A new master plan for the 44,000-seat venue at Moore Park includes upgraded seating, quality food outlets and super-fast Wi-fi to dramatically improve fans’ match-day experience.
Expanded entry gates, digital video signage and live fan sites will use special lighting systems to enable the stadium to adopt the colours of the “home” teams for different matches.
The master plan, by the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust, includes a permanent see-through roof, which would turn Allianz into Australia’s premier all-weather rectangular stadium.
It would also help Sydney attract more tourists and generate economic activity by staging global sporting events like the successful Los Angeles Dodgers’ baseball season opener.
Sport minister Stuart Ayres, who will consider the Allianz upgrade while finalising the government’s stadium investment strategy, said he wants to “roll out the red carpet” to more top American sporting franchises, including ice hockey and basketball teams.
NRL chief executive Dave Smith is a strong supporter of the plan and wrote to former premier Barry O’Farrell last month lobbying for $18 million to be allocated in next month’s state Budget.
About $13 million would be spent installing Wi-fi and internet TV by next March, enabling fans to watch unique replays of the sports action on their phones, access live statistics and order food and drinks.
A similar hi-tech system was recently introduced in the SCG’s new stand, which has also seen fans spending on food and drinks more than double since the quality was lifted at the Ashes Test in January.
Mr Smith said Sydney needed world-class rectangular stadiums to attract more spectators and provide a better experience. He said better stadiums would drive bigger revenues for NRL clubs, which under different deals share a cut of ticket and merchandising sales, corporate hospitality and advertising signage.
“From a financial perspective, quality seating, quality facilities, quality corporate areas all contribute to a better financial position for the game and for our clubs,’’ he said.
Mr Smith said the NRL was “willing to be part of discussions on possible ways to fund” the upgrade, which the Trust wants completed by 2020.
http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/n ... 6922080457
Mr Smith said Sydney needed world-class rectangular stadiums to attract more spectators and provide a better experience. He said better stadiums would drive bigger revenues for NRL clubs, which under different deals share a cut of ticket and merchandising sales, corporate hospitality and advertising signage.
who ever spends their money on the venue will want to recover it, before the clubs playing there will see any money from the stadium. and it will take several decades to do so because the NRL crowds haven't grown from their pathetic low levels for at least 30 years. it will just become another white elepahant, just like ANZ is
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