Pirtek Stadium begins $29m revamp which will run through 2014 and 2015 seasons for Eels and Wanderers
A $29m revamp of Pirtek Stadium will start within weeks and run through the 2014 and 2015 seasons for the Parramatta Eels and Western Sydney Wanderers.
The stadium will be kept operational through the construction work which will run from June or July this year until the end of 2015.
The 20,000 capacity will diminish through the upgrade, but only marginally.
Funding will be spent on additional seating behind the northern terrace, an upgrade to player dressing rooms and a refurbishment to the eastern side stand — named after Mick Cronin — where corporate boxes will be built.
Once finished, the stadium’s capacity will be lifted by 2000 seats. A development application has been lodged with approval pending.
Suggestions Parramatta and the Wanderers wanted an additional $3m has been denied.
Eels and Wanders fans will experience some difficulty at games this year and next season but Venues NSW acting chief operating officer Luke Coleman said: “We are hoping for minimal disruption. “The construction program is yet to be finalised. We hope to commence in June or July.
“We will keep the stadium operational while work is taking place. That is a point of discussion as far as impact.
“It is a question of working through it. There is bound to be an impact unless you close the site. The hirers understand and it is a matter of working for a solution.”
Coleman conceded the stadium capacity would drop over the next 18 months.
“I don’t know to what extent but yes it would (decrease capacity),” he said. “I don’t want to put a figure on it at the moment. We won’t know that until we engage with our a construction company.
“We are in constant communication with the hirers.”
