OPINION: Why we need to upgrade ANZ Stadium
Just when we hoped that throwing $2 billion or more at new facilities would end Sydney’s long running “stadium wars” a new battlefront has opened an ideological chasm across the city. Petitions at fifty paces, threats of contract cancellations, duelling front pages and political hysteria abound.
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Wo w. Just when we hoped that throwing $2 billion or more at new facilities would end Sydney’s long running “stadium wars” a new battlefront has opened an ideological chasm across the city. Petitions at fifty paces, threats of contract cancellations, duelling front pages and political hysteria abound.
As a long-term advocate for tourism and events, as an adviser to, and huge fan of, rugby league and as a passionate believer in Western Sydney, let me state my position clearly. ANZ Stadium must be rebuilt as a dedicated, world’s-best rectangular arena, able to host 75,000 screaming fans in modern seats, with great view lines and hi-tech facilities.
I share the frustration of many in Sydney who ask why we are dismantling a venue purpose-built to house the 2000 Games — but its oval shape was a necessary Olympic athletics demand and unsuited to footy.
The NSW government simply now wants to make it more relevant to a Sydney audience and the hundreds of thousands of visitors who might join us and share their spending money supporting the local economy.
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Standing in the government’s way is a community that feels their tax dollars are being taken for granted. The opposition has given voice to this frustration. In the face of this angst, the challenge of winning back public sentiment — and trust — is going to be difficult. But all of us who called for new facilities must try. If a week is a long time in politics, then 18 months must seem like an eternity — just ask Gladys Berejiklian. It was back in April 2016, when then-NSW premier Mike Baird announced the government’s $1.6 billion stadiums package. Parramatta would get a new stadium, ANZ would be converted to a rectangular venue and whatever was left in the budget would fund a refurb for Allianz.
Apart from a few raised eyebrows at Moore Park, this decision had the backing of Cabinet, the major sporting codes, the media and, most importantly, the community.
There were no petitions, no public backlash, no arguments for schools, hospitals or local sports clubs.
Western Sydney, which had been neglected for decades, now found itself in the spotlight and receiving the attention and modern facilities it deserved.
It was going to get the best footy ground in the world at Olympic Park, in the centre of Sydney, to build on our global sports and entertainment offering.
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Importantly, by fixing ANZ Stadium the whole of Sydney was also getting the Olympic Park it wanted — sparking more private investment in retail, education, entertainment, convention and employment assets to make the precinct finally come alive.
Demand for the new stadium would also help to prioritise the Metro West high speed rail project between the city and Parramatta. The Baird deal to invest in Western Sydney’s growth markets and to balance delicate public policy interests was changed last month in favour of a plan to add a massive new stadium at Moore Park.
As a vocal advocate of the ANZ-first strategy that underpinned the original Cabinet decision, I think it was political overreach to prioritise another big eastern suburbs arena with taxpayer dollars. Nonetheless, I am prepared to overcome my own tribalism and back the deal.
eEstern Sydney does need new hospital beds, classrooms and train lines to cope with a doubling of its population by 2050 (as does regional NSW) and I am delighted to see public support for this.
However, the government’s current investment pipeline and healthy budget suggest this community infrastructure is not being put at risk by the Premier’s backing of both facilities.
It also guarantees that Western Sydney will continue to play host to NRL grand finals for years to come, as well as Socceroos and Wallabies games and other major events including (hopefully) a Commonwealth Games in 2026.
In the meantime, let’s hope that the visceral reaction of some to the new Cabinet deal is not allowed to eventually cost the people of Western Sydney, and rugby league fans across the state, the world’s best rectangular arena at ANZ Stadium.
That project and this region are really worth fighting for.
Christopher Brown AM is chair of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue