Barr also said news the ACT Brumbies would not be cut from Super Rugby would see the government "progress" with a future plan to build a new stadium in Civic.

However, it can be revealed the playing surface has emerged as a major sticking point between the government, the Brumbies and the Canberra Raiders.

The government was keen to use a fully synthetic grass and have the venue with a roof on the site of the Civic Pool.

But the Brumbies and Raiders are keen for a blended grass, which would change the orientation of the way the stadium faces.

The future of the proposed $350 million stadium was clouded two weeks ago when Barr said building it was dependent on Canberra having an A-League team.

The government is keen to ensure the venue is used all-year round, not just during the 20 weeks required for the Super Rugby and NRL seasons.

Fairfax Media revealed last week Canberra Stadium was in danger of being left in the dark ages after the government's $1 peppercorn lease with the commission ended.

The commission is a the federal government's representative body for sport.

The government has a new lease until 2024 and they will pay $350,000 in rent, prompting Barr to say it was the commission's responsibility to maintain and upgrade the stadium.

It's understood the lease still stipulates the government must maintain the venue, even though the rent has gone up.

One option that has been discussed in the past is the government buying the stadium, which could be another twist in the capital's ongoing rectangular venue saga.

Asked if the government would buy Canberra Stadium, Barr said: "I believe that can be on the table as an option. But it's not ours to acquire, it's theirs to sell.

"We don't own the asset. If we did own the asset it would be a different conversation.

"We'll talk with the sports commission about what they are going to do with the $350,000 in rent that we will be paying them each year.

"They are the landlord, they should invest that $350,000 each year in maintaining the stadium.

"Under the previous arrangement it was fair and reasonable for the government to meet the upgrade and maintenance requirements.

"Now that we are paying rent in the future, we will need to re-negotiate with the Sports Commission."

Canberra Stadium is one of the oldest venues still used by the NRL and Australian Super Rugby clubs.

The government has been trying to keep it up to industry standard while it decides whether to build a new venue.

But it has already fallen behind other cities and new stadiums are being built in Townsville and Parramatta.

Had the Brumbies been axed from Super Rugby, plans for a new stadium would have been cut.

The Civic stadium plans have been delayed while the government pays a $1 billion loan for the Mr Fluffy asbestos clean up.

But the type of playing surface has been discussed with the government, the Raiders and the Brumbies.

There are a handful of synthetic fields used in elite world sport, mainly in areas which get minimal sunlight.

It was proposed that the new Canberra venue would be synthetic, but the Raiders and Brumbies have concerns about player safety.

That changes the way the stadium would need to be configured to "allow the grass to grow in winter and avoid being cooked in summer under the roof".

It also adds to the bill as the government continues to investigate ways to move Parkes Way to accommodate the stadium and searches for a new site for the pool.

It is understood the government is still working with ANU to build a 50 metre pool in Civic, which would alleviate some of the pressure.

"We need to develop further work. We don't have a location that will accommodate such a facility at this point in time," Barr said.

"It won't fit on the Canberra Olympic pool unless you move Parkes Way. We're looking at the costs of that.

"Another issue is whether the playing surface would be entirely synthetic, and neither rugby league or rugby union are prepared to commit to playing on an entirely synthetic surface.

"That affects the orientation of the stadium on the block."

Asked if the government would continue upgrading Canberra Stadium, Barr said: "An upgrade as in what we do in our budget in the hundreds of thousands of dollars, yes.

"But we wouldn't be pouring tens of millions of dollars into Canberra Stadium unless we either had an agreement with the sports commission to acquire the asset and we were going to stay there longer term."