The Game Future NRL Stadiums part II

[Babyface O'reilly]

Looks pretty good.

The roof’s drip line looks to be set pretty far back, though.

 

[SLRBRONCOS]

Not really a fan of that anz concept to be honest, really just applying lipstick to the pig.

 

[T-Boon]

The roof’s drip line looks to be set pretty far back, though.

Thats okay in my opinion Sydney siders are not going to sport in the rain or even if it is cloudy.

 

[beave]

Not really a fan of that anz concept to be honest, really just applying lipstick to the pig.

yep.

Been to a lot of marquee games at ANZ (GF’s, SOO) and the ones where I sat in the upper deck I may as well stayed at home. Knock the f**king thing down and do it properly.

 

[Timbo]

yep.

Been to a lot of marquee games at ANZ (GF’s, SOO) and the ones where I sat in the upper deck I may as well stayed at home. Knock the f**king thing down and do it properly.

The only games where the upper-deck will be saleable in the renovated ANZ will be 'event' games (origins, prelims, GFs, Bledisloe's and soccer WC qualifiers) where people will buy the tickets regardless of the view just to be at the event.

There will be ~45,000 vastly improved viewing seats. For 95% of what we use it for, that's a massive win.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I think the video is actually the original plan, the governments stadia policy went through so many changes. The original plan (2015, I think) was for a refurbishment and that video was made for that, that was the plan where they were going to keep the stadium operational throughout the build be building one side of the stadium at a time. Then in 2016 it changed to a full rebuild and then changed back to refurbishment in 2018.

No, it’s definitely the 2018 plan.

The 2015 plan involved moving level 6 closer too, but in the current plan level 6 will stay where it is.

 

[herbert henry1908]

The only games where the upper-deck will be saleable in the renovated ANZ will be 'event' games (origins, prelims, GFs, Bledisloe's and soccer WC qualifiers) where people will buy the tickets regardless of the view just to be at the event.

There will be ~45,000 vastly improved viewing seats. For 95% of what we use it for, that's a massive win.

But the question becomes, why use it much at all for club games when we’ll have BankWest & Allianz?

 

[Timbo]

But the question becomes, why use it much at all for club games when we’ll have BankWest & Allianz?

Because as suburban grounds become less and less viable we don't want to destroy the turf at Bankwest and Allianz. If ANZ has a better club mode and especially once the West Metro is in place then it definitely has a place.

 

[The Marshall]

As Australian sporting fans collectively lost their minds about the state of the Sydney Cricket Ground over the weekend...again, some 2,900 people witnessed rugby league in all its glory a couple of suburbs away.

The Roosters’ feeder side North Sydney hosted the Bulldogs in the Canterbury Cup on Sunday at a picture perfect North Sydney Oval.

It was also Old Bears Day, with plenty of past players and restless Bears fans showing up in their red and black.

Bears CEO David Perry and general manager of football Greg Florimo addressed fans at halftime and staged a special presentation for club greats.

I saw the likes of Michael Buettner and Matt Sears, a couple of my childhood heroes, reliving fond memories in the Molly Dive Stand.

Attending fans cheered hard for those in black and red — contracted Roosters like Lachlan Lam and Brock Lamb — as if they were full-blooded Bears.

And there were plenty of reasons to cheer, eight to be exact, as the home side ran up four unanswered tries each side of halftime.


The only thing ‘un-Bears’ about it was that they actually went on with the job in the second 40!

A few days earlier, the Roosters played the Broncos in front of less than 10,000 at a soaking SCG.

And while nobody can control the weather, winter sport at the SCG this season has been a PR disaster and an occupational health and safety hazard. Just ask fans of Sydney FC, or the Waratahs.

And the $730 million dollar upgrade of Allianz Stadium is still a few years away.
There are a lot of dormant rugby league fans in and around the North Sydney area.

A few thousand of them showed their faces on Sunday.

And while most Bears supporters are resigned to the reality their club will never return to the NRL, a lot of them remain hurt by the silence and disrespect they’ve been shown by the NRL across the last two decades.

On my way home from North Sydney Oval, I couldn’t help but think how perfect it would be to relocate some of the Roosters’ home games from the SCG to the Bears’ spiritual home.

The ground is apparently on the firm side, but looked in sublime condition on the weekend.

It is a drop-in cricket pitch at the North Sydney cricket ground, unlike the SCG.

And it’s a great place to watch rugby league from.

The fixtures could and should be adjusted to have the Bears as the curtain-raiser for the Roosters.

