This is Sydney's best rectangular stadium.

It was opened in 1988 with a lower capacity and no private boxes however the next year two seating decks were built at the northern end private boxes were added at each end, it hosted all of Sydneys major soccer, league and union games until the Olympic Stadium was built in 1999.

In 2006 the capacity was increased by extending the upper tears inwards reducing the incline in the lower tier (also bringing fans closer to their seats)
additionally, a second video screen was added at the southern end in place of a matrix scoreboard.

In 2009 the original video screen and black & white scoreboards were replaced with a new widescreen LED board

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Best stadium in sydney

Very very nice, i like. Regards.

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I'm not *overly* impressed by this stadium. For starters just in general IMO it's third behind the SCG and ANZ for function and looks. It's roof for instance doesn't do the stadium justice. And the SCG is being renovated and has moved up a peg IMO. ANZ is still number one.

But overall Sydney should be grateful for having a mid sized rectangular stadium, I know Melbourne has been crying out for one and is only getting one now (and even then, it's size is capped, facepalm). It seems very much suited for smaller fixtures which don't need a 75k+ stadium and cities need venues of various sizes to give them mobility. Especially when Sydney sometimes struggles with crowd numbers. It does its job and looks quite good (in saying it's third in looks it's behind ANZ which is one of the best in modern looks and behind SCG which is one of the best in combining classic and modern looks IMO so it's no great shame).

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not bad but it does come across as dated in regards to modern global standards

Best Stadium in Sydney. :)

Shares some similarities with Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden :)

41,159 capacity?

According to Wikipedia, the total capacity for the SFS is 45,500.

Which is it?

41,159 or 45,500?

It is 45,000

What a great looking place. Do they sell it out much for the footie? I assumed soccer still wasn't all that big down under.

The photo that shows it next to the cricket ground is excellent. Love it when they build different sports arenas in the same area. That's what I like about the Meadowlands in New York.

What a great looking place. Do they sell it out much for the footie? I assumed soccer still wasn't all that big down under.

The photo that shows it next to the cricket ground is excellent. Love it when they build different sports arenas in the same area. That's what I like about the Meadowlands in New York.

For 'soccer', it rarely sells out. If it's an international match or an A-League Grand Final then it may sell out, however for normal A-League matches Sydney barely average 10,000. The record crowd was an WC Qualifier between Australia and Argentina too.

For the NRL (Rugby League) it really varies, goes from sometimes less than 10,000 and then for finals series it can get close to capacity.

Rugby Union only sees the Super Rugby there now, they average between 20-30,000.

The SCG next door does sell out a bit for International Cricket, the one-dayers almost always sell out if Australia are playing and with the Ashes this year the tests may sell out too.

Back to the SFS, the only things I hate about it are firstly the roof is basically pointless, that was the state government at the time trying to save money I believe. The other is the dressing rooms, they are very small for a stadium of that size - I know, I've been in them a few times with my A-League committments.

Looks pretty nice for a stadium that opened in 1988.

If Australia wins the 2022 FIFA WC bid, I'd say this stadium needs a rebuild of its ground tier. The renovation they did in the mid 2000's was a poor cheap option which created a pathetically shallow rake on the ends. God know why they designed the field to be 150m long in the first place. Rebuild it at 130m/84m. New suites are essential.

The SFS have a masterplan which would take capacity up to 60,000.
http://www.ausleisure.com.au/default.asp?PageID=2&Display=True&ReleaseID=2573

^^ Interesting stuff. I can see 55 000 in the SFS envelope, curious to know the quality of getting 60 000 in there. As for falling Rugby International crowds, I blame the watering down of the Test match and as mentioned in the artical the consistant sending of weak teams to Australia and NZ by the likes of England and France.
Laugh at Roy Masters, can't help but mention the AFL in anything.

It's a pretty cool stadium. I like it it's good for a mid-size stadium I guess.

This stadium was the site of what majority of league fans and commentators have been calling the best game ever. The match was the 2010 qualifying final between the Sydney Roosters and the Wests Tigers.

A loss for the Roosters would have meant the end of the season.

During the match the Tigers had been leading the Roosters 15-2 untill the 80th and final minute.

Foward; Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was running down the field when he was high tackled by Simon Dwyer(tigers). This should have been given a penalty but was instead a scrum in favour of the tigers with 30 seconds remaining.

During the scrum Frank-Paul Nuusala(roosters) dived on the ball to return possetion to the roosters.

On the sounding of the full-time siren roosters fullback Anthony Minichiello passed the ball to captain Braith Anasta who then kicked a 34m field goal to send the game to extra time.

After 20 minutes of extra time and many failed field goal attempts from both teams, Roosters centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall intercepted a pass and then proceeded to run 65m with the close pursuit of some of the fastest players in the game to win 19-15.

As I was luckily in attendence for this match i would have to say that it would be very hard to see a more exciting match than this one, especially in the finals series.

Here is the highlights of what i just mentioned

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I've tried but I just don't understand Sydney Rugby League crowds, how was that place not sold out for a Final?
Especially one that had one of Sydney's biggest clubs in the Tigers who were in red hot form.

it had 32,000 odd which is pretty good, it didnt have a full crowd because the same night Penrith played Canberra which drew 25,000(capacity) and Australia faced New Zealand in the bledisloe at ANZ stadium which drew 80,000.

I suppose it just conflicts some people who would otherwise attend both, if my team hadn't been playing i would have gone

The main problem is the low rake in the first rows, especially the ends. As a Souths member (the team played there from the opening till 2005 inclusive) we had great seats on the wing, but I've sat all over the stadium and the views are awesome... Just not as good as the same seats in ANZ. Everyone criticises ANZ's ends, but if you sit towards the back of the bowl the views are incredible for a round-ended venue.

SFS has been renamed Allianz Stadium effective immediately, http://www.sydneycricketground.com.au/latest-news/sfs-re-named-allianz-stadium/ also, could a mod please change capacity to its actual 45,500 capacity

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what are the white in the stand on the second level, press seats?
is there a need for that many seats for the press or is that some kind of luxury/lounge seats?

They are outdoor boxes, are cheaper than private suites, they are usually corporate and are catered

oh okay, any words about the possible expansion/redevelopment of the end zones?