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The new MA Noble, Don Bradman and Dally Messenger stands at the Sydney Cricket Ground have been officially opened by Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott; NSW Premier Mike Baird; NSW Minister for Sport and Recreation Stuart Ayres, and Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust Chairman Tony Shepherd.

The stand, at the northern end of the SCG, has redefined spectator experience at major sporting events in Australia, boasting a number of firsts:

• The first grandstand in the southern hemisphere with high density Wi-Fi and IPTV;

• A groundbreaking design and striking roof has eliminated sight-restricted seats and provides wet weather cover for more fans than ever;

• Moving fans in the stand closer to the field of play, and at the same time allowing for an expansion to the field of play;

• Gourmet food and beverage offerings, including wood-fired pizzas, a boutique brewery and Doyles Seafood which you can order from your seat; and

• A giant new high definition LED video board.

The new stand features a vast roof top terrace that offers spectacular views across the city skyline and down to the field of play.

Other design features include a 24-metre high atrium on the western side of the stand that will provide easy movement and access to the facility, while the historic Noble clock tower has been retained and provides a classic link from past to present.

Commenting on the new stands, Prime Minister Abbott stated “MA Noble, Don Bradman and Dally Messenger were all giants of Australian sport. We honour their contribution to the games they loved by opening these stands in their name.

“I hope many generations will enjoy more great Australian sporting moments from the Noble, Bradman and Messenger stands.”

NSW Premier Baird said the SCG’s latest development confirms its place as one of the great modern sporting stadiums in the world, adding “the SCG has constantly evolved over 160 years – the spectacular new stands provide fans with the best possible spectator experience while maintaining the SCG’s important character and traditions.

“The NSW Government is proud to have contributed $97.5 million towards the development. We’ve also committed to further improvements in the Moore Park precinct with the CBD and South East Light Rail project now under way to make travel to and from the SCG more convenient for fans.

“The project helped generate thousands of jobs during construction and will be a lasting legacy for NSW.”

The four level state-of-the-art design offers 13,300 premium seats, cricket media facilities that are regarded as among the best in the world, and food and beverage offerings that have revolutionised the match day experience.

The seating configuration takes fans 5 metres closer to the field of play, while the new 273 metre2, high resolution video screen ensures spectators don’t miss a minute of the action.

Work started on the site on 7th November 2011 and the stand was operational for the New Year’s Test in which Michael Clarke’s Australians completed a 5-0 Ashes whitewash.

The design and configuration is complemented by a digital platform, making the SCG the first stadium in Australia to implement a ‘connected stadium solution’ featuring high density Wi-Fi and IPTV technology.

Spectators in the new stand can interact with social media and keep up to date with statistics, replays and editorial content, all in real-time, high-definition on the latest smartphones and tablets. They can also order food and beverages from their seat, with the same network used to notify them when their order is ready to be collected from dedicated express lanes.

Trust Chief Executive, Jamie Barkley, said the opening of the stand represented a new era for sport and major events across Australia

Barkley concluded “the new stand is Sydney's first truly digital stand, one that combines the new digital sporting landscape with the deep history and heritage of the SCG

“Spectators were overwhelmingly positive about the stand during the Ashes Test - a feeling echoed by baseball fans who watched the Major League Baseball Opening Series between the Arizona Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers.

“The SCG is ready for the Sydney Swans’ run to the finals and the bumper cricket season ahead against South Africa, India and England, as well as the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup.”

The new stand was built at a cost of $197.5 million, with the NSW Government contributing $97.5 million, while the SCG Trust and the Federal Government each contributed $50 million. The stand was designed by Cox Architects and built by construction company AW Edwards.

24th March 2014 - SCG HOSTS SUCCESSFUL MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON OPENER 

30th September 2013 - SCG AND ALLIANZ STADIUM TO BECOME AUSTRALIA’S FIRST CONNECTED VENUES

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