You are right, that the money spent on infrastructure is a great idea.
However, this is a WASTE of infrastructure. The Government will not see a return on their investment for quite some time.
No other sport will play sports in this environment.
Wont they? There are numerous local, school and city level sporting and event organisations that can use the ground, and in terms of top level sport, well the bulldogs already played there, so its hardly out of the question as a (more appropriately sized) venue for league, soccer and union. And it would be just right for some Twenty20.
Still, you are correct, there is very little other than GWS games that is guaranteed, and thats not even a full schedule of GWS games, just the 9 lowest drawing ones... their bigger crowd draws will all be played next door at ANZ, with or without this investment.
There are plenty of other projects in which that $45m could be spent where it would be VITAL for the state of NSW, rather than a luxury project to benefit the AFL.
Perhaps your right, but your point harkens back to what I said was a quintessential question of civics, how do you justify spending on sporting infrastructure when there are so many other worthy ways to spend public money. After all...all sport is by definition leisure and luxury spending!
The Melbourne stadium is a classic example, all the square field codes had workable solutions before the new stadium. Now you can complain about Olympic Park being atrocious and thats true, and Docklands being set up for AFL, and thats true too, but the Storm, Victory, Rebels and Heart (snigger) werent going to go out of business without a new stadium. The new stadium isnt going to bring in thousands of new tourists or fans, some maybe but not thousands... the bubble stadium was and is a luxury project for those codes, really no different to the showgrounds, differing only in the scale.
Now, 300 million buys alot of hospital and school upgrades, perhaps they should have put their money into them?
Now those codes are obviously alot less popular than AFL, perhaps they should have upgraded the MCG to the tune of 300 million?
Sure, you can say "Well obviously there are alot more teams playing square field codes in Melbourne" but is there 6.6 times as many? Because 300m is ALOT more than 45m.
Obviously I'm pleased about Melbourne getting a square stadium, but dont pretend the choices are any different...its fringe sports getting a handout for infrastructure.
You have also failed to tell me how the GWS side will bring tourism. Again, Blacktown to Homebush isn't tourism. Why would people travel up to Sydney in bulk? hardly any would.
Just as they get along to games alot more often, AFL fans travel, even moreso than league fans. They travel to Sydney every second week to watch the Swans, they fill hotels and bars and restaurants and golf courses.
The AFL no doubt has their own estimations of what a second Sydney side will be worth to the economy of Sydney.
As for creating jobs, that is incorrect. These people would be the same people that are currently employed by the contractors of which service the Sydney Olympic Park Trust.
Sorry which job creation are you referring too here? The initial construction or the ongoing jobs?
My argument isn't again spending the money on infrastructure, I'm just very critical of the choice of spending. There are plenty of other issues that the state government could address with that money. This is purely to cater ego's of the AFL, which I find astounding considering that the Government has wasted a significant amount of opportunities in attracting more major events to ANZ stadium because it is a "multi-purpose" stadium, rather than a premiere rectangular ground.
As I said, the AFL gave them an offer that was very good, they offered them a significantly upgraded Showgrounds for use by the RAS and the community, and 60 million dollars of capital works, for the price of 45 million.
I daresay there isnt much the NSW government can spend its money on that is that good value for money, other than the NRL grand final, which of course they have got at the same time.
The AFL have backflipped on a committment to play out of ANZ when GWS would enter the competition, however they now want another $45m for a luxury development to cater for their ego's when they only get 10-20k to each game.
Wait I thought the AFL committed GWS to playing out at Blacktown?? I have heard different things in this thread.
The truth is they did neither, they lobbied (and helped pay) for upgrades to Blacktown as a training and administrative ground, which can only host preseason matches. They cant play regular season matches out there as the transport links are not up to scratch and the capacity is too low. The also have a long standing contractual obligation to play 3 games per year at ANZ and no more. That didnt change when they announced GWS. ANZ is just the back up plan if nothing more suitable could be arranged.
Since then they have evidently been working on a suitable deal to entice investment from the NSW government.