GWS set for Sydney Showgrounds

Austadiums • Tuesday 8th June 2010
Sydney Showground

Greater Western Sydney officially has a home after the NSW Government announced a multi-million dollar upgrade to the Sydney Showgrounds facility at Homebush on Tuesday.

The AFL welcomed the news which will see capacity of the stadium at the Showgrounds facility - which is housed within the Sydney Olympic Park precinct - increased to about 25,000, allowing it to host home games when Team GWS enters the competition in 2012.

As part of its $200 million investment to build the game in NSW, the AFL will contribute $10 million to the upgrade.
 
"We have always invested in facilities where we play AFL games and have previously invested millions of dollars in the SCG, ANZ Stadium, Blacktown Olympic Park and now the Showgrounds," AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou said in a statement released on Tuesday.

"This is a great announcement for the people of Western Sydney. A revamped stadium playing home to another national sporting team also reinforces Sydney Olympic Park's status as a central hub for major sporting and cultural events."

Blacktown will serve as a training facility for the new side, which made headlines recently by signing rugby league star Israel Folau.

As part of the upgrade, new grandstands will be built on the northeast and southeast sides of the stadium, a new high-definition video scoreboard will be installed and facilities to accommodate players, officials and broadcasters will be built.  

AFL funding for the development is subject to the AFL Commission signing off on Team GWS's bid to enter the competition, with a submission to be heard in the coming months.

However, Demetriou added Tuesday's announcement was a huge boost for the fledgling club's cause.

"Team GWS has created enormous momentum in developing business and community support and building a strong football department," he said.

"Certainty around the stadium and around a home ground for the team will enable them to continue to build the foundations of a strong and successful club that can bring jobs, tourists and economic activity to Greater Western Sydney for many years to come."

Team GWS CEO Dale Holmes welcomed the announcement as "an important milestone.  This redevelopment is fundamental to the establishment of our club.

"This is a terrific result, not only for our club, but for all of New South Wales, as this will redevelop existing infrastructure into a multi-purpose venue which will enhance the experience of visitors to the Royal Easter Show and open up the venue to a number of different sports including cricket, rugby league, rugby union and soccer."

Team GWS will maintain Blacktown Olympic Park as its training and administration headquarters.

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Greater Western Sydney officially has a home after the NSW Government announced a multi-million dollar upgrade to the Sydney Showgrounds facility at Homebush on Tuesday.
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