Canberra Stadium is in danger of being left in the dark ages as a national sporting venue after ACT chief minister Andrew Barr revealed future upgrades needed to be funded by the Australian Sports Commission.
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In the latest twist to Canberra's stadium saga, the ACT government is now paying $350,000 to rent the venue from the commission after a long-standing $1 peppercorn lease recently ended.
Barr said the change of rental investment meant the ACT government was unlikely to invest in the capital's premier rectangular venue "because we're only a tenant".
In the past, the ACT government has injected significant funding, including $5 million three years ago, to keep Canberra Stadium up to minimum industry standards.
Canberra sports fans had hoped a new stadium with a roof would be built in Civic by 2025.
That appears unlikely as the government foots the bill for light rail and the Mr Fluffy clean up, and Barr said two weeks ago a $350 million stadium would only be viable if Canberra had an A-League team.
Canberra Stadium is already one of the oldest used by the NRL and Australian Super Rugby teams, and the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies are keen for a new venue to be built to help lure crowds back to the stands.
The stadium is owned by the Australian Sports Commission, the federal government representative body for sport.
The ACT government will still collect revenue from stadium parking and sponsorship, including the naming-rights deal with GIO believed to be worth $350,000.
That deal expires at the end of 2017 but there is a clause for GIO to extend its partnership until 2021.
The Mal Meninga grandstand is nearing the end of its lifespan and there is minimal undercover seating for Canberra supporters who suffer during the cold NRL and Super Rugby seasons.
Ongoing upgrades will be needed if the capital wants to host international events in the future. Australia will play New Zealand in Canberra in an Anzac rugby league Test in May while the Wallabies will play Argentina in September.
"We rent the facility. The sports commission had previously given us the rent at a peppercorn rate, so $1 per year," Barr said.
"[Because of the $1 lease] we took responsibility for all of the maintenance and infrastructure at the stadium.
"The sports commission have now determined to charge the ACT government around $350,000 per year in rental for that facility.
"Our expectation is that the sports commission, the owner of the facility, will take on greater responsibility for the maintenance of the facility given we are now paying full freight rent.
"It's difficult for us to make significant further investments in assets we don't own."
Any upgrades funded by the sports commission would require federal government money.
The ACT government will continue to invest in upgrades at Manuka Oval, which will host a historic cricket Test in 2018-19, because it owns the facility.
Manuka Oval is only used five times per year for national sporting events while Canberra Stadium hosts 12 NRL games and seven or eight Super Rugby games per season.
The commission said in a statement: "The ASC and the ACT Government have a long standing lease arrangement in relation to the stadium
"The ASC will continue to work closely with the ACT Government in relation to matters of mutual interest including facilities."
The commission is also still considering a major revamp of the AIS Arena, which would transform Canberra's best indoor venue into a volleyball specific arena.
The commission is yet to make a decision on the future direction of the AIS Arena but it is hoped it will remain as a multi-purpose sporting, exhibition and concert venue.
It is unclear if there will be A-League content in Canberra next season after the Central Coast Mariners played two games in the capital this season.
A government spokesperson said: "The territory has received no further proposal to date from the Mariners regarding the potential for games to be played in Canberra next season."
