NRL rallies 200,000 fans to protest Labor’s stadium plans
The NRL is prepared to go to war with Labor over plans to cut off government funding for Sydney stadiums with football bosses set to meet Michael Daley to oppose the policy.
The NRL is prepared to go to war with Labor over plans to cut off government funding for Sydney stadiums with football bosses Todd Greenberg and Peter Beattie set to meet new leader Michael Daley on Tuesday to oppose the policy.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal the NRL is rallying 200,000 fans to protest Mr Daley’s refusal to spend $1.5 billion of taxpayer money on stadiums, with Mr Greenberg writing directly to league’s nine Sydney clubs urging them to loudly speak out.
The NRL has warned that any changes to the planned upgrade of Sydney’s major stadiums risks the future of 25 years of grand finals in the city.
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It comes as Premier Gladys Berejiklian yesterday labelled Labor’s plan “reckless”, saying “who thinks it’s okay to have second or third class infrastructure? I don’t think it’s okay”.
Mr Daley told Daily Telegraph yesterday he was confident that he could strike a deal to keep grand finals in Sydney, pointing out the major matches were not played at Allianz anyway.
“The grand final and State of Origin are going nowhere. If I’m elected Premier I’ll work with the rugby league to make sure they do stay. But the stadiums are very big commercial entities and they need to be able to stand on their own two feet — there’s no reason why the taxpayers should have to fork out to keep topping them up,” he said.
Mr Daley expects the SCG Trust and ANZ stadium to finance their upgrades themselves, which would mean helping the Trust get a $730 million concessional loan if Allianz stadium is demolished as planned by March.
But The Daily Telegraph has obtained a letter in which Mr Greenberg blasts the new Labor leader over his position.
In the letter Greenberg writes: “I write to express to express the NRL’s disappointment about Labor’s opposition to investing in the Sydney stadia network. You may be aware that I recently wrote to you to congratulate you on your appointment as NSW Opposition Leader and to seek a meeting to discuss NSW Labor’s position on Sydney stadia.
“It is unfortunate that we were not able to meet and discuss this important issue before you announced Labor would withdraw all funding committed to the renewal of the Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ Stadium.
“Had we been able to meet, I would have explained that the NRL has an agreement with the NSW Government committing the NRL to play major event content including grand final, State of Origin and final series matches (where a Sydney based NRL Club is the home team) for the next 25 years in the Sydney stadia network, in exchange for the delivery of a new Western Sydney Stadium, new Sydney Football Stadium and refurbished rectangular ANZ Stadium.
“This content alone would deliver over $1.7 billion in economic benefit to the state.”
He reiterated his threat to take the grand final interstate, saying:
“Should Labor be elected at the next State election and renege on the committed Sydney stadia investments the NRL reserves its right to take the grand final to other States.”
The MoU requires new stadia at Moore Park, Western Sydney along with a major upgrade of Sydney Olympic Park.
It is understood Governments in Queensland and Victoria are already holding internal discussions about bidding for the NRL grand final.
Former Broncos, Queensland and Test forward Gorden Tallis said: “It would fantastic for Queensland, absolutely — a big boost for Queensland and Suncorp Stadium.”
Greenberg told Daley NSW’s stadiums were crumbling.
“NSW has fallen way behind Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and Western Australia which all have modern stadia,” Greenberg said.
“We want to play our premium content in the country’s best venues so that our fans and players get the world-class experiences they deserve.
“Unfortunately decades of neglect and poor planning means Sydney does not have the high quality venues befitting a city that pitches itself as Australia’s only global city.
“The current Government’s plans would go a long way to correcting this by 2022, however Labor’s policy would condemn Sydney and NSW to being Australia’s laggard for the foreseeable future.”
Rugby league premiership deciders have been played in Sydney since 1908 — the only exception being the 1997 Super League grand final in Brisbane.
Allianz Stadium has been decommissioned since September.
“Ultimately we want the current stadia agreement to proceed so that Sydney has the world class sporting venues that the state’s sporting fans deserve,” Greenberg wrote.
“Our strong preference is to see the new stadia built and to keep the grand final in NSW, but clearly if the agreement is not honoured we have to consider all options.
“We want our NRL grand final to be one of many major events on a Sydney sporting and entertainment calendar that is the envy of the world. However, we are not willing to make long term commitments to play our major events in venues that are not world class.
“On behalf of all rugby league fans I urge you to reconsider your position and remain willing to meet with you to discuss this important issue.”
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