GWS is Showground bound

[Reggi]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/gws-is-showground-bound-20100320-qn2u.html

I suppose this won't effect us much, the days of us using a 25K stadium are long gone - would think though proximity to public transport

Plus being close the showgrounds, Sheedy would make a good clown to put ping pong balls in the mouth of

Interesting to see how Blacktown council will react, still development of good facilities is good for the sport - I presume a local SFL team would be happy at Blacktown

[Triple B]

Reggi, the problem with Blacktown is things like parking and transport. Even with the small, yet capacity, crowd for the NAB match, parking and getting away from the place was a bit of a nightmare.

The showgrounds and ANZ is like MCG and the tennis centre, serviced by the same transport, parking etc and only a decent drop punt or two from each other.

Makes a lot of sense. They can play a few bigger games at ANZ (Swans, Wobbles, Cats etc) and realistically, the only change to the normal routine for the supporters is whether they turn right or go straight ahead when they get off the train on gameday.

[DST]

As far as I knew, they were never going to play H&A games at Blacktown.

It was to be their training and social venue only and a place to play pre-season games while other grounds are off limits.

This article is totally wrong, it should clearly state it's match day only not their headquarters.

Sloppy writing.

DST

[hammo]

That article is embarrassing for its errors. The second side was always going to play at either ANZ or the Showground. The AFL asked the NSW Government for money to redevelop the Showground last year so it's hardly a new development.

[sfan]

Yes that was always the case and is old news.Nathan Rees knocked back involvement in the redeveloped Showground last year. Blacktown was only ever going to be a training facility and NAB cup games. Not enough public transport or car parking for anything else. Many news articles on this.

NSW Government withdraws financial backing for planned AFL expansion | The Daily Telegraph
Austadiums.com :: AFL's $100mill plan for Sydney Showground
Second Sydney team in line to get $100m home

[top40]

Roy Masters, speaking on ABC TV's "The Offsiders", stated that the proposed buidling of a completely new stadium at Blacktown would be a strong consideration, (if not a done deal), if Australia won the right to host the Soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022. The stadium would accommodate 44,000 for the World Cup, and then be reduced to 36,000 after the World Cup for AFL. It would also thereafter be used by Rugby League, as well as for the new (west) Sydney Rovers in the soccer A-League.

I am very confused by this.

First, the development of the Showground at Homebush Bay would be a much cheaper option for GWS. It already is a modern stadium, right near a railway station, that holds about 20,000. A development to make it AFL friendly and hold say 25,000 to 30,000 would cost much much less than building a brand new stadium at Blacktown.

Second, FIFA has a very strict policy that only on rare occasions does it permit a city in the World Cup to host games from two venues. Hence Paris in 1998 and Jo burg this year. Never however have three venues been permitted for one city. Sydney already has the Football Stadium (which is close to the city and holds about 46,000), and the Olympic Stadium at Homebush Bay (which holds about 85,000). Sydney is the one Australian city that does not need any new stadiums for a Soccer World Cup.

Third, the NRL already has two very good stadiums in the western suburbs of Sydney: Parramatta Stadium and Penrith Stadium, Both are rectangle shaped and all seated, and both hold about 22,000, a perfect fit for Rugby League. Both are also perfect for the new western Sydney soccer team.

This is a waste of tax payers money, I say.

[mcs]

Roy Masters, speaking on ABC TV's "The Offsiders", stated that the proposed buidling of a completely new stadium at Blacktown would be a strong consideration, (if not a done deal), if Australia won the right to host the Soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022. The stadium would accommodate 44,000 for the World Cup, and then be reduced to 36,000 after the World Cup for AFL. It would also thereafter be used by Rugby League, as well as for the new (west) Sydney Rovers in the soccer A-League.

I am very confused by this.

First, the development of the Showground at Homebush Bay would be a much cheaper option for GWS. It already is a modern stadium, right near a railway station, that holds about 20,000. A development to make it AFL friendly and hold say 25,000 to 30,000 would cost much much less than building a brand new stadium at Blacktown.

Second, FIFA has a very strict policy that only on rare occasions does it permit a city in the World Cup to host games from two venues. Hence Paris in 1998 and Jo burg this year. Never however have three venues been permitted for one city. Sydney already has the Football Stadium (which is close to the city and holds about 46,000), and the Olympic Stadium at Homebush Bay (which holds about 85,000). Sydney is the one Australian city that does not need any new stadiums for a Soccer World Cup.

Third, the NRL already has two very good stadiums in the western suburbs of Sydney: Parramatta Stadium and Penrith Stadium, Both are rectangle shaped and all seated, and both hold about 22,000, a perfect fit for Rugby League. Both are also perfect for the new western Sydney soccer team.

This is a waste of tax payers money, I say.