Chooks fans would get there early and Bears supporters would hang around.

It would help re-engage a big rugby league community that’s felt largely ignored for 20-plus years now.

Fans — tick. Player safety — tick.

The Roosters have a three-year agreement with the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust, complicating this potential process.

But I believe both parties should review the current arrangement, given the extenuating circumstances at the SCG.

The Swans, Waratahs, Sydney FC and all relevant administrators would most likely support this initiative, too.

It’s an idea I brought up with Fox League broadcaster Warren Smith on the Take Me Now, I Have Seen It All podcast. He agrees.

North Sydney Oval hosted the women’s State of Origin game under lights last year.

The ground is up to NRL standard and infrastructure to ensure broadcast approval is no barrier, either.

The last time an NRL match for points was played at the ground was in 2005, South Sydney taking on the Warriors.

Too long.

There’s nothing wrong with the heritage club’s home ground.

The Waratahs have taken games away from a sterile SCG to places like Brookvale and so should the Roosters.

There are already murmurs the club is interested in taking certain fixtures to the new Bankwest Stadium in Parramatta, from 2020.

But don’t rule out another fan-friendly alternative that’s rich with history and just over the bridge.

There’d be buy-in from a forgotten fan base.

And the NRL owes them a gesture or two.
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/c7d26e04ee4bc7357c66b8234be36d30

Whats the point of moving from one cricket ground to another? I doubt that many old Bear supporters would turn out either.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Because as suburban grounds become less and less viable we don't want to destroy the turf at Bankwest and Allianz. If ANZ has a better club mode and especially once the West Metro is in place then it definitely has a place.

BankWest & Allianz should be able to cope.

Both grounds would have one summer tenant & three winter tenants.

AAMI in Melbourne has 2 summer & 2 winter, it holds up ok.

 

[herbert henry1908]

Whats the point of moving from one cricket ground to another? I doubt that many old Bear supporters would turn out either.

NSO’s boundaries are a lot shorter than the SCG. Plus a smaller crowd looks better in a smaller venue.

I don’t get why Leichhardt hasn’t been mentioned, though.

 

[Shark62]

NSO’s boundaries are a lot shorter than the SCG. Plus a smaller crowd looks better in a smaller venue.

I don’t get why Leichhardt hasn’t been mentioned, though.

thsts correct. North Sydney is a lot better option than the SCG. Leichhardt is a great idea as well but I think North Sydney Oval would be terrific for the odd game.

 

[parrawentyfan]

I'm just wondering why Kogarah isn't a consideration?

It doesn't get used that often by the Dragons and given the redevelopment would be better in terms of corporates that Leichhardt or NSO.

Allianz to NSO 16 mins
Allianz to Leichhardt 20 mins
Allianz to Kogarah 25 mins

Leichhardt probably worst in terms of corporates and public transport.

 

[adamkungl]

Whats the point of moving from one cricket ground to another? I doubt that many old Bear supporters would turn out either.

NSO is a smaller pitch than SCG. Having watched the Womens SOO there recently it's not a bad view.

10,000 people at NSO is a pumping, fun crowd. 10,000 at the SCG is barren.

NSO is closer to our territory geographically and demographically than Kogarah, Leichhardt, or WSS. NSO also holds a lot of appeal because it isn't a rival club's home ground.

We already have a partnership with the Bears at NSW Cup level and engaging with the North Shore presents an opportunity to gain fans and sponsors that are currently ignored by 9 Sydney NRL clubs.

Also Kogarah f**king sucks. Absolutely would not go there.

 

[Timbo]

BankWest & Allianz should be able to cope.

Both grounds would have one summer tenant & three winter tenants.

AAMI in Melbourne has 2 summer & 2 winter, it holds up ok.

When you factor in the Waratahs, Sydney FC and the Wanderers plus the Rabbitohs, Tigers, Roosters, Eels, Bulldogs and likely some games from the Panthers and Dragons and possibly some from the Eagles or Sharks, not to mention Wallabies, Blues, Socceroos it is a lot for two grounds to handle if they are being used 365 a year.

It's also going to be a case that ANZ will want at least one anchor tenant and will inevitably make an offer to a team that's too good to knock back. I'd like to hope that whoever takes it up can mount a strong argument for a canopy over the lower deck at the new ANZ, coming out at the level above the corporate/members deck turning it into a decent club stadium to keep the atmosphere in.

