Architect condemns Sydney Football Stadium rebuilding plans

Latest News

Architect condemns Sydney Football Stadium rebuilding plans

September 25, 2018

Design / Entertainment / Sport / Tourism / Venues /

Philip Vivian, Director of the multidisciplinary design firm Bates Smart, has criticised plans by the NSW Government to demolish and rebuild Sydney's Allianz Stadium (Sydney Football Stadium) at Moore Park.

With the venue set to stage its final event next month before the redevelopment begins, Vivian argues that the $981 million rebuilding will be a counterproductive expenditure, working to the detriment of the city and its residents.

Citing the Roman Coliseum as an example of how "the ancients" incorporated structures into their social fabric as spaces for public spectacles, Vivian said that modern stadiums contrarily have become “mono-functional objects, isolated on the periphery of the city and surrounded by car parking”.

Adding that a “renaissance is underway”, Vivian said that stadiums can be catalysts of urban renewal, and as such, should be re-integrated into the city’s fabric as accessible anchors for entertainment districts.

Bates Smart, which has a record of re-imagining public spaces as places to stimulate community engagement, has proposed an alternate plan which would escalate urban renewal and optimise public transport.

Vivian advised "we propose that Moore Park Stadium’s replacement be built over Central Station’s railyard; creating the benefits of public transport accessibility, catalysing the development of the railyards to connect Surry Hills to Chippendale, and having broader economic benefits for the state, the city and surrounding neighbourhoods.”

Vivian’s intervention may be too late as the NSW Government is expected to announce the winner of the competition for the rebuilding of the venue in October.

Image: Bates Smart's concept for a new Sydney stadium above the city's central Railway Station, courtesy of Bates Smart

22nd September 2018 - Allianz Stadium set for last ever sporting fixture

12th September 2018 - Leading architectural practice releases proposal for new stadium in the Sydney CBD

31st August 2018 - NSW Government looks to secure naming rights for new Western Sydney Stadium

6th August 2018 - NSW Government accused of inflating potential fixture numbers to back venues plan

12th June 2018 - Redevelopment of Allianz and ANZ Stadiums to deliver ‘negative returns’ on investment

21st May 2018 - UTS takes on naming rights at soon to relocate Allianz Stadium health club

29th April 2018 - Venues NSW Chair issued warning over viability of Sydney stadium redevelopments

29th March 2018 - NSW Government abandons ANZ Stadium rebuild plans, backs new Allianz Stadium

12th December 2017 - Stadium economics: Spending billions on empty seats

1st August 2017 - Sydney’s Moore Park precinct welcomes more than 1.85 million fans in past year

21st July 2017 - NSW Government releases ‘Commerciality Framework’ for stadia

3rd May 2017 - Master plan for Sydney’s Moore Park proposes enhanced conservation and new sport facilities

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.