| CITY OVERVIEW |
Sydney is Australia's largest city and it's premier tourist destination. Most of Sydney's favourite sites are located in or around Sydney Harbour and the City Centre, including the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the Sydney Opera House, the Queen Victoria Building shopping complex, the Rocks historical precinct, and the Darling Harbour entertainment complex. Many of Sydney's hotels are spread between the City Centre and Kings Cross, which is located some 2km to the east of the City. Kings Cross is Sydney's equivalent to London's SoHo or Paris' Pigalle district - where the sex industry plies its trade in between dozens of bars, restaurants and theatres. Kings Cross is also the central backpacking headquarters in Sydney. Like
many large cities around the world, it is within the inner residential and cultural precincts where
young Sydneysiders like to
congregate. These precincts are home to a wide diversity of cafes,
restaurants and theatres that are serving the increasing inner-city residential
population. Paddington Greater Sydney is actually a huge, sprawling metropolis of over 4 million people so there are obviously attractions away from the City Centre. Some 70km west of Sydney is the Blue Mountains, which has some stunning mountain views as well as being a popular bushwalking location. Sydney is also renowned for its beach culture - besides Bondi in the east is Cronulla in the south and Manly and Narrabeen in the north. Sydney's sporting interest is arguably the most diverse in the country and although the City does not generate the types of crowds consistently generated in Melbourne, there are plenty of sports to see and plenty of high quality facilities to see them in. This is largely due to the legacy of the Olympic Games that were held in 2000 - with many sporting events now held at the Sydney Olympic Park complex. The biggest sporting event on Sydney's yearly calender is the NRL Grand Final held in early October. |
| GETTING THERE |
Sydney
International Airport (also known as Kingsford Smith Airport) is located on
the northern edge of Botany Bay, some 10km south of the City Centre. The simplest
way to get to the City is by CityRail tra Sydney has one of the best public transport systems in the world for a city of its huge geographic size. The CityRail system connects the City Centre with the growing metropolitan region west and south of Sydney Harbour. Connections to the system are currently being constructed to cater for the sprawling population north-west of the City. This system is supported by Sydney Buses, which services the inner sections of Sydney, as well as the large northern suburbs. A light rail system has also been started - it currently connects the City Centre with the inner-western suburbs of Sydney. An extensive private bus system services Western Sydney . |
| AFL SYDNEY SWANS
|
The Sydney Swans history goes
back to 1874 when South Melbourne was founded and they started playing in
the Victorian Football Association (VFA). After winning 5 titles in the
VFA, South Melbourne (or the Bloods as they were affectionately known)
joined the VFL in 1897. From 1987 until 1982, the Swans played out of
Lakeside Oval in Melbourne in the Victorian Football League to limited
success.
To save the Swans from eventual death because of poor results and a parlous financial state, the Swans moved to Sydney to become the first interstate team to play in the VFL. The Swans have played out of the Sydney Cricket Ground ever since. It took several years for the Swans to capture the imagination of a city that had never been too enamoured with 'aerial ping-pong'. The Swans have been one of the least successful teams in VFL/AFL history. They have only won 2 Flags (1909 and 1933), with 5 runner-up positions, the latest being in 1996 - their first Grand Final appearance since 1936! |
| NRL
CANTERBBURY BULLDOGS |
The Canterbury Bulldogs (formerly Canterbury Bankstown Berries and the Sydney Bulldogs) are one of the most successful clubs of the modern era. Canterbury have won the premiership 7 times since their inception in 1935 - the latest being in 1995. They were the dominant team in the 1980's, winning 4 times, as well as a Grand Final appearance in 1986 and a semi final appearance in 1983. The Bulldogs are renowned as being the 'family club' - with several sets of families (the Mortimers, the Hughes and the Moores) playing key roles in the management, coaching and playing of the club over the years. However, this image crumbled when they were literally expelled from the competition in 2002 for salary cap breaches. |
| NRL
THE SHARKS |
The
Cronulla Sharks (formerly Cronulla Sutherland) are the only Sydney club in the
competition not to have tasted premiership success. Since life in the big
time started for Cronulla in 1967, the Sharks have played in 3 Grand
Finals - 1973, 1978 (where they lost in a replay) and 1997 (Super League) but have come away unsuccessful each
time.