Is Penriff Stadium all seater- been so long since I've been there that I don't know whether they have filled in the ends or not.

No chance imo of Blacktown getting a stadium for the World cup, for precisely the reasons you outlined above. I think redeveloping the showground is precisely the way to go. They could even get the Bulldogs or the Rabbitohs from the NRL to ground share- thus helping to preserve ANZ stadium's playing surface for the bigger games of the season, rather than being used so much as it is now.

[hammo]

You're assuming Roy Masters knows what he's talking about.

[Reggi]

You're assuming Roy Masters knows what he's talking about.

Lived for a long time in Melbourne and really wishes the RL was AFL. RL very rarely gets 45K crowds, isn't a big spectator sport so his story seems unlikely, not many big stadiums in Australia not underpinned by AFL, so showgrounds story seems more likely

That said 10 -15 years before GWS is pulling reasonable crowds. My sense is given AFL ticket prices in Sydney are so expensive compared to Melb, for many years average family & punter has been priced out of the SCG, haven't been to a game there for three years though

[Beaussie]

Lived for a long time in Melbourne and really wishes the RL was AFL. RL very rarely gets 45K crowds, isn't a big spectator sport so his story seems unlikely, not many big stadiums in Australia not underpinned by AFL, so showgrounds story seems more likely

Roy is delusional. Which NRL clubs would play at a proposed 45,000 seat Blacktown Stadium? Parramatta and Penrith can't even fill their 20,000 odd capacity stadiums as it is. The new A-Leauge team would be better of at Homebush too considering the crowds A-League games attract in Sydney. This Blacktown proposed stadium for the rugby and soccer codes sounds like a massive waste of taxpayer dollars when you add in the costs that would also be needed for upgraded transport links as well.

The Showground redevelopment is certainly a more viable option.

[laughingnome]

My sense is given AFL ticket prices in Sydney are so expensive compared to Melb, for many years average family & punter has been priced out of the SCG, haven't been to a game there for three years though

That's an SCG Trust and ANZ Stadium issue. The AFL sets the standard ticket price for all matches every year, ground owners/caretakers can then cahrge a surcharge if they see fit for reserved, premium, etc , seats as well as adding their commission onto the price. Instead of saying Sydney is more expensive ask why the MCC can do it cheaper then the Trust.

For the Record: an Adult ticket to the MCG is $44.50 for a premium reserved seat. An SCG ticket (using the Syd/Rich game for pricing) is $65 for a platinum reserved seat. General Entry at the MCG is $21.30, a seat in the Bronze Section at the SCG is $20.

[goswannie14]

The showgorunds makes sense in the fact, as has been pointed out, that for GWS fans travelling to home games they would always travel to the same station etc and whether the game is at the showgrounds or ANZ for a bigger game is purely incidental. Common sense move that could pay huge dividends in the short to long term for crowd numbers

[Wardy]

You're assuming Roy Masters knows what he's talking about.

Hmm Roy is a sad bitter old man really - and generally speaks @@@@ 99% of the time! take what he says with a grain of salt!

[top40]

Roy Masters, speaking on ABC TV's "The Offsiders", stated that the proposed buidling of a completely new stadium at Blacktown would be a strong consideration, (if not a done deal), if Australia won the right to host the Soccer World Cup in 2018 or 2022. The stadium would accommodate 44,000 for the World Cup, and then be reduced to 36,000 after the World Cup for AFL. It would also thereafter be used by Rugby League, as well as for the new (west) Sydney Rovers in the soccer A-League.

I am very confused by this.

First, the development of the Showground at Homebush Bay would be a much cheaper option for GWS. It already is a modern stadium, right near a railway station, that holds about 20,000. A development to make it AFL friendly and hold say 25,000 to 30,000 would cost much much less than building a brand new stadium at Blacktown.

Second, FIFA has a very strict policy that only on rare occasions does it permit a city in the World Cup to host games from two venues. Hence Paris in 1998 and Jo burg this year. Never however have three venues been permitted for one city. Sydney already has the Football Stadium (which is close to the city and holds about 46,000), and the Olympic Stadium at Homebush Bay (which holds about 85,000). Sydney is the one Australian city that does not need any new stadiums for a Soccer World Cup.

Third, the NRL already has two very good stadiums in the western suburbs of Sydney: Parramatta Stadium and Penrith Stadium, Both are rectangle shaped and all seated, and both hold about 22,000, a perfect fit for Rugby League. Both are also perfect for the new western Sydney soccer team.

This is a waste of tax payers money, I say.

Roy Masters now writes in the Sydney Morning Herald (22nd March 2010) that the plan for the proposed new Blacktown Stadium is that it will be used as the THIRD Sydney stadium for a Soccer World Cup. I don't think so. As I stated above, there is no way FIFA would agree to one city having three stadiums for a World Cup.