[size=8]Plans to transform Canberra sporting venues[/size]



This proposal to create a unique sporting precinct at Bruce would cost $300-$350 million.


An artist's impression of what a fully redevelopment Manuka Oval could look like. The proposal would cost $70-$100 million.


Canberrans are being urged to have their say on the future of Manuka Oval and Canberra Stadium.

A number of master plan options have been unveiled for the two sporting facilities.

The proposals for Canberra Stadium include upgrading the existing complex to include extra seating and a new roof for the west, south and east stands.

The Manuka Oval proposals involve rebuilding existing stands and expanding the venue.

Another option is to build a new 40,000 seat stadium alongside Canberra Stadium for rugby and soccer.

Under this option AFL and cricket games would be moved from Manuka Oval to a refurbished Canberra Stadium. Manuka Oval would then be transformed into a community ground.

But the proposals come with hefty price tags.

The ideas for Canberra Stadium would cost between $60 million and $350 million while the Manuka Oval proposals would cost $10 - $100 million.

Sports Minister Andrew Barr says the Government's preferred option is to build a new stadium at Bruce but it will depend on funding arrangements with the Commonwealth and private sector.

"It would mean the ACT could comfortably host AFL matches, cricket matches of international status as well as providing a world class home for the Raiders and the Brumbies and an A-League team in future competitions," he said.

Mr Barr says the proposals would ensure Canberra can host world-class sporting events into the future.

"Major sporting events are important because they not only provide great entertainment for the people of the ACT, they also attract thousands of visitors from interstate, helping to support local tourism operators and local tourism jobs," he said.

Canberrans have until late June to comment on the proposals.

Improvements welcome

The Canberra Raiders say they would welcome the construction of a new stadium at Bruce for rugby league and other codes.

Raiders chief executive Don Furner says a new stadium would help attract more fans and sponsors.

"Canberra Stadium's a great stadium, our visiting teams that come here think it's great," he said.

"Certainly now it's nearly 40 years old, certainly the west end is 40 years old, any improvement can help spectator comfort, can help with the sponsorship and can help the team when the facilities get better would be a great improvement and I know our team would love it."

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009 ... tion=sport

Canberra - a 2015 Asian Cup venue?

I love the name - Manuka Oval!!! :lol:

I wouldn't hold your breath, money is tight....

This is coming from the Govt. though and the Brumbies are leading the push as they're keen for a bigger and better venue too, obviously. The ACT govt. are obviously keen for these things (Unlike *Cough* SA and WA govts.), because it makes Canberra more attractive if we get A-League sides there (Hence their partial funding of the A-League bid) and their looking into these stadium ideas.

Canberra is unique too, as obviously they have the A.I.S. so these developments as it seems, might relate to the AIS and it's needs too?

LOOKS PRETTY GOOD, HOPE WA AND SA GOVERNMENTS FOLLOW...

Canberra will almost certainly be a World Cup venue, this announcement is definitely part of the WC Bidding plan.

I believe the phrase I am looking for sounds something along the lines of "clucking Bess"

love it, the bid will benifit from this IMO

Pretty big BUMP, but:





http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/sport/world-cup-bid-still-needing-a-home-for-its-finale/story-e6frg7mf-1225862763904

Edited by Proud2BeCanberran: 6/5/2010 09:34:25 PM

isn't this a bit old, i thought they proposed a new stadium last year or the year b4?

i would prefer it to look more like this

Jizz :cool:

Most of that is fantastic, but I think the far end is bloody hideous.

This...


Much better.

lol guys those stadiums are WAY overlarge for Canberra/ACT region's market, then again, they ARE proposing a 40k venue, which isn't far off some of those stadiums.

They new stadium doesn't need to be soo expensive or elaborate, but indeed it does need to be of a decent standard, as meeting FIFA's minimum requirements, as too that Canberra's codes require, post WC.

I think you can see in the above proposal, it may be something of a more simple plan/design, but it depends whether it's on the $60M or $350M end of that scale.

WC and AC bids aside. A good stadium in Canberra is crucial for future WC qualifing matches in the future. Even though Canberra isn't the biggest city, I think the FFA need to be more cunning in the placement of WCQs. In June/July, Canberra is below zero degrees in the evening. Imagine a team coming from a middle eastern summer straight into a Canberra winter for a match.

Other nations do it to us, so it is about time we are a little smarter and a little bit more cunning in the placement and timing of our future WCQs.

Of course, the same can also be said about tropical Townsville in the right circumstances.

=d> =d> =d> Too bloody right.

I agree whole heartedly with this propostion, extracting fair advantage is crucial to international success!

IS there enough people in Canberra to warrant this?

Shhhhhhh. Questions like that invalidate about 70% of our bid!

what are you on about, the far end is what makes it look awsome

Just to let everyone know the stadium will be reduced down to around 27K after the world cup as said in an article when this first came out.

so pretty much perfect size for an a-league team, so there's at least one legacy that will come out of this because canberra stadium as is without a roof can't generate a great atmosphere unless there 20K there.

A-League stadiums shouldn't be ranked on size, but on how they improve the outlook of their team.

There is only 1.5 million in Qatar. They will have 40,000 seater stadiums in towns with less than 40,000 people!

