The NRL’s highly promoted ambition for the NSW Government to fund new suburban stadia in Sydney has been ignored in the NSW Treasurer Matt Kean’s 2022/23 budget.
While funds have previously been committed to the rebuild of the Penrith Stadium, the NRL has been unsuccessful in gaining money for up to four other stadia to be built across metropolitan Sydney.
However, the budget has included $3.5 million to investigate improving the WIN Entertainment and Sporting precinct in Wollongong.
In 2020, the Illawarra Hawks' final home game of the National Basketball League (NBL) season was embarrassingly called off mid-match after heaving rain caused the roof to leak at the WIN Entertainment Centre (WEC).
In March 2021, a backboard at the venue collapsed in a pre-game warm-up prior to a televised NBL fixture.
Other notable critics of the WEC include Tina Arena, who has raised issues about the standards of the dressing rooms and said the centre needed a makeover.
In Tuesday's budget, the NSW Government's Enterprise, Investment and Trade Cluster included a funding commitment of $3.5 million ($4.5 million recurrent expenses over two years) to develop a detailed business case and master plan for the precinct.
Wollongong City Council welcomed the investment as a "momentous step in uplifting the Wollongong entertainment and foreshore area".
Beyond previous announcements made in recent weeks, including $113 million for three new Rugby League Centres of Excellence, no other new commitments to sport were revealed in the budget.
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
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