STADIUM Australia Operations Pty Ltd, operator of Stadium Australia, has today called for Expressions of Interest from consortiums to bid for the right to redevelop the Stadium in line with the masterplan vision released by the NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation in July 2013.
Sydney Olympic Park Stadia Precinct Vision released July 2013:
Consortiums (including builders and architects) will be asked to develop a detailed masterplan for Stadium Australia and its surrounding precinct, as well as providing a firm price for the completion of the Stadium redevelopment works, which will proceed subject to securing the necessary funding.
The planned multi-million-dollar investment in the Stadium is designed to ensure the Sydney Olympics showpiece remains the iconic venue it was built to be, and enable NSW to continue to secure major events in the face of competition from international and interstate rivals.
Stadium Australia Managing Director Daryl Kerry said: “Our ambition is to create the greatest multi-purpose sports and entertainment stadium in the world.”
Among the exciting proposals are:
- A retractable roof that would weather-proof major sports and entertainment events;
- A reconfiguration of the Stadium’s lower seating bowl to improve spectator viewing and playing field dimensions, including:
- Bringing spectators as close as 5m to the field of play at the northern and southern ends of the Stadium through the installation of moveable grandstands and creating a perfect rectangle for rugby league, rugby union and football;
- Increasing the eastern and western boundaries to provide longer straight-hit boundaries in cricket and a more traditional oval shape for AFL;
- New and refurbished player and spectator facilities including restaurants, bars, terraces and eateries;
- Development of the precinct outside the Stadium, which is expected to include new precinct bars, cafes and restaurants for Stadium patrons to enjoy before and after events.
The upgrade of the Stadium is in line with the NSW Government Stadia Strategy released in August 2012, which focusses future NSW Government investment on key NSW Government venues, including Stadium Australia.
The timing is ideal as 2013 was the Stadium’s strongest post-Olympics year with a series of major sold-out events and more than 1.6 million fans passing through the gates. Five major events alone last year – a FIFA World Cup qualifier for the Socceroos, two State of Origin rugby league games, the deciding Wallabies v British & Irish Lions rugby Test and the A-League All Stars v Manchester United football match – drew a total of 411,545 fans, upwards of 45,000 visitors to NSW, and was worth $100 million to the NSW economy.
The 2014 Stadium event calendar includes blockbusters such as State of Origin, T20 cricket Internationals, Bledisloe Cup, key Swans AFL games, a visit by Italian super club Juventus, a Socceroos World Cup farewell game, NRL finals and the Grand Final.
Mr Kerry said it was expected a preferred consortium, including a construction company, would be selected by mid-2014, following a process where competing consortiums will develop detailed and costed masterplans for the Stadium redevelopment. During the same period, Stadium management will be working with private enterprise and Government to secure funding for the redevelopment, which could commence as early as 2015.
Following the launch of the masterplan vision in July 2013, the Stadium has received overwhelming support for the proposed upgrade from Stadium hirers, members and the public.
Mr Kerry said bringing the Stadium masterplan to reality would enable NSW to continue to lead the way in attracting world-class sport and entertainment.
“Putting a roof on the Stadium will weather-proof the major events going forward, while moving stands north and south will create an even more dramatic atmosphere for the football codes that prefer a true rectangular field,” he said.
“Looking beyond the sporting field, we understand that the event experience for the fans is no longer purely about what happens in the hour and a half that the main event consumes attention on the arena.
“The exciting developments proposed for the Stadia precinct will help take that event experience to the next level.
“This Stadium will generate millions of dollars for Sydney and for NSW again this year. So an investment in the Stadium is, in effect, an investment in NSW.”
The improvements inside and outside Stadium Australia will deliver a huge economic dividend for NSW and will be a tremendous boost for the sports and clubs which use the Stadium going forward.
Stadium Australia Operations will be consulting widely on the masterplan and will have ongoing communication with Governments, senior executives of the five sports that currently use the venue, and the clubs and teams that call Stadium Australia home.
Parties genuinely interested in submitting proposals for the project should request a copy of the Invitation for Expression Of Interest from the representative noted below:
Contact: Steve Heytman, Chief Operating Officer, Stadium Australia
02 8765 2302, [email protected]
Locked Bag 1999, Sydney Olympic Park, NSW 2127
