SCG refurbishment will proceed if NRL clubs don’t agree to new stadium at Moore Park

THE SCG will be redeveloped instead of a new stadium being built at Moore Park if the NRL does not agree to Sports Minister Stuart Ayres’ plans.

• $1.6 BILLION SYDNEY STADIUMS PLAN IS AT RISK

THE Sydney Cricket Ground will be redeveloped instead of a new stadium being built at Moore Park if the NRL does not agree to Sports Minister Stuart Ayres’ stadium plans.

State government sources have confirmed that an SCG refurbishment is the plan should NRL clubs not agree to a new 55,000-seat stadium at Moore Park — a slap in the face to rugby league and a win for cricket and AFL.

That would mean $300 ­million for Parramatta Stadium and $300 million for the SCG from the government, while the rest of the $1.6 billion promised late last year for stadiums would go into the Rebuilding­ NSW infrastructure fund.

Artist’s impression of the proposed $250m plan to transform the out-of-date Allianz stadium.

Eight of nine Sydney NRL clubs last week resolved on a “five-point plan” which would bury any new stadium at Moore Park.

The extraordinary threat comes after the AFL — which has an interest in an SCG ­redevelopment — had recent meetings with Premier Mike Baird as Sydney rugby league clubs continue to oppose Mr Ayres’ new SFS plans.

“If the NRL and the clubs cannot sort themselves out, the government is considering doing the SCG upgrade above rectangular venues,” a senior government source said.

“People inside the government are envious of the ­success of Adelaide Oval.”

The Daily Telegraph yesterday revealed Mr Ayres had warned the $1.6 billion stadium deal was in danger of collapse, with the government position that there are no options but to start looking at alternatives if the clubs continue to try to “dictate the spend”.

Rather than take the clubs’ option of turning ANZ Stadium at Homebush into a ­rectangular stadium and refurbishing the SFS, Mr Ayres is prepared to junk the lot if he does not get his way with the new stadium — but will keep building the new Parramatta stadium and redevelop the SCG’s O’Reilly stand and complete the Brewongle Stand.

The NRL is expected to come back to the government in the next week with a position on the stadium issue after eight of the nine NRL clubs voted to oppose the new stadium. Mr Baird is expected to take control of the issue when he returns from Israel.

Stuart Ayres.

NRL CEO Todd Greenberg.