David Gallop warns NRL clubs that its too late to second guess the $300m rebuild of Pirtek Stadium
TOM SMITHIESThe Daily Telegraph
FOOTBALL Federation Australia has fired a warning shot at NRL clubs who are questioning the governments promise to fund a complete rebuild of Pirtek Stadium, as debate continues over which of Sydneys stadiums should receive $1.6 billion in funding.
Reports in recent days suggested that a group of NRL clubs opposed to the rebuilding of Allianz Stadium had sought a $200 million pot to upgrade a series of suburban grounds, paid for by scrapping the $300 million rebuild of Pirtek.
The NRL itself is at loggerheads with a number of Sydney clubs, with the governing body backing plans to rebuild Allianz Stadium and play more rugby league games there.
In an unlikely alliance, both the refusenik league clubs and FFA have called for a full refurbishment of ANZ Stadium, rather than spend the bulk of the money on Allianz.
FFA is lobbying for ANZ Stadium to reconfigured into a rectangular shape, with Allianz just to be refurbished rather than rebuilt completely.
But whichever strategy is ultimately adopted by the government, Gallop rejected the idea of second-guessing its commitment to Pirtek which is due to be demolished in October.
A detailed design consultation is underway, with any lobbying to reappraise the stadiums future seen as unlikely to succeed
FFA is delighted that the Baird Government has confirmed funding of $300 million for a new Parramatta Stadium and that planning is underway, Gallop said.
We note the debate around the stadia strategy in the past few days, but FFA is banking on the Western Sydney Wanderers having a new home by 2019.
The Wanderers have been the only club to consistently fill Pirtek Stadium to capacity and that incredible popularity and growth has produced the business case for government to build a 30,000-plus venue. Its a fundamentally sound decision and theres no basis for second-guessing.
Theres nothing weve heard in the past few days that changes the governments core commitment to have a network of three world-class rectangular stadia for Sydney, with a new stadium at Parramatta as the first project constructed.
The Wanderers are still lobbying the government over the exact design of the stadium, seeking features such as a safe-standing section behind the goal for its Red and Black bloc supporters group.
We have full faith in the commitments made to Western Sydney by the NSW Government on the redevelopment of Pirtek Stadium with the appropriate level of funding to provide a world class venue in the heart of Western Sydney, said Wanderers CEO John Tsatsimas.
We look forward to finalising the planning phase of the Pirtek Stadium redevelopment as the first step in the NSW Governments stadium infrastructure strategy.
