both clubs are believed to be on edge over latest developments, although they are also wary of jumping at shadows given the view among some that last week’s leak was designed to scare the government into changing their original decision.
There is a belief among the NRL clubs who play at ANZ Stadium — Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra also take games to the venue while Parramatta will be based there until their home ground is redeveloped — that the SCG Trust is continuing to lobby the government for more funds to be directed to Allianz Stadium.
There is also a level of concern that state sports minister Stuart Ayres, an ardent supporter of Allianz Stadium during the initial process, may be driving the push for change. It is believed part of the argument being peddled behind the scenes is that the numbers simply aren’t there to justify the significant amount of money which has been earmarked for ANZ Stadium.
As part of the state government pledge, which was announced in April after furious lobbying between officials from the major stadiums in Sydney’s east and west, the decision was made to devote the lion’s share of the $1.6bn set aside for stadiums upgrade to the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium. The final figure has been contingent on a business case study being completed into costings for the ANZ Stadium overhaul. In the intervening period, Souths in particular have struggled to attract crowds to the venue.
The Rabbitohs are averaging less than 12,000 people while Canterbury’s figures have been inflated by two massive crowds for their games against Souths and St George Illawarra.
The clubs are also on edge over the state government’s $40 million commitment to fund Centres of Excellence. The clubs are of the belief that the panel deciding on where to direct those funds has made recommendations to Ayres but those recommendations are yet to be signed off.
The bigger concern, however, is the stadium funding and the impact it could have across the game. If the state government decides to redirect funding to Allianz Stadium, it would not only have repercussions for the future destinations of clubs, but also for grand finals in coming years.
The NRL is waiting for a finalise decision on the stadium investment before it decides whether to take grand finals on the road. The expectation was that up to four grand finals could be moved if ANZ Stadium underwent a major refurbishment, although that could be reduced to two if the stadium is shut down as part of the redevelopment.
Alternatively, the NRL may be forced to consider moving grand finals to Allianz Stadium if the state government does an about-face and devotes the majority of its funds to redeveloping the Moore Park venue.
Nervous NRL clubs want some clarity over stadiums strategy
- The Australian
- 12:00AM June 27, 2017
- Brent Read
The Australian understands several Sydney clubs are keen to hold talks with ANZ Stadium executives and the NRL as they look to turn up the heat on the state government and ensure they honour their pledge to turn the ground into a state-of-the-art rectangular venue.
The latest developments come only days after leaked documents suggested a cost blowout at ANZ Stadium — a move which was viewed in some quarters as a scheme to place fresh pressure on the state government to redirect funds to Allianz Stadium.
Such is the concern among clubs who use the Olympic venue, they have begun moves to gain clarity from ANZ Stadium and the NRL. It is understood at least one club has reached out to the NRL’s head of government and community relations James Boland-Rudder, the former chief of staff for ex-premier Barry O’Farrell who played a crucial role in securing the $1.6 billion commitment from the state government to spend on Sydney stadiums.
The NRL has taken a neutral view. Their primary concern is not so much where the money is spent, but that the government doesn’t reduce the $1.6bn commitment it provided to the game and their clubs last year.
Such is the level of concern, it is understood there has been thought given to a meeting between the affected clubs and key ANZ Stadium officials — managing director Daryl Kerry and Venues NSW chair Christine McLoughlin.
Any change of tack by the state government would have significant ramifications for clubs across the Sydney rugby league landscape. Canterbury and South Sydney stand to be the greatest beneficiaries out of the existing situation given they both play out of ANZ Stadium on a permanent basis.
Both clubs are believed to be on edge over latest developments, although they are also wary of jumping at shadows given the view among some that last week’s leak was designed to scare the government into changing their original decision.
There is a belief among the NRL clubs who play at ANZ Stadium — Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra also take games to the venue while Parramatta will be based there until their home ground is redeveloped — that the SCG Trust is continuing to lobby the government for more funds to be directed to Allianz Stadium.
There is also a level of concern that state sports minister Stuart Ayres, an ardent supporter of Allianz Stadium during the initial process, may be driving the push for change. It is believed part of the argument being peddled behind the scenes is that the numbers simply aren’t there to justify the significant amount of money which has been earmarked for ANZ Stadium.
As part of the state government pledge, which was announced in April after furious lobbying between officials from the major stadiums in Sydney’s east and west, the decision was made to devote the lion’s share of the $1.6bn set aside for stadiums upgrade to the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium. The final figure has been contingent on a business case study being completed into costings for the ANZ Stadium overhaul. In the intervening period, Souths in particular have struggled to attract crowds to the venue.
The Rabbitohs are averaging less than 12,000 people while Canterbury’s figures have been inflated by two massive crowds for their games against Souths and St George Illawarra.
The clubs are also on edge over the state government’s $40 million commitment to fund Centres of Excellence. The clubs are of the belief that the panel deciding on where to direct those funds has made recommendations to Ayres but those recommendations are yet to be signed off.
The bigger concern, however, is the stadium funding and the impact it could have across the game. If the state government decides to redirect funding to Allianz Stadium, it would not only have repercussions for the future destinations of clubs, but also for grand finals in coming years.
The NRL is waiting for a finalise decision on the stadium investment before it decides whether to take grand finals on the road. The expectation was that up to four grand finals could be moved if ANZ Stadium underwent a major refurbishment, although that could be reduced to two if the stadium is shut down as part of the redevelopment.
Alternatively, the NRL may be forced to consider moving grand finals to Allianz Stadium if the state government does an about-face and devotes the majority of its funds to redeveloping the Moore Park venue.
