{"id":354836,"date":"2025-12-17T22:59:45","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T22:59:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/354836\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T22:59:45","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T22:59:45","slug":"nsw-premier-confirms-why-south-sydney-wont-play-nrl-home-games-at-allianz-stadium-in-2026-and-beyond","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/354836\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW Premier confirms why South Sydney won’t play NRL home games at Allianz Stadium in 2026 and beyond"},"content":{"rendered":"

Locked into a lengthy deal at Sydney Olympic ParkWould cost an estimated $14.5 million to break contract\u00a0<\/p>\n

By ANDREW PRENTICE, SPORTS REPORTER, AUSTRALIA <\/p>\n

Published: 23:06 EST, 12 December 2025 | Updated: 01:19 EST, 14 December 2025 <\/p>\n

NSW<\/a> Premier\u00a0Chris Minns has confirmed why the South Sydney Rabbitohs have been ‘blocked’ from returning to Moore Park.<\/p>\n

After spending the past two decades hosting NRL<\/a> games at Sydney Olympic Park, many fans want to see their team play closer to their training base at Maroubra.<\/p>\n

The foundation club were keen to\u00a0move home games to Allianz Stadium – the same venue as their bitter rivals, the Sydney Roosters, as well as Sydney FC and the NSW Waratahs.<\/p>\n

But given South Sydney’s lengthy contract at Accor Stadium, it won’t be happening anytime soon.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘We don’t want to block anyone, but the club entered into a commercial arrangement out at Homebush for a number of years,’ Minns told SEN.<\/p>\n

‘It would cost taxpayers about $14.5 million (we think) to break that contract.<\/p>\n

\"NSW <\/p>\n

NSW Premier Chris Minns has confirmed why the South Sydney Rabbitohs have been ‘blocked’ from returning to Moore Park<\/p>\n

\"After <\/p>\n

After spending the past two decades playing home games at Sydney Olympic Park, many fans want to see their team play closer to their training base at Maroubra<\/p>\n

\"Minns <\/p>\n

Minns also felt it was important that the Rabbitohs see out their deal, which is believed to end in 2030 (pictured, fullback Latrell Mitchell)<\/p>\n

‘The reason for that is, once Homebush Stadium knows they’ve got a tenant like South Sydney for home games, they sell corporate suites.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘They lease out the contract or the concession for food and drink and beverages and everything else.<\/p>\n

‘If all of a sudden the (NSW) government says, ‘I know that they had a five-year contract for Homebush, but we’re not going to do that anymore,’ we then have to pay, probably in cash, with the vendors that we had arrangements with.’<\/p>\n

Minns also felt it was important the Rabbitohs see out their deal, which is believed to end in 2030.\u00a0<\/p>\n

‘It’s not my money, it’s taxpayer money. I’d love to be able to do it, grant the request for Souths to move back to Moore Park, but I think the contract’s got to be honoured,’ he added.<\/p>\n

‘The minister’s speaking with South Sydney about a potential way through it, because if there’s an uplift at Moore Park, maybe it can offset the costs at Olympic Park.<\/p>\n

‘But it’s a difficult one to navigate.’<\/p>\n

In 2022 after Allianz Stadium was reopened following an $828 million upgrade, South Sydney CEO Blake Solly stated:\u00a0‘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.<\/p>\n

The Bunnies left Moore Park for Stadium Australia – as Accor Stadium used to be known – in 2005 to grow their membership. They also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) committing to remain at the venue for the long-term.<\/p>\n

The agreement was contingent on the NSW government’s pledge to permanently turn the Homebush venue into a rectangular stadium.<\/p>\n

But the state government instead opted to direct funds towards the redevelopment of Allianz Stadium and other suburban grounds.<\/p>\n

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