2022 Rabbitoh News - Rabbitohs Looking towards Allianz Stadium for 2023

Rabbitohs looking towards the new Allianz Stadium for 2023 season

19th August 2022

South Sydney members and fans want to return to the newly rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium after years of travelling from their spiritual heartland at Redfern to Accor Stadium at Homebush. With memberships for the 2023 NRL season to go on sale in the coming weeks, the clock is ticking and the Rabbitohs have held a meeting with the New South Wales Government in an attempt to ensure the move to the new SFS is signed off before then. The Bunnies have called Accor Stadium home for 16 years and the club is contracted to remain there until 2030. However, with a promised $800million upgrade being cancelled by the NSW government, the club wants out. During an meeting on Wednesday, South Sydney chief executive Blake Solly, club chief commercial officer Shannon Donato, and NSW Sports Minister Alister Henskens discussed where the club would play home games starting in 2023. Henskens is open to the move, as long as the government does not have to foot the bill. If South Sydney can absorb the costs, they are likely to call the new SFS at Moore Park home.

"We had a really good meeting with Minister Henskens. It was great to get a direct audience with him and explain our position," Solly said. "As we have always said, we are not trying to be unreasonable in all of this, we just want the best solution for our fans and members. I think the Minister understood that and we will keep talking over the next few weeks. All options are still on the table."

Rabbitohs disappointed about having to remain at Accor Stadium in 2023

20th September 2022

Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly has been vocal in calling for the South Sydney club to be allowed to move from the venue at Olympic Park to the brand new Allianz Stadium, which opened two weeks ago. "Our preference has always been to stay at Accor Stadium, but if the government is not going to upgrade it then we should be allowed to move," he said. "What we are asking for is a rectangular stadium that brings the fans closer to the action and refurbished corporate suites," Built on the same site that host the Sydney Football Stadium between 1988 and 2019, the new $828 million venue opened its door late last month. The agreement to remain at Homebush, was contingent to the New South Wales government's pledge to permanently turn the Homebush venue into a rectangular stadia. But the state government has opted to direct funds towards the redevelopment of the Sydney Football Stadium and of other suburban grounds instead. South Sydney have agreed to remain at Accor Stadium until the end of next season at least, but haven't committed to a longer stay for now.