Talking Footy

KNOCK KNOCK: STADIUM JOKE

The #StadiumSplurge stuff just gets better and better! Last week, if I do say so myself, TFF demolished the so-called "business case" for knocking down two perfectly good stadiums and rebuilding them for $2 billion. Infrastructure NSW was firm on the subject of re-doing the SFS: "There was no economic benefit to the state of NSW." And the NSW government' own cabinet minute, as noted by The Oz, "pointed out that the benefit-cost ratio for the projects was well under 1, meaning they would not generate more money than their cost to the state's economy."

(I have since been reliably informed by an insider that the ratio is the astonishingly low, 0.6). Since that time, the Premier Gladys Berejiklian has maintained her radio silence, and not tried to defend her ludicrous assertion that, despite those established facts, the new stadiums would annually generate an extra billion dollars, paying for themselves in two years. And though the Sports Minister, Stuart Ayres, has tweeted to TFF that we need the new stadiums to generate the money to pay for new hospitals – "trickle-down stadium economics," Twitter called it – he, too, has gone off air since I asked for figures to back it up. I humbly assert it is because here are no such figures. It is a demonstrable nonsense.

And no matter how many times stadium supporters assert the old chestnut that "major sporting events pay for themselves many times over because of what they bring to the local economy," I say again: blithely repeating bullshit without any numbers to back it up does not make it so.

I have got the number-crunchers of Infrastructure NSW with me, plus the NSW Cabinet's own cabinet minute. If you have proof that they are wrong, surely we should be able to see those numbers? In their absence, nice words from Jeff Kennett, doesn't cut it.

For yes, Mr Kennett was quoted this week, saying we in NSW need the stadiums, to get the events, because they "add confidence to the community."

Seriously?

This is the best you've got to justify the expenditure? And this is what we lack in Sydney? Confidence? This is bullshit, and more and more people recognise it. And, seriously, Premier, when people from within your own government are leaking to me sensitive documents on the subject, you have to know you can only ram this through at dreadful cost. You are a good and honest politician who made your name by listening to the people. On this one the will of the people could not be more clear.

http://www.smh.com.au/sport/the-fitz-fi ... 0hbuy.html

NSW Government should be upgrading the SCG
Phil Rothfield, The Daily Telegraph
January 28, 2018 9:11pm

THE debate continues over the NSW Government’s $2.3 billion spend on Sydney stadiums.

Most agree ANZ should be a 75,000-seat world-class rectangular venue for grand finals, Origin, Ed Sheeran and Adele concerts, the Socceroos, Man U, Liverpool and major events that would otherwise go interstate.

Moore Park needs an upgrade, too.

But the government has ­chosen the wrong venue.

It should be the SCG instead of ­Allianz. The old SCG might be the most nostalgic sporting arena in the country but is now the No. 4 AFL/cricket venue behind Perth, Adelaide and the MCG as far as fan facilities go.

The SCG needs an upgrade, writes Phil Rothfield.

It caters for the Sydney Swans, cricket and far bigger crowds than next door at Allianz.

Simple research on the major tenants and their crowds at Allianz shows the Roosters have averaged just 13,474 over the past three years, the Waratahs 18,611 and Sydney FC 15,817.

So why has Premier Gladys Berejiklian agreed to a 45,000-seat venue at a cost of $650 million? That’s $650 million for 31,526 empty seats on average when the Roosters play. Or 26,389 empty seats for the Waratahs and 29,183 for Sydney FC.

And remember, no other NRL club wants to play there. This is a gigantic waste of taxpayers’ money.

A boutique 30,000-seater similar to AAMI Park in Melbourne would have been sufficient and hundreds of millions cheaper. Surely bringing the SCG up to the magnificent standards of Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne would be a far better plan for ALL sports fans.

Sydney would then have the best rectangular venue in Australia and a cricket/AFL ground to match any other in the country. And isn’t that what we all want?

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 47f2fafb31

Beaussie wrote: Mon Jan 29, 2018 8:47 am

It appears this issue will not go away. Even RL journalists point out the massive waste of taxpayers dollars.

But, but, but, the leaguies will say News Ltd.

NSW Government should be upgrading the SCG
Phil Rothfield, The Daily Telegraph
January 28, 2018 9:11pm

THE debate continues over the NSW Government’s $2.3 billion spend on Sydney stadiums.

Most agree ANZ should be a 75,000-seat world-class rectangular venue for grand finals, Origin, Ed Sheeran and Adele concerts, the Socceroos, Man U, Liverpool and major events that would otherwise go interstate.

Moore Park needs an upgrade, too.

But the government has ­chosen the wrong venue.

It should be the SCG instead of ­Allianz. The old SCG might be the most nostalgic sporting arena in the country but is now the No. 4 AFL/cricket venue behind Perth, Adelaide and the MCG as far as fan facilities go.

The SCG needs an upgrade, writes Phil Rothfield.

It caters for the Sydney Swans, cricket and far bigger crowds than next door at Allianz.

Simple research on the major tenants and their crowds at Allianz shows the Roosters have averaged just 13,474 over the past three years, the Waratahs 18,611 and Sydney FC 15,817.

So why has Premier Gladys Berejiklian agreed to a 45,000-seat venue at a cost of $650 million? That’s $650 million for 31,526 empty seats on average when the Roosters play. Or 26,389 empty seats for the Waratahs and 29,183 for Sydney FC.

And remember, no other NRL club wants to play there. This is a gigantic waste of taxpayers’ money.

A boutique 30,000-seater similar to AAMI Park in Melbourne would have been sufficient and hundreds of millions cheaper. Surely bringing the SCG up to the magnificent standards of Perth, Adelaide and Melbourne would be a far better plan for ALL sports fans.

Sydney would then have the best rectangular venue in Australia and a cricket/AFL ground to match any other in the country. And isn’t that what we all want?

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport ... 47f2fafb31