Why the AFL wants plans to redevelop ANZ Stadium dumped
THESE are the five points the AFL is using to brazenly lobby the NSW Government to abandon plans for ANZ Stadium’s redevelopment into a rectangular venue, outraging NRL fans.
THESE are the five points the AFL is using to brazenly lobby the NSW Government to abandon plans for ANZ Stadium’s redevelopment into a rectangular venue.
Instead, the AFL is pushing for SCG upgrades to be prioritised and ANZ Stadium to be refurbished and maintained as an oval-shaped venue.
The audacious bid comes despite the AFL and the Sydney Swans virtually abandoning the Olympic Stadium over the past 12 months as the game struggles to fill neighbouring Spotless Stadium, even for elimination finals matches.
A letter from AFL supremo Gillon McLachlan to NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, obtained exclusively by The Daily Telegraph, outlines five reasons why ANZ should be maintained in it’s current form in the looming $1.6 billion stadiums allocation.
ANZ Stadium would be turned into a rectangular stadium under current plans.Source:Supplied
They include:
-Completion of the SCG including the redevelopment of the Brewongle-Churchill Stands ahead of the 2022 Ashes Series and the O’Reilly Stand as per the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust’s current masterplan;
-[Upgrades to the Moore Park precinct are] a prerequisite to enable the Swans to create a professional women’s team in the AFLW competition, to support their Youth Girls Academy and for local community use;
-Completion of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW masterplan for Spotless Stadium, including a new grandstand at the Northern End of the venue, increasing capacity to circa 30,000-35,000;
-Upgrade the GWS Giants training and administration facility to accommodate their AFLW team, to support their Youth Girls Academy and for local community use;
-Maintain the ability for ANZ Stadium to host oval sports where large crowds are expected (i.e. 60,022 for Sydney Swans v GWS Giants Sydney Derby in 2016 AFL Final Series).
The NRL has responded by warning the city could lose a 20-year guarantee to host the grand final, as well as State of Origin matches, if a Memorandum of Understanding they have with the NSW Government to make the transformation of ANZ Stadium into a world-class rectangular venue the No. 1 priority is broken.
Fans in Sydney also reacted angrily to the AFL’s proposal to abandon ANZ Stadium’s transformation into a rectangular venue.
The AFL are so arrogant I cannot believe it,” John wrote on dailytelegraph.com.au.
“Could you imagine the outcry in Bleak City if the NRL stuck their nose into the Victorian Government to try to sway their decision to reconfigure their football grounds including the MCG so they could play rugby league there?”
Cricket Australia and the AFL are arguing for upgrades to the SCG and Allianz Stadium precinct.Source:News Corp Australia
Others agreed.
“The sheer greed of the AFL is unbelievable,” Neil wrote. “Over the last decade or so 75 per cent of the $500m spent on stadium infrastructure in Sydney has been spent to their advantage.”
“The SCG has just been upgraded — these guys are unbelievable,” said Rich.
“Clever! AFL can see if they keep the grounds big, they look bad empty for NRL. Nasty tactics,” wrote James.
Replies
This is why we have a stadium which doesn't really serve either sport - the AFL came in at the last minute when the stadium was redeveloped after the Olympics. If they get their way, we won't have a rectangular truly world class stadium. In the end, the NRL will have a lot to answer for in not doing more to get people to games.
The sad part of this is that the AFL will probably win out because they will put forward sensible proposals, whereas the boneheads running the NRL will muff it up like they do most other things.
Having said that the AFL are better organised at head office than the NRL and do a better job of lobbying government. They have a handout mentality in Victoria. Like spending taxpayers money
They could get their way here