say bye bye to this if you don't build a stadium, Gladys
http://www.theaustralian.com.au/bus...y/news-story/3183638b32b4ef2cce03f2b00e44faef
Rugby League final to boost NSW economy
- The Australian
- 12:00AM September 30, 2017
Tomorrow’s rugby league grand final at Sydney Olympic Park is expected to inject $30 million into the NSW economy, according to the chairman of Venues NSW, Christine McLoughlin.
With more than 40,000 fans expected to come to Sydney from interstate — supporting the Melbourne Storm and North Queensland Cowboys — demand for hotel rooms and extra local spending will be higher than if there were local teams in the final.
“Having two interstate teams significantly boosts the economic benefits,” she said. “The airlines and hotels will be big beneficiaries.”
The grand final will be held at ANZ Stadium at Olympic Park at Homebush. The stadium was taken over by the state government in July 2016. It paid a reported $220m buying out the final 15-year ownership of the former Olympic stadium from Infrastructure Capital Group, a fund associated with former AFL chair Mike Fitzpatrick.
The stadium came under the umbrella of the state-owned Venues NSW this year. It now oversees stadiums in Olympic Park, western Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong.
Ms McLoughlin said the government had committed to upgrade transport to the venue through links with WestConnex, Sydney Metro, phase two of the Parramatta light rail project and other rail improvements.
She said bringing the stadiums under the umbrella of Venues NSW would allow for co-ordination of bidding for events.
“We need to get the right event for the right venue and work with the local business community to maximise the benefits,” she said.
The government has started work on a new Western Sydney stadium near Parramatta that will accommodate 30,000.
The Olympic stadium has a capacity for 80,000 seated, but that capacity was increased to almost 100,000 for an Adele concert in March this year by allowing people to stand on the field.
After the rugby league grand final, the stadium is set to host a Socceroos’ match against Syria as the national soccer team attempts to qualify for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