After reaching Grand Finals in the 1970's, the Sharks went into mediocrity which nearly lead to their expulsion due to financial difficulties in the early 1990's. However, through the help of new financial backing and excellent recruitment, The Sharks have risen from the dead to be one of the glamour teams of the competition - having made the semi-finals 6 times since 1995 - although fans are still waiting for that first elusive title. |
| NRL
MANLY SEA EAGLES
|
The
Manly Sea Eagles rose again in 2002 after leaving the Northern Eagles
partnership with the old North Sydney Bears. The Sea Eagles began
life in 1948 and have won 6 premierships - the last being in 1996. Manly were clearly the team of the 1970's
under the wing of their champion player (who later became their coach)
Bob Fulton.
Manly became renowned as the 'Silvertails' in the 1980's in reference to the apparent wealth the club had at the time and their location on the wealthy northern beaches of Sydney, which enabled them to buy the top players of the era. This image came crashing down after their last success in 1996 with the advent of 'Super League' in 1997. Although they managed an ARL Grand Final appearance in 1997, their financial descent was so rapid that they were encouraged to merge with neighbours the North Sydney Bears in 2000. The partnership never worked - on and off the field - and after playing on the Central Coast for several years, the Manly part of the Northern Eagles decided to go back to Brookvale in mid 2002, where they soon began to challenge once again for a semi final berth. |
|
NRL PARRAMATTA EELS
|
The
Parramatta Eels came into being in 1947, although there had been earlier
football played in the area in 1909 when Cumberland played in the
competition. The Eels were consistently one of the poorest teams in the
Competition until 1975
when they made their first semi-final appearance. The arrival of 'Supercoach'
Jack Gibson not long after in the late 1970's began their most successful
period - they went on to win 5 Grand Finals in the late 1970's and 1980's and
have played in three others, matching Canterbury's
record for the 80's.
After a lean period in the most part of the 1990's, Parramatta again rose to prominence in 1999 under the coaching of Brian Smith, where they improved to play in the 2001 Grand Final only to lose to Newcastle. |
| NRL
PENRITH PANTHERS |
The Penrith Panthers were also
admitted in 1967 and for most of that time had a worse record than the
Sharks - at least the Sharks had made semi-finals and Grand Finals. The
Panthers had not made a semi final until 1990, where under the tutelage of
coach Phil Gould made the Grand Final before losing to
Canberra. However, the next year they again made the Grand Final, this
time taking the premiership by reversing the result against Canberra.
The Panthers did not have any success again until Super League came along in 1997, where they reached the semi finals and repeated the dose in 2001. However, the Panthers have generally been considered easybeats for most of their history, so much so that in the 1970's and 1980's they were commonly referred to as the 'chocolate soldiers' in reference to their old brown and white uniforms. |
| NRL
SOUTH SYDNEY RABBITOHS |
Another of the foundation
Rugby League clubs, the South Sydney Rabbitohs
are the most successful
club in Rugby League history, having won the premiership 20 times since
starting life in 1908. They have been runners up an additional 13 times.
Their most successful era was the 1950's on the back of one of the legends
of the game - Clive Churchill - where they won the title 5 times (as they
did in the 1920's).
The last of their
premierships was in 1971 and since this time it has been a slow decline
for the once mighty Rabbits, so much so that they were omitted from the
competition in 2000 and 2001 as a result of the rationalisation caused by
Super League. However, on the back of massive popular uprising for their
return, the Rabbitohs were born again in 2002, although their results in
2002 have matched many of the results the Rabbits were experiencing before
their expulsion. |
| NRL
SYDNEY ROOSTERS |
The Sydney Roosters (formerly
Eastern Suburbs and Sydney City) are one of the foundation rugby league
clubs, having been formed in 1908. The Tricolours (or simply 'Chooks' to
their fans) have won 12 Rugby League premierships and are the current
premiers.
The Roosters have been renowned as one of the glamour teams of the competition, renowned as a club with much corporate backing and a surplus of funds to buy players capable of winning a competition. The lack of success since the 70's has meant that the Roosters had the tag of a club that plays without passion, with the club being referred to many times as the 'transit lounge' - where players come to retire by picking up a healthy cheque. Regular semi-final appearances in the last decade, culminating in their 2002 win, has helped change this perception. |
| NRL
ST GEORGE-ILLAWARRA DRAGONS KOGARAH OVAL AND |
The St
George-Illawarra
Dragons are a slightly different form of amalgamation - the combination of
two teams from two different cities - the famous old St George from the
southern suburb of Kogarah in Sydney and Illawarra, which is based in
Wollongong, some 100km south of Kogarah.