As Schmich said, it will be scaled back to the capacity suitable for the market. But tbh that whole stadium is as much for Rugby Union and League (Who are both screamed for a new stadium in that region) aswell as the prospects of hosting World Cup games, more Socceroos fixtures and even it's own A-League side, in the future. Earlier this decade the Brumbies (Super 15) were packing out Bruce Stadium when they went on to win the, then, Super 12.

But don't underestimate the ACT region - The Canberra/Queanbeyan Urban Region currently has 450k people and is amongst the faster growing capital cities. By the time of this World Cup, if we get it, that population should be over half a million. And that is just the 'immediate region,' but as part of the wider Greater Southern NSW region, including the nearby Riverina region, totals 700k people or so.

Also, the ACT govt. had a $1B proposal for a light rail scheme, though that was pre-GFC.

And there HAVE been 'Very Fast Train/TGV' (Like the ones in Europe and Japan) proposals linking Sydney to Canberra. If such a connection was built it would be seen as the first stage of a High Speed Rail link between Sydney and Melbourne, with Canberra seen as a destination inbetween.

tying to such proposals/ideas, are things like Sydney's urban sprawl concerns and the congestion at Sydney Airport. A second Airport has been/is in the planning I think, but at one stage Canberra's airport was mooted as a possible 'second airport for Sydney,' IF the airport was connected to Sydney via a TGV train. Such a train could travel from Canberra to SW Sydney/Wollongong and Sydney CBD, within 45 minutes or so.

Heck, here's another recent proposal bringing up the proposed VFR Link between Sydney and Melbourne, again!

http://www.theage.com.au/environment/greens-to-push-40bn-fastrail-link-to-sydney-20100422-tfvj.html

It's clear if/when Australia does get it's own TGV train, that a Sydney-Canberra route would be the first line established.

Edited by GloryPerth: 7/5/2010 09:40:54 PM

Let's not forget participation in football is growing at 9% per year according to the Sweeney report...the market is there and growing...what other sport in Australia is showing participation growth rates anywhere near 9%?

The Qatari argument doesn't help as the Qatari bid is a joke.

this is after it's reduced to 30K post world cup

Also there was an article today in the Canberra times confirming that Canberra was one of the 12 stadium there was a lot of other stuff too, I'll post it when the article comes up on the canberra times

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/lo ... torypage=1

Barr prefers one 'super' stadium
BY CHRIS DUTTON
08 May, 2010 10:05 AM
ACT Sport Minister Andrew Barr wants to overlook recommendations of the Canberra Stadium and Manuka Oval masterplan in favour of building one super stadium at Bruce.
In a twist to the redevelopments of the capital's two venues, Barr said building a 30,000 seat multi-sport venue for cricket, AFL, soccer, rugby union and rugby league was his preferred option for a new sport hub.

The masterplan commissioned by the ACT Government last year at a cost of $750,000 has four options to update Canberra's premier sporting grounds.

However, a decision on which option will not be made until after December when FIFA rules on whether Australia will host the 2018 or 2022 World Cup.

Australia has six days to finalise its bid and Canberra will be one of the 12 proposed tournament venues.

Should either bid be successful, Barr wants a multi-sport stadium with moveable stands a similar design to ANZ Stadium in Sydney to be added to a list of possibilities for redesigning Canberra's sporting landscape.

''In an ideal world you'd have one 30,000 seat stadium with lights that could accommodate all of the codes in Canberra,'' Barr said.

''But to do that you need to be able to move the seating for it to be rectangular for some sports and an oval shape for others.

''But they do it [in Sydney], so you think they could do that with a smaller configuration of 30,000 seats that's the ideal outcome for Canberra, one great stadium.

''It would be the most cost-effective way.''

The current options vary from upgrading both venues to meet standards required by different codes, to a $350million overhaul of the Bruce precinct.

That would involve turning Manuka Oval into a community ground while moulding Canberra Stadium into an oval to host AFL and cricket.

A new rectangular stadium would then be built next door for rugby league, rugby union and soccer.

Barr has not ruled out any option.

Instead, he is waiting to hear if the developments will be jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government.
Australia loses its World Cup bid, the Commonwealth Government is unlikely to help fund developments.

The new multi-sport venue would need to have 45,000 seats to meet FIFA requirements. But Barr said that would be reduced to a 30,000 capacity after the World Cup.

''Whatever the case, we'll still be hosting matches at Manuka and Canberra Stadium for the rest of this decade unless we win the 2018 World Cup bid,'' Barr said.

''We need to have a look at the logistics of [the multi-sport stadium] and if you can have moveable seating or change the shape of the ground.

''It's not just about the World Cup, it's the legacy afterwards, we need to look at a design that can give us maximum flexibility. I know it's challenging to replace turf and have seats that move, but I don't think it's beyond the wit of our stadium designers.''

Barr has been negotiating with new AFL franchise, Team GWS, about hosting as many as four matches in the capital from 2012.

He has also been talking to Cricket Australia about Canberra's possible inclusion in an expanded national Twenty20 competition.

The longevity of both cricket and AFL in Canberra require a major upgrade at Manuka Oval with an increased capacity and lights or revamping the Bruce precinct.

For more on this story, pick up a print copy of today's Canberra Times