THE push to increase the capacity of Spotless Stadium has ramped up in the wake of the GWS Giants’ accelerated success, with an increased 35,000-seat venue now part of the proposal.
With just 700 tickets remaining for Saturday’s preliminary final blockbuster against the Western Bulldogs, several thousand fans face the prospect of being locked out.
But Sydney Showground officials have revealed they’re determined to cash in on the wave of momentum being ridden by the Giants, with a brilliant young roster and some key AFL concessions laying the platform for the club’s grand final push being the start of a dynasty rather than a flash in the pan.
GWS are $3 equal favourites for this year’s premiership, but are also $5 outright favourites with the TAB to win the flag next year.
More fans equal more atmosphere if Spotless increases its seating capacity. Picture: Mark Evans
More fans equal more atmosphere if Spotless increases its seating capacity. Picture: Mark Evans
Source: News Corp Australia
The Daily Telegraph revealed in May that redevelopment plans focused on increasing the current 24,000 capacity to 30,000 – but officials haven’t ruled out pushing for even more seats as they look to turn Spotless Stadium into a world-class international venue.
A minimum of $20 million would be required to fund the upgrade, and the showground is hoping for help from the NSW Government after being shut out of Mike Baird’s $1.6 billion stadiums strategy earlier in the year.
The showground is currently in deep negotiations with Cricket Australia and the ICC about hosting key games in the 2020 World Twenty20 and have confirmed 35,000 is now on the table as a consideration.
“We could go anywhere between 30,000 and 35,000 depending on how we do it,” said the showground’s chief operating officer, Darryl Jeffrey.
“We’re exploring different funding mechanisms for that at the moment, hopefully with the support of the NSW Government.
“We’ve certainly been in a lot of discussion with them and we’re working actively with them.
“Especially with the Giants and with the Sydney Thunder winning (the Big Bash League) last year, 24,000 is probably a little under what we need going forward.
Western Bulldogs fan Bill Ghanem gets tickets to the preliminary final. Picture: Ian Currie
Western Bulldogs fan Bill Ghanem gets tickets to the preliminary final. Picture: Ian Currie
Source: News Corp Australia
“Ideally we’d like to do it in the next couple of years.
“When you look at the Giants it would be pretty naive to think this is a one-off. They’ll be up there playing finals football for the next five years and beyond.”
Taking Spotless Stadium’s capacity beyond 30,000 would make it a choice venue for AFL finals – with Geelong’s current stadium redevelopment not much bigger.
It would also put Spotless right in the money for the World Twenty20 – with Cricket Australia looking at the possibility of taking games out to Sydney’s west.
“We’re hoping to be a secondary location for matches in Sydney,” he said.
“Obviously the SCG will get the big ones and we’re hoping to get some supplementary games but for that to happen we’ve got to be accredited by the ICC.”
“We can’t just say ‘oh yeah we’re good to go’. They have to come out and do a full audit of you and seating capacity is obviously a key component of that.”
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