The team still wears the famous Red 'V' of the St George Dragons (also known as the Dragon Slayers in the early days), the most famous team in the history of the game. After beginning life in the competition in 1921, the Dragons created a world record in the 1950's and 1960's by winning 11 straight grand finals, a record that has not been matched by any other major professional sporting organisation around in the world. They achieved this on the back of some of the greatest players to ever play the game - Reg Gasnier, Johnny Raper and Graeme Langlands. All up the Dragons have won 14 premierships - the last one being in 1977, although they have had an amazing 6 grand final appearances since without winning. Illawarra's link to St George before their amalgamation has always been as the 'nursery' for many great St George players. Because of this, many viewed the amalgamation as a natural progression after the Super League war. Illawarra itself entered the competition with Canberra in 1981 and had one year of glory in 1994 by making their first ever semi-final appearance. With St-George, the amalgamated team had first up success by making the Grand Final against Melbourne in 1999. |
| NRL
WESTS TIGERS AND LEICHHARDT OVAL |
The Wests Tigers are an
amalgamation of two famous old clubs - the Western Suburbs Magpies and the
Balmain Tigers. This means that matches today are split between the
Magpies most recent home of Campbelltown and the Tigers old home of
Leichhardt - some 30km apart from the inner western suburbs of Sydney to
the outer south-western suburbs of Sydney.
Western Suburbs and Balmain are both establishment clubs who were once geographically very close. As establishment clubs, these two teams have won their fair share of titles, with Balmain claiming 10 (their last in 1969) and Wests claiming 4 (their last way back in 1952). Balmain have had the most recent success of the two teams, having made Grand Final appearances in 1988 and 1989 against Canterbury and Canberra respectively. The amalgamated team has yet to taste semi final success and have generally struggled to keep up with the premier teams. |
| SUPER
12 RUGBY
NSW WARATAHS |
The NSW Waratahs have been involved with Super 12 Rugby since its inception. The Waratahs have been a disappointment in the Super 12 and have probably been the least successful of the three Australian participants - they have never won a Super 12 Championship and only qualified for the semi-finals for the first time in 2002. |
| CRICKET
NSW BLUES |
The NSW Blues are the most successful cricketing state in Australia, having won the Sheffield Shied (now Pura Milk Cup) 42 times, the last being in 1994, and have won the one-day championships (now the ING Cup) 7 times. Recent years have seen the Blues become more successful in the one-day form of cricket - the Blues have struggled to seriously challenge in the four-day game for some time. |
|
NSL MARCONI
STALLIONS |
The Marconi Stallions (formerly Marconi Fairfield) are one of the stalwarts of Australian soccer, having been involved in the National League since its beginning in 1995-96. The Stallions, who have a strong Italian heritage and are located in south-west Sydney in Fairfield, have only missed the playoffs once since this time (2001) but have not won a title as yet - having been beaten in the Grand Final in the NSL's first year in 1995-96. |
| NSL
NORTHERN SPIRIT |
The Northern Spirit started with much fanfare when they joined the competition in 1998/99 and averaged crowds of over 14,000 - amazing figures for a Sydney based soccer team. The Spirit have had a variety of high profile owners since their inception, including ex-Australian internationals Robbie Slater and Graham Arnold and owners linked to the Scottish Premier League and English Premier League. The Spirit have been somewhat disappointing since their first year playoff qualification. They have finished out of the playoffs in the two years since, much to the chagrin of the declining north-side fan base. |
| NSL
PARRAMATTA POWER |
The Parramatta Power are the newest of the Sydney NSL teams, having entered the competition in the 1999/2000 season. Since this time the Power have not been able to qualify for the playoffs, having finished 11th in their first year and 9th in their second. It was highly likely that the 2002-2003 season would be the Power's last. |
| NSL
SYDNEY OLYMPIC SHARKS |
The Sydney Olympic Sharks (formerly Sydney Olympic and UTS Olympic) are the nomads of the National League, having moved around various suburbs of Sydney since the NSL began in 1995-96. Despite this, they are the most successful of the Sydney teams - having broken Sydney's championship drought in the 2001-2002 season. The Sharks have also qualified for the playoffs in 1995-96, 1999-2000 and 2000-01. Olympic have an obvious Greek heritage and have had various homes, including Belmore, Cronulla and Bondi Junction. They are currently based out of Shark Park in Cronulla, hence the name change. |
| NSL
SYDNEY UNITED SYDNEY UNITED SPORTS CENTRE |
