New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian has announced Allianz and ANZ stadiums will be rebuilt and transformed into world-class facilities, keeping NRL Grand Finals in Sydney for at least the next 25 years.
Ms Berejiklian said the investment would ensure NSW remains the number one destination for major sporting and entertainment events.
“We want the world’s biggest sporting clubs and artists to choose NSW as their preferred destination to showcase their events,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“To compete globally and attract national and international events, our stadiums must have the most modern facilities that offer a great experience for fans.”
The investment will fund:
- A new 45,000-seat stadium to replace Allianz at Moore Park with construction to start in 2018 and open in 2021 (estimated $705 million, subject to tendering process); and
A new 75,000-seat rectangular stadium to replace ANZ at Sydney Olympic Park, construction to start in 2019 and open in 2022 (estimated $1.25 billion, subject to tendering process).
“Fans will be closer to the action than ever before, with steep seating creating a colosseum-inspired wall of sound and colour, enhanced with the world’s most advanced technology,” Ms Berejiklian said.
“This investment means we can compete on the world stage for events such as the FIFA Women’s World Cup, the Rugby World Cup, and keep Sydney as the number one sporting destination.
“This is an investment into our vital tourism industry, which is worth $33.2 billion per year to the NSW economy and supports 164,000 jobs.”
Sport Minister Stuart Ayres said: “We can also announce the NSW Government has secured NRL Grand Finals games for the next 25 years.