The chance of Sydney FC building their own boutique stadium appears to be unlikely after the club agreed to a new long-term deal to stay at Allianz Stadium for the foreseeable future. For the next 10 seasons, the Sky Blues will continue to play the majority of their A-League games at their current home despite the ongoing uncertainty of the venue's capacity and facilities under the NSW government's $1.6 billion stadium renovation project.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It is understood SCG Trust have agreed in principle to a new lease deal with the Sky Blues in what it describe as a major coup in retaining the biggest permanent tenant of Allianz Stadium until 2026. The club declined to comment when contacted by Fairfax Media, however sources suggest the agreement is expected to be signed in the coming weeks and will include a significant reduction in tenancy costs for the club. Of the three permanent tenants of Allianz Stadium – Sydney FC, Sydney Roosters and NSW Waratahs – the Sky Blues attract more fans through the turnstiles and host more home games during the regular season.
Allianz Stadium is third in line to receive funding for renovation after Parramatta Stadium and ANZ Stadium, but the SCG Trust's hopes of fast-tracking renovation approval have been boosted by the security of Sydney FC's tenancy for a further 10 years.
Despite the club having never played regularly at another venue it's understood the SCG Trust was at risk of losing Sydney FC, who were looking at other options before agreeing to stay at Allianz Stadium. Under previous tenancy deals, an attendance of nearly 15,000 was required for the club to break even on match costs and rent, which prompted other suburban grounds to be explored, as well as the possibility of building their own stadium.
While rental fees and venue capacity were cited as reasons for exploring alternatives, the opportunity to house their youth, W-League teams and academies out of the one precinct was another. The club's junior and senior teams are scattered across the city, with venues in Bella Vista, North Ryde, Leichhardt and Moore Park used for either training or matches.
The club had preliminary talks about moving to Leichhardt Oval, which would have also been used as a training base and nearby fields for their youth academy and women's team. But the stadium would require major renovations to meet the club's needs of a 25,000-capacity venue for the A-League as well as significant facility upgrades. Issues of exclusivity, management and public access also deemed it impractical.
It's understood Wentworth Park in Glebe was explored by the club as a possible home base – one that would also have incorporated teams below the A-League – and a potential development of the venue into a boutique football-specific stadium. But the decision by NSW Premier Mike Baird to backflip on the greyhound racing ban and prior commitments to public usage ruled out that possibility.
Another option explored by the club was being part of a proposed redevelopment of the St George Soccer Stadium in Banksia. One plan for the renovation includes a major revamp of the facility, the possibility of a new home of football for Football Federation Australia and room for a small stadium that would suit the Sky Blues. Club sources now suggest such an investment would not be possible.
Instead the club will increase its presence in Moore Park after committing long-term to playing out of Allianz Stadium as well as taking up more office space in the nearby precinct. Sydney FC are set to expand their offices by about 33 per cent in the building adjacent to the stadium.