Sydney United (formerly Sydney Croatia) have also been involved in the National League since 1995 and have had their fair share of success. Sydney United have not made the playoffs in the last three years but in the first four years they made the playoffs every year and actually reached the Grand Final in 1996-97 and 1998-99. United have a strong Croatian heritage (as evidenced by their old name) and are also based in south-west Sydney in the suburb of Edensor Park. |
| NBL
SYDNEY KINGS |
The Sydney Kings are quite possibly the biggest under achievers in the NBL. The Kings have promised much but have failed to deliver throughout most of their history. In fact, since their first year in 1979 (the original Sydney team was called the City of Sydney Astronauts and then the Sydney Supersonics, who then merged with the then West Sydney Westars to form the Kings in 1988) they have only made the playoffs 6 times and have yet to make a final. |
| NBL
WEST SYDNEY RAZORBACKS |
The West Sydney Razorbacks are the newer of the Sydney teams and entered the competition in 1999. The Bankstown Bruins, which later became the West Sydney Westars, were the original Western Sydney team, playing in the NBL between its inception in 1979 and 1988. However, there was no real success during this time. Much to the annoyance of the Kings, it only took three years after West Sydney came back into the competition for them to make the playoffs and go all the way through to the final before losing to Adelaide. |
| WNBL
SYDNEY PANTHERS |
The WNBA's Sydney Panthers (formerly the Bankstown Bruins, the Sydney Bruins and the Sydney Flames) have had more success than their co-tenants the Sydney Kings since the inception of the WNBL in 1981. They have won the title 3 times (1993, 1997 and 2000-01) and have made the play-off an additional 5 times. |
| ANL
SYDNEY SANDPIPERS |
The Sydney Sandpipers have been the least successful of the Sydney netball teams since the inception of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in 1997. They have only just become a playoff contender, making the semi finals for the last three years. |
| ANL
SYDNEY SWIFTS |
The Sydney Swifts were the first Sydney team to break the inter-state dominance of the Commonwealth Bank trophy by winning in 2001. The Sydney Swifts have been regular playoff contenders since 1997 but had always faulted at the last hurdle - until 2001 that is. |
| TELSTRA STADIUM AUSTRALIA | Telstra
Stadium Australia was the site of the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Today, it
has been converted to a football stadium that hosts some of the bigger NRL
(including the NRL Grand Final and the lead up semi-finals) and AFL
matches, as well as Rugby Union test matches. Opened in 1999, Telstra
Stadium is located in the Homebush Bay Sydney Olympic Park precinct, some
17km west of downtown Sydney. It has a current capacity of approximately
80,000. For the Olympics, it had a capacity of 111,000 largely due to the
placement of huge banked temporary seats at either end of the Stadium.
These were pulled down after the Olympics. The Stadium also has the
design flexibility to enable the pitch to be sufficiently widened to allow
oval-field sports such as AFL.
CityRail provides direct services to sporting events at Telstra Stadium (Sydney Olympic Park Station) from Central Station. Extra trains leave from Central Station during large events. A shuttle train also operates between Lidcombe Station on the Main Western Line and Sydney Olympic Park Station every 15 minutes during the day. |
| AUSSIE STADIUM |
Aussie Stadium (formerly the Sydney Football Stadium) hosts the NRL’s Sydney Roosters, South Sydney Rabbitohs and the Super 12’s NSW Waratahs. It is located in the Centennial Parklands Precinct off Driver Avenue in Moore Park, which is some 4km south-east of downtown Sydney. Opened in 1988, the Stadium has a capacity of 41,000. Although somewhat dwarfed by Telstra Stadium for size, Aussie Stadium still caters to several important sporting events, including the semi-finals of the NRL and international football matches. Aussie Stadium is still widely regarded as one of the premier stadiums to watch any code of football due to its excellent site-lines from most seats. Aussie Stadium is located some 3km from Central Railway Station. From Eddy Avenue on the northern side of the Stations, Sydney Buses provide special event shuttle buses to the Stadium. Otherwise regular bus routes 373, 394, 396 from the bus stops near either St James Station or Museum Station on Elizabeth Street in the City Centre go along Anzac Parade busway past the Stadium. |
| SYDNEY CRICKET GROUND (SCG) | The
historic Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) is one of the most famous stadiums in
Australia. It currently hosts the AFL's Sydney Swans, Cricket's NSW Blues
and international cricket matches. The SCG dates back as far as 1876, where a ground was formally
dedicated for the use of cricket. It officially became known as the Sydney
Cricket Ground in 1894. The SCG has a capacity of just over 43,000, although
the ground record is just over 75,000, set when standing was allowed
on the concourse in front of the old Brewongle Stand and there were no
seats on the famous
SCG Hill. Today, the SCG is a fully
seated facility.
