1988: Plan to sell off the Sydney Football Stadium

This week, NSW will head off to the polls to either re-elect the Liberal Government of Gladys Berejiklian or elect the Labor Party led by Michael Daley to power after eight years in Opposition.

One of the big issues in the election this year is the upgrades and redevelopment of our city stadiums - Parramatta Stadium (opening in April), Sydney Football Stadium and ANZ Stadium.

The most controversial is the Sydney Football Stadium which is at present under demolition. A number of groups have opposed its demolition altogether while others object to the State Government funding redevelopment of the stadium that the Private sector or the SCG Trust pay for construction.

In 1988 when the stadium was opened, there was drama and it was to do with money. Taxpayers had to contribute $39 million to fund construction of the $63 million stadium despite assurances from the Wran Government in 1985 that no taxpayer funds be allocated to the subject.

Above: The Daily Telegraph reported on the proposed sale on May 2, 1988.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported in its editorial of May 5, 1988 that the SCG Trust never explained the need to spend $63 million on the stadium. The question has been raised again in 2019 by critics who oppose redevelopment.

But in 1988, the concern was that the Sydney Football Stadium would never be properly utilised and would only host a few major games that year of rugby league and appears to suggest that it was not being well utilised by other sports including Rugby Union and Soccer.

As for major events, we fast forward three decades and in its final years in the current form, it was being well utilised by various sports. Who would think that every second weekend during the summer months, that there would be professional soccer games played at the stadium.

It also survived competition from Stadium Australia. It took away marquee events, but many fixtures continued to be played there because it provided initimacy for the fans attending. Compared to Stadium Australia, I have preferred the Sydney Football Stadium because I feel closer to the action not to mention the atmosphere.

Finally, it is noted that the State Government acknowledge that there cannot be a situation where not a public cent is spent on building public stadiums.

The Labor Party if elected on Saturday will provide the SCG Trust with a loan to fund the rebuilding of the Sydney Football Stadium. However, the SCG Trust is a department of the NSW State Government. How can they repay the State back unless they hike ticket prices?

No matter who wins the election on Saturday, public funds will be used to rebuild the Sydney Football Stadium.