- Bulldogs to play home games at Stadium Australia until redevelopment commences in mid-2020;
- Bulldogs to play 1 home game at Belmore and 1 game in Perth. The remainder of their Sydney home games in 2020 will be played at Bankwest Stadium;
- Stadium Australia is to be transformed into a world-class 70,000-seat rectangular stadium. It is scheduled to be decommissioned in mid-2020.
CANTERBURY-BANKSTOWN Bulldogs CEO Andrew Hill has made the following statement in relation to the Bulldogs’ home ground planning while Stadium Australia undergoes redevelopment.
“Our 2020 season will see the Bulldogs play as many home matches as possible at Stadium Australia prior to the redevelopment. Once the redevelopment has commenced the Bulldogs will be playing a match at the spiritual home of Belmore plus a game in Perth. All remaining matches will be at Bankwest Stadium.
The club will then continue to work with Bankwest Stadium to finalise an agreement around the number of games to be played at the stadium in seasons 2021 and 2022 as a result of Stadium Australia being unavailable.”
Infrastructure NSW has commenced the planning process for the redevelopment of Stadium Australia and construction is expected to start in mid-2020. For updates on this project, visit http://www.infrastructure.nsw.gov.au/projects-nsw/stadium-australia-redevelopment/
The redevelopment of Stadium Australia will reconfigure the current stadium into a permanent rectangular venue with 70,000 seats. This redevelopment will move seats closer to the field of play and update the stadium to contemporary standards providing a world-class experience for spectators and enhancing NSW’s position as a global and sporting destination.
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs will also look to continue to develop their footprint in Western Australia by taking a home match to HBF Park in Perth for the next three seasons.
With the redevelopment of Stadium Australia due to take place after the Sydney State of Origin match next season, the Bulldogs will be forced to reconfigure their schedule of home matches.
The club will use this situation to continue to promote their brand in a new market by taking a match to Perth. This comes after the Bulldogs started last season with a Round One blockbuster against the Melbourne Storm in the Western Australian capital.
Mr Hill said his club was delighted to be able to continue to develop the Bulldogs’ brand in a market where the club already enjoys strong support:
”With the redevelopment of Stadium Australia beginning halfway through next season we thought that it was important to plan well ahead in terms of where we are going to play our home matches in future seasons.
“With the club enjoying strong support in Perth we have worked closely with the McGowan Government to secure matches at HBF Park for the next three seasons.
“HBF Park is an excellent venue for rugby league matches and the Bulldogs are looking forward to the opportunity to continue to grow our footprint in what is a major sporting market.”