The SCG once catered to all the premier sporting events held in Sydney, from Rugby League Grand Finals, Rugby Union Test matches, Cricket Test matches, Soccer internationals and even concerts and other entertainment events. This mantle was replaced firstly by the adjacent Sydney Football Stadium and more recently by the Sydney Olympic Stadium at Homebush. However, it is still one of the premier Cricket stadiums in the country and usually hold a Test match around New Year's day every year. The same directions apply to the SCG as to Aussie Stadium. |
| SYDNEY SHOWGROUND |
The Sydney Showground hosts the NRL Bulldogs and is located within the Sydney Olympic Park complex at Homebush Bay. The Showground has a capacity of approximately 21,000. The Bulldogs used to play out of the Olympic Stadium, but the relatively low home ground attendances resulted in the Bulldogs playing in what felt like an empty stadium. Although the Showground creates a more ‘crowded’ feel, the ground was not designed for football, so the site lines from many areas are quite poor. That being said, it is a comfortable all-seated stadium. Use the same directions as above for Telstra Stadium. |
| PENRITH STADIUM | Penrith
Stadium (formerly Penrith Park) hosts the NRL Panthers and is located on
the corner of Mulgoa Road and Jamison Street Penrith, which is some 1.5 km
south of Penrith Railway station and some 50km west of downtown Sydney.
The Stadium has catered to the Panthers since there inception into the NSW
Rugby League competition in 1967. It has a capacity of approximately
21,000. On one side of the ground is a large all-seated grandstand, with
the other side of the ground being a grassed-hill area.
Directions: Take the CityRail Western Line to Penrith Station. From Penrith Station, take the southern exit to Jane Street and walk west until you get to Mulgoa Road. Then walk south along Mulgoa Street - it is located across the road from Penrith Leagues Club. You can also catch Westbus Route 786 or Route 797 that goes along Station Street - get off at Ransley Street and take the short walk to the ground from there. |
| KOGARAH OVAL | Kogarah
Oval will be reinstated as a host of several Dragons matches in 2003
after several years in hiatus. For decades it was the home of the St
George Dragons and is just up the road from the 'Taj Mahal' - the St
George Leagues Club - once the biggest club in NSW. Kogarah Oval became a
ghost town when
the team amalgamated with Illawarra and their Sydney based games were
switched to the Sydney Football Stadium. Kogarah Oval is located on the
corner of Princes Highway and Jubilee Avenue, Kogarah, and has a capacity
of approximately 20,000. It is currently undergoing minor renovations to
bring it back to NRL standards.
