Western Sydney’s first arena proposed as Fairfield showground stage two development on hold

Fairfield Showground will be reimagined into an entertainment arena to rival Homebush and Centennial park as part of a push for international acts and conferences to be held in Western Sydney.

Artist impression of the stage two Farifield showground development which has now been put on hold, would have included indoor sports courts.

A multimillion-dollar revamp of Fairfield showground will be reimagined into an entertainment arena to rival Homebush and Centennial park as part of a push for international acts and conferences to be held in Western Sydney.

The stage two $38.5 redevelopment of Fairfield showground at 430 – 482 Smithfield Rd, Prairiewood, was lodged by Fairfield Council and later withdrawn in June as council reconsiders plans to transform the area into an entertainment and sporting hub.

The initial plans included a state-of-the-art two storey indoor sports centre comprising four multipurpose sports courts, spectator stand, offices, a cafe, function and training areas.

Fairfield mayor Frank Carbone said new plans will be lodged early next year featuring a hybrid indoor sporting and entertainment arena that will bring big entertainers and events out to Western Sydney.

An artist impression of the stage two Fairfield showground development which has now been put on hold.

“Council missed out on a lot of WestInvest funding and we’ve reviewed the development of the showground, because we want to make sure that we get it right,” he said.

“This will be the first of its kind in Western Sydney, both in size and in the ability that it can actually host entertainment concerts.”

Mr Carbone said the showground should be “very own Centennial Park” as the people of Fairfield deserve a place where they can do “anything in one place, either kick a ball, shop or watch entertainment”.

“We’re looking at transforming it into a place where it has a greater focus on entertainment, but can still be used for sports, and all the other things that our community needs,” he said.

Mr Carbone said Western Sydney does not have a large-scale indoor entertainment centre and the community is crying out for a venue where they can “watch a singer or entertainment close to home.”

“In Western Sydney from Campbelltown to Parramatta, you have to get to Homebush before you get to an indoor arena or entertainment centre and Western Sydney deserves one,” he said.

An artist impression of the stage two Fairfield showground development.

“It shouldn’t always be our residents catching the toll roads and paying for high parking prices to go and view a concert and we want to make sure that we can bring the concert to where the people live.”

Mr Carbone said council has received $28m from the Western Sydney Infrastructure Grant Program along with other councils, which will go toward the Fairfield Showground redevelopment.

“At this stage, council will be required to fund the remaining amount, but final budgets won’t be known until designs are finalised,” he said.

“An architect was appointed two weeks ago to develop the plans for an entertainment and sports centre and we expect a concept plan to be ready in the middle of 2024.”

“We still believe in the sporting aspects of the facility but we want to make sure that when we spend so much money we provide a facility that is for everybody,” he said.

The redevelopment of Fairfield showground consists of three stages. Stages one and three are completed and include new sports grounds, amenities building, extension of the market awning and a new spectator stand.