SYDNEY - Allianz Stadium (42,620)

Best stadium in sydney

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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.

Sheps said:

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.

Click to expand...

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

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.