http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...d/news-story/992e1ba400f86f33a9aff879623b0ce1
Why the AFL wants plans to redevelop ANZ Stadium dumped
The Daily Telegraph
October 25, 2017 1:54pm
THESE are the five points the AFL is using to brazenly lobby the NSW Government to abandon plans for ANZ Stadium’s redevelopment into a rectangular venue.
Instead, the AFL is pushing for SCG upgrades to be prioritised and ANZ Stadium to be refurbished and maintained as an oval-shaped venue.
The audacious bid comes despite the AFL and the Sydney Swans virtually abandoning the Olympic Stadium over the past 12 months as the game struggles to fill neighbouring Spotless Stadium, even for elimination finals matches.
A letter from AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, obtained exclusively by The Daily Telegraph, outlines five reasons why ANZ should be maintained in it’s current form in
the looming $1.6 billion stadiums allocation.
They include:
-Completion of the SCG including the redevelopment of the Brewongle-Churchill Stands ahead of the 2022 Ashes Series and the O’Reilly Stand as per the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust’s current masterplan;
-[Upgrades to the Moore Park precinct are] a prerequisite to enable the Swans to create a professional women’s team in the AFLW competition, to support their Youth Girls Academy and for local community use;
-Completion of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW masterplan for Spotless Stadium, including a new grandstand at the Northern End of the venue, increasing capacity to circa 30,000-35,000;
-Upgrade the GWS Giants training and administration facility to accommodate their AFLW team, to support their Youth Girls Academy and for local community use;
-Maintain the ability for ANZ Stadium to host oval sports where large crowds are expected (i.e. 60,022 for Sydney Swans v GWS Giants Sydney Derby in 2016 AFL Final Series).
The NRL has responded by warning the city could lose a 20-year guarantee to host the grand final, as well as State of Origin matches, if a Memorandum of Understanding they have with the NSW Government to make the transformation of ANZ Stadium into a world-class rectangular venue the No. 1 priority is broken.
Fans in Sydney also reacted angrily to the AFL’s proposal to abandon ANZ Stadium’s transformation into a rectangular venue.
The AFL are so arrogant I cannot believe it,” John wrote on dailytelegraph.com.au.
“Could you imagine the outcry in Bleak City if the NRL stuck their nose into the Victorian Government to try to sway their decision to reconfigure their football grounds including the MCG so they could play rugby league there?”
Others agreed.
“The sheer greed of the AFL is unbelievable,” Neil wrote. “Over the last decade or so 75 per cent of the $500m spent on stadium infrastructure in Sydney has been spent to their advantage.”
“The SCG has just been upgraded — these guys are unbelievable,” said Rich.
“Clever! AFL can see if they keep the grounds big, they look bad empty for NRL. Nasty tactics,” wrote James.