From the City Centre, catch the Illawarra Line to Carlton Railway Station. Take the southern exit and from there walk south along Railway Street to the ground. |
| BROOKVALE OVAL |
Brookvale Oval hosts the NRL Sea-Eagles and is located off Pittwater Road at the intersection of Alfred Street in Brookvale, some 15km north-west of downtown Sydney. The ground has been home to the Manly Sea-Eagles since it first came into the competition in 1947. Although it only has a current capacity of approximately 19,000, the ground record for Brookvale Oval is some 27,000. Previous to Manly’s return to Brookvale in 2002, the Northern Eagles joint venture played out of the modern North Power Stadium on the Central Coast (adjacent to Gosford Railway Station). From Wynyard Railway Station in the City (take the western exit to Carrington Street), take Sydney Buses Route L85 or Route 180 that goes along Pittwater Road – get off at the Pine Street stop, which is adjacent to the ground. |
| CAMPBELLTOWN STADIUM |
Campbelltown Stadium (formerly Orana Park) hosts the NRL Tigers and is located off Pembroke Road, Leumeah, which is some 50km south-west of downtown Sydney. It is within the Campbelltown Sportsground complex adjacent to Leumeah Station. The ground has been gradually upgraded to a capacity of approximately 20,000 since the Western Suburbs relocation to Campbelltown from Lidcombe first took place in 1987. Although there are raised temporary seating banks in addition to the season-ticket holders grandstand, much of the ground still consists of grassed hill seating. Campbelltown Stadium is located adjacent to Leumeah Station, which is located on the CityRail Macarthur and East Hills Line. |
| LEICHHARDT OVAL | Leichhardt
Oval also hosts some Wests Tigers matches and is located on the corner of
Glover Street and Chapel Street, Leichhardt - some 7km west of the City
Centre. The Oval currently has a capacity of about 25,000. Leichhardt Oval
became famous in the mid 1970's as one of the first Rugby League
grounds to have lighting installed in order to host the midweek knockout
competition variously known as the Amco Cup, the KB Cup, the Tooth Cup
etc. Today, it is somewhat a light of past glories but still has the
capacity and lighting to hold NRL matches.
From the City Centre (Central Station at Broadway or Town Hall on George Street) , catch Sydney Buses Route 440 that goes via Norton Street in Leichhardt - get off near the corner of Perry Street and Glover Street and walk north along Glover Street to the ground entrance. |
| SHARK PARK | Shark
Park, as the current name suggests, hosts the NRL Sharks and the NSL
Olympic Sharks. It may have the most variety of sponsored names since
first being called Endeavour Field in 1968, including Ronson Field, Caltex
Park and Toyota Park. Shark Park is located on Captain Cook Drive at
Woolooware, which is some 20km south of downtown Sydney. The ground has a
capacity of approximately 21,000.
Being located on the banks of Woolooware Bay, Shark Park can be a windswept experience for those attending matches and provides a great home ground advantage. Primarily used as a Rugby League ground since 1968, the ground has only recently been used for soccer in Rugby League's off-season. Shark Park is located just over 1km walk from Woolooware Station on CityRail's Eastern Suburbs and Illawarra Line. Walk north from the station along Wills Road, turn left on Sturt Street, then right along Woolooware Road until you hit Captain Cook Drive. Shark Park is across the road from here. |
| PARRAMATTA STADIUM |
Parramatta Stadium hosts the NRL’s Eels and the MSL’s Power and is located at the northern end of Parramatta Regional Park off O’Connell Street, Parramatta, some 25km west of downtown Sydney. Parramatta Stadium was first opened in 1986 and has a capacity of approximately 27,000. The Stadium was a large improvement on its predecessor Cumberland Oval – one of the roughest Rugby League playing surfaces of its day. Parramatta Stadium is largely an all-seated football only stadium and has great site lines for fans. Parramatta Stadium is located about 1 km north-west of Parramatta Railway Station on the CityRail Main Western Line. From the northern exit of the station, walk west along Darcy Street, then north along Church Street Mall, then turn left along George Street and then north up O’Connell Street to the Stadium. |
| MARCONI STADIUM |
Marconi Stadium is located on the corner of Prairie Vale Road and Marconi Road, adjacent to the Marconi Club in Bossley Park, which is some 35km west of downtown Sydney. The Stadium is now a comfortable all-seat venue with a capacity of approximately 12,000. Marconi Stadium is located away from Sydney’s CityRail network. From Fairfield Station (The Crescent), catch Westbus Route 826 to Bonnyrigg via Prairie Vale Road (ask the driver where to get off). It is approximately a 10km ride. As many matches are on weekend evenings, it may also be more comfortable for fans to take a taxi to and from the Station. |
