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The SCG Trust and global design firm Populous have this week combined to host The Rise of Womens’ Sport, an event that brought together industry thought-leaders as well as athletes and administrators from across the codes.

The SCG precinct provided a focus and case study for the 50 attendees to consider the future needs of female participants, officials, media, and administrators.

SCG Trust Chief Executive Jamie Barkley believes the forum provided a unique opportunity to further explore and develop design outcomes for the SCG Master Plan.

Barkley explained "women’s sport is growing rapidly on and off the field. There are more females watching and playing our major codes than ever before and with that comes exciting growth opportunities for venues, fans and broadcasters.

“What does the SCG Trust think the future holds? We want to see women’s sport as a standalone entity. It’s about planning ahead to make sure female athletes and fans are no longer a ‘curtain-raiser’ to the men - a big part of this starts with the stadium experience.

“The Trust has partnered with Populous, a global leader in event architecture, to build on the work that has already been done and explore ways that we capitalise on the rise of women’s sport at Moore Park. We are intent on catering for this changing landscape, exploring possibilities, asking questions previously unasked and innovating new solutions."

In 2016 Populous established Women in Sport & Entertainment Design (WISE Design), an in-house think-tank and thought leadership group committed to understanding these growing requirements.

Populous Associate Principal and leader of WISE Design in the Australia-Pacific region, Belinda Goh believes the forum offers a significant opportunity to recalibrate and clarify the design of sporting venues and the way in which they work for women and girls.

Goh added “this forum represents a pivotal change in how we think about sport in Australia. Women are a valuable part of the sports economy, but there still needs to be a much greater investment in understanding their specific needs as fans, participants, officials and administrators.

“We’re really pleased to have the opportunity to work with the Trust and the participants to start to gather market based evidence that supports changes to design outcomes for women in sports and entertainment.”

Event attendees included NSW Minister for Sport Stuart Ayers, SCG Trustee Katie Page and senior executives, athletes and members of the sports media from representing the ABC, AFL, the Australian Rugby Union and Australian women’s rugby, Football Federation Australia, GWS Giants, News Limited, Sydney FC, Sydney Roosters, Sydney Sixers and the Sydney Swans.

Populous will continue to work with the SCG Trust and many other sports and entertainment venues and rights holders to gain and assess information that will aid the wiser design of facilities and events for women and girls. 

3rd May 2017 - MASTER PLAN FOR SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK PROPOSES ENHANCED CONSERVATION AND NEW SPORT FACILITIES 

7th February 2017 - SCG TRUST REVIVES PLANS FOR NEW 40,000-SEAT STADIUM AT MOORE PARK 

8th December 2016 - POPULOUS DESIGN CHOSEN FOR NEW PARRAMATTA STADIUM 

15th November 2016 - AFL ADVISED TO PLAN FOR LONG TERM INTEREST IN WOMEN’S COMPETITION 

1st September 2016 - NEW CONFERENCE CHAMPIONING WOMEN IN SPORT

12th May 2016 - PARTNERSHIP TO DELIVER COMMUNITY, EDUCATION AND SPORTING HUB IN SYDNEY’S MOORE PARK 

12th April 2015 - ABC HIGHLIGHTS DECLINE IN MEDIA COVERAGE OF WOMEN’S SPORT

21st August 2012 - BOARD DIVERSITY A KEY TO SPORT MANAGEMENT AND FUNDING

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