Fans pour in as Berejiklian opens new sports stadium

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian has opened the first of her government’s three sporting stadiums, saying voters had given the coalition “the tick” to push forward on the controversial projects.

More than a thousand sporting fans poured into the new Parramatta Stadium yesterday morning after Ms Berejiklian (pictured) cut the ribbon on the almost $360 million complex.

Ms Berejiklian said she felt vindicated in her priorities for NSW after the election.

“The people of NSW, and we don’t take this lightly, gave us the tick to keep moving forward and we know in our heart of hearts what is right for the citizens of our state,” Ms Berejiklian told reporters from the turf of the new stadium.

The government is knocking down and rebuilding Allianz Stadium at a cost of more than $700 million, while a refurbishment of ANZ Stadium is likely to cost $810 million.

The 30,000 seat rectangle stadium will play host to NRL and A-League games

The stadium boasts the steepest stands in the country, according to the State Government, and has been designed to amplify crowd noise.

The Round 6 NRL match between Parramatta and West Tigers will be the first sporting event to be played at the stadium on April 22.