The new Allianz Stadium in Sydney will open in September with a triple-header of sporting events, it has been announced.
A free community open day will be held on August 28, before the stadium hosts an NRL rugby league game between the Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs on September 2.
Australia’s men’s rugby union team, the Wallabies, will then take on Rugby World Cup winner South Africa on September 3. The week will be rounded off on September 6 when Australia’s women’s football team takes on Canada in a friendly match.
The new Allianz Stadium will have a capacity of 42,500 and is being built at a cost of A$828m (£473m/€552m/$592m). The venue is being built on the site of the former Allianz Stadium, which was knocked down in 2019.
Stuart Ayres, Minister for Tourism and Sport in New South Wales, said: “We’re opening Allianz Stadium earlier than scheduled with a free community day before the biggest names in world sport from three major football codes kick off an unforgettable opening series of events at Sydney’s new world-class venue.
“It’s been a long time coming for sports fans but we’re so incredibly excited to open Allianz Stadium and welcome the community back to what will be the best sports and entertainment venue in Australia.
“Over 150,000 fans are expected to visit the new precinct over the course of the four events, providing a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy. Having a world-class stadium in the heart of a thriving sport, entertainment and hospitality precinct on the cusp of the CBD positions Sydney as the events capital of Australia.”
Roosters chief executive Joe Kelly added: “The Roosters hosted the final event at the ground before it was demolished in 2018 and it is quite fitting that our return fixture will be against the same team, the South Sydney Rabbitohs. The 42,500 spectators there for the game will be able to reflect on being a part of history on what is sure to be an unforgettable event.”
In March, Allianz agreed a deal to sponsor the new stadium. The financial services company first secured naming rights to the old stadium in 2012.
The new Allianz Stadium features a 360-degree open concourse inside and outside the venue, as well as steep seating angles which will provide “unrivalled” views of the field. Merivale will provide food and beverage services at the venue.
As well as serving as the home of the Roosters, Allianz Stadium will host games played by Super Rugby’s New South Wales Waratahs and A-League football team Sydney FC. It will also be a host venue during the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup in Australia.
The rebuilding of Sydney’s Allianz Stadium had been due to form part of a wider infrastructure project that also included a major redevelopment project for the city’s Accor Stadium.
Plans for the Accor Stadium revamp were scrapped by the New South Wales government in 2020, with the funds redirected towards job-creating infrastructure projects in a bid to boost the local economy following COVID-19.
Allianz Stadium will also host Sydney FC’s first A-League match of the 2022-23 season, the Sydney Super Cup featuring Scottish football club Celtic, and a Justin Bieber concert.
Image: Allianz Stadium
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