The $75 million redevelopment of Concord Oval in Sydney’s Inner West is now underway with venue’s two grandstands being demolished in advance of the construction of a new sport and community precinct and base for NRL club the Wests Tigers.
The redevelopment will include a ‘boutique’ grandstand for spectators, along with a multi-use indoor recreation centre featuring courts and rooms for community use and office accommodation and an elite training facility for NRL club the Wests Tigers.
Other facilities for the project, due to be completed by the end of next year, include an outdoor basketball court, barbecue facilities, landscaped areas and about 300 parking spaces.
While best known as a rugby union venue, having hosted one of the semi-final clashes during the first Rugby World Cup in 1987, over recent years Concord Oval has been Wests’ training and administrative base.
With the rugby league club's former facilities at the venue deemed to below the standard expected for an NRL club, the new facility will include state-of-the-art rehabilitation facilities, hydrotherapy pools and learning facilities.
The project, downsized from proposals several years ago for a "centre of excellence", which Wests had initially hoped to move into by 2019, is said to resemble what was achieved at Redfern Oval in South Sydney, redeveloped more than a decade ago.
Within a decade, the venue is expected to benefit from a station on the planned $20 billion-plus Sydney Metro West rail line between the central city and Parramatta will also be less than 200 metres from the oval.
Funding for the project comes from the NSW Government, which has contributed $42 million into the project, the City of Canada Bay Council ($15 million) and West Tigers ($18.5 million).
The venue also serves as the home for the West Harbour Rugby Club.
Click here for more information on the City of Canada Bay Council project website.
Images: Demolition at Concord Oval in Sydney's inner west (top) and an artist's impression of the Concord Oval redevelopment (below).
About the author
Nigel Benton
Co-founder/Publisher, Australasian Leisure Management
Born in the English county of Dorset, Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia, New Zealand and the Asia-Pacific’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry and the www.ausleisure.com.au website - the go to news resource for industry leaders and professionals.
With a long-term commitment to communicating all that is best about the leisure industry (aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues) his career has been defined by an ability to develop and implement industry communications.
Starting his career working in heritage visitor attractions and then adventure travel in Africa and the Middle East, an interest in writing about his experiences led to his change of career into magazine journalism and publishing.
In addition to publishing, Nigel speaks on marketing communications at a range of industry events.
He was made a Life Member of the World Leisure and Recreation Association in 2006 and is a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society (London).
In 2020, he launched the new Asian Leisure Business website.
As of October 2024, he was inducted into the Australian Fitness Awards Roll of Honour at the 2024 AUSactive National Awards.
Among a range of published works and features, his comments on a Blog (blogspot) from 2007 to 2011, when this website went live in its current form, may be interesting to reflect back on.
His philosophy on life is to be kind to all and to indulge those that you love.
His passions include family, Newcastle United and motorcycles (especially British ones) as well, until February 2025 when she left us, caring a little pug named Stella.
Click here to connect with him via LinkedIn.
Read more from this author
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