1988: The Sydney Football Stadium is offically opened

It has been hoped that the rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium will open its doors to the sporting public during this year.

Our first regular entry for 2022 goes back to the previous Sydney Football Stadium and its first event, held on January 24, 1988. This was the same week that the nation held its Bicentennial celebrations. It was not a sporting event, but a concert headlined by American singer John Denver. The stadium was officially opened by NSW Premier Barrie Unsworth as part of the festivities. 

Tickets ranged from $15 to $25 dollars. 17 000 attended the concert which also included Air Supply, Eurogliders, Dragon and Sharon O'Neill backed by Tommy Tycho and The Sydney International Orchestra. This was down from the projected 30 000 that were expected to.

There was also criticism of the sound system along with an echo that could be heard by attendees.

John Denver also presented a special song that he wrote to mark the Bicentennary but also one for his girlfriend - Cassie Delaney who was also Australian. 

Source: Cameron, M. 1988. "'This is for you, my Aussie girl'". The Daily Mirror, January 25: page unknown.

The first sporting event was on March 4 1988, when Eastern Suburbs played St George in the first game of the 1988 NSWRL season. Click Here to view an entry that I wrote in 2015. 

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.

NEVER BUILT SYDNEY: What Concord Oval might have been!!! (1987)

I was a toddler when these plans for Concord Oval came out, in 1987 but to discover this about a year ago really impressed me. I had heard over the years especially in the 1990's plans to enlarge it, but this has never happened. 

But the question I might have to ask myself is why the Australian Rugby Union felt the need to build its own purpose-built stadium when Sydney was getting a 45 000 seat football stadium that could accommodate them along with Rugby League and Soccer. The three sports co-exist at Moore Park very well and every weekend has seen one (if not two codes) make use of the ground. 

It was probably about prestige and the fact that maybe one huge 45 000 seat rectangular stadium for Sydney was not enough. The idea of an Olympic Stadium or an ever bigger stadium was yet to emerge. 

Source: Australian Rugby Union. 1987. "Rugby Union announces plans for 39, 800 seat stadium at Concord" (Advertisement). The Daily Telegraph, July 11: 12.

It was the Sydney Football Stadium and Stadium Australia (ANZ Stadium) that killed off the plans ultimately. Apart from the facilities that the stadiums offer, Concord Oval is surrounded by homes which make expansion difficult along with access to transport. Parramatta Road which runs along the southern side is Sydney's busiest road. The major stadiums offer better transport options. Stadium Australia is serviced by rail at Olympic Park while the Sydney Football Stadium is served by buses and not far from the Sydney CBD. Stadium Australia is only about five kilometres away as well, and double the size of what Concord Oval might have been.

Canada Bay Council, recently expressed its desire to see the venue get a decent upgrade with the hope of attracting some major events like NRL or A-League games. However that will be hard to pursue as the NSW Government injects over $1 billion into ANZ and the Football Stadium along with Parramatta Stadium. Suburban Grounds will still get some funding as part of the plans with a dollar for dollar deal.