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Guy Sebastian to headline packed community day launching new Sydney Football Stadium

Fans can rub shoulders with their favourite footy stars and kick a football on the revamped grounds of the Sydney Football Stadium in an opening day headlined by a free Guy Sebastian concert.

New Allianz Stadium to open late August

Sports and music fans can rub shoulders with their favourite footy stars, explore the changing rooms and be among the first to kick a football on the revamped grounds of the Sydney Football Stadium — with a jam-packed opening day to be headlined with a free concert by musical star Guy Sebastian.

The Telegraph can reveal the crammed itinerary for the free community day which will officially open the venue to the public on August 28, with the final stretch of turf laid and the last seats bolted into place this week signalling the completion of the $828 million stadium rebuild.

Tickets will be available for the free community day from 9am August 2, which will kick off in two parts.

From 11am to 3pm, punters will be able to rub shoulders with sports stars from the Sydney Roosters, Sydney FC and the NSW Waratahs, while the brand new changing room doors and playing field will be flung open for unprecedented behind-the-scenes access.

The opening night will run from 5pm with a concert including dancers, light shows, projections and fireworks, headlined by live performances from Aussie music icons Guy Sebastian and Baker Boy.

Guy Sebastian will be performing at the opening night of the revamped stadium on August 28. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Guy Sebastian will be performing at the opening night of the revamped stadium on August 28. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Sebastian, who has already seen the newly-completed stadium up close after touring it last week, said he was excited to play a role in its historic opening.

“I was fortunate enough to perform for the final concert with Michael Bublé in 2018, and to walk in now and see the transformation is mind blowing,” the Australian music legend said.

“The new venue is epic, and the evening will be spectacular. I am so stoked to be a part of it.”

Venues NSW Chairman Tony Shepherd said the new stadium was the latest glowing addition to the Sydney Cricket Ground’s entertainment precinct.

“Allianz Stadium is a new world-class venue for the people of NSW that builds on the legacy of the SCG precinct’s 170-year history,” Mr Shepherd said.

Tickets are now available for the free community day featuring Guy Sebastian. Picture: Phil Hillyard
Tickets are now available for the free community day featuring Guy Sebastian. Picture: Phil Hillyard

Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres said the wait was worth it for the new stadium.

“This state-of-the-art venue has the best community and player facilities in the country and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it during our unmissable Open Day and Night,” he said.

“I know it’s been a long time coming for fans, but I know as soon as they step inside, they’ll see the wait was worth it.”

Less than a week after the community opening the stadium will host the first of its blockbuster first week of sporting matches, when the NRL’s most famous rivalry — the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs — to clash in a finals-eve grudge match on September 2.

They’ll be followed by the Wallabies taking on reigning Rugby World Cup champions South Africa the day after, before the Matildas play Tokyo Olympic gold medals winners Canada on Tuesday, September 6.

Mr Ayres will announce the packed itinerary for the launch this morning, where he’ll be joined by Indigenous artist Tony Albert, the artistic force behind the new stadium’s land and water seat design.

Book free tickets from premier.ticketek.com.au from 9am Tuesday, August 2.

Original URL: https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/nsw/guy-sebastian-to-headline-packed-community-day-launching-new-sydney-football-stadium/news-story/a70eefc498780a812edd8030625c1234