http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...n/news-story/60f4b662f543c49bb342aeae7f79f4b4
NSW dithering on stadium deal threatens NRL grand final plan
- The Australian
- 12:00AM September 15, 2017
- Brent Read
The Queensland and Victorian governments have put the blowtorch to their NSW counterparts after it emerged NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg had reminded NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian that the right to host the grand final for 20 years in Sydney was contingent on ANZ Stadium receiving a major facelift.
Under the terms of the memorandum of understanding struck between the NRL and the NSW government when the stadium strategy was announced nearly two years ago, the grand finals are due to be held in Sydney for the 20 years following the redevelopment of ANZ Stadium.
At least two and as many as four grand finals were expected to be taken on the road while ANZ Stadium was undergoing major renovations. However, the NSW government continues to vacillate over its plans for the stadium, placing in jeopardy the agreement it has struck with the NRL.
That could place in doubt the deal to host grand finals for 20 years in Sydney. It is understood Berejiklian asked for some clarity around the memorandum of understanding at a recent meeting with Greenberg to discuss the plans for Sydney stadiums.
Greenberg is believed to have told the Premier that all three stadiums — ANZ, Allianz and Parramatta — needed to be upgraded in return for a guarantee that grand finals and State of Origin matches would remain in Sydney for two decades.
A spokesman for the NRL yesterday confirmed that the MOU required work on all three stadiums to be delivered in return for a guarantee on taking games to the Olympic venue. At the heart of that agreement is an acknowledgment that ANZ Stadium should be turned into a world-class rectangular arena.
“We look forward to seeing the MOU delivered in full,” the spokesman said.
The Queensland and Victorian governments are waiting in the wings should their NSW counterparts fail to honour their agreement. Their desire to step in comes after a weekend when the finals opened to shoddy crowds in Sydney. Fewer than 20,000 people attended two of the finals.
More than 20,000 attended the Melbourne Storm’s opening final against the Eels and a crowd in excess of 40,000 could be on hand for tonight’s finals game between Brisbane and Penrith at Suncorp Stadium.
Little wonder the NRL has raised the prospect of reducing the capacity at a rebuilt Allianz Stadium to less than 40,000, a move that would allow the state government to devote more money to ensuring ANZ Stadium is turned into a truly world-class venue.
Allianz Stadium’s current tenants — it is also used by the NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC — are expected to meet again next month as they look to find a uniform stance on the venue’s future.
However, the NRL is ready to push for a strategy that would result in Allianz Stadium becoming a boutique venue of the type that can be found in Melbourne at AAMI Park and on the Gold Coast at Cbus Super Stadium.
The new Townsville stadium will be a similar size but shapes as a possible State of Origin venue because there will be a limit on members’ seating. The same situation could happen at Allianz, provided members are capped at 5000.
Queensland remains bullish about its ability to host a grand final and Tourism and Major Events Minister Kate Jones was more than happy to fire a shot across the bow of the NSW government yesterday.
“Just like their performance on the footy field, this is another example of NSW — all talk and no action,” Jones said.
“Queensland has made it clear we would love a grand final here at Suncorp Stadium. The NRL knows that a grand final in Queensland would be a massive success.
“We have the most diehard footy fans here in Queensland and NSW needs to get its act together. Queensland deserves to host footy grand finals here.”
The Victorian government has also weighed in.
“While NSW talks about the future and plays catch-up, we’re building for it in Victoria, because no one puts on a show like we do,” Victoria Tourism and Major Events MInister John Eren said.
“Our friends across the border had to travel to Melbourne to see what a sellout State of Origin crowd looked like — and we’d happily do it again come NRL grand final day.”
