Venues NSW boss reveals secret business case backs Las Vegas-style stadium roof
Government bean-counters have given a Las Vegas-style roof for Accor Stadium the tick of approval, with a feasibility study finding the benefits outweigh the $300m-plus cost.
Plans to put a Las Vegas-style roof over Accor Stadium are a step closer to reality after state government bean-counters gave it the tick of approval.
A government feasibility study has found the benefits of putting a roof on the Olympic-era venue would outweigh the project’s costs, heaping pressure on the Minns government to commit to the plans.
Sports Minister Steve Kamper first flagged enclosing Accor Stadium with a roof in 2024 after watching NRL’s inaugural extravaganza in Sin City.
Sporting and business leaders have long argued for Sydney to have an enclosed stadium, to end the embarrassment of having major events rained out or cancelled due to weather.
Venues NSW boss Kerrie Mather revealed in a budget estimates hearing on Thursday the project had been ticked off with a “positive” business case and sent to the state government for funding “consideration”.
She said the benefit-cost ratio (BCR) was “between one and 1.5”, meaning the benefits outweighed the costs.
Ms Mather made the extraordinary admission by mistake, later insisting details of the project were “cabinet in confidence”.
Mr Kamper refused to commit to building the roof, despite the positive BCR.
“We are continuing to assess the business case for an operable roof at Accor Stadium,” a spokesman said.
Ms Mather said the cost was estimated to be well over $300m.
She said an enclosed stadium could add sporting and entertainment events to Sydney’s calendar and make the Harbour City “really competitive” with Melbourne.
It would make it “less risky for promoters to actually commit to a much longer stay when they’ve actually got more protection”, she said.
“With a roof, it actually makes the prospect of a cricket world cup a really attractive proposition, and it makes us really competitive with the MCG,” Ms Mather said.
Accor Stadium is Sydney’s largest venue, and the stage for the city’s biggest sporting events, including the NRL grand final and State of Origin matches.
It also recently hosted global music acts Oasis and Ed Sheeran.
Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said a stadium that was “only just good enough for the 20th century needs to be brought up to date for the 21st century in line with Sydney’s status as a global city”.
“It would strengthen Sydney’s ability to compete with modern international venues and attract blockbuster events that drive tourism, investment and economic activity,” he said.
“As Australia’s global city, Sydney needs world-class stadium infrastructure, and a retractable roof would future-proof Accor Stadium as the premier destination for major events.”
Rabbitohs chief executive Blake Solly said the “talk of a roof is good news” but a lot more needed to be done to bring the stadium – South Sydney’s home ground – up to scratch.
“We welcome any discussion about improving the experience at Accor Stadium. We, along with a number of others, have been advocating the stadium needs a significant refurbishment for 15 years,” Mr Solly said.
Liberal sport spokeswoman Natalie Ward supported the roof, and called for the government to release its business case.
“The public at least deserve to see the cost and benefits of putting a roof on Accor Stadium,” she said.
