Stadium war is over with ANZ to receive major upgrade
EXCLUSIVE
The great stadium war is over with a major upgrade of ANZ Stadium winning out over a new stadium at Moore Park.
Fairfax Media can reveal that state cabinet is expected to be told tomorrow that an upgrade of Parramatta Stadium will continue and ANZ Stadium will be refurbished after that and leftover funds will be used to refurbish Allianz Stadium.
Cross-section of the earlier upgrade plans for Allianz Stadium, a plan the SCG Trust and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres ...
Cross-section of the earlier upgrade plans for Allianz Stadium, a plan the SCG Trust and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres are now determined to avoid. Photo: SCG Trust
Political infighting between Premier Mike Baird and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres has brought the issue to a head with the premier freezing Mr Ayres out of negotiations since returning from Israel on Sunday.
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Mr Baird will take control of Sydney's stadium negotiations after agreeing to meet with the three furious Allianz Stadium tenants, in another blow to the ambitions of the under-fire Sports Minister.
The Premier has also given Mr Ayres a Friday deadline to gain a 100-game commitment from the three football codes at the network of major stadiums, allowing Mr Baird to take control of the allocation of the $1.6 billion investment.
Premier Mike Baird and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres in September when they announced $1.6 billion in funding for ...
Premier Mike Baird and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres in September when they announced $1.6 billion in funding for stadiums over the next 10 years. Photo: Nick Moir
That allocation will be $350 million for a new stadium at Parramatta, $450 million for a refurbishment of Allianz Stadium and $700 million to turn ANZ Stadium into a permanent 75,000-seat rectangular stadium.
This is a victory for the Sydney-based NRL clubs, who have campaigned against the NRL and Ayres to ensure a shift of funding away from Allianz Stadium to Olympic Park.
The Sydney Roosters, NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC were seething on Monday after Mr Baird announced a new stadium at Moore Park would be built on the existing site, which the clubs allege is not the message Mr Ayres has been spreading.
The clubs, who insist Mr Ayres gave them multiple assurances they wouldn't be displaced, had sought an urgent meeting with Mr Ayres after plans to build a 55,000-seat stadium over Kippax Lake were quashed by the Premier.
However, Mr Baird has stepped in an attempt to solve the now farcical stadium dilemma, agreeing to meet with the clubs, which insist they will not compromise on a plan that involves having to be relocated during the construction of a new venue.
"We want to meet with the decision-maker, and it appears that is what is happening," Waratahs chairman Roger Davis told Fairfax Media.
"We're happy to listen and wait and we're encouraged that the key decision-makers have indicated they want to meet with us to work out what is best for the clubs, the community and the state. It's positive that people are willing to talk but we will not compromise on the fact that we must continue to have access to Allianz Stadium."
A spokesman for Mr Baird confirmed "the Premier is willing to meet the clubs, although no date has been arranged".
This is a major blow for Mr Ayres who, up until the past week, had control of negotiations with clubs, codes and venues about the allocation of the $1.6 billion. Mr Ayres, with the Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust, who have championed a brand new stadium at Moore Park, to cost around $1 billion.
