Sydney retains rights to NRL grand final for next 25 years

[T-Boon]

It doesn't have to be knocked down to make the field rectangle Frank. It will be rectangle without the entire place being bulldozed.

Rectangular is only one issue. The big issue is the angle/pitch of the stadium. If that doesnt get fixed it will stay a garbage and soulless.

 

[Bests Golden Boots]

Smarter option would be to utilise that government money and put an extra beer and hot dog stand on the hill at both Kogarah and Wollongong

Oh now I'm not copping that.
The lack of pies at Kogarah makes you feel special.
If your lucky enough to get one of the 3 pies the vendors have on sale before halftime it makes your game day that much more special.

Plus if your especially lucky you'll get the one that's still half frozen in the middle, which makes the warm mid strength beer you just paid $8 for taste better.

 

[AyiosYiorgos]

they should build a stadium that fits 1million spectators and can host NRL, AFL, ALeague ARU, simultaneously..

 

[FlameThrower]

Rectangular is only one issue. The big issue is the angle/pitch of the stadium. If that doesnt get fixed it will stay a garbage and soulless.

Exactly right - if they don’t address that angle it really won’t fix the viewing experience. They also need to have more food and dining options outside the stadium - like the Fox studious quarter with different pubs, cafes to encourage people before and after the game.

 

[FlameThrower]

they should build a stadium that fits 1million spectators and can host NRL, AFL, ALeague ARU, simultaneously..

That’s called TV...

 

[Bests Golden Boots]

Soulless?

Any stadium built to hold 70-89 thousand

Exactly right - if they don’t address that angle it really won’t fix the viewing experience. They also need to have more food and dining options outside the stadium - like the Fox studious quarter with different pubs, cafes to encourage people before and after the game.

There's no business model that could support this though.
There's only people at Homebush during games and events, during the week it's a ghost town. At least Fox Studios is close to the city.

I'll agree it's a pretty rubbish place to watch footy, but then so is any large stadium that is three quarters empty during a game.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

I agree that increasing the SFS to 45 000, isn't enough, I think it should hold between 50000 to 60 000.

When it was built the roofing that is supposed to cover the fans when it is raining didn't. They also should have had the second tier of the grandstand going all the way around the ground (behind the goal posts). It was a very poorly designed stadium.

When the SFS was first built, I also remember hearing/reading that there were insufficient toilet facilities, when the stadium was full and maybe insufficient food and beverages outlets.

Try being a Member there for the past 30-years.

At least the dunnies flush, but it's about the only thing which works.

 

[Saint_JimmyG]

Allianz is old and it's facilitiesits facilities are woefully outdated. I remember reading the SCG Trust were threatened with losing the licence to future events by multiple sports due to safety and facility concerns.

Could they refurbish it to fix these? Not so clear, a lot of the issues couldn't be fixed easily without structural changes, and seeing as SCG Trust is literally a quasi-government, they got their new stadium.

You've made a salient point.

As the SCG Trust is a "quasi-government', it makes you wonder why it acquiescence to a new stadia with virtually the same capacity?

I would've thought it would've led a concerted push to reclaim (at least some) of the many events it has lost to Homebush since 1999.

These include:

NRL grand final
State Of Origin
Rugby Union Tests
Football internationals.

As it currently stands, Allianz Stadium is rarely full mainly due to its second rate fixtures including Roosters' home games, Super 15 and A-League matches.

The curious part is that it's Chairman, Tony Shepherd, has admitted that even with a slightly larger capacity, Allianz Stadium will still only hold three games per annum which would draw large crowds - Anzac Day game, A-League "Western Derby" and a rugby international against a non top tier overseas team.

 

[Objective View]

Disappointed in the decision to scrap the new world class facility in Homebush, NRL chief executive Todd Greenberg stood by the Government's call by honouring Sydney with its showpiece event for the long-term future.

The NRL had previously signed a memorandum of understanding which would keep the grand final in Sydney if the project went forward.

MORE: NSW Government scraps ANZ Stadium plan, Allianz Stadium green-lighted

“We committed to playing the Grand Final in Sydney for the next 25 years and that commitment will be met,” he said.

“Whichever way you look at it, this is a huge investment in stadia for our game and we always said that if the Government invests in facilities we will play our biggest games there.

“Naturally I would have preferred to see a new stadium built at Sydney Olympic Park in line with our Memorandum of Understanding.

“But this remains the biggest infrastructure program the game has ever seen, one that gives our fans a new level of stadia facilities.''

New South Wales premier Gladys Berejiklian confirmed the new plan will cost half a billion dollars less than the original proposal, with taxpayers now forking out $810 million for the redeveloped 70,000 seat stadium.

http://www.nospam47.com/au/league/n...adium-todd-greenberg/x5j8qo16kp51sd93lteq7h7r

A typically insular approach taken by the NRL. I have no issue with the grand final being played at Suncorp from time to time. Born and bred in NSW but QLD too is rugby league heartland. Naturally I don't feel the same way for Melbourne.

Straight Shooter

 

[Objective View]

Personally I am glad that the plans for a new stadium have been scrapped . That money can no doubt be used in other avenues , such as health , education and 100 hundred needy causes that are shy of a quid . Glad that we still have the Grand Final in Sydney , cannot imagine it anywhere else but where the game was born .

Unlike schools and hospitals, upgrading of stadia returns money to the economy. Whilst social benefits of pouring more money into schools etc must be considered, there also needs to be balance.

Straight Shooter

 

[Frank Facer]

It doesn't have to be knocked down to make the field rectangle Frank. It will be rectangle without the entire place being bulldozed.

The fans are too far away from the game right now. If they can refurbish inside of the stadium with the seating closer to the game, then maybe they don't have to knock it down?

 

[FlameThrower]

Soulless?

Any stadium built to hold 70-89 thousand


There's no business model that could support this though.
There's only people at Homebush during games and events, during the week it's a ghost town. At least Fox Studios is close to the city.

I'll agree it's a pretty rubbish place to watch footy, but then so is any large stadium that is three quarters empty during a game.

Only now is the whole area around Olympuc Park being addressed. With thousands of new units going up, bringing life and activity. By default that also brings cafes and restaurants...having all of this happening and a refurb Stadium will encourage attmoshere before and after events..
Light rail will also link from Parramatta.

 

[ouryears]

The fans are too far away from the game right now. If they can refurbish inside of the stadium with the seating closer to the game, then maybe they don't have to knock it down?

Exactly yes, that's the plan mate.
Not hard