ANZ Stadium will sit well among world venues
Sydney's ANZ Stadium managers, caring for the former Olympic stadium, say they are confident they will secure $250 million in New South Wales Government funding for a major redevelopment. ANZ Stadium's management has major plans for a $350 million facelift for the venue at Homebush. They include a retractable roof that can close in 20 minutes and moveable grandstands at either end of the stadium to create a rectangular field for rugby union, rugby league and soccer matches. The plans also call for a light rail line to be built between the suburbs of Parramatta and Sydney Olympic Park.
NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres would not comment on the proposal, but his office confirmed funding decisions would be guided by the State Infrastructure Strategy, which is expected to be released in the coming weeks. Certainly ANZ Stadium would like to see the money in place before the next state election.
Construction company Laing O'Rourke has been chosen to carry out the work. Construction is proposed to start after the 2016 NRL Grand Final for completion before the 2018 State of Origin rugby league series.
There is a swag of new sports venues in design and/or being built in the US and elsewhere, ranging from 12,000 seaters to major stadia.
Look at the plans for Las Vegas.
The US Major League Soccer (MLS) received a major boost recently with announcement of an agreement to construct a new soccer stadium in the Nevadan desert city. In a preliminary deal between the city of Las Vegas, The Cordish Companies and Findlay Sports & Entertainment, a US$410 million downtown indoor stadium with capacity of 24,000 will be built. It will be specifically designed for a Major League Soccer franchise and may also house an NHL franchise. The total project cost, spread over thirty years, is US$410 million. Of that, 69% would be privately funded and 31% from public sources, such as taxes collected from tourists and public infrastructure funds.
Additionally, the new $350 million, 20,000 seat Las Vegas Arena on the Strip will be built and operated by MGM Resorts International and AEG Live. Designed by Populous, the arena will sit on a 16 acre ‘revitalisation’ site and be a premier destination for concerts, sporting events, award shows and special events. Construction began on 1 May, with scheduled completion and opening in 2016. Access to the arena will be via a new redevelopment project known as ‘The Park’, between New York-New York and the Monte Carlo casino hotels.
Real Madrid’s Santiago Bernabéu will take on a new look over the next few years in order to become one of the world’s most impressive sports arenas, as well as an architectural marvel. The world’s richest football club is proceeding with a US$500 million stadium renovation. The joint project between GMP Architects and L35 Ribas won the contest to decide on the design for a stadium that will be a global icon. According to Club President, Florentino Pérez, the new Santiago Bernabéu will become a worldwide symbol, a special, unique and spectacular stadium. The Club has secured funding for the new stadium through a long-term strategic partnership with Abu Dhabi’s International Petroleum Investment Company (IPIC).
And on cue, Real Madrid has announced a deal which will see the digital transformation of the club through technology. Microsoft becomes the strategic technological partner of Real Madrid and they will provide digital services that are accessible anywhere and on a host of devices such as PCs, tablets, smartphones and wearables.
Oman is in the process of tendering for 3 new stadia, with capacities ranging from 12,000 to 18,000 and expanding the existing Al Sa’ada Sports complex in Dhofar. No dollars noted but just as with Qatar, in principle there is no shortage of money. Recently we reported on the 12 or more new stadia to be built in Saudi Arabia.
