From Coldplay to NRL: The changing faces of Sydney’s stadiums

Venues NSW chairman David Gallop has called on the National Rugby League and the state government to come to a long-term deal for hosting rights to the code’s grand final as the super agency that manages the NSW stadium network makes two high-profile additions to its board.

Former rugby league international Ian Roberts and television presenter Yvonne Sampson were on Sunday announced as new directors of the organisation, which runs Accor Stadium, the Sydney Cricket Ground, Allianz Stadium, CommBank Stadium and venues in Newcastle and Wollongong.

Ian Roberts brings a new voice to the agency overseeing NSW stadiums.Credit: Wolter Peeters

They join a high-powered board chaired by former NRL and Football Federation Australia chief Gallop and including fellow ex-league bosses John Quayle and Todd Greenberg, as well as former Matildas defender and media personality Amy Duggan.

Roberts, who in the mid-1990s was the first male professional Australian athlete to come out as gay, has been a leading advocate for the LGBTQIA+ community since retiring, while Fox Sports host Sampson has become one of the most prominent faces in the coverage of rugby league.

The appointment of the pair comes in a bumper year in which the Sydney stadium network has staged multiple shows by global superstars Taylor Swift and Coldplay, as well as major sport.

One of the annual attractions, the NRL grand final, is yet to be locked in for 2025, with the Australian Rugby League Commission striking only a single-year deal with the NSW government for last month’s decider, in which Penrith clinched a fourth successive premiership by defeating Melbourne.

Fox Sports presenter Yvonne Sampson and her husband, 2GB radio host Chris O’Keefe.Credit: Instagram

While the ARL Commission has kept its options open about where next year’s grand final might be held, Gallop said a sense of certainty for Sydney could deliver great advantages for stadium-goers.

“We certainly highly value the NRL grand final and continue to encourage the NRL and the government to settle on a long-term deal which will allow us to fully consider investing in things like a roof at Accor Stadium, which will raise the level again for people going to events there,” he said.

“The network that Venues NSW manages is going through a period of unprecedented success through the exciting and diverse content that we are able to co-ordinate across our assets.

“The past six weeks have seen an extraordinary range of content, from the huge Coldplay shows of the last week, Travis Scott, Stray Kids, Cold Chisel to the footy codes, and more different people in the community are getting to enjoy our network.”

Gallop said Roberts and Sampson would bring “fresh and different perspectives to the board”.

Roberts, who has been a director of Qtopia Sydney, believes NSW stadiums can be used for much more than what they are now.

“There’s a whole load of other potential stuff, so many other possible solutions for utilising those spaces, outside just sport,” he said. “I think there is potential for a lot more community activities.”

Sampson, who has served on boards such as Harness Racing NSW and the Ricky Stuart Foundation, said it was an honour to contribute to the sport and cultural experiences of people in the state.

“I’ve been lucky enough to visit plenty of stadiums, firstly as a fan and then as a professional,” she said.

“I’m thrilled to help grow the purpose and presence of major events that bring us all together.”

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