Sydney Stadiums. SFS/Stadium Australia/Western Sydney

Stadium deal next on Dave Smith's NRL to-do list

The richest television rights deal in Australian free-to-air history may be NRL boss Dave Smith's crowning glory but it will not be his final act as chief executive.

Smith even hinted that it would take a decade to fulfil all his wishes for the game's long-term direction. Once he puts the finishing touches on the pay-TV element of the broadcast agreement Smith's focus will shift to completing the game's stadia policy and securing the funds to leave a legacy for the NRL Foundation. The NRL launched its whole of game foundation in July to provide assistance to players who suffer catastrophic injuries, while Smith has led the push to the NSW state government to turn Moore Park into a rugby league haven.

Smith played down speculation he would walk away from the game once he secured the broadcast deal. The former banker is in his third year as NRL boss since taking over from David Gallop.

"This is three years into taking advantage of a massive opportunity we have as a game," Smith said. "You'd have to take a 10-year view [to complete the long-term vision]. I think a lot of people expect you to fix things up and solve some of the problems quickly and you do the best job you can.

"There are a number of big components you need to put in place. Stadiums is one, making the game financially strong. By the way, I think we're in a much, much better shape than we have ever been.

"There is a ton of work. If I think about my to-do list, it is massive. This is one bit of it. It's an important bit of it. There's a lot more to be done.

"It needs somebody to lead it. It needs a strong leader and hopefully I've demonstrated I can do that.

"When you're in a job like this there is a certain level of obligation, no question. It is an intense job but a big CEO job anywhere is intense but of course you feel an obligation."

Smith also wants to turn each club into viable entities. He also wants to build on the international game which will now be played in a dedicated window after the NRL season.

"We're in a much, much better shape than we have ever been," Smith said. "We're well down the track of making the clubs more prosperous.

"Frankly, I don't want the clubs to be worried about whether it rains on a Saturday, and whether their crowd is going to be 10,000 less and the impact that has on their day-to-day P and L [profit and loss statement].

"Also, building the contemporary future for the game. That will be as much about the digital media world we are going to live in, the stadiums that offer the right experience for casual fans as well as hardcore fans.

"We haven't even begun to give thought to the region and our friends down in New Zealand. We haven't really concentrated on the international game.

"There is a clear pathway. We're on it. We're going pretty well, far from perfect, but I'd rather be me than some other sports. There is a lot for us to do and we're making great progress."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/

Race against time to demolish Allianz Stadium before state election

The Berejiklian government’s controversial plan to build a new stadium at Moore Park is in doubt if it cannot start the demolition of Allianz Stadium before the March election.

With Labor opposed to the construction of a new stadium at the site, any delay to the planning process risks more uncertainty for sporting codes and fans.

Based on the time taken to approve similar projects, the 30-year-old stadium might remain standing in March, even if it does not host a game beyond this NRL season.

Allianz Stadium could still be standing at the time of the state election in March.

Any delay means if there were a change of government, Labor would then have an opportunity to save the stadium, even it was only a shell.

If they have only gone as far as ripping the seats out and the stadium's still standing, you could fix up the safety issues and put the seats back in,; said Labors sports spokeswoman, Lynda Voltz.

When Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Sports Minister Stuart Ayres committed in November to tearing down Allianz, they said construction would start in 2018, and a new stadium open in 2021.

But starting construction on the new stadium proper requires obtaining planning approval for the demolition of the old.

Stuart Ayres initially said rebuilding of the stadium would begin in 2018.

It took the government 10 months to obtain planning approval to demolish the old Parramatta Stadium.

After starting the planning approval process for demolishing Allianz Stadium last month, a similar timeline would result in approval granted in February, one month prior to the next election.

The Allianz project is, however, significantly more expensive than the Parramatta Stadium project. It is also in a more congested neighbourhood, and likely to raise difficult questions about construction traffic.

The new Parramatta Stadium will have 30,000 seats and cost $300 million; the Moore Park stadium is to have around a third more seats at $730 million.

Asked why the Moore Park project was so much more expensive than that at Parramatta, a spokeswoman for Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said the Moore Park stadium was being built to “global Tier 1 standards.”

Construction on the 30,000-seat Western Sydney Stadium at Parramatta last year.

The concept of “Tier 1” standards is the government’s own. It was developed for a 2012 review of the city’s stadium needs, and means stadiums with at least 40,000 seats and the ability to host international events.

The new Moore Park stadium is to include a subterranean “ring-road” under the field of play.

