NSW Government rejects South Sydney Rabbitohs’ Allianz Stadium bid as club vows to fight on

Adam Brax

Allianz Stadium at Moore Park, Sydney.

The South Sydney Rabbitohs’ campaign to return to Allianz Stadium in Moore Park suffered a major blow after the New South Wales government formally rejected the club’s proposal to move the bulk of its home games from Accor Stadium.

In a letter delivered Tuesday to Rabbitohs chief executive officer Blake Solly, New South Wales minister for sport Steve Kamper outlined the government’s decision to deny the NRL club’s bid to make Allianz Stadium its full-time base, instead instructing the Rabbitohs to honour an existing contract requiring them to play the majority of their games at Accor Stadium in Sydney Olympic Park through 2030.

“Minister Kamper has written to us rejecting our request,” Solly said.

“We’ll review the letter and his reasons, then consider a response and our further options. We remain committed to discussing the issue with the government and Venues NSW. This is by no means the end of the process.”

Under their initial proposal, Souths had aimed to play nine games per season at the $828 million Moore Park venue, two at Accor Stadium, and one outside of Sydney.

The government countered by offering only two or three matches per year at Allianz, keeping the majority at Accor.

Souths have been based at Accor since 2006 but have long expressed a desire to return closer to their spiritual home of Redfern.

The Rabbitohs were previously based in the Moore Park precinct between 1908 and 1947 and again from 1988 until their move out west.

Club officials argue the original agreement with the government was made under the assumption that Accor would receive significant renovations – upgrades that never happened.

“We’ve asked the government for further details on the forecast financial losses if we move to Allianz,” Solly said.

“We are happy to keep discussing with the government a reasonable position and hopefully we get those details soon. We were originally promised those details in 2022.”

The state government referred to financial constraints, including existing commercial and sponsorship arrangements, as the primary reason for denying the move.

Kamper’s office estimates the shift could cost taxpayers between $4.5 million and $14 million annually.

The decision leaves the Rabbitohs sharing Allianz Stadium with arch-rivals the Sydney Roosters for only a limited number of matches.

Roosters chairman Nick Politis has remained adamant that the modernised stadium should remain exclusive to the Eastern Suburbs club, which currently shares the venue with Sydney FC and the NSW Waratahs.

NRL Allianz Stadium

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