The ACT Liberals have poured cold water on Exhibition Park as a site for Canberra's next stadium, and would favour a venue in the city centre should they prevail in next month's election.
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A Liberal government would also aim to construct a year-round facility, not only the Canberra Raiders and ACT Brumbies, but also a potential A-League side and as an entertainment hub for concerts and artistic performances.
Chief Minister Andrew Barr and his government commissioned a feasibility study into possible new stadium for the capital earlier this year, which put three options on the table - a new venue on the site of the Civic Pool, a stadium out at Exhibition Park or further investment into Canberra Stadium in Bruce.
"I don't like the idea of an Epic [Exhibition Park] stadium, I don't think that is much of an improvement on the current location," opposition leader Alistair Coe told The Canberra Times.
"Having a city stadium of course would be wonderful, it would require some significant contribution from the Commonwealth.
"In my vision for Canberra, we're in a tough financial situation as is Australia and the world so whether it can happen in the short term remains to be seen. Regardless, we've got to make sure that we're planning for the future and I think that future at some point probably does include a city stadium."
Shadow sports minister James Milligan traveled to Parramatta late last year for a tour of the recently built 30,000-sear Bankwest Stadium which houses the Eels, and the Western Sydney Wanderers in the A-League.
The state-of-the-art facility boasts a 34 degree seating angle, a design both Labor and Liberal believes could work for another Canberra stadium.
Milligan said a Liberal government would ensure any new stadium would be used all year round.
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"Unfortunately GIO [Stadium] is only used 23, 24 times a year, it just doesn't stack up, it doesn't provide a big enough return," Milligan said.
"Our main focus would be to ensure that we've got content all year round as the best possible business case for us and that it provides the best return for the ACT.
"Whether that's the Brumbies, Raiders, union, league, A-League, entertainment, theatres, concerts, performances, we need to incorporate that into anything going forward. That's not going to happen overnight but we recognise that is the need."
Coe and Milligan were on the campaign trail on Saturday, pledging $12.3 million to build a two-storey indoor sporting facility on the site of the Tuggeranong Netball Association courts in Calwell.
The facility would house eight indoor courts on a sprung floor, plus a canteen, toilets, office space and seating for 2500 spectators and would be completed within four years.
Up to 30 sports would have access to the proposed facility including futsal, badminton, cheerleading and chess.
James Buckley
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
James is a Queanbeyan boy enjoying his second stint at the Canberra Times, more than eight years on from his first. In between he's traveled the world, and spent time covering sport in Sydney.
