New AFL Ground in Sydney approved

[2005magicmoment]

Like I said, I'm happy that we have got another ground in Sydney and as a dedicated AFL stadium should make for a great experience, but it really wasn't needed and taxpayer money most certainly shouldn't have gone towards it.

Hi Damien, I politely disagree. Taxpayers money has always gone into every stadium in Australia regardless of the sporting code. In rugby league look at the Wollongong, Kogarah or Gosford Stadiums for their stadium extensions. For our beloved Swans - The SCG Ground Trust received huge funding for the Victor Trumper Stand by the state and federal governments. Let us face reality, sports do not earn back the cost of financial capital in which case the private sector would have taken the risk. Sporting infrastructure is a community good so governments have to provide. My only issue is that grassroots football gets the same level of infrastrucutre support out in Greater Western Sydney for new AFL grounds.

Cheers

[Damien]

Hi Damien, I politely disagree. Taxpayers money has always gone into every stadium in Australia regardless of the sporting code. In rugby league look at the Wollongong, Kogarah or Gosford Stadiums for their stadium extensions. For our beloved Swans - The SCG Ground Trust received huge funding for the Victor Trumper Stand by the state and federal governments. Let us face reality, sports do not earn back the cost of financial capital in which case the private sector would have taken the risk. Sporting infrastructure is a community good so governments have to provide. My only issue is that grassroots football gets the same level of infrastrucutre support out in Greater Western Sydney for new AFL grounds.

Cheers

Don't get me wrong, I have zero issues with governments supporting stadium upgrades in the slightest, just this one is strange as it is the first time any government money has paid for a smaller stadium to be built next door to a stadium already configured for that game and comes two years after the government had handed over 10 million for a training venue and headquarters at Blacktown. It deserves some criticism and questioning, but I must say the AFL have proven they know how to play the game better than most. Impressive work by them.

Love your user name by the way! Got me daydreaming.

[Bas]

The pathetic NSW Government is wasting our money on many things so I'm glad it's wasted on the AFL.