Bob Carr's Push for a 2nd Sydney Team

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Beaussie
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Bob Carr's Push for a 2nd Sydney Team

Post by Beaussie »

Herald Sun wrote:
Carr push for second AFL team
21mar05
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/common ... 02,00.html

A $15-million upgrade to a sports facility in Sydney's west could help the city secure a second AFL team, New South Wales Premier Bob Carr said today.

The upgrade of Blacktown Olympic Park would also allow for regular Pura Cup and one-day cricket matches, he said.

"These will be fantastic community sporting facilities that could also provide first class training grounds for a second AFL team in Sydney, should the AFL decide to add to the league in the future," Mr Carr said.

The upgrade included the development of a main stadium for 10,000 spectators, a second training oval, and an indoor practice hall which would complement existing softball and baseball facilities.

AFL NSW chief executive Dale Holmes said the code had plans for a game to be played in Sydney every week by 2015.

The Sydney Swans, the city's sole AFL team, now played a game away from the team's home ground every second week.

Mr Holmes said the upgraded Blacktown stadium would be first class, and would create the right environment for a second side.

"Aspirationally we'd love, at some stage in the future, to provide the people of NSW with a game every week," he said.

"So ultimately we'd love to see the situation where the market conditions were so good that we could get a second side."

Construction will begin at Blacktown at the end of next year, with the upgrade due for completion in 2008.

Good news about Blacktown Stadium and in line with what bennyw had said in a post here a while back. I would think a 10,000 capacity is too small for an AFL team though. 2015 is way too long to wait in my opinion. The AFL needs to act as soon as possible in Western Sydney and the Gold Coast.

Nice to know the Premier of NSW is pushing AFL in Western Sydney. :P
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Post by crocodileman »

Yes 10 000 is too small, although I'm sure that Carr is impying that the AFL or business interests may want to "kick-in" some cash for another stand or two to raise capacity!

If 10 000 capacity is all it will have, I'd expect Darwin to come out on top as we already have a 16 000 capacity ground that could take many more with some development!
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Post by Beaussie »

I was actually thinking the same thing Croc. Darwin would have more right to a new team with a bigger capacity stadium. No doubt as you say, Carr is probably expecting the AFL and private investors to put money in if the AFL is serious about it.

Blockbuster matches would have to be played at Telstra Stadium in any case. Now all we need is a team to put its hand up for relocation or better still a shove from AFL HQ. Western Bulldogs look out.
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Post by Beaussie »

It would seem according to afl.com.au that the AFL is actually putting money into the redeveloped ground and the venue would be merely used for Wizard Cup matches, junior footy and Sydney AFL perhaps. Great news all the same as available grounds for footy are hard to come by in Sydney. Such a venue could really boost grassroots footy in Western Sydney.
afl.com.au wrote:
Boutique venue for western Sydney
11:56:40 AM Mon 21 March, 2005
Sportal for afl.com.au
http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=news&s ... eid=191005

Wizard Home Loans Cup matches could be played in Sydney's greater west in a new facility launched by the AFL on Monday in a joint initiative with the New South Wales Government and Cricket NSW.

The AFL will contribute $2.5 million the facility, to be developed in the Blacktown Olympic Park precinct and which will be open in 2008.

The main stadium will seat 10,000 people and once arterial road works are completed, will be 35 minutes from the centre of Sydney.

A secondary oval will also be built, with capacity for 2000 people.

The $2.5 investment from the AFL represents its largest for an Australian Football community facility, and when completed, will be used for development and elite squad purposes.

"It reflects the growing demand for Australian Football facilities in one of the Australia's fastest growing urban centres," said AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou.

AFLNSW general manager Dale Holmes said that it made more sense in the longer term to play pre-season matches at a boutique AFL venue rather than the cavernous Telstra Stadium. "People want to go to a packed stadium where the people are roaring," said Holmes.

In Sydney's greater west, there are already 54 youth teams, 24 primary school teams, 14 secondary school teams, and 2600 AFL Auskick participants, while 4600 children across 315 primary schools participate in the Paul Kelly Cup, a knock-out competition for grade five and six children.
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Post by footyhead »

This is just a training facility.
A second team in Sydney :
Good for the Swans-Good for Football- Good for Sydney!
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