What price a soul?
The owners of ANZ Stadium have casually asked for $250 million of taxpayers' hard-earned money to inject a soul into the leviathan sitting out there at Sydney Olympic Park.
Lacking atmosphere: ANZ Stadium is not always the greatest place to watch rugby league.Credit: Craig Golding
Sorry, but that's far too much when public money could go towards hospitals, schools, public transport and cheaper beer.
The issue of sporting stadia here in the Emerald City of Sydney is heating up ahead of the NSW state elections in March.
Plenty to say: Sharks coach Shane Flanagan.Credit: Getty Images
Yet more "artist's impressions" of how ANZ Stadium would look if it received a very expensive and elaborate facelift, including the obligatory image of the stadium with a clear roof on it, were released earlier this week.
The sprinkling of media who cared to attend the announcement – which boasts closer seating to the field of play and high-tech mood lighting for a more intimate setting – shrugged their shoulders and said, "So, what's new?"
Indeed, the pointier question is whether $250 million of public money should be added to the $100 million ANZ is prepared to pay out of its own pocket to fund privately owned infrastructure.
And should ANZ Stadium receive this money ahead of a long-overdue revamp of Allianz Stadium at Moore Park into a 60,000-seat facility and/or the construction of another 45,000-seat stadium somewhere in the Golden West and/or the redevelopment of Parramatta Stadium to a 32,000-seat arena?
These are questions for the Baird Government, but if you look at who ANZ Stadium is up against, it's already clear this bout is a likely mismatch.
Over there in the opposing blue corner is the SCG Trust, which boasts the city's heaviest hitters: chairman Tony Shepherd, broadcaster Alan Jones, Destination NSW chairman John Hartigan, businesswoman Katie Page and former Olympics boss Rod McGeoch.
If Sydney is to further assert itself as a sophisticated international city, Moore Park surely needs to become the same sporting precinct Melbourne boasts to anyone who will listen.
So what does that mean for the Olympic stadium where so many great moments have transpired, not least the nation-defining gold medal victory of Cathy Freeman?
In recent times, more than a few grim politicians have suggested they should just dismantle the bloody thing.
As multimillionaire John Singleton said six years ago: "The best thing Osama bin Laden could do to get the league fans on side in Australia is blow up Homebush Stadium. That's the greatest blight on sport. It looks like nobody's there."
When it was built for the Olympics in 2000, it was done so with the belief that Homebush would become the centre of Sydney.
Now, with the sprawl to the west growing out of control, the area is becoming an enclave of the inner west. By 2030, more than 51 percent of Sydney will live west of Sydney Olympic Park.
Parramatta appears to be the most likely place for a new multi-purpose stadium – or at least a Donatella Versace-like facelift of Parramatta Stadium – but where does that leave ANZ Stadium, which only reaches its 80,000-odd capacity on a sprinkling of occasions each year.
Around the world, and particularly in the US, there is a move towards smaller stadiums of about 60,000 to 70,000.
That's mainly because the deal struck between the NFL and its broadcasters insist a game cannot be shown live unless the match is sold out.
In terms of financial viability, stadiums need to be multi-purpose and useable more than 300 days of the year.
When it comes to ANZ Stadium, the same old tired cliches about transport and so on come up. But at the heart of it is atmosphere. It doesn't matter how many boutique bars and food outlets you put in, the stadium – with its long, sloping grandstands – is a terrible place to watch league, union and soccer.
If the crowd doesn't turn up, it can be as atmospheric as an RSL club on a Monday afternoon.
Of course, which area of the city gets which stadium or upgrade is likely to come down to the thing that matters most: where the votes are.
GORMAN'S FIRST JOB WILL BE TO REIN IN FLANAGAN
Former Wanderers chairman Lyall Gorman is expected to be unveiled as the new chief executive of the Sharks any minute now.
His first task will be to remind Shane Flanagan who's the boss, and it's time to move on. The coach clearly still believes he's been the victim in the supplements scandal that's almost torn his club apart.
At a media conference earlier this week concerning the signing of Ben Barba, Flanagan said in earshot of several reporters: "I'm glad some of my favourite journos aren't here, otherwise I'd bury them."
He was referring to a trench that was being dug on the playing surface at Remondis Stadium.
Sharks media man Robbie Willis joked back: "You'd need a bigger trench."
Of course. That's right. The media allowed controversial sports scientist Stephen Dank into the club in 2011. The media injected players with unknown supplements. The media suspended Flanagan from the NRL …
ATC ELECTION SET TURN UGLY
The ATC this week trumpeted its proposal for a ghastly looking rectangle described as a hotel perched on the edge of the Randwick track. (And, yes, it came with even more artist's impressions. We're all in the wrong business).
But it forgot to announce a key point: that a short-term sublease of Crown land will still need approval.
With this in mind, next week's board elections look like they will be wrought with destruction of biblical proportions.
Forget about the grasp for power, but there is a dull roar from members who are unhappy about areas of the new grandstand. Their main gripe is the pokey member's areas they now inhabit. Their words, not ours.
Meanwhile, another publication last week tried to shoot down a story from this journalist during the Melbourne Cup carnival about jockey Tommy Berry being on the outer with trainer Gai Waterhouse.
Take it to the bank that there is tension, with Berry out of favour when it comes to some big rides during the spring – and his growing profile.
We'll be stunned if a split doesn't happen sooner than later.
GET WELL SOON MR HEADS
Finally, best wishes to colleague/mentor/friend Ian Heads, perhaps the most respected sports journalist in the country.
He was released from hospital this week after undergoing surgery for bowel cancer.
We're told he's slowly but surely on the mend. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Mr Heads.
We speak to The Footy Show host ahead of Saturday's inaugural Bondi Splash and Dash, with all proceeds going to Waverley Action Youth Services.
You aware of the 2.5m shark they caught off Bondi earlier this week?
I read about it this morning! It was 500m off the shore. I'm assured they don't come any closer than that, so there is nothing for anyone to worry about. I just got out of the water. It's fine. I won't be 500m offshore with bait in my mouth or anything like that. I'll be doing the "Duck Dash" (on inflatable ducks) and doing some crosses for Channel Nine and trying to raise some money. They want to raise $5000. I'm confident we can do that pretty easily. There's some some hype around it already.
How much training have you done for this?
[Laughs] I've been overseas. It's been a massive year for me so I've been away with the family. In terms of training, I've done nothing too rigorous.
How are you feeling right now? If you were still playing, you'd be back in training.
I'll be doing a bit on Saturday. I'm going to get back in with Cronulla in the next couple of weeks. I've spoken to Flanno (coach Shane Flanagan) and I'm good mates with Pricey (assistant coach Steve Price), so I'll be in there a fair bit. The suspended guys come back next week. I think they've been missing me: they needed me to come in to spruce the place up. I don't even know where Bryce Gibbs is. I read on Twitter that he had retired. I want to keep training and keep myself pretty fit.
You can enter Saturday's event at: bondisplashndash.com.au