Builder warns of delivery delay with new Sydney Football Stadium

May 14, 2020

The new Sydney Football Stadium is facing delays that could see the new venue unable to stage the 2022 NRL Grand Final.

An online community forum held by Infrastructure NSW body and stadium developer John Holland revealed an updated construction timetable that outlined a “technical completion” in July 2022, but full completion not due until the end of quarter three in 2020, or the end of September - after the likely date of the 2022 NRL Grand Final.

With the NSW Government having previously targeted full completion in July 2022, in October last year the NRL confirmed a deal to keep its Grand Final in Sydney until 2046. The agreement will see the Sydney Cricket Ground host the showpiece game in 2020 and 2021 before the event moves to the adjacent Sydney Football Stadium, commercially known as Allianz Stadium, in 2022.

The Grand Final is then due to return to ANZ Stadium in 2023 after a major upgrade for the venue is completed.

Advising that Infrastructure NSW and the NRL remain confident the 2022 Grand Final will be held at the new Sydney Football Stadium, a report in the Sydney Morning Herald this week noted that any delays to the project would cause a major issue with the stadium hosting the event.

While a spokesperson for NSW Infrastructure advised “the time between technical completion in July 2022 and the 2022 NRL Grand Final will be used for testing, commissioning and operational readiness”, the NRL is understood to be concerned that there may not be time for the planned test events to take place ahead of the stadium’s opening.

Infrastructure NSW also stated the COVID-19 pandemic will not compromise the stadium project, despite shift times being altered for workers and increased cleaning on site, the spokesperson adding “work is continuing on site and remains on track to be complete in time for the 2022 NRL Grand Final.”

The forum is also said to have presented an updated design for the stadium, including more brick features in an effort to complement the neighbouring SCG.

In December, the NSW Government announced Chinese-owned construction group John Holland would build the venue at a cost of $828 million - $99 million more than it had pledged its 2019 election manifesto.

Infrastructure NSW last week announced that the project had achieved a major milestone with the start of piling works.

Images: The site of the former Allianz Stadium after demolition (top) and Cox Architecture's design for the new venue (below).

5th May 2020 - Live Performance Australia slams NSW Government’s lack of support for cultural sector in crisis during Coronavirus crisis

28th April 2020 - NRL announces 20-round season schedule with 25th October grand final

14th March 2020 - Queensland Country Bank Stadium hosts first NRL fixture

18th December 2019 - Sydney Football Stadium builders announced as costs blowout

29th November 2019 - Failure to secure builder set to delay construction of new Sydney Football Stadium

22nd October 2019 - Study reveals multi-million dollar benefits of Bankwest Stadium

20th October 2019 - Sydney retains hosting of NRL Grand Final until 2046

25th September 2019 - Designs revealed for new 70,000 capacity ANZ Stadium

19th September 2019 - Cox Architecture and Hassell sued by builder over work at Perth’s Optus Stadium

1st September 2019 - NSW Government announces new builder for Sydney Modern development

9th August 2019 - NSW Government shortlists two firms ‘capable’ of building of new Sydney Football Stadium

26th July 2019 - Sydney Football Stadium rebuild in disarray after NSW Government rejects builder’s offer

22nd March 2019 - SCG Trust corrects Sydney Morning Herald claims of Allianz Stadium compliance works costs

15th March 2019 - ‘End of the Road’ for legal obstacles aimed at halting demolition of the Sydney Football Stadium

12th October 2018 - Cox Architecture announced as winning designer for new Sydney Football Stadium

20th December 2016 - Cox Architecture design announced for new $250 million Townsville Stadium

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