Stadium revamp set to keep a lid on chill factor
The ACT Government is considering a radical Canberra Stadium revamp which would end the days of footy fans braving the winter freeze to watch the Raiders and Brumbies.
In a move aimed to eliminate sub-zero nights at the venue, the Government is looking at plans to put a clear roof on top of a redeveloped Canberra Stadium in the coming years.
If ACT Sports Minister Andrew Barr's vision goes ahead, Canberra would have the only rectangular venue in Australia with a roof.
And while Mr Barr is still canvassing ideas and options for a overhaul of the Bruce precinct, he said modelling a redevelopment on New Zealand's Forsyth Barr Stadium in Dunedin was high on the priority list.
The Forsyth Barr Stadium the new home of Super Rugby franchise the Otago Highlanders has been built for the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand in September and October.
It cost $A150million, can seat 30,500 fans and has a 37m-high roof made of a strong fluorine-based plastic designed to benefit the playing surface.
If the same plan was used in the capital, the new Canberra Stadium would still have enough flexibility to temporarily increase it's capacity to the World Cup standard of 43,000 if Australia wins the rights to host the tournament in the future.
Mr Barr told The Canberra Times he wanted the new venue to protect fans from bitterly cold winter nights.
''We will have to go and have a look at the facility being built in Dunedin,'' Mr Barr said.
''It's a boutique stadium and Dunedin has a similar climate to Canberra.
''One of the things we're conscious of with the Super Rugby season extending into the colder months is spectator comfort on cold Canberra winter nights.''
Poor Super Rugby and NRL seasons have seen the Brumbies and Raiders crowds drop this year.
In previous years, the Super Rugby season has finished in May.
But the competition's expansion will see matches played in the coldest months of the year.
The Raiders play right through winter months and have lobbied the NRL to have home games played during the day so the crowd size is not affected by the dropping temperature.
Mr Barr hoped a roof would help increase the average attendance for both of Canberra's premier sporting teams.
''Attracting crowds [to Raiders and Brumbies] in June and July is a challenge deep in our winter ... we don't want to lose the atmosphere but you want spectator comfort,'' Mr Barr said.
''We need to get a sense of technology and costs associated but it [a venue with a clear roof] is a possibility for the future redevelopment of Canberra Stadium.''
Even if the roof is not part of the revamp, each stand at the ground will eventually be periodically knocked down and moved closer to the playing surface to create a better atmosphere.
Because Canberra Stadium was originally an athletics track, the current configuration leaves spectators too far away from the action.
The Government hopes to commit $100million to upgrading Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval over the next decade.
Of that total, it is likely $70million would be put towards Canberra Stadium and $30million to Manuka Oval.
The Federal Government had indicated it would contribute to an overhaul of Canberra Stadium if Australia won its bid to host either the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cups.
It is unclear if the Federal Government would still help the ACT fund its stadium redevelopment.
No major work at Canberra Stadium would begin until at least 2013.
And in other major news for the capital's two premier sports venues Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval the Government has:
Purchased temporary seats which can be used at Manuka Oval, a redeveloped Canberra Stadium, Exhibition Park and Stromlo Forest Park;
Started immediate work on repairing the Meninga Stand at Canberra Stadium and the entrance to the venue;
Plans to build a hotel at the Bruce precinct when Canberra Stadium is redeveloped so it is ''not just a stadium in a paddock'';
Plans to bring fans closer to the action with more vertical stands like Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium or the Gold Coast's Skilled Park and all seats will be covered;
Plans to upgrade player facilities at Canberra Stadium and build a grassed warm-up area behind the Meninga Stand.
