More NRL clubs to play at Moore Park and Parramatta under new stadia plan
August 25, 2015 - 9:37PM
Brad Walter
Sports Reporter
The NRL would direct clubs to play matches at new stadiums at Moore Park and Parramatta and may commit to State of Origin fixtures and the grand final remaining in Sydney if the NSW Government approves funding for the projects.
With a decision on the government's stadium strategy understood to be imminent, Fairfax Media has learned that the NRL would be required to guarantee a significant increase in the number of games at each venue in a move that would mean more clubs using Moore Park and Parramatta for home matches.
South Sydney will host Brisbane at Allianz Stadium on Thursday night and St George Illawarra recently hosted Sydney Roosters there, while the Rabbitohs and Dragons play an annual match at the SCG.
However, the Roosters are the only club who call Moore Park home and Parramatta are the only team that plays out of Pirtek Stadium.
It is expected that the Roosters, Rabbitohs and Dragons would be encouraged to play at a new or upgraded 60,000 seat stadium at Moore Park, while Parramatta, Wests Tigers and Penrith could host matches at a rebuilt 35,000 seat stadium on
the site of the Eels current home ground. Under the terms of the $925 million free-to-air broadcast deal, the NRL will control the scheduling of matches from 2018 and could guarantee the number of games to be played at the venues, with agreement from the clubs.
The establishment of a super trust to manage Sydney's major venues should make it possible for financial arrangements clubs have to play games at one venue to be transferred to another.
Debate about the NSW Government's stadia policy has been ongoing since 2012 after it was decided to invest in three major venues identified as Moore Park, Parramatta and Homebush Bay at the expense of suburban grounds.
The NRL is backing the construction of a new 60,000 seat stadium on the site of Kippax Lake, adjacent to Allianz Stadium, which could host future Origin matches and grand finals, as well as club fixtures.
It is understood plans for the stadium are based on Levi Stadium, the home ground of Jarryd Hayne's San Francisco 49ers, which has been selected by the NFL to host next year's Super Bowl. The stadium would boast state of the art facilities.
However, construction costs of up to $1.3 billion and opposition from environmental and residents groups may prompt State cabinet to reject the proposal and instead fund an upgrade of Allianz Stadium.
There has been speculation that a decision could be made as soon as Friday but Fairfax Media has been told it is more likely to be some time in September. With the NRL's agreement with the NSW Government to play the grand final in Sydney set to expire in 2019, it is likely that deal would be extended if the capacity at Moore Park was big enough.
One Origin in each series is set to be put out to tender after 2018, with Sydney and Brisbane only assured of hosting one game each year, but officials believe it would be easier to sell out two matches at a 60,000 seat stadium than at the 83,500 capacity ANZ Stadium if there was support from the government.
Plans to knock down Parramatta Stadium and build a new 35,000-seat venue on the site are expected to be approved as the first project in the strategy of modernising Sydney's major sporting venues.
The Moore Park development is tipped to be next, followed by an upgrade to ANZ Stadium. It had been rumoured that the NRL could be given management rights to the stadium at Moore Park but Fairfax Media was told it would not happen as Sydney FC and NSW Waratahs also play there.
with Jacob Saulwick
