New stadium - 2025

[herbert henry1908]

Pretty underwhelming if I'm being honest. Seems like a massive waste of money for very little benefit.

Let’s see the plans first, but I suspect you’ll be surprised at how many changes there’ll be for $309m

 

[herbert henry1908]

So is anything getting knock down? How can you improve it if nothing gets knockdown slightly? The amount of money spent over the years adding bits and pieces would have been better spent just re doing it again.

There’s no way they’re spending $309m without knocking something down, I’m pretty sure you’ll see the eastern stand levelled at minimum. Making major modifications to existing structures is pretty much just as expensive as knocking down.

 

[herbert henry1908]

I’d be surprised if you couldn’t build two 10k seat stands down each side for $309m

 

[Chins get the wins]

Lipstick on a pig, we have been well and truly f**ked

 

[19Panther90]

In 2025 what are the building costs? Might end up 1 side done haha

 

[Iamback]

Pretty underwhelming if I'm being honest. Seems like a massive waste of money for very little benefit.

Agreed

Atleast we still run it

 

[soc123_au]

Well this news sucks. Do it properly or don't bother I reckon.

 

[Aliceinwonderland]

This explains my thinking. I believe this will allow the soul of the old stadium to survive too.

 

[jane the pain]

I'm in the minority here, that money would be better spent elsewhere, e.g. on healthcare, and giving our frontline emergency workers, doctors and nurses, a much deserved pay rise.

 

[Chins get the wins]

I'm in the minority here, that money would be better spent elsewhere, e.g. on healthcare, and giving our frontline emergency workers, doctors and nurses, a much deserved pay rise.

No

 

[herbert henry1908]

I think people are underestimating how much can be done with $309m. That’s not small refurbishment.

The hill will stay at the northern end, but outside of that I expect things will look and feel quite different.

I’d like to see a safe standing terrace at the southern end, and two new stands down the sides.

Assuming Fletcher is correct that an entirely new stadium would’ve been $450m, I think the above is achievable for $309m. It will be a slightly smaller version of Newcastle’s ground.

 

[Chins get the wins]

Any ground with a hill is tinpot as f**k

 

[herbert henry1908]

Any ground with a hill is tinpot as f**k

I’m not a fan of a hill myself, but this could easily be built upon at a later date. Or
perhaps something like NQ that has seating below a flat hill.

Guys it’s $309m, this will secure the short to medium term future of the club. They’ll be able to sell really good corporate and membership packages, a viral income stream.

 

[jane the pain]

No

So you're saying they don't? Get real they work extremely hard and the health care system is broken.

 

[flash]

Do we get to keep the open sewer at the western entrance? Will miss the feeling of travelling in a third world country at every home game.

 

[age.s]

I’m not a fan of a hill myself, but this could easily be built upon at a later date. Or
perhaps something like NQ that has seating below a flat hill.

Guys it’s $309m, this will secure the short to medium term future of the club. They’ll be able to sell really good corporate and membership packages, a viral income stream.

Easily is not the word I'd use. Its very unlikely the stadium will get any further significant attention from governments who will see this as an item ticked off their to do list. Can't see the club being able to afford it.

Realistically this was the best chance the club had at a modern ground in the next couple of decades.

 

[snickers007]

I'm in the minority here, that money would be better spent elsewhere, e.g. on healthcare, and giving our frontline emergency workers, doctors and nurses, a much deserved pay rise.

$309m into healthcare is pocket change.
NSW Health had about 139,000 full-time equivalent positions a few years back.
Thats an extra $85 per person, per fortnight for 12 months - which is insultingly insignificant.
If you consider the investment into the stadium is meant to be for 15-20years the equivalent amount is $4 - $5 per person, per fortnight over the same time.

You could make the argument that something is better than nothing - and that's true. But you could allocate 95% of the NSW budget to health care and it still wouldn't be enough.

Sports, arts, education and infrastructure are all important in the grand scheme of things, and need funding too.

The problem here is that $309m worth of stadium refurb isn't going to make a splash either. They're spending the money because it's been allocated, and because they don't want to piss off the voters after Labor narrowly took the Penrith seat in the last election.

The government would be better off taking that money, and giving it to BlueBet and backing QLD at 13+ tonight.

 

[WestyLife]

The nostalgia argument makes me irrationally angry. The stadium is terribly outdated.

 

[jane the pain]

$309m into healthcare is pocket change.
NSW Health had about 139,000 full-time equivalent positions a few years back.
Thats an extra $85 per person, per fortnight for 12 months - which is insultingly insignificant.
If you consider the investment into the stadium is meant to be for 15-20years the equivalent amount is $4 - $5 per person, per fortnight over the same time.

You could make the argument that something is better than nothing - and that's true. But you could allocate 95% of the NSW budget to health care and it still wouldn't be enough.

Sports, arts, education and infrastructure are all important in the grand scheme of things, and need funding too.

The problem here is that $309m worth of stadium refurb isn't going to make a splash either. They're spending the money because it's been allocated, and because they don't want to piss off the voters after Labor narrowly took the Penrith seat in the last election.

The government would be better off taking that money, and giving it to BlueBet and backing QLD at 13+ tonight.

Disagree with that.

 

[Kilkenny]

I think an entirely new eastern and western stand designed in such a way that the current hill areas can easily be updated at a later stage when the need arises. It is what it is. Maybe not perfect but something needed to be done. Sadly the Paceway is the big loser.