Agreed.
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3000? If they had 300,000 it might make some difference!'Average bloke' Matt Ward leads 3000 signatures for a new stadium
Almost 3000 signatures are calling for a new Canberra Stadium.www.canberratimes.com.au
have to start somewhere. need to pass 3000 to get to 30,000
he said 300,000, he thinks 90% of the population of canberra should sign a petition.
What happened to the leagues club that was meant to be Oxenford ?
Not 100% but think it might have been canned. The ABN was cancelled in 2022.
Cheers for the reply,
Noting that the fella I was asking attended the AGM late last year and this is where it was mentioned. I asked him the same question about specific location - by the sounds of it, they didn't mention a specific location just the distance from the Stadium. I doubt a DA would have been lodged yet, so not as easy to research it.
Yeh if 90% were clamouring for it then it’d happen, the fact it’s got 0.9%, so far, is hardly going to convert a recalcitrant govt is it?
An oval ?Don't be boring, Canberra. This City Hill stadium idea might actually work
There have been tunnels, clear roofs, super stadiums for all sports and $3 billion furphys. We've seen AI mock-ups of floating stadiums, a West Basin colosseum and even one shaped like a Viking ship.
Nothing surprises Canberrans when it comes to the 17-year stadium saga that is still in an embryonic phase, and the divide between supporters and naysayers remains.
Could City Hill be transformed into an iconic venue, like the Paris Olympics and Barcelona diving? Pictures DNA Architects, AAP
So why did a talking point pitched on April Fools about a venue on City Hill cut through like we've rarely seen in this never-ending debate?
The answer is simple: the design from DNA Architects showcased Canberra. It captured our city in one image, and proved to people we can sell ourselves to the world if we're smart.
And while it's easy for anyone to generate AI slop these days (I love the floating stadium idea but it's obviously not realistic), these images were produced by an architect actually considering the opportunities and limitations of a real city site.
It rapidly developed from a prank to get some eyeballs to people starting to think: actually, that's an idea the ACT government should look at seriously.
The open-ended stadium images generated by Aj Bala, showcased the city and the Griffins' vision for the capital, instantly creating a connection for the people who live here.
We could imagine ourselves catching a tram to the city centre and walking across the footbridge on a spring afternoon to watch the Raiders play in a finals blockbuster.
We pictured ourselves slinking out of the stadium and into one of the city's bars to drown our sorrows after a Brumbies defeat.
And, in a way we've never been able to do before, we had something to be proud of. Something that would display beautifully on television coverage. A reason for national teams to move games to the capital of Australia.
None of the renders we've seen in the past - the old City to the Lake images or the Canberra Liberals plonking down a stadium in West Basin - hit the same notes.
Why? Because when you showcase a city you tap into its soul.
Take the Barcelona Olympics for example. The Piscina Municipal de Montjuic was used for the diving events in 1992 because of its history and stunning views of Barcelona.
The best images of the Paris Olympics were as athletes cruised down the Seine or as volleyballers battled on sand in front of the Eiffel Tower. Take your pick of adjectives. But the simplest: iconic and everlasting images.
Apart from the imagery, there's also an element of "it makes sense" to this one. The City Renewal Authority wants ideas to transform City Hill - an otherwise unused, rabbit-riddled patch in the middle of the city.
It's time for Craig Gillman to be adventurous. Have an imagination. Don't respond to this idea with a boring statement about City Hill being a park and needing to stay that way because of the National Capital Plan.
If we stuck to that plan, there would already be a stadium on the edge of the lake as per the Griffin designs from more than 100 years ago. Don't shoot this down and feed into the boring reputation Canberrans are slugged with.
An initial City to the Lake design of a stadium.
Why not put a stadium there? The City Hill overhaul will be open for public consultation, and a stadium would be used more often and by more people than a park with a small cafe or even a butterfly sanctuary.
There's a chance to do something iconic with that unused five hectares, and it would be on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's doorstep, paving the way for a joint funding deal.
We checked with Bala to ask his architectural expertise for the idea he floated as a joke. He has been blown away by the feedback.
While not a stadium expert, Bala knows a good design when he sees one.
Would a stadium fit? "Yes, the current [Canberra Stadium] fits on that [City Hill] site," he said.
How? "If we were to look at an inverse bowl design in a more compact footprint, which is predominantly what new stadiums are being designed as, we should get our 30,000 seats all much closer to the action."
He said the luxury of having two open ends to showcase Canberra would be a design and capacity question.
But most importantly, the people have spoken. This is the first idea I've seen in 17 years of reporting about this issue where there's a groundswell of support. That's not to say everyone agrees, but people can see the potential and people love it, even if it did start as a joke.
"Putting a stadium on a giant roundabout would be extremely Canberra," one user said.
"It would be super convenient to Mooseheads," another added. Two Canberra icons within walking distance.
"I hate how much I love this," another said.
And they kept coming. "YES YES, this is a really good use of City Hill."
"Looks incredible and would also be an iconic concert venue. C'mon Canberra, last chance to prove we're viable and relevant."
So what do you say Canberrans? What do you think, Chief Minister Andrew Barr? What about you, Albo? Should we be iconic, viable and relevant?
Call me crazy (and I've been called much worse than that over almost 20 years of writing about this), but let's just do this and be done with it.
Don't be boring, Canberra. This City Hill stadium idea might actually work
This started as a joke but Canberrans love it. Should we investigate it?www.canberratimes.com.au
lol you're going to have to go national to get 300k signatures just for a stadium
