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Sydney Thunder and GWS Giants join call for Spotless Stadium upgrade
May 10, 2016 2:17pm
ExclusiveThe Daily Telegraph
GWS Giants star Shane Mumford and Sydney Thunder paceman Pat Cummins at Spotless Stadium. Picture : Gregg Porteous
SYDNEY Thunder and GWS Giants have joined the fight to turn Spotless Stadium into a 30,000-seat international arena that Western Sydney can really be proud of.
The not-for-profit Royal Agricultural Society wants to expand Spotless Stadium as part of a major redevelopment of Sydney Showground’s precincts, including two major new residential towers, an entertainment hub and a performing arts centre.
The precinct is worth more than $616 million to the economy and attracts 1.7 million visitors a year.
There was no money for Spotless in the Baird government’s recent $1.6 billion stadiums strategy — which will strip ANZ Stadium of its capacity to host cricket and AFL and leave its smaller neighbour as the West’s only major events oval.
There was no money for Spotless Stadium in the Baird government’s recent $1.6b stadium plan.
Around $20 million is needed for the Spotless expansion and the government is being lobbied for help.
“It’s a great stadium at the moment but the expanded grandstand could really put it up there with the best stadiums in Australia,” said Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley backed the revamp, saying it needs “significant investment by the government”.
When Sydney Showground Stadium, as it was first known, was built to accommodate the baseball at the Sydney Olympics, the original plan included grandstands right around the 24,000-seat arena.
But a funding shortfall meant the work wasn’t completed, leaving a gap at one end.
GWS Giants and Sydney Thunder both call the stadium home and have a growing number of fans.
Giants players train this week at Spotless. Picture : Gregg Porteous
“With ANZ Stadium being rectangularised we would like to have an oval stadium with more capacity in the West – Spotless is the logical choice,” GWS and SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd said.
“As the club gets bigger, the current size of the stadium will begin to become an issue for us.”
Western Sydney Wanderers will play the majority of their matches at Spotless Stadium next year as Parramatta Stadium is rebuilt. Australia is also due to host the T20 World Cup in 2020, with domestic fans of those of visiting teams spread right across the West.
The government is spending $1.6 billion turning ANZ Stadium into a rectangle arena, rebuilding of Parramatta Stadium and upgrading Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium.
Royal Agricultural Society boss Michael Kenny said the Spotless upgrade would be relatively simple and take only 10 months because no new foundations are needed.
A spokesman for Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said: “While Spotless Stadium is part of the 2012 Stadia strategy, it is not included in the current funding allocation.”
May 10, 2016 2:17pm
ExclusiveThe Daily Telegraph
GWS Giants star Shane Mumford and Sydney Thunder paceman Pat Cummins at Spotless Stadium. Picture : Gregg Porteous
SYDNEY Thunder and GWS Giants have joined the fight to turn Spotless Stadium into a 30,000-seat international arena that Western Sydney can really be proud of.
The not-for-profit Royal Agricultural Society wants to expand Spotless Stadium as part of a major redevelopment of Sydney Showground’s precincts, including two major new residential towers, an entertainment hub and a performing arts centre.
The precinct is worth more than $616 million to the economy and attracts 1.7 million visitors a year.
There was no money for Spotless in the Baird government’s recent $1.6 billion stadiums strategy — which will strip ANZ Stadium of its capacity to host cricket and AFL and leave its smaller neighbour as the West’s only major events oval.
There was no money for Spotless Stadium in the Baird government’s recent $1.6b stadium plan.
Around $20 million is needed for the Spotless expansion and the government is being lobbied for help.
“It’s a great stadium at the moment but the expanded grandstand could really put it up there with the best stadiums in Australia,” said Sydney Thunder general manager Nick Cummins.
NSW Opposition Leader Luke Foley backed the revamp, saying it needs “significant investment by the government”.
When Sydney Showground Stadium, as it was first known, was built to accommodate the baseball at the Sydney Olympics, the original plan included grandstands right around the 24,000-seat arena.
But a funding shortfall meant the work wasn’t completed, leaving a gap at one end.
GWS Giants and Sydney Thunder both call the stadium home and have a growing number of fans.
Giants players train this week at Spotless. Picture : Gregg Porteous
“With ANZ Stadium being rectangularised we would like to have an oval stadium with more capacity in the West – Spotless is the logical choice,” GWS and SCG Trust chairman Tony Shepherd said.
“As the club gets bigger, the current size of the stadium will begin to become an issue for us.”
Western Sydney Wanderers will play the majority of their matches at Spotless Stadium next year as Parramatta Stadium is rebuilt. Australia is also due to host the T20 World Cup in 2020, with domestic fans of those of visiting teams spread right across the West.
The government is spending $1.6 billion turning ANZ Stadium into a rectangle arena, rebuilding of Parramatta Stadium and upgrading Moore Park’s Allianz Stadium.
Royal Agricultural Society boss Michael Kenny said the Spotless upgrade would be relatively simple and take only 10 months because no new foundations are needed.
A spokesman for Sports Minister Stuart Ayres said: “While Spotless Stadium is part of the 2012 Stadia strategy, it is not included in the current funding allocation.”