A spokeswoman for the sports minister, Stuart Ayres, said the agency would work to time-frames set by the Department of Planning and Environment.

NSW Labor leader Luke Foley is opposed to tearing down Allianz stadium.

Decommissioning of the Sydney Football Stadium will commence immediately following the last NRL Final to be played there in September this year,” the spokeswoman said.

Decommissioning the stadium means pulling out seats, as well as audio-visual, catering and other utilities and equipment.

Labor leader Luke Foley opposes tearing down Allianz. He said it would be scandalous “if they tore it down before people vote in the next state election on whether they want to see over $2 billion of public money spent on the Liberals’ stadiums”.

The government and Sydney Cricket & Sports Ground Trust have raised safety concerns about the continued operation of the stadium.

https://www.smh.com.au/

Bulldogs and Bunnies in limbo over stadiums plan
http://www.theaustralian.com.au

Canterbury and South Sydney officials have requested an urgent meeting with NSW Opposition Leader Michael Daley as they seek clarity around his plans for ANZ Stadium in the lead-up to next month’s state elections.

The future of Sydney stadiums has become a political hot potato, Daley making it clear late last year that the Labor Party would scrap plans to rebuild Allianz and ANZ stadiums should they topple the Liberal government at the March 23 election.

That would be a blow to the Bulldogs and Rabbitohs, who are clinging to hope that ANZ Stadium will receive the refurbishment it desperately requires.

It would also jeopardise the agreement struck between the NRL and current state government to play grand finals in Sydney for the next 25 years.

The more immediate concern for both Canterbury and Souths is their own futures as they await the outcome of the state election.

Neither club can begin planning for 2020 until they know the election result — the current plan is for work to begin on ANZ Stadium after this year’s grand final — although their cause would be helped should they be able to arrange a meeting with Daley to gain a greater understanding of his plans for Sydney’s major sporting venues.

“We have asked for a meeting to clarify their position and how it may impact ANZ Stadium,” Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill said.

“We have hundreds of thousands of fans and members who are all very keen to see what would happen.”

Canterbury and Souths are both tied to long-term deals at ANZ Stadium but it would be no surprise if they explored their legal avenues should Daley win the election and fail to honour the memorandum of understanding that was struck between the NRL and the current government.

Both clubs could look to move some or all of their home games to Bankwest Stadium, the $300 million state-of-the-art venue in Parramatta which is scheduled to open later this year.

Canterbury have already struck a deal to play one game at the freshly minted venue. They may look to take more at the ground if ANZ Stadium remains in its current state beyond the election.

Souths may also explore their options, the club having made a home in Sydney’s west, where a large chunk of their supporters now reside.

That would leave ANZ Stadium without a regular tenant.

Remarkably, Daley is a longtime Souths fan whose electorate is in the heart of Rabbitohs territory, yet his stance on ANZ Stadium threatens to hinder the side he supports.

Both the NRL and their clubs have much at stake. Redevelopment of Allianz and ANZ Stadiums was meant to be a gamechanger for the code and its clubs, but the issue has become bogged down in politics.

Work has already begun at Allianz Stadium but its fate could yet lie in the hands of the courts as a community group presses ahead with attempts to stop its demolition.

The Sydney Roosters have already committed to playing this season at the SCG in anticipation of Allianz being knocked down and rebuilt under a $700 million plan.

The NRL was originally opposed to the concept, preferring to have the majority of the state government’s billions spent on ANZ Stadium. Their preference was to have Allianz rebuilt as a boutique stadium holding 30,000.

That bid ultimately failed as the state government decided to build a bigger stadium at Moore Park, while spending less on ANZ Stadium.

The NRL accepted that result through gritted teeth but they have made no secret of their resistance to Daley’s plans for the city’s major ventures.

Should Labor win government and fail to honour the MOU, the grand final venue will be back up for grabs.

Queensland and Victoria governments are waiting in the wings, the former having made no secret of its plan to bid for the grand final should it be put up for sale.

The NRL accepted that result through gritted teeth but they have made no secret of their resistance to Daley’s plans for major venues

Looks likely that we will have a real Grand Final in Brisbane some time soon.

I'm very disappointed at the disarray that is happening with the stadiums and Labor's position which I see as electioneering and oversimplifying an issue, without offering any substantive alternate plan. Meanwhile Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth continue to develop their world class stadiums.

