Roosters Centre of Excellence at new Sydney Football Stadium
The NSW Government has approved construction of a $10.6 million world-class training facility within the new Sydney Football Stadium.
Construction of the new 42,500 capacity rectangular stadium continues, with completion due in less than one year, while the Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence is due for completion in late 2022, ready for the 2023 NRL pre-season.
The NRL club signed a 25-year agreement in August last year to play home games and finals at the Sydney Football Stadium until at least 2047. The Rabbitohs are said to be considering moving to the new stadium, while it’ll also be home to A-League club Sydney FC and the NSW Waratahs.
Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Rob Stokes said the Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence will include high-performance training facilities, office space, medical rooms and an education theatre in the heart of the Moore Park precinct.
“The Sydney Roosters are part of the fabric at Moore Park and I’m sure current and aspiring players, fans and club officials will be ecstatic to have their future home cemented in the Chooks’ heartland,” Mr Stokes said.
“There will be opportunities for schools and local junior football teams to visit the centre and enjoy a Roosters rugby league experience.”
Minister for Sport Natalie Ward said the NSW Government has committed $5.7 million to the project to support the Roosters’ efforts to increase grassroots and women’s participation in rugby league.
“The new Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence will boost the club’s hopes for the upcoming seasons by providing both elite and grassroots players access to a world-class training hub,” Mrs Ward said
“This outstanding sporting centre will complement the new SFS, which will be the Sydney Roosters new home ground, along with a village precinct delivering new open space for the community and stadium visitors.”
Initially due to open in early 2022, a recent update said the stadium would be completed in mid-2022, with the venue to open in time for the 2022 NRL finals series (in September). However, today’s media release from the NSW Government states it’s scheduled for completion by the 2022 NRL Grand Final, although the game would still be expected to be played at the 83,500-capacity Stadium Australia given the redevelopment of the Olympic stadium was canned.
Sydney Roosters CEO Joe Kelly said approval of the facility was another exciting milestone for everyone involved in the club.
“The SFS is our home and we consider ourselves incredibly fortunate to have secured a permanent base within this new world-class stadium,” Mr Kelly said.
“The Sydney Roosters Centre of Excellence has been designed with every consideration to assist with elite team performance for our men’s and women’s teams, and we look forward to sharing further updates with our stakeholders and Members in the coming months.”
The Eastern Suburbs club has called the Moore Park precinct home since its foundation in 1908 and will continue to do so until at least 2047.
