Sydney FC have not ruled out temporarily using a stadium in St George or the Sutherland Shire for its home games if its current home ground, Allianz Stadium, is knocked down and rebuilt.
Meanwhile, Georges River Council says they would be more than happy for Sydney FC to apply to use UOW Jubilee Oval in Carlton, where the Sky Blues have played before.
Fairfax Media reported this week that NSW Sports Minister Stuart Ayres was pushing for funding to knock down and rebuild ANZ and Allianz stadiums. If the plan goes ahead, Allianz Stadium could be levelled in October next year with a new $700 million, 45,000-seat stadium built on the existing site with a view to open it in 2020.
If the stadium rebuild goes ahead, it would of course leave Sydney FC without a home during construction.
Sydney FC chief executive Danny Townsend did not rule out using a ground in St George or the Sutherland Shire during the construction period. However, he said any decisions around choosing a temporary home ground were yet to be made.
“In the event that we need to relocate our home games away from Allianz Stadium we are still assessing all options. However, we will ensure we consult widely with our membership base before any decision is made.”
A Georges River Council spokesperson said the club were welcome to apply for UOW Jubilee Oval.
“Jubilee Oval is a premium, professional, sporting facility and has a known reputation for delivering a first-class pitch for football, along with player change rooms, and media and corporate facilities,” the spokesperson said.
“While Sydney FC has not approached council for the use of the facility, council would be open to considering any application for a football team of their calibre to play at Jubilee Oval.”
A survey of almost 200 Sydney FC members and fans conducted by the Sydney Cricket and Sports Ground Trust during their first home fixture of the season, at Allianz Stadium against Wellington Phoenix, showed 88 per cent of Sky Blues supporters were in favour of the construction of a new facility.
Sydney FC have thrown their support behind a new stadium.
“As A-League champions and one of the country’s fastest growing sporting clubs, our fans and team deserve to play in a truly world-class, sporting facility,” Sydney FC chairman Scott Barlow said.
“In order to achieve this, Allianz Stadium must be rebuilt as a priority, given its relative age compared with other stadium in the network.”
Allianz Stadium turns 30 next year.