https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/n...s/news-story/ba1b8d13f8f884cba96958924a148490
Stadium overhaul to supercharge Sydney’s bids for big global contests
ANNA CALDWELL, STATE POLITICAL EDITOR, The Daily Telegraph
in 37 minutes
SYDNEY’S suite of rebuilt stadiums would be used to turbocharge bids to host sport’s biggest global events, including the football and rugby World Cups, under a plan put to the state government.
It envisages leveraging the multibillion-dollar refurbishment of ANZ, Allianz and Parramatta Stadiums to target the women’s and men’s rugby World Cups in 2021 and 2027 respectively, and the FIFA women’s and men’s World Cups in 2023 and 2030.
Prepared by Western Sydney’s leading business groups, the proposal also calls for Sydney to bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 or 2030.
It envisages holding the opening and closing ceremonies plus events such as rugby sevens and hockey at the rebuilt rectangular Olympic Park stadium, with the athletics, which requires an oval track, being held next door at Spotless Stadium.
The plan has been developed by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, Western Sydney Business Chamber and Sydney Olympic Park Business Association.
The 2016 Olympics closing ceremony in Rio de Janeiro. The drive for big events can help Sydney return to the place on the world stage it occupied after the 2000 Games.
The groups will today call on the state government to establish a global events taskforce which would work alongside Destination NSW to work on attracting the major sporting events, targeting these “big five” international tournaments.
Australia would also be up against it trying to secure football’s men’s World Cup after blowing $42 million of taxpayers’ money to secure only one vote in the bidding for the 2022 tournament.
But the proponents are aiming high and say the formation of an events taskforce would “ensure Sydney plays its best cards when bidding for events”.
Crowds at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 for the opening day of the track and field events.
Success would attract millions in tourism dollars for the economy and revive the glory days of the 2000 Sydney Olympics by putting the city on the international map.
“The NSW government is making an important investment in our sporting and cultural infrastructure,” Christopher Brown, chairman of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, said.
“We believe that, thanks to this investment, a fantastic opportunity exists for Sydney, and Western Sydney in particular, to bid for and win more major global events.”
Sydney will pitch for world athletics meets. Picture: Getty
Mr Brown said that without investing in the stadiums, Sydney would face “stiff competition” from other countries and states that had heavily invested in sporting infrastructure.
“In Australia alone, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and
Perth have all made significant investments in their stadiums, while Sydney has let our facilities age to the point where they are no longer fit for purpose.
“However, with three new world-class rectangular stadiums with fantastic lively precincts around them, Sydney will be extremely hard to beat.”
Sydney’s chances would also be enhanced by transport upgrades including
Sydney Metro, Sydney Light Rail and WestConnex, quickening travel to and from key venues.
Director of the Western Sydney Business Chamber David Borger said: “The tourism benefits and economic returns from major events like these would be amazing, particularly for Western Sydney”.
ANZ STADIUM ROOF
ANZ Stadium roof
The state government is expected to approve investing in a knockdown-rebuild project for Allianz Stadium at Moore Park this week.
Mr Brown said Commonwealth Games officials were already exploring the idea of Olympic Park hosting the event in the future.
With the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games just over three weeks away, the state government has not yet confirmed if it backs Western Sydney’s bid for a future edition.
A group of regional Victorian towns have already announced a crack at hosting the games in 2030.
‘MAKE SYDNEY AN INCREDIBLE EVENTS DESTINATION’
INFRASTRUCTURE Minister Andrew Constance has strongly made the case for investment in brand new stadiums, declaring that the government’s policy would make “Sydney an incredible events destination”.
“We’re behind the Eight ball and we want to be able to attract world class events to our state and at the same time it’s not just sports, it’s rock concerts and other events that draw big crowds,” Mr Constance said.
His strong backing for both stadium redevelopments came after Deputy Premier John Barilaro left the door open for a government backdown.
“The point I would make about both sites is they’re very different sites,” Mr Constance said of Allianz and ANZ.
“What we’ve said is we want to bring a Wembley style stadium in the heart of Sydney for the state — that’s what (ANZ) is about. Moore Park is a smaller facility catering for a different style of event.”
Cabinet will this week be asked to approve plans to demolish and rebuild Allianz stadium. A report of a blowout of hundreds of millions for Moore Park stadium identified in the final business case is understood to be wrong. However, it is likely there will be some increase to the $705 million figure flagged in original estimates in November.
Mr Constance said that overall, the $2.3 billion investment for new stadiums at ANZ, Allianz and Parramatta was “small” relative to the overall infrastructure budget and would turn NSW “into one of the most incredible events destinations in the world”.
