South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Blake Solly has voiced his continual frustration over the lack of upgrades and redevelopment of Accor Stadium in Homebush.
The NSW Government initially announced plans to bulldoze and redevelop the stadium in 2017 but just three years later, former NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced the state government would abandon the $810 million project due to the pressures on the health sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three years on, Solly says Accor Stadium has fallen behind the other stadiums in the competition and South Sydney should no longer play their home games at the venue.
“We’ve made our position very clear,” Solly said on SEN 1170.
“We are falling behind on the facilities that other (teams) are experiencing with places like CommBank Stadium, Allianz Stadium and outside of the state.
“The Government has a decision on what they want Accor Stadium to be.
“We've had various governments over the last few years and we’ve had four or five iterations of stadium strategies and we’ve been very patient in waiting for the outcome.
“It’s time to commit to a plan and if there’s no money for investment, we understand that.
“We signed a long-term lease based on that stadium being fully refurbished and it hasn’t been.
“If they are not going to invest in Accor Stadium, we aren’t going to either.”
The Rabbitohs signed a 12-month extension at Accor Stadium in September 2022 for the 2023 season on the basis that the stadium would be upgraded, which has yet to be the case.
Solly said that in an ideal situation, the Rabbitohs would not pursue legal action to get out of their deal at Accor.
“It’s not a legal issue,” Solly said.
“We see it as a moral and common sense issue.
“We don’t have any legal triggers and we’d prefer not to go down a legal path.
“We want to work collaboratively with the NSW Government and Venues NSW.
“You want the best clubs playing in the best stadiums.”
The Rabbitohs are scheduled to play their first match at Accor Stadium on March 29 in Round 4.