Why such widespread vehemence?

I am not sure, but have a strong feeling the stadiums issue is more a lightning rod for wider angst, a feeling the government is way too cosy with the Big End of Town, that it has become “a government to developers, by developers, for developers”.

The political ramifications are huge, with the Herald noting last Saturday on its front page that the whole thing has the potential to see the Berejiklian government thrown out on its ear in the elections due a year from now.

I am reliably informed that within the NSW cabinet, the only ministers who continue to support the move, are the Premier and the Sports Minister. All the others are robustly against. (One of my petition's signatories, who called the Deputy Premier’s office the other day to protest, says she was firmly told, “This is the idea of the Sports Minister. Call him.”)

So, where to from here for the NSW government? What is the way out of this unforeseen train wreck of a policy?

The most sensible thing for the government to do is to stop the nonsense, to gravely announce that, “We have listened to the people, and have changed our policy. Instead of putting that  money into re-doing Sydney stadiums that already exist, we are doing the equivalent of 100x $10 million sporting venues around the state, and putting the rest into renovating the existing stadiums, as well as more money into hospitals and schools.”  The people would roar with approval, the government would get kudos for being responsive and it would, in all likelihood, romp home at the next election.

In the NSW regions, instead of the boiling resentment of the people at seeing their tax dollars poured once more into Sydney, there would be euphoria – basketball courts for Ballina! Tennis courts for Tenterfield! Netball courts for Nowra!

If, however, the government resists the logic, persists with the plan, and insists it is going to continue on its path come what may, there is but one navigable path.

If – as the Opposition hopes – it persists with the two stadium knock-down and rebuild, you can put the glasses down. They will lose the next election by a mile. The people will be waiting for them with a cricket bat, and won’t miss.

But, redo one stadium?

It could, possibly, get away with it, if it sells it right.

Stop talking about the reason we are spending this amount of money is because we want to redo the female and disabled toilets.

Stop insisting that the 30-year-old SFS is a rust-bucket beyond hope of redemption. (It isn’t, and in any case only invites the question of why we would trust the same mob to do another stadium, if it, too, is to fall down in 30 years?)

Stop framing the stadiums in pure economic terms making ludicrous claims, as the Premier has, the whole thing can pay for itself in two years. (Really? You have that kind of return, but still need to come to the taxpayer for money? Why aren’t you being knocked over in a rush, by private equity to fund it?)

Stop carrying on about how inadequate the likes of the Olympic Stadium is for things like concerts. (Strange then, that Ed Sheeran just broke all attendance records for his concerts last week, with few complaints about acoustics?)

Instead, do this.

Sell the idea that as the foremost city in the country, Sydney should have one world-class stadium to go with our best-in-world harbour, Harbour Bridge and Opera House. Their only hope is to sell the idea on pride, not demonstrable nonsense.

Return to the Mike Baird vision, which would see a unified stadium strategy, with one body, not two, guiding a cohesive stadium strategy for the whole city. Enough with the Venues NSW board and the SCG Trust. Be a demonstrably strong government, stand up to the Big End of town and merge them. Yes, there will be no end of squealing , squawking and feathers flying – and that is just Alan – but, I’ll tell you what, the people will love it!

So, which stadium?

On this one, I have had no fewer than eight involved stakeholders bending my ear, with the Sydney Football Stadium folk pouring derision on the claims of the Olympic Stadium and Versa Vicky.

For what it’s worth, my broad view is that what makes the most sense from the point of view of serving Sydney’s sporting needs is to re-do the SFS. What will give them the most political capital, though, is to do it in the western suburbs, and redo the Olympic Stadium.

But, I repeat: the best option of the lot, is to make do with what we have – they’re fine – and put the rest to what is truly needed, local sporting infrastructure,  hospitals and schools.