$1 billion reasons: Why Souths sharing Allianz makes sense

South Sydney CEO Blake Solly has welcomed the decision by the NSW Government and Venues NSW to allow the Rabbitohs to play a select number of home games at Allianz Stadium in Moore Park.

South Sydney currently play their home games out of Accor Stadium in the Olympic Park precinct.

The revised deal will see South Sydney play seven home games at Accor Stadium, four home games at Allianz Stadium in 2027 and all interstate matches to return to Sydney.

Solly told SEN that it was a logical decision for Souths to share Allianz Stadium with their bitter rivals, the Sydney Roosters.

“If teams in New York and Milan can share stadiums, I think it’s pretty reasonable that us and the Roosters can share that stadium,” Solly said on SEN 1170.

“The Round 2 game of this year and the Round 27 game last year (were amazing).

“When you have 40,000 people cheering on the Rabbitohs and the Roosters, it’s just a good result for rugby league.

“It’s incumbent on both clubs now to build that fixture as something special and sell it out every time we play each other.

“We will have four games at Allianz Stadium next year and five games there in 2028, 2029 and 2030.

“We will look at the draw when it comes out in November every year and find the right games to take to Allianz. We want to take good opponents there.

“The first discussion we had with the NSW Government was back in August 2020 so it’s been a five and a half year discussion.

“Our attitude all the way has been that we didn't want to abandon Accor Stadium because it has its place. Good Friday this year will be a great afternoon.

“We also want to play more games in a stadium that the State Government spent over $1 billion on.

“With this compromise, we have got the best of both worlds.”

South Sydney will host two games at Allianz Stadium this season. The Rabbitohs will host the Parramatta Eels in Round 23 and the Roosters in Round 27.