| SYDNEY UNITED SPORTS CENTRE |
Sydney United Sports Centre (formerly King Tomislav Croation Oval) is located near Marconi Stadium off Edensor Road, Edensor Park – also some 35km west of downtown Sydney. The Stadium also has a capacity of 12,000, although much of the seating is on grass. The Sports Centre is also located away from the CityRail network. From Fairfield Station (The Crescent), catch Westbus Routes 826 or 827 that both go along Endensor Road. Again ask the bus driver where to get off (not far from Coonawarra Street). Again, as many matches are on weekend evenings, it may be more comfortable for fans to take a taxi to and from Fairfield Station. |
| NORTH SYDNEY OVAL |
North Sydney Oval hosts the NSL Northern Spirit and the occasional NSW cricket match and is located off Miller Road, North Sydney, which is only 3km north of Sydney City. North Sydney Oval is one of the oldest grounds in Sydney and was originally home of the now defunct NRL North Sydney Bears. The Oval has a capacity of approximately 20,000, much of it grassed-seating. From the City Centre, take the North Shore Rail Line to North Sydney Railway Station and then walk north along Miller Street until you reach the entrance of the Ground. |
| SYDNEY SUPERDOME |
The Sydney SuperDome hosts some of Sydney’s bigger indoor sporting events although it doesn’t currently host any professional sporting teams. Once the home of the NBL Sydney Kings and WNBL Sydney Panthers, the SuperDome now only holds large one-off events. The SuperDome was opened in 1999 and is reputably the largest indoor live entertainment and sporting arena in Australia. Located within the Sydney Olympic Park precinct at Homebush Bay, the SuperDome has a capacity of 21,000. It is now home to events that include Supercross, tennis, rock concerts and arena musicals. Follow the same directions as above for Telstra Stadium and follow the signs to the Superdome. |
| SYDNEY ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE |
The Sydney Entertainment Centre hosts the Kings and the Panthers from 2003. It had been the usual home of the Kings and Flames up until the opening of the Superdome in 1999, however new ownership and fan pressure has seen basketball return to the City based Centre again. Being located in the tourist friendly Darling Harbour/Chinatown district of the City Centre means that there is plenty for fans to do before and after a basketball game – something that the Superdome did not offer fans. The Entertainment Centre, which was opened in 1983, was Sydney’s first world class indoor stadium and, up until the opening of the Olympic facilties at Homebush Bay, had catered to most of Sydney’s indoor sporting, music and entertainment needs. It is has a capacity 12,000. The Sydney Entertainment Centre is within walking distance of Central Station. From the northern exit of Central Station, walk left along Eddy Avenue and continue down Rawson Street to George Street, then walk north along George Street before turning left on Hay Street. The Entertainment Centre is located at the end of Hay Street. |
| STATE SPORTS CENTRE | The
State Sports Centre hosts the NBA Razorbacks and Netball's Swifts and Sandpipers and is located with the Olympic Park complex at Homebush
Bay. The State Sports Centre is the oldest facility at Homebush Bay,
having been existence way before the opening of the new facilities in
1999. Opened in 1984, the State Sports Centre has a capacity of
approximately 5,000. It was originally developed as the original home of
the NSW Institute of Sport.
Follow the same directions as above for Telstra Stadium and follow the signs to the State Sports Centre. |
|
HORSE RACING RANDWICK RACECOURSE |
The Australian Jockey Club’s Randwick Racecourse is located on the corner of Allison Road and Doncaster Avenue, Randwick, which is some 6km south of Central Sydney. Randwick is Sydney’s premier track and is the home of famous races like the AJC Derby, the Doncaster Handicap and the Sydney Cup in Autumn and the Metropolitan Handicap and the Epsom Handicap in Spring. From Central Station, take the northern exit to Eddy Avenue, where you can take special Sydney Buses Racecourse Shuttles to the racecourse. |
| HORSE
RACING
ROSEHILL GARDENS RACECOURSE |
The Sydney Turf Club's Rosehill Gardens Racecourse is located off James Rouse Drive at Rosehill, which is some 20km west of downtown Sydney. Rosehill is renowned as the home of the richest 2 year old race in the world - the Golden Slipper in the autumn. CityRail provides special rail shuttle services from Central Station and other City stations to the Rosehill Racecourse entrance. |
| HORSE
RACING
CANTERBURY RACECOURSE |
