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The NRL is back at the Sydney Football Stadium! The Roosters return to home soil after controversial $828MILLION refurbishment of 42,500-seat arena
- The Sydney Football Stadium opened its doors to fans for the first time in three years on Friday night
- The iconic venue underwent a $828million refurbishment at the cost of the taxpayer back in 2019
- Sydney Roosters and South Sydney Rabbitohs did battle in the first NRL game to be staged at the new venue
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After three years of construction, the new Sydney Football Stadium finally opened its doors to fans on Friday night as the Roosters returned home to take on the Rabbitohs.
Also known as Allianz Stadium, demolition began on the original SFS in 2019 after it opened 34 years ago, with the redevelopment costing taxpayers a staggering $828million.
The new 42,500-seat stadium features a 360-degree open concourse both inside and outside the ground, steeper seating angles and a roof that is supposed to cover all seating areas.
The new Sydney Football Stadium opened its doors to fans for the first time in three years on Friday night
The stadium was demolished in 2019 and redeveloped over three years, costing the taxpayer $828million
Australian electronic duo The Presets perform at the new ground in the build up to its first NRL game since redevelopment
A ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony was staged by Indigenous performers moments before kick off on Friday evening
The eye-catching blue seating was designed by Indigenous artist Tony Albert, and depicts ‘two worlds colliding: water and land’.
The new stadium – and more specifically the near billion dollar taxpayer bill for its redevelopment – has divided opinion among NSW residents, with some claiming that the money could have been better spent elsewhere.
And on Friday fans were able to see the new arena for themselves as thousands descended on the Sydney Football Stadium for the first NRL game to be played there in three years.
An eye-catching fireworks show was rolled out ahead of kick off, while Australian electronic music duo The Presets added to the pre-match build up with a performance on the hallowed turf before the players made their way onto the field with the backdrop of the ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony.
Sydney Roosters returned to home soil for the first time in three years and took on the South Sydney Rabbitohs
Earlier in the evening, the Roosters and St George Illawarra Dragons played the first ever game at the ground in the NRLW
Last month, The state government’s Tourism Minister, Stuart Ayres, said the new stadium would ensure NSW could ‘host the best sporting and entertainment talent’ in not just the nation, but the world.
‘This state-of-the-art venue has the best community and player facilities in the country and I can’t wait for everyone to experience it,’ he said at a press conference on the new turf.
‘I know it’s been a long time coming for fans, but I know as soon as they step inside, they’ll see the wait was worth it.’