World Cup stadium scuttled
BY DAVID JEAN
20/09/2009 10:20:00 AM
A FAILED A-League bid will likely cost Canberra a hosting role in a future World Cup and scuttle plans for a grand upgrade of the Canberra Stadium precinct.
ACT sports minister Andrew Barr has conceded the Government won't be part of Australia's bid to host the World Cup finals in 2018 or 2022 unless Football Federation Australia grants Canberra an A-League licence.
With FFA rumoured to be close to awarding Western Sydney the competition's 12th franchise, Canberra's hopes of playing a part in a World Cup hosting bid now appear doomed.
Soccer's governing body FIFA has strict guidelines for stadiums hosting World Cup matches, including a requirement they fit a minimum of 43,000 fans. Canberra Stadium currently holds 25,000.
The Government detailed potential options in June for upgrading Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval, with the grandest proposal involving twin stadiums in Bruce at a cost of $350million.
That project would have created a purpose-built rectangular stadium suitable for hosting World Cup matches standing next to a re-shaped Canberra Stadium.
While Mr Barr said the Government remained committed to upgrading the ACT's existing sporting facilities, delivering the most ambitious option would be contingent on either having an A-League team to make long-term use of the facilities, or a significant kick-in from the Federal Government.
Federal cabinet is expected to sign off on Commonwealth support for Australia's World Cup bid next month, but is unlikely to cover most of the costs associated with building a new stadium.
''If we're not going to have a team in the A-League and there isn't going to be a long-term legacy for football, then we'd have to question whether you'd spend the hundreds of millions of dollars that would go with being part of the World Cup bid,'' Mr Barr said. ''There are four different options for Canberra Stadium and three really involve upgrading the existing facilities, [but] all keeping the capacity between the 25,000 to 30,000 mark.
''That's all on the Government's agenda.
''But that's one thing, going to 43,000 is a whole other thing and for that you'd probably need to build a whole new stadium.
''The profile having the World Cup in Canberra would bring to the sport would be huge, but that only lasts for a few months if there's not a team here.
''We will support Canberra being involved with Australia for the 2015 Asia Cup, because the infrastructure we have would meet what's required for that.
''But the problem with the World Cup is that we'd obviously need a stadium that would accommodate 43,000.''
Instead of constructing a new stadium, it seems likely that the Government would proceed with more modest plans for Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval.
The minimum cost to revamp the two grounds is estimated at $77million.
Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are the only cities with rectangular stadiums that meet FIFA's requirements. Tasmania and the Northern Territory have already ruled out being part of the World Cup bids.