The Sydney Turf Club’s Canterbury Racecourse is located on the corner of King and Cheviot Streets, Canterbury, some 12km south-west of downtown Sydney. Canterbury is the home of night racing in summer and Wednesday racing for much of the year. It is located near Canterbury Station, which is located on CityRail’s Bankstown Line. From the station, you can catch special Sydney Buses shuttle buses to the racecourse entrance or you can just walk north along Jeffrey Street to King Street and keep on walking along it until you reach the racecourse entrance. |
| HORSE
RACING
WARWICK FARM RACECOURSE |
The Australian Jockey Club’s Warwick Farm Racecourse is located on the banks of the Georges River just off the Hume Highway at Warwick Farm, some 30km south-west of downtown Sydney. Warwick Farm is known as the ‘family’ course due to its spacious and uncrowded feel. Warwick Farm also specialises in catering to midweek and Sunday races. The racecourse is located near Warwick Farm Station on CityRail’s South Line. From the Station, walk east along Warwick Street, then take a short right onto Manning before walking east again along Munday Street, which leads you straight to the racecourse entrance. |
|
MOTOR RACING V8 SHELL CHAMPIONSHIPS, EASTERN CREEK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY |
Eastern Creek hosts the V8 Shell Championship at the end of April. It is Sydney's premier racetrack facility. Eastern Creek is located just off the M4 Motorway at Eastern Creek/Huntingwood, some 40km west of downtown Sydney. The Raceway is remote from the CityRail network. There are no good regular public transit options to the Raceway, other than catching a CityRail train on the Main Western Line to Blacktown Station and taking a taxi from there (approximately 8km south). |
| MMOTOR
RACING
AUSTRALIA SUPERBIKE CHAMPIONSHIPS, EASTERN CREEK INTERNATIONAL RACEWAY |
Eastern Creek hosts the Australia Superbike Championships at the end of November. Follow the same directions as above for Eastern Creek. |
| MOTOR
RACING
V8 SUPERCAR SERIES, ORAN PARK RACEWAY |
Oran Park Raceway hosts the Shell V8 Supercar series in mid August. Oran Park is located at the corner of Cobbity Road and Northern Road, Harrington Park, which is some 45km south-west of downtown Sydney. This location is also remote from the transit network. Therefore catching a CityRail train on the Airport East Hills Line to Campbelltown Station and taking a taxi from there may be the best bet (approximately 12km). |
| TENNIS
ADIDAS INTERNATIONAL SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL TENNIS CENTRE, HOMEBUSH BAY |
The Sydney International Tennis Centre hosts the ATP and WTA Adidas International in early January. The Centre is located within the Sydney Olympic Park complex at Homebush Bay. Before 1999, it was played at the White City Tennis Complex at Edgecliff. To get to the Centre, follow the same directions as above for getting to Telstra Stadium. |
| GOLF
ANZ CHAMPIONSHIPS, NSW GOLF COURSE |
The NSW Golf Course will host the ANZ Championship in early February. The Golf Course is located off Anzac Parade at windy coastal La Perouse, which is some 15km south of the City Centre. From the City Centre, either catch Bus Routes 391 or 393 from Central Station or Bus Route 394 from Circular Quay, St James and Museum Stations on Elizabeth Street. Get off at the last stop, which is near the Golf Course entrance. |
| GOLF
AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S OPEN, TERREY HILLS GOLF CLUB |
Terrey Hills Golf Club hosts the Women's Tour Australian Womens Open in late February. The Golf Course is located off Booralie Road Terrey Hills, which is some 25km north of the City. Public transport access to these parts is not good - in fact the closest major CityRail station is Hornsby, which is some 10km away. A taxi from here might be the best bet. |
| ATHLETICS
TELSTRA A-SERIES, CAMPELLTOWN ATHETIC CENTRE |
The Campbelltown Athletic Centre hosts the Telstra A-Series in mid February. The Athletic Centre is located adjacent to Campbelltown Stadium at Leumeah. Follow the same directions to here as above for the Stadium. |
| ATHLETICS
TELSTRA A-SERIES, SYDNEY ATHLETIC CENTRE |
The Sydney Athletic Centre also hosts the Telstra A-Series in late March. The Athletic Centre is located within the Sydney Olympic Park Complex at Homebush Bay. Use the same directions as above for Telstra Stadium and follow the signs to the Athletic Centre. |
| SWIMMING
TELSTRA AUSTRALIAN CHAMPIONSHIPS, SYDNEY INTERNATIONAL AQUATIC CENTRE
|
The Sydney International Aquatic Centre hosts the Telstra Australian Championships at the end of March. The Aquatic Centre is also located within the Sydney Olympic Park Complex at Homebush Bay. Use the same directions as above for Telstra Stadium and follow the signs to the Athletic Centre. |