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http://www.theaustralian.com.au/spo...l/news-story/cdc917fb9a16462aaac3e9804435aad7
NSW government may attempt to tighten its grip on NRL grand final
State Sports Minister Stuart Ayres has scheduled a meeting with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg next week amid speculation he wants to secure more content for the city’s stadiums in return for greater investment in Allianz and ANZ Stadiums.
The NRL grand final was a key component of the deal announced by the state government last year, which aimed to spend $1.6 billion to redevelop Parramatta, ANZ and Allianz Stadiums.
Under the terms of the deal, the NRL guaranteed 20 years’ worth of grand finals for Sydney once ANZ Stadium was turned into a world-class rectangular venue.
There is talk that Ayres is now looking to significantly increase the funding to ensure none of the major stadiums miss out, but those plans could yet hinge on whether the NRL is willing to commit more grand finals to Sydney.
The NRL grand final is arguably the biggest-ticket item for the state government. As it stands, the deal struck last year is in danger of implosion as uncertainty surrounds the future of ANZ Stadium.
While the expectation is the venue will get the investment the NRL and its western Sydney clubs feel it deserves, the state government continues to vacillate over its stadium strategy and how the funds will be distributed.
Should ANZ Stadium fail to receive the investment required to make it a state-of-the-art rectangular venue, the deal to keep the grand final in Sydney will be placed in doubt. That would put the Queensland and Victorian governments on red alert, given both have made no secret of their desires to secure the grand final.
Both are willing to throw millions at the NRL to secure the event. As it is, they are likely to be pitted against each other for the grand finals that become available while ANZ Stadium is out of action.
Ayres was expected to take a recommendation on stadium investment before cabinet last week but that failed to eventuate, fuelling talk the Sports Minister was keen to secure more content to strengthen a push for more funds.
There has been talk he could request as much as $2 billion to enable Allianz and ANZ Stadiums to get complete overhauls. The NRL and its clubs are hanging on the outcome of the stadium imbroglio, with updated venues regarded as one of the keys as rugby league looks to address dwindling crowd numbers.
The NRL has made its stance clear. Greenberg has personally met Premier Gladys Berejiklian to stress the need to prioritise the upgrade of ANZ Stadium. The NRL and Football Federation Australia, along with western Sydney rugby league and football clubs, recently wrote a letter to Berejiklian reiterating their support for ANZ Stadium.
Other codes and clubs have pushed the need to prioritise Allianz Stadium. Claims that Allianz Stadium was a deathtrap have been laughed off by those in the rival camp. They point out that if the ground is a safety concern, what does that mean for some of the suburban grounds currently used in the NRL.
NSW government may attempt to tighten its grip on NRL grand final
- The Australian
- 12:00AM October 28, 2017
- Brent Read
State Sports Minister Stuart Ayres has scheduled a meeting with NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg next week amid speculation he wants to secure more content for the city’s stadiums in return for greater investment in Allianz and ANZ Stadiums.
The NRL grand final was a key component of the deal announced by the state government last year, which aimed to spend $1.6 billion to redevelop Parramatta, ANZ and Allianz Stadiums.
Under the terms of the deal, the NRL guaranteed 20 years’ worth of grand finals for Sydney once ANZ Stadium was turned into a world-class rectangular venue.
There is talk that Ayres is now looking to significantly increase the funding to ensure none of the major stadiums miss out, but those plans could yet hinge on whether the NRL is willing to commit more grand finals to Sydney.
The NRL grand final is arguably the biggest-ticket item for the state government. As it stands, the deal struck last year is in danger of implosion as uncertainty surrounds the future of ANZ Stadium.
While the expectation is the venue will get the investment the NRL and its western Sydney clubs feel it deserves, the state government continues to vacillate over its stadium strategy and how the funds will be distributed.
Should ANZ Stadium fail to receive the investment required to make it a state-of-the-art rectangular venue, the deal to keep the grand final in Sydney will be placed in doubt. That would put the Queensland and Victorian governments on red alert, given both have made no secret of their desires to secure the grand final.
Both are willing to throw millions at the NRL to secure the event. As it is, they are likely to be pitted against each other for the grand finals that become available while ANZ Stadium is out of action.
Ayres was expected to take a recommendation on stadium investment before cabinet last week but that failed to eventuate, fuelling talk the Sports Minister was keen to secure more content to strengthen a push for more funds.
There has been talk he could request as much as $2 billion to enable Allianz and ANZ Stadiums to get complete overhauls. The NRL and its clubs are hanging on the outcome of the stadium imbroglio, with updated venues regarded as one of the keys as rugby league looks to address dwindling crowd numbers.
The NRL has made its stance clear. Greenberg has personally met Premier Gladys Berejiklian to stress the need to prioritise the upgrade of ANZ Stadium. The NRL and Football Federation Australia, along with western Sydney rugby league and football clubs, recently wrote a letter to Berejiklian reiterating their support for ANZ Stadium.
Other codes and clubs have pushed the need to prioritise Allianz Stadium. Claims that Allianz Stadium was a deathtrap have been laughed off by those in the rival camp. They point out that if the ground is a safety concern, what does that mean for some of the suburban grounds currently used in the NRL.