Bulldogs planning $250 million super stadium at Belmore and 35,000-seat alternative at Liverpool
While the Bulldogs are keen to build a mini-Bankwest at the club’s spiritual home at Belmore, the club has a back-up plan that is much, much, bigger.
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This is the block of land that is the Bulldogs’ back-up plan should their bid to build a Bankwest-style stadium at Belmore fail.
The Bulldogs have commissioned the architectural firm behind Wembley Stadium to design a new stadium for both Belmore and also another for a club-owned site at Liverpool.
With confirmation coming on Thursday that Belmore is big enough to fit a brand new 25,000-seat stadium, the Bulldogs have also asked world-renowned architects Populous to draw up plans for a larger 35,000-seat stadium in Liverpool.
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Determined to be part of the NSW’s governments suburban stadium plan should the NRL win $800 million in state funding, the Bulldogs are hopeful of providing two viable stadium options.
The 35,000 sqm block is located just 16km from both Campbelltown and Parramatta in what would be an ideal location for a second western Sydney stadium. Owned by the Canterbury Leagues club, the Hume Highway site is adjacent to the Whitlam Leisure Centre.
In line with the NRL’s stadium plan, the proposed ground could be shared by at least three NRL teams, with the Tigers second home ground at Campbelltown just down the road and Penrith nearby.
Canterbury chief executive Andrew Hill was reluctant to divulge details of the plan but confirmed the club was exploring multiple stadium options.
“The club is a wonderful position with the large parcel of land we own in Liverpool,” Hill said.
“Credit must go to the past administration to have the foresight to purchase the land. There are a number of potentials uses that the club can consider, one of which may be a stadium or a high-performance centre.”
Hill made it clear the Bulldogs preference was to make a full-time return to Belmore with a 25,000-seat stadium at the centre of a $250 million homecoming plan.
“We certainly have started a conversation with the NRL and with architects to look at what can be done at Belmore Sports Ground,” Hill said.
“While it is very preliminary and subject to NSW’s stadium policy, we absolutely want Belmore to be at the front and centre of that discussion.”
While South Sydney is likely to recommit to ANZ Stadium next week, Hill said the cancellation of the Sydney Olympic Park redevelopment had opened the door for a stadium strategy rethink.
“We have an opportunity to look at a long-term strategy while we still have a number of years left on our ANZ deal,” Hill said. “We have a great relationship with ANZ Stadium and while we are disappointed with the recent decision we are looking at what opportunities there are for the club around stadiums.
“We want to be able to sit down with the NSW government and the NRL so we can better understand what their strategy around stadiums is now. If having a redeveloped ANZ Stadium is not in the plan we would like the opportunity to discuss other options.”
Hill confirmed a return to Belmore was the first option that would be discussed.
“We need to understand what their strategy will be in Sydney,” Hill said. “There has obviously been a significant change in strategy and we want to be part of the conversation in terms of what opportunities there are for Belmore Sports Ground.”
The seriousness of the plan was confirmed on Wednesday when representatives from Populous toured Belmore. Populous has designed some of the world’s best stadium’s including Wembley Stadium and Emirates Stadium in the UK and Suncorp Stadium and Marvel Stadium in Australia.
Initial reports suggest the land at Belmore — which is hemmed in by a train track on one side and houses on the other — can accommodate a 20,000-seat-plus stadium.
“Brookvale and Penrith have been mentioned,” Hill said. “And there is no reason Belmore can’t be. We are right on the railway line and have a long-term history of playing games and I think our fans and members deserve a new stadium at Belmore.”
The Belmore blueprint was received well by Bulldogs fans with the blue-and-white faithful applauding the moves being made to return home.
Also contracted to ANZ Stadium, the Rabbitohs are expected to recommit to Olympic Park as early as next week after members voted for a Homebush return.
“We are still going through the results,” South Sydney CEO Blake Solley said. “But it is clear there is an appetite to return to ANZ.”