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A plan for a Global Events Taskforce to position Sydney as the location for key international sporting events is backing the redevelopment of major venues in the city.

The plan comes in the wake of multiple media reports suggesting that the NSW Government is wavering in its commitment to spending $2 billion on rebuilding Sydney’s Allianz and ANZ Stadiums in the face of political and community opposition.

Developed by the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, Western Sydney Business Chamber and Sydney Olympic Park Business Association and backed by bodies including the Tourism & Transport Forum Australia (TTF), National Rugby League and Football Federation Australia, the plan, which has been submitted to the NSW Government, envisages Sydney’s rebuilt stadiums being used to stage global events, including the football and rugby World Cups.

It envisages leveraging the multibillion-dollar refurbishment of ANZ, Allianz and Parramatta Stadiums to target the women’s and men’s rugby World Cups in 2021 and 2027 respectively, and the FIFA women’s and men’s World Cups in 2023 and 2030.

The plan also suggests a Sydney to bid to host the Commonwealth Games in 2026 or 2030 with the opening and closing ceremonies plus events such as rugby sevens and hockey being held at the rebuilt rectangular Olympic Park stadium, with the athletics, which requires an oval track, being held next door at Spotless Stadium.

Christopher Brown, Chairman of the Western Sydney Leadership Dialogue, told Sydney newspaper The Daily Telegraph “the NSW Government is making an important investment in our sporting and cultural infrastructure.

“We believe that, thanks to this investment, a fantastic opportunity exists for Sydney, and Western Sydney in particular, to bid for and win more major global events.”

Brown said that without investing in the stadiums, Sydney would face “stiff competition” from other countries and states that had heavily invested in sporting infrastructure.

He added “in Australia alone, Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne and Perth have all made significant investments in their stadiums, while Sydney has let our facilities age to the point where they are no longer fit for purpose.

“However, with three new world-class rectangular stadiums with fantastic lively precincts around them, ­Sydney will be extremely hard to beat.”

Sydney’s chances would also be enhanced by transport upgrades including Sydney Metro, Sydney Light Rail and WestConnex, quickening travel to and from key venues.

Director of the Western Sydney Business Chamber David Borger explained “the tourism benefits and economic returns from major events like these would be amazing, particularly for Western Sydney.”

Backing the call for a Global Events Taskforce, TTF Chief Executive Margy Osmond said a designated Taskforce, combined with the NSW Government’s investment into critical sporting and cultural infrastructure, will ensure Sydney is internationally competitive in attracting the world’s showpiece sporting and cultural events.

Osmond explained “Sydney cannot be a world-class major events destination without a suite of world-class stadia.

“Our stadia (have) served us very well, but the reality is that without the NSW Government’s investment into Sydney Olympic Park’s ANZ Stadium, Allianz Stadium at Moore Park and Parramatta Stadium, Sydney will not be able to compete for the world’s biggest events.

“With these refurbished, state-of-the-art stadia, Sydney will be able to confidently put its hand up to bid for any major global event, whether it be the Olympics, Commonwealth Games, or the Soccer and Rugby World Cups.

“This infrastructure will also complement Sydney’s reputation as a world-class business events destination that has taken off since the opening of the International Convention Centre (ICC), and enhance the long-standing work undertaken by Destination NSW to promote NSW as Australia’s number one state to visit.”

Osmond said investment in sporting and cultural infrastructure to lure more major events is vital to growing NSW’s $33 billion visitor economy, adding “NSW’s booming visitor economy is not just an increasingly critical part of the State’s bottom line but directly supports over 164,000 jobs in areas like food and beverage, retail and accommodation.

“Major events not only inject billions into the NSW economy, but provide benefits right across Australia; they are a significant drawcard for visitation, with more than 100,000 international visitors travelling to Australia specifically to attend a cultural or sporting event each year.

“TTF understands the role major events play in enlivening cities and regions, driving job-creating economic activity and putting Australia on the international stage and has commissioned a piece of research identifying our top 25 major events and the expenditure they generate.

“There is no doubt that many of these top events will only be strengthened by this investment in our sporting and cultural infrastructure.”

The NSW Cabinet will this week be asked to approve plans to demolish and rebuild Allianz Stadium as part of its $2.3 billion stadium investment plan covering the ANZ, Allianz and Western Sydney Stadiums.

Images: Artist's impressions of the rebuilt ANZ Stadium (top) and Allianz Stadium (middle); and Margy Osmond (below).

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