Pat Cummins, Jess Fox and Nathan Cleary back new stadium plan for Penrith

Three of Australia’s elite sports stars are uniting to help develop a major $300 million stadium set for the Western Sydney suburb they call home.

They are among the best in the world in their chosen fields and now they are behind plans to give their hometown a sporting stadium that can also compete on a global level.

Sports Minister Stuart Ayres is canvassing Penrith locals Pat Cummins, Nathan Cleary and Jess Fox for their ideas on the new $300 million stadium before opening up next week for everyone to have a say.

“It is really rare to have the test cricket captain, the premiership NRL captain and an Olympic gold medallist all from the same town at the same time. It feels a bit symbolic for the rise of Western Sydney,” Mr Ayres said.

Olympian Jess Fox, Australian Test Cricket captain Pat Cummins and Penrith Panthers skipper Nathan Cleary are helping out with their hometown’s stadium plan. Picture: Justin Lloyd.

“We want people to follow in the footsteps of these three absolutely cracking people and a new stadium is a great place to do that.”

His own vision is for a stadium similar to the new TQL Stadium in Cincinnati in the US that also holds a crowd of 26,000 and is lit on the outside by distinctive LED lighting.

“We want people to look at other stadiums and consider what they want from the stadium in Penrith,’’ he said.

TQL Stadium in Cincinnati, Ohio.

“Things like LED signage, external lighting, conference rooms, things that will make this not just a stadium but a hub for commercial and community activity.” Australian cricket captain Cummins was fully supportive of the new stadium but said it was very different from his childhood in Penrith.

“Growing up here we were always outside playing cricket,’’ he said.

“My childhood growing up has been surrounded by sport and sporting facilities and supporting the Penrith Panthers.”

The facility is expected to be a significant upgrade on the Panthers’ current home, BlueBet Stadium. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Panthers captain Cleary said he was “a little bit star struck” spending time with Cummins and Olympic champion Fox and was “asking them for tips”.

“It is pretty amazing when you think about it that we have all had some pretty cool achievements within the space of a few months,” he said. “It is very special for the community out here.”

Fox said the sporting achievements from the Penrith locals made it “pretty phenomenal to be part of this generation’’.

“Maybe there is something in the Nepean,” she said, welcoming the plans for the new stadium.

Originally published as Pat Cummins, Jess Fox and Nathan Cleary back new stadium plan for Penrith