Meaning from 2024/5:

ANZ - Rabbitohs, Bulldogs (80,000 - with a 40,000 'club' mode).
Bankwest - Eels, Tigers, Wanderers (Panthers derby's) (30,000).
Allianz - Roosters, Waratahs, Sydney FC (possibly Dragons Sydney games) (45,000 - with a 28,000 'club' mode).

 

[adamkungl]

When you factor in the Waratahs, Sydney FC and the Wanderers plus the Rabbitohs, Tigers, Roosters, Eels, Bulldogs and likely some games from the Panthers and Dragons and possibly some from the Eagles or Sharks, not to mention Wallabies, Blues, Socceroos it is a lot for two grounds to handle if they are being used 365 a year.

It's also going to be a case that ANZ will want at least one anchor tenant and will inevitably make an offer to a team that's too good to knock back. I'd like to hope that whoever takes it up can mount a strong argument for a canopy over the lower deck at the new ANZ, coming out at the level above the corporate/members deck turning it into a decent club stadium to keep the atmosphere in.

Meaning from 2024/5:

ANZ - Rabbitohs, Bulldogs (80,000 - with a 40,000 'club' mode).
Bankwest - Eels, Tigers, Wanderers (Panthers derby's) (30,000).
Allianz - Roosters, Waratahs, Sydney FC (possibly Dragons Sydney games) (45,000 - with a 28,000 'club' mode).

This is an obvious point. The stadium managers want weekly tenants, not 3 events a year.
Bulldogs at the very least will stay.
I'd love to see the SFS and ANZ have a bidding war over Souths but the SFS might be content with the Tahs and SFC as well as Roosters.

 

[big hit!]

As they should be! The trust that is..

Its the Sydney CRICKET Ground. Furthermore after the lacklustre pitches Australia has dished out over the last few summers (mainly the drop-ins such as the MCG) any consideration to change now would be a travesty. The Swans have been playing on that ground since the 80's. Cricket has been played there since the late 1800's.

name means f**k all.

MCG know what butters their bread. The MCG wouldn't be what it is without football.

Likewise Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium.

SCG & Gabba host just 11 (ex finals) AFL matches per year. It's the only thing saving those pitches year-round.

 

[herbert henry1908]

When you factor in the Waratahs, Sydney FC and the Wanderers plus the Rabbitohs, Tigers, Roosters, Eels, Bulldogs and likely some games from the Panthers and Dragons and possibly some from the Eagles or Sharks, not to mention Wallabies, Blues, Socceroos it is a lot for two grounds to handle if they are being used 365 a year.

It's also going to be a case that ANZ will want at least one anchor tenant and will inevitably make an offer to a team that's too good to knock back. I'd like to hope that whoever takes it up can mount a strong argument for a canopy over the lower deck at the new ANZ, coming out at the level above the corporate/members deck turning it into a decent club stadium to keep the atmosphere in.

Meaning from 2024/5:

ANZ - Rabbitohs, Bulldogs (80,000 - with a 40,000 'club' mode).
Bankwest - Eels, Tigers, Wanderers (Panthers derby's) (30,000).
Allianz - Roosters, Waratahs, Sydney FC (possibly Dragons Sydney games) (45,000 - with a 28,000 'club' mode).

Re BankWest, Tigers or Bulldogs won’t be full time tenants. You’re looking at 40 match days per year, maybe 1-5 more for finals. I would’ve thought it could handle that. AAMI Park is basically the same, and it has rugby union which does more damage to the pitch.


Allianz might be a bit tougher if the dragons/sea eagles/ sharks move matches there. But I have a feeling that’s still years away.

I don’t agree re ANZ wanting an anchor tenant, VenuesLive manage ANZ & BankWest, I know they’ve been encouraging the bulldogs to take their smaller games to BankWest. ANZ costs more to open than BankWest.

 

[herbert henry1908]

This is an obvious point. The stadium managers want weekly tenants, not 3 events a year.
Bulldogs at the very least will stay.
I'd love to see the SFS and ANZ have a bidding war over Souths but the SFS might be content with the Tahs and SFC as well as Roosters.

The stadium managers are the same at BankWest & ANZ. They want to keep costs down, which means having the smaller games at BankWest makes sense for them.

 

[herbert henry1908]

name means f**k all.

MCG know what butters their bread. The MCG wouldn't be what it is without football.

Likewise Adelaide Oval and Perth Stadium.

SCG & Gabba host just 11 (ex finals) AFL matches per year. It's the only thing saving those pitches year-round.

It’s not the only thing saving the centre wicket, but it’s a big thing. There’s simply never going to be a second AFL tenant at those grounds.