AUSTRALIA FOCUS
bastions of male sport have women’s teams associated
with them. In Australia, the demand is there and the
crowds are as good,” says Richardson.
The new Optus Stadium in Perth recently broke
the record for the largest crowd at a standalone
women’s domestic game in Australia with more than
40,000 spectators turning up to see Fremantle beat
Collingwood in AFL.
“Now there is a drive for venues to provide equality
in design for the back of house assets, including
GOOD SHOW
Technology is playing an important role at the Sydney
Showground Stadium (commercially known as Giants Stadium),
where its operators, the Royal Agricultural Society (RAS) of New
South Wales, have made an investment to create an advanced fan
experience by implementing new connectivity solutions, smart
technologies, and digital media.
Located at the Sydney Olympic Park, the venue is home to the
Greater Western Sydney (GWS) Giants, Australian rules football
club, and also the Sydney Thunder professional cricket team.
Baseball is also played at the stadium.
To keep the 21-year-old venue up-to-date, the RAS has
recently signed a 10-year agreement with technology advisory
and delivery company PMY Group to operate a multimilliondollar
technology solution for the stadium and its adjacent show
halls, plenary and conferencing facilities. The upgrades include
the following technologies: local area network; high density Wi-
Fi; a digital screen solution; LED parapet signage; fan activation
zones; and a captive portal and data analytics platform. The new
digital and technology infrastructure aims to take gameday and
fan experience to the next level, and a continued program of
works is said to position the stadium at the forefront of customer
and operational experience.
changing rooms and an even duality of crowd
facilities,” says Richardson.
In Victoria, the government has committed
AU$972m (US$658m) to sporting projects including
the Melbourne Park Redevelopment, which is home
to the Australian Open tennis tournament and more
than 600 entertainment events annually. The precinct,
which attracts more than two million visitors each
year is in its third and final stage of delivery with a
new multi-purpose 5,000-seat sunken show court
and arena due for completion in time for the 2023
Australian Open.
The Government has also budgeted approximately
AU$200m (US$135m) for improvements to the multipurpose
Marvel Stadium, with most of the money
spent on bringing seating closer to the sidelines to
enhance the experience of fans.
Stadia wars
While each state has its own strategy for upgrading
its infrastructure offering, one common trait they all
share is a healthy appetite for competition says NSW
sports minister, Ayres.
“This Allianz Stadium redevelopment will set a
new standard for fan experience in Australia and will
kick Melbourne to the kerb and punt Brisbane to
reserve grade,” he states.
The psychological advantage of a better-equipped,
feared home ground cannot be underestimated as it
gives teams an invaluable edge, explains Richardson.
“In the State of Origin NRL contest, NSW have the
Olympic venue, but QLD have the cauldron (Suncorp
Stadium) and they have won seven out of the last 10
series since 2009,” Ayres says.
While interstate rivalry can be fierce, it continues
to be an intrinsic part of Australian culture and a way
to push sport forward, believes Cox’s Richardson.
“Strong competition fuels a better spectacle for the
fans, and better facilities are a significant driver for the
progress of sport throughout the country,” he adds. n
Optus Stadium in Perth, Western
Australia, opened in 2018 and
has the ability for both oval
and rectangular configurations
38 www.stadia-magazine.com September 2019
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