$1 billion in upgrades needed at the SCG and Accor Stadium

Leading community figures are warning the NSW Government that Sydney risks losing major events unless desperately needed upgrades occur at the SCG and Accor Stadium.

Powerful sport and business voices are warning the NSW Government the state risks losing major events unless it invests in stadium upgrades likely to cost $1 billion.

Without significant redevelopment of the Sydney Cricket Ground – and potentially putting a roof over Accor Stadium – community leaders fear the state will be the losers in a nationwide assets arms race.

Brisbane is poised to announce a new stadium for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, Tasmania is building a covered stadium to house an AFL team in 2028, Optus Stadium in Perth opened just six years ago and Adelaide Oval completed a massive overhaul in 2014.

Venues NSW has an SCG review underway where the focus of a master plan will be the O’Reilly, Brewongle and Churchill stands, all opened between 1980 and 1986 and in dire need of rebuilding.

The prospect of also expanding the Trumper Stand in an effort to crank up capacity from 47,000 to around 60,000 would likely raise the overall cost to $700 million.

Young fans at the New Year’s Test between Australia and India at the SCG. Picture: Thomas Lisson

A roof over Accor Stadium which opened the year before the 2000 Sydney Olympics would be an additional expense of around $400m.

Former Events NSW chairman John O’Neill, who was running Australian rugby when it hosted the 2003 World Cup, said: “Stadium infrastructure cannot be set and forget. You have to continually reinvest and improve assets.

“Governments have health, education … essential services that take priority. But if you want to be in the entertainment and event business, assets can’t be neglected as they age.”

Sydney Swans chairman Andrew Pridham said an SCG makeover was long overdue.

“It’s got to happen or Sydney is going to start losing out on big events,” he said. “We’ve got to have facilities that keep up with the rest of Australia. As magnificent a stadium as the SCG is, and the bones are absolutely world class, the flesh needs a bit of work.”

Sydney Swans fans celebrate a win at the SCG. Picture: Tom Parrish

Business Sydney executive director Paul Nicolaou said Sydney has been going backwards compared to other cities. “It is clear we are losing the battle to other capitals when Hobart will have a roofed stadium before the biggest city in the country,” he said.

NSW Tourism Association CEO Natalie Godward also said Sydney needs to keep pace with the rest of the country. “Promoters and event owners want the best experience for their visitors and if they can’t get that in Sydney there is a real risk we will start to fall behind other states as a destination of choice.”

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said the SCG was “one of the great venues … and we support the master plan work including the upgrading of the Churchill, Brewongle and O’Reilly stands”.

A spokesperson for Sports Minister Steve Kamper told The Daily Telegraph: “Accor Stadium … has received over $100 million in investment in recent years.

“The NSW Government is working methodically through a business case for the roof. However, we have made clear there are other pressures on the budget … that take priority.

“The SCG is a hugely important site in world sport. We have asked Venues NSW to complete a conditions assessment on the Brewongle, O’Reilly and Churchill stands.”

Originally published as $1 billion in upgrades needed at the SCG and Accor Stadium