Sydney Roosters coach Trent Robinson warns the NSW capital risks falling behind the rest of the country if the state government's plans to rebuild Allianz Stadium don't go ahead.
The Berejiklian government's push to knock down and rebuild the Sydney Football Stadium at Moore Park and ANZ Stadium at Homebush is in disarray after they were forced to postpone a major announcement this week.
MP Matthew Mason-Cox has come out against the government's $2 billion plan while Opposition Leader Luke Foley has ruled out a knock down of Allianz and ANZ Stadiums ahead of next year's election.
ARL commission chairman Peter Beattie has been tasked with heading a public relations campaign to sell the government's message, with the NRL and clubs throwing their full support behind the government's stadia strategy.
Beattie used social media to threaten to take major events such as State of Origin and the grand final away from NSW if the rebuilds didn't go ahead.
Roosters coach Trent Robinson, whose side plays out of Allianz Stadium, said the state's sporting facilities had fallen behind the rest of the country.
"Just being a Sydneysider I want to go to grounds like (Perth's Optus Stadium). I watched the Perth game on the weekend or if I go down to Melbourne, I want that experience in the heart of Sydney," Robinson said.
"The Roosters, we very much support a rebuild of our home ground.
"But as a sporting lover, I want Sydney to be the sporting capital that it is."
The Sydney Cricket Ground Trust argues that Allianz Stadium represents a health hazard and is ill-equipped to deal with an emergency and toilet and food and beverage facilities are also sub-standard.
"It was built in 1988 and it's actually a great viewing ground here," Robinson said.
"It's just the facilities don't match the viewing ground.
"People enjoy coming and watching football here, they just don't enjoy the amenities.
"We're no longer just 80 minutes - sport is about an event around the game and we can't offer that at the moment."
Share
