NSW Government should be upgrading the SCG, writes Phil Rothfield

MOORE PARK needs an upgrade but the NSW Government has chosen the wrong venue, writes Phil Rothfield.

The SCG needs an upgrade, writes Phil Rothfield. Pic Stephen Cooper

THE debate continues over the NSW Government’s $2.3 billion spend on Sydney stadiums.

Most agree ANZ should be a 75,000-seat world-class rectangular venue for grand finals, Origin, Ed Sheeran and Adele concerts, the Socceroos, Man U, Liverpool and major events that would otherwise go interstate.

Moore Park needs an upgrade, too.

But the government has ­chosen the wrong venue.

It should be the SCG instead of ­Allianz. The old SCG might be the most nostalgic sporting arena in the country but is now the No. 4 AFL/cricket venue behind Perth, Adelaide and the MCG as far as fan facilities go.

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The SCG needs an upgrade, writes Phil Rothfield.

It caters for the Sydney Swans, cricket and far bigger crowds than next door at Allianz.

Simple research on the major tenants and their crowds at Allianz shows the Roosters have averaged just 13,474 over the past three years, the Waratahs 18,611 and Sydney FC 15,817.

So why has Premier Gladys Berejiklian agreed to a 45,000-seat venue at a cost of $650 million? That’s $650 million for 31,526 empty seats on average when the Roosters play. Or 26,389 empty seats for the Waratahs and 29,183 for Sydney FC.

And remember, no other NRL club wants to play there. This is a gigantic waste of taxpayers’ money.

A boutique 30,000-seater similar to AAMI Park in Melbourne would have been sufficient and hundreds of millions cheaper. Surely bringing the SCG up to the magnificent standards of Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne would be a far better plan for ALL sports fans.

Sydney would then have the best rectangular venue in Australia and a cricket/AFL ground to match any other in the country. And isn’t that what we all want?

Originally published as NSW Government should be upgrading the SCG, writes Phil Rothfield