One of the ‘sleeping giant’ type stories in NSW politics at the moment is the possibility of the Government funding a new sports stadium in western Sydney.
With an election just a year away, you can expect the issue to be awoken very, very soon.
The State Government’s Stadia Strategy from a couple of years ago hinted strongly at the development of a new stadium in western Sydney, with a capacity of up to 40,000.
This is the perfect size venue as we have sports like rugby league working towards outgrowing their traditional suburban grounds that hold 20,000 people, and so many sports and events look awkward and lack atmosphere when put into the 80,000-seat ANZ Stadium.
Sources tell me that the stadium will definitely get the go-ahead, and there is a slim chance it could be a 2015 election commitment.
Penrith is the perfect location for the new stadium and would be one of the favourites, you would imagine, to secure the facility.
I’m told that Penrith and Liverpool are the current front-runners in the Government’s mind.
But over the next 12 months, I expect much to be done by way of campaigning in other areas that also believe they’re worthy of the stadium.
This will mean plenty of work will need to be done in Penrith by various organisations and groups to emerge the winner.
Leading the charge would obviously be the Penrith Panthers.
Boss Phil Gould has already indicated that the Panthers can’t play out of Penrith Stadium forever and if the club grows as Gould and the Board want it to, a time may come when a capacity of 20,000 simply isn’t enough.
The club has record members this year and is, by all accounts, about to enter a successful period on the field that will see support grow.
There is no doubt that Penrith would agree to play out of a new stadium if it was built in the local area. But 12 games of NRL each year would not be enough to convince the State Government that Penrith is the place to be.
I know that the last time the Panthers tried to get their nose in the door at the Western Sydney Wanderers it ended poorly, but I can assure you that a flame still flickers between the two parties.
A move to a new stadium at Penrith could be a nice middle ground between Parramatta Stadium and having to move matches to ANZ.
So, if the Panthers and the Wanderers agree to be tenants at the new stadium, we’ve suddenly got around 25 confirmed fixtures per year.
Throw in the Penrith Emus, one-off events like the Legends Football League and key junior representative fixtures across all sports and it’s not unrealistic to suggest the stadium could host multiple events every single week of the year.
Penrith is one of the fastest growing regions in New South Wales. Basing the stadium here would make economic sense and fit in well with the State Government’s regional cities plan.
Given the NRL’s stadium strategy somewhat aligns with the State Government’s plans, the obvious first step is for Dave Smith (NRL CEO) and Premier Barry O’Farrell to agree to fund a feasibility study and business case for the stadium. Once this gives good news, the work can then be done to ensure it’s in Penrith.
Politically, it would ensure Stuart Ayres remained the local MP for a decade.
Heck, let’s even put up a statue if he pulls it off given it will most likely be his voice that needs to be loudest at the Government level.
The location? Don’t be surprised if some big decisions in the sport of harness racing eventually sees some prized land in the Penrith CBD available to the right party.
Penrith deserves the new stadium and over the next year or so, let’s prove it.
