Rugby fans are the big winners from the NSW Government’s Sydney stadium plans announced today.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Minister for Sport Stuart Ayres confirmed Allianz and ANZ Stadiums will be rebuilt and transformed into world-class facilities, ensuring fans of the NSW Waratahs and Australia’s national teams including the Qantas Wallabies and Qantas Australian Sevens teams will experience their teams like never before.

Under its plan, the NSW Government has committed to:

The new stadium announcements follow the announcement in 2016 of a new 30,000-seat rectangular stadium at Parramatta, which is currently under construction and due for completion in 2019.
 
“Fans will be closer to the action than ever before, with steep seating creating a colosseum inspired wall of sound and colour, enhanced with the world’s most advanced technology,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“This investment means we can compete on the world stage for events such as the Rugby World Cup, and keep Sydney as the number one sporting destination.”

Rugby Australia CEO Bill Pulver heralded today’s announcement as a huge win for Rugby fans.
 
 “We commend the leadership and vision of Premier Berejiklian and Minister Ayres in delivering this outcome, which represents a significant improvement on the stadium package announced by the NSW Government in 2016 and has delivered a dream result for Rugby,” said Pulver.

“Sydney is one of the world’s premier cities and deserves to have world-class stadia which reflects this standing to attract the biggest sports and entertainment events.

“In recent times the city has fallen significantly behind the other major centres in Australia with its aging stadium infrastructure but this commitment by the NSW Government will ensure NSW is at the forefront for major sports stadiums on a global scale.

“By 2022, Sydney will have three new world-class stadiums in action at Parramatta, Homebush and Moore Park purpose-built for rectangular sports, ensuring the best possible experience for Rugby fans and enabling us to bring the biggest Rugby tournaments in the world to Australia. Crucially, it positions us well for future Rugby World Cup bids," he said.

In 2018 Allianz Stadium will play host over the Australia Day long weekend to the third HSBC Sydney 7s, one of the world’s premier Sevens tournaments which attracted sell-out crowds in its first two years, as well as a much-anticipated international between the Qantas Wallabies and Ireland in June.

The Moore Park venue is also home to the NSW Waratahs, the only team that represents the state on a regular basis nationally and internationally in Vodafone Super Rugby.

ANZ Stadium has been the home of the Bledisloe Cup since 2012 and will once again host the sport’s biggest rivalry as the Qantas Wallabies take on the New Zealand All Blacks in the opening match of the 2018 Rugby Championship in August.