Baird promises boost for Sydney stadiums
Sydney sports stadiums will receive a funding boost but NSW Premier Mike Baird has remained tight-lipped on the exact figure as he calls for investment.
A confidential government report has revealed plans for an $800 million venue to replace Allianz stadium in Moore Park, along with a brand new $150 million indoor arena near the CBD, a $300 million venue at Parramatta replacing Pirtek Stadium, plus a $300 million upgrade at Homebush's ANZ Stadium.
The report's $1.85 billion stadium plan is expected to be considered by Premier Mike Baird's cabinet within the next month, according to News Ltd.
"Let's wait for the report to be finalised," Mr Baird told reporters in Sydney on Wednesday.
"We need to upgrade our sporting facilities to give this city the best capacity to watch sports, to attract events and to grow the economy."
The premier said he underestimated the difficulty of allocating funding to transform sporting arenas.
"(There are) so many different sports, how do you balance that?" he said.
But Sydney has to keep attracting major sporting events and exhibition matches, he said.
"There are some preliminary soundings of the NFL potentially looking at bringing a game," he said.
"Obviously we're open to that... Sydney's the spot."
Written by former NSW Liberal leader John Brogden for the Baird government, the report calls on support from sporting codes including the NRL and Football Federation Australia to help fund the upgrades.
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