Little birdie told me last night that Mike Baird plans to knock down the SFS and a new rectangular stadium (60k from memory) will be built where the parking is now, with training facilities to replace the existing stadium.
ANZ will also be demolished because none of the major codes want to use it, and training facilities (I think) will replace it. The person I spoke to didn't mention whether a new smaller stadium would appear somewhere in the Homebush precinct.

Interesting stuff, even if it would seem a long way off.

Isn't anz stadium owned or run by afl supremo mike Fitzpatrick? He wont let this happen

Its always far easier to knock something down, than build it
- Julia Gillard

That's what we need. Less stadiums, more training facilities.

Sydney needs an 80k plus stadium though.

Where are they gonna put the bledisloe cup, NRL Grandfinal, state of origin?

60k is too small I reckon.

Also, if they wanna put the 60k + seater stadium, are they gonna put a rail line there, cos I reckon they'll need it.

Yeah, was talking to my dad about it, and we agreed the same thing. We need a big stadium, and 60k just isn't enough really.

Can't see ANZ being knocked down. Also don't buy none of the major codes wanting to use it. The NRL for one, wants more games at ANZ

They need to build a tram or rail system that connects the stadium to the city....otherwise its just going to be another lemon like it is now.

They could fit a stadium in that area, I presume you're talking about that Kippax Field instead of the parking area behind the NRL headquarters.

ANZ is owned by a private consortium, not sure how the Governemnt can knock it down. And the reasoning sounds poor.

Yah, your little birdie lied.

Wasn't an in depth conversation, so I didn't get finer details, nor is stadiums a topic that I really give a shit about, I don't know much about them. Source is ARU associated.

The Bledisloe (and Rugby Union in general) is declining in popularity each year and it is not worth having a stadium built to 80k when there are only 2 events each year that justify that sort of capacity.

Rebuilding the SFS to 60k means that Sydney will have a premium venue that isn't absolutely shite. That along with a redevelopment of Parra makes far more sense than blowing a heap of cash on a stadium that everyone hates.

Yeah i'm not sure about Homebush getting demolished (no matter how much i wish), but Dave Smith has Bairds ear atm about stadiums and is pushing hard for a SFS upgrade.

Every major city has a huge stadium thats only used a few times a year for specific purposes. London has Wembley for example.

ANZ is fine.

The SFS getting knocked down and rebuilt sounds more plausible. It needs a steeper gradient at both ends. And a new roof.

And bigger screens

Wembley is filled with premium events. It has every England football game, the FA Cup semis and final, the league cup final, all the promotion play offs, Community shield, big Rugby Union club games, the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final, Rugby League internationals and 3 NFL games. It has and will also host major world events like the Champions League Final, Olympic Football final, European championship finals and RWC games. All of these sell out or get close to doing so, meaning the stadium size is justified. Stade de France in Paris is a similar case but also hosts all Rugby Union Tests as well.

What events does ANZ host that justifies it's size? The NRL GF, Origin and maybe a football friendly involving a major club are the only ones that get close to 84k. It will get one or two Socceroos games and a Wallabies test but they could just as easily struggle to go above 40k.

No major event is going to come to Australia in the mean time either, the Olympics and FIFA WC are not going to coming here, the Asian Cup has come and gone, the ARU can't afford to host the RWC.

60k is perfect for Sydney, it has no need for anything more and sports fans would be done a favour if ANZ was bulldozed

Edited by melbourne_terrace: 12/4/2015 05:48:53 PM

But its not just for Sydney, its also for the country. There is no other 80k seater football stadium in the country and there should be at lease one. Also, out of interest, how many times a year does the MCG sell out? I know they get big crowds during the AFL season but does it sell out often? Genuine question as I don't follow AFL and don't know.

60k at Moore Park would be shit for SFC. I also think that Sydney as a city needs a stadium that can hold more than that...

Sydney would never reduce its major events capacity, the government just won't allow it. Would be terrible for football. Sydney FC would be playing out of a 60,000 seater and every major Soccerros game would be played at the MCG.

How many games is that out of interest?

About 10? plus the Boxing day test. Or is it more than that?

ANZ probably sells out about 4-5 times per year but also has a number of events where its between 50-80% full.

The MCG is an icon, no-one would argue it should be reduced in size, but like ANZ, its mostly not full, but their existence is still justified because the events they host, are not just local events, but national events.

ANZ is due to host 53 events this year alone.

Also, the organisers say: "they cant look Cathy in the eye" with the idea of proposing to knock down ANZ stadium

What major Socceroos games? A once every 4 year third round WC Qualifier against Japan or Iran? Because there is a strong case to say that should be played at the MCG now anyway. Any other game bar some pie in the sky friendly against a nation that is never going to come here anyway like (Brazil or England), a 60k SFS, 50k Suncorp Stadium and the 100k MCG covers our needs perfectly.

I thinks its already sold out 3 CWC games, The Real Madrid - City game and will sell out the GF, Anzac day and Boxing day test. Probably a few other AFL games.

It gets close to capacity much more than ANZ would. When Essendon, Carlton, Richmond and Collingwood play its almost always 70k+

The majority of which are NRL club games that can't get fuck all to turn up and have no business being played at homebush as well as bullshit events like Monster Trucks, concerts and T20 Cricket.

Socceroos games should never be played at the MCG.

Etihad, ANZ or Suncorp.

Melbourne and Sydney are in direct competition. The NSW government wouldn't be doing its job if it just gives up major events to Victoria.

This. its not gonna happen.

Right, i hate ovals and shitty stadiums as much as the next football fan but two of the biggest games in Australian history (Iran 97 and Uruguay 2001) were at the MCG and despite the results, you wouldn't have wanted them played anywhere else.

I've been to football games at both the MCG and Homebush and view wise they are both as shit as each other. Homebush is nothing close to being a proper football stadium like Suncorp or AAMI. MCG is a far better stadium and experience in every other aspect though.

Homebush is shit in every aspect. It's an arse to get to, the train link is shit, the view is shit and the bars around it are bogan pits. If Homebush was demolished tomorrow, we wouldn't lose anything. The MCG covers the need for the absolute biggest games,

As for the durka dome, Etihad shouldn't receive another Australia game again and it certainly won't post 2025. Any game in Melbourne that can't justify the MCG should be played at AAMI Park, i'm fairly confident most football fans here would agree with that.

Who are the other tenants of Allianz, ST George average about 15k and Sydney fc pretty similar. Those kind of crowds would be ridiculous in a 60k venue