Carr push for second AFL team
Austadiums | Monday 21st March 2005
A $15-million upgrade to a sports facility in Sydney's west could help the city secure a second AFL team, New South Wales Premier Bob Carr said today.
The upgrade of Blacktown Olympic Park would also allow for regular Pura Cup and one-day cricket matches, he said.
"These will be fantastic community sporting facilities that could also provide first class training grounds for a second AFL team in Sydney, should the AFL decide to add to the league in the future," Mr Carr said.
The upgrade included the development of a main stadium for 10,000 spectators, a second training oval, and an indoor practice hall which would complement existing softball and baseball facilities.
AFL NSW chief executive Dale Holmes said the code had plans for a game to be played in Sydney every week by 2015.
The Sydney Swans, the city's sole AFL team, now played a game away from the team's home ground every second week.
Mr Holmes said the upgraded Blacktown stadium would be first class, and would create the right environment for a second side.
"Aspirationally we'd love, at some stage in the future, to provide the people of NSW with a game every week," he said.
"So ultimately we'd love to see the situation where the market conditions were so good that we could get a second side."
Construction will begin at Blacktown at the end of next year, with the upgrade due for completion in 2008.
The upgrade of Blacktown Olympic Park would also allow for regular Pura Cup and one-day cricket matches, he said.
"These will be fantastic community sporting facilities that could also provide first class training grounds for a second AFL team in Sydney, should the AFL decide to add to the league in the future," Mr Carr said.
The upgrade included the development of a main stadium for 10,000 spectators, a second training oval, and an indoor practice hall which would complement existing softball and baseball facilities.
AFL NSW chief executive Dale Holmes said the code had plans for a game to be played in Sydney every week by 2015.
The Sydney Swans, the city's sole AFL team, now played a game away from the team's home ground every second week.
Mr Holmes said the upgraded Blacktown stadium would be first class, and would create the right environment for a second side.
"Aspirationally we'd love, at some stage in the future, to provide the people of NSW with a game every week," he said.
"So ultimately we'd love to see the situation where the market conditions were so good that we could get a second side."
Construction will begin at Blacktown at the end of next year, with the upgrade due for completion in 2008.