The fact of the matter is that Bruce doesn't meet any of WR's minimum standards to host RWC matches. We, the ACT, have known that's the case for well over a decade at this point, and Andrew Barr has been chief minister for all that time.Big slap in the face for Canberra getting no games given how successful the brumbies have been in super rugby compared to the force
I don’t feel sorry for Canberrans because they continue to vote the same merkins in election after election.The fact of the matter is that Bruce doesn't meet any of WR's minimum standards to host RWC matches. We, the ACT, have known that's the case for well over a decade at this point, and Andrew Barr has been chief minister for all that time.
The only way to incentivise WR to turn a blind eye to the state of the stadium, and other infrastructure for that matter, was going to be to pay a huge fee. In other words basically guarantee that the event would be profitable. Barr wasn't willing to do that either because he and his government are wannabe social engineers trying to force Canberra to develop in their image, and their image for Canberra is for it to be a Melbourne lite, "progressive", wannabe Eurotrash city.
So no, it's not a slap in the face at all, just the inevitable consequences of the decisions of the electorate, and there's little that can be done to change it because the electorate is dominated by people who move here for work and Uni, and don't give a flying f**k about the impact on the local community and culture.
People like Andrew Barr don't see Canberra as their home, they see it as a guinea pig for their ideology, and if it ever goes wrong they can always return home. It's sad really, but very few people have the power to fight back (for lack of a better term), and those that do refuse to do so.
As much as I think Union is an inferior game, people will be willing to shell out to attend the rugby World Cup as it is a major event. Just as we watch all those ridiculous sports at the Olympics every 4 years, that we wouldn’t dream of watching any other time.That’s ambitious playing them at Optus given the state of Union in W.A.
Would’ve thought 27k would be perfect capacity for them.
Big slap in the face for Canberra getting no games given how successful the brumbies have been in super rugby compared to the force
One of the points in my post is that it isn't really the Canberrans that are giving them power. It's the somewhere over two thirds of the population that relocated here for work and school.I don’t feel sorry for Canberrans because they continue to vote the same merkins in election after election.
58k watched the wallabies at Optus last year. As you said, it's a big event, it's not for Bruce Stadium.As much as I think Union is an inferior game, people will be willing to shell out to attend the rugby World Cup as it is a major event. Just as we watch all those ridiculous sports at the Olympics every 4 years, that we wouldn’t dream of watching any other time.
The raiders have been in the nswrl / arl for over 40 yearsThe fear of other sports gaining a foothold in ACT is really showing for Barr.
whether he wants to be known as a stooge or not, he’s an afl stooge
Pfft, it's historical fact that the "other sports", Aussie Rules and Cricket in this case, have had a foothold in Canberra much longer than RL.The fear of other sports gaining a foothold in ACT is really showing for Barr.
whether he wants to be known as a stooge or not, he’s an afl stooge
That's historically inaccurate as well, and this issue goes far beyond RL.The raiders have been in the nswrl / arl for over 40 years
They put Canberra on the sporting map yet the chief minister couldn’t care less
It's worth noting that Brett Robinson is an ex-captain of the Brumbies...However, the "offer" Barr touted wasn't a promise of government funding. Instead, it was potential revenue from hospitality and ticket sales to the public.
The Canberra Times can reveal the actual cash pledge from the government was just $2 million in total for all four games - a $1.6 million payment to the World Cup and another $400,000 to be spent on a fan zone and free public transport.
And while Barr said the decision to bypass Canberra was "all about money", the most powerful man World Rugby - chairman Brett Robinson - said the ageing facilities at Canberra Stadium also counted against the capital.
The real numbers behind the ACT's World Cup bid revealed after Barr's 'offer'
Officials are at odds over Canberra's 2027 Rugby World Cup fate.www.canberratimes.com.au
There's a sump under it that's so worn out that it seeps raw sewage under the ground.I haven't been to Bruce in almost a decade (QLD based). Is the stadium at the point where its a safety liability, like Allianz apparently was?
There's a sump under it that's so worn out that it seeps raw sewage under the ground.
The Meninga stand has concreate cancer so bad that they can't stop water from running through and settling in it. Nothing they do can get the lingering stench of mildew and still water out of the away sheds.
Almost everything about Bruce is dated and/or broken and most of what could be fixed doesn't get maintained because the ACT Government and Sports Commission can't agree on whose responsibility it is to maintain it.
It's a dump that it should have been condemned at least 20 years ago.