https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/n...t/news-story/8ae6e48f7415978fdd8f3c4367623f03
Allianz Stadium: Rugby league fans slam sad state of venue saying it’s time it was rebuilt
Sam McBeath, The Daily Telegraph
March 18, 2018 11:36pm
SHABBY remnants of electrical tape cover sharp rusty metal edges, concrete floors crumble underfoot and woefully inadequate amenities struggle to meet demand.
Away from the politics surrounding plans to rebuild Sydney’s sports grounds, this is the experience of spectators at Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium.
Frustrated rugby league fans at a weekend game at the 30-year-old stadium said its shortcomings were all too apparent and it was about time the ageing facility was rebuilt.
In some areas tape is used to hold together surfaces or cover sharp areas and the yellow safety paint designed to improve visibility on the stairs is almost entirely worn away in some areas.
Sutherland Shire resident and 17-year Sydney Roosters member Adrian Downs spoke wistfully of the modern facilities of stadiums such as the MCG or Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.
“You go to the footy in Perth, Melbourne or Adelaide and those stadiums are just amazing,” the 57-year-old said.
“Their facilities are clean, the sound systems are up-to-date, the food is good, the toilet stalls are equipped with television screens — it’s just amazing. We need something like that here.”
Serious shortcomings were obvious at Friday night’s Roosters-Bulldogs NRL game.
The stench from overwhelmed toilets spread throughout bays 24 and 36, leaving spectators gagging.
The stadium’s large digital screens were clearly weather-affected and suffered connection problems, with images flickering and occasionally dropping out altogether. “They’re crapping on with all the politics, but they need to just do the right thing and fix it up, just fix everything up,” Mr Downs said.
Peter Thorne, 57, from Randwick said Allianz was outdated and unsafe.
“It definitely does have safety issues that need to be fixed up like fire prevention, the seats and exits,” he said.
Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said, “Sydney and NSW shouldn’t tolerate second class let alone being last,” and rebuilding Allianz would give Sydney a state-of-the-art facility.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian agreed with her minister, saying: “We can’t afford to fall behind because we have infrastructure that has long passed its use-by date.”