16 March 2019

A JOINT LETTER TO OUR MEMBERS & SUPPORTERS

Yesterday the courts ruled to continue the redevelopment of the new Sydney Football Stadium. We are writing to you to reaffirm our support for the exciting plans to invest in a new world class sporting venue. As supporters of our codes, we want you to know why we are backing the new stadium.
We require a stadium for the people of NSW that:
- has an adequate amount of amenities for women and girls;
- offers food and beverage options that encourage people to be active viewers of sport and can add to their viewer
experience;
- provides undercover seating areas to satisfy the expectations of today’s spectators; and
- meets safety standards for today and into the future.
Put simply, the stadium is 30 years old and does not meet modern standards. As sporting fans know, it is a vastly inferior facility compared to those in any other major Australian city. With the largest population and strongest economy of any state in the country, we believe NSW should have world-class facilities that not only put us on par with other Australian cities, but supersede them. For this reason, we are delighted to see much-needed improvements across the Sydney Football Stadium, ANZ Stadium and Western Sydney Stadium. Combined, these stadiums allow each of our sports to grow and attract major international events.
We are excited by the prospect that you will be closer-than-ever to the action, have a roof that covers 100% of the seats and enjoy a game-day experience that is second to none in Australia. The whole family will enjoy the spectacle – and it won’t take 20 minutes to buy a pie. Your safety and comfort at sporting events is paramount.
Redevelopment of the Sydney Football Stadium will attract new events for each of our sports, more spectators and bring new life to our home ground precinct, continuing the investment already made in the SCG.
We want you to know, as a supporter, how much this will benefit you and your team. We firmly believe that this is a necessary investment for each of our codes and for sporting events in NSW. We are proud to support the stadiums that support the games we love.
Yours Sincerely,
Andrew Hore
CEO
NSW Rugby Union and the Waratahs
Raelene Castle CEO
Rugby Australia
Danny Townsend CEO
Sydney Football Club
David Gallop
CEO
Football Federation Australia
Joe Kelly
CEO
Sydney Roosters
Todd Greenberg
CEO
National Rugby League

https://www.roosters.com.au/siteasse...ointletter.pdf

Looks like Coalition have retained majority or minority government in NSW.

NRL's ultimatum: Four new suburban stadiums or grand final will go
https://www.smh.com.au

The NRL will meet the NSW government this week armed with the threat of moving the grand final away from Sydney if the state doesn't deliver up to four boutique suburban stadiums over the next decade.

With the state government on Saturday dumping plans for the $800 million redevelopment of ANZ Stadium as it deals with the financial fallout of the COVID-19 crisis, NRL powerbrokers are set to demand funds be redirected towards suburban venues as part of a push to regenerate tribalism in rugby league.

The NRL recently signed an extension to keep the grand final in Sydney until 2042, but that agreement hinged on a $2 billion promise that included new stadiums at Parramatta and Moore Park, as well as the redevelopment of the former Olympic venue into a rectangular facility.

According to sources with knowledge of the NRL's stadia strategy, the governing body is delighted with the decision by NSW government to scrap ANZ Stadium refurbishment plans, and will now lobby for up to four 15,000-20,000 seat stadiums worth around $150m-$200m each.

The NRL understands the government's predicament given the toll of the coronavirus crisis, and is expected to extend the time frame if it agrees to roll out a suburban venue plan that will cater for communities and sporting clubs across many codes.

Manly, Campbelltown, Penrith and Sydney's south have been earmarked as primary targets, with all nine Sydney clubs to be supported as part of the NRL's grand plan.

A stadium in Sydney's south would cater for the Dragons, Sharks and potentially Canterbury, who also have the option of playing out of Bankwest Stadium. South Sydney would have the option of playing matches alongside the Sydney Roosters out of the new stadium at Moore Park, or moving games out west to Bankwest Stadium with the Parramatta Eels.

The Wests Tigers would play the majority of their games out of a new Campbelltown Stadium, which will also host new A-League club Macarthur FC.

The Penrith Panthers and Manly Sea Eagles would also have a new stadium to play out of. The governing body would much prefer fans being locked out of games than empty grandstands, hence the desire for boutique grounds to cater for crowds of around 15,000.

The strategy will be music to the ears of Nine Entertainment Co chief executive Hugh Marks, who has pushed for the prioritisation of the game's tribalism as he mulls over a potential broadcast rights extension with the NRL after the 2022 season.

ANZ Stadium would still be used as the code's major events facility, hosting State of Origin games, blockbuster Sydney finals and the grand final.

The strategy represents a significant change of tack. Just a few years back, the NRL adopted a 'build it and they will come' mentality in regards to major stadiums and turned a blind eye to suburban grounds.