What’s the Buzz: Stadium boss wants cricket under the roof at Accor Stadium

NSW stadiums boss Tony Shepherd is keen on playing big cricket internationals, including a T20 World Cup final, and an NFL game at Sydney Olympic Park under a new retractable roof.

International cricket could be played under a roof at Accor Stadium.

He might be the chairman of the SCG but NSW stadiums boss Tony Shepherd can see the day where international cricket could be played at Sydney Olympic Park under a roof.

With the state government set to approve funding for a $200 million retractable roof over Accor Stadium (formerly ANZ), Shepherd says: “My view is that it will be the best stadium in Australia and one of the best in the world.

“Why wouldn’t we play cricket there? A one-dayer, why not? With an opening and closing roof we can guarantee the ticket sales in all weather conditions.

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“People aren’t going to sit in the rain to watch sport. They’ll stay at home and watch TV rather than get soaked. We’re looking at all event options.”

The roof would be ready for 2028 when Australia again hosts the T20 World Cup.

International cricket could be played under a roof at Accor Stadium.

Having an undercover venue would give Sydney a huge advantage over the MCG in a bidding war to host the final.

While major Test matches will always be played at the traditional home of cricket at the Sydney Cricket Ground, a big one-day international or BBL Sixers v Thunder derby would also be considered for Accor Stadium.

The stadium can hold 83,000 fans, which is almost double the capacity of the SCG.

A record crowd for NSW cricket of 59,000 watched an Australia-India T20 clash at Homebush in 2012.

Shepherd says there are plans for all major international sport, including an NFL game.

“We’re doing some exploration work on the NFL,” Shepherd said. “We’d like to host a game for points. It would be fabulous.

“Look, the Olympic stadium can’t survive unless it gets major events. That’s why there’s a plan to do the roof and turn it into one of the world’s best sporting venues.”

The Giants-Swans AFL season opener next year at Accor Stadium is exactly the reason why we needed one body managing Sydney’s stadiums, headed up Shepherd.

News of the AFL blockbuster at Sydney’s biggest stadium was revealed in these pages over the weekend and Shepherd was the key player in getting the deal done.

SIMON SAYS: FIGHT ME IF YOU DARE

Australia’s strongest man Alex Simon was supposed to fight ex-NRL player Jacob Loko on the undercard to the Paul Gallen and Darcy Lussick on December 22 at The Star.

However, the former Parramatta Eels forward then saw a video of Simon brutally knocking out an opponent on YouTube and decided against it.

As a powerlifter at his peak, Simon could smash out a 400kg deadlift, a 260kg bench-press and a 436kg squat. No wonder promoter George Rose is struggling to find an opponent.

This guy is the scariest of heavyweights who has been a sparring partner for Paul Gallen.

“He hits hard and he’s got a lightning-fast jab,” Gallen said.

“He’s ridiculously strong. I get in close and he throws me away like a rag doll. I’ve never seen anyone as strong as him. He’s phenomenal.”

Any takers?

Originally published as What’s the Buzz: Stadium boss wants cricket under the roof at Accor Stadium