Andrew Barr and Shane Rattenbury are on track for a post-election stadium collision over costs and location after ACT Labor formally rejected the Greens' bid to spruce up Bruce.
The stadium issue has been a hot topic during the ACT election campaign as the major parties outline their differing views and plans to revamp the biggest venue in the capital.
Labor is committed to building a new venue on a new site in Bruce, the Greens want to spend an undetermined amount on upgrading the existing stadium and the Canberra Liberals unveiled an option on the Acton waterfront.
The saga has dragged on for the past 15 years after Barr first floated the idea of a Bruce revamp in 2009. His latest vision has been pencilled in to be complete by the early 2030s.
But Labor will have to rebuff attempts from the Greens if the parties form a coalition after the election on October 19, with Rattenbury adamant a brand-new stadium would be a waste of money.
Barr commissioned a stadium costing report earlier this year. It said a new stadium in Civic would cost $2.9 billion, a new stadium in Bruce would be $1.9 billion and a refurbishment of the existing facility at $1.2 billion.
Rattenbury said his party would push a stadium down the priority list and invest "a couple of hundred million" into minor upgrades at the existing venue.
Barr swatted away that plan at the ACT leaders debate on Tuesday night. Asked if the stadium project would ever materialise given the Greens' opposition, Barr said: "Yes, we are committed to undertake a project at the AIS precinct.
"But it's not the No. 1 infrastructure priority for our city, that is clear. The timeframe we've talked about is commencement later this decade, completion in the early 2030s."
Barr and Liberals leader Elizabeth Lee did their best to dodge the stadium question in the 30-minute debate televised on ABC.
They initially talked up their individual plans, but were quick to point to the need for other infrastructure investment given stadium talk is one of the most divisive topics of the election campaign.
Sports fans and teams see the need for investment at Bruce or a new venue given the main infrastructure is almost 50 years old. Non-sporting fans want the money spent elsewhere - transport, health or education.
"There's no doubt we need a long-term infrastructure plan and a Canberra Liberals government will deliver on infrastructure projects that bring the most economic, social and cultural benefits to our broader community," Lee said.
Lee pointed to the stadium at Parramatta as an example of economic impact, claiming each event at the new venue generates $1 million for the surrounding businesses.
"Canberra is the nation's capital [and] we deserve to be able to attend world-class events, international sporting matches. We were the only city in the world that did not even bid for a [women's soccer] World Cup game. That is an international embarrassment."
Asked what Barr thought of the Liberals plan to build in the city, he reiterated his commitment to Bruce.
"We are committed to a stadium at the Australian Institute of Sport precinct as part of a rejuvenation," he said.
"... We are focused on our 10-year infrastructure plan ... No. 1 on that list is the new Northside Hospital."
Rattenbury is standing by the Greens' plan to invest a minimal amount because "we've got a terrific stadium out there".
"We saw a game out there earlier this year when the Socceroos played. [There was] 25,000 Canberrans turn up. That was an important international event and when it came here, Canberrans really got into it," Rattenbury said on ABC Canberra.
"There's no barrier to Canberra hosting a major international sporting occasion.
"We certainly think [the stadium] could do with a refresh, and that's the point we've made. But when you've got a piece of infrastructure that has good life left in it, I don't think that's a reason to discard it and move along."
'We can bring Bruce up to a good standard': Greens' stadium plan revealed
The ACT Greens say "a couple of hundred million dollars" can revive Canberra Stadium, declaring a modest investment can bring the ageing venue into the modern era.
While the ACT Labor and the Canberra Liberals are locked in a war of words about the location of a new stadium, Greens leader Shane Rattenbury has outlined a preference to give the current stadium a facelift to elevate a fan's game day experience.
Rattenbury says investment in a stadium should come second to community sport facilities - for which the Greens have promised to invest more than $224 million - in the ACT election race.
The Canberra Liberals put a Civic Stadium back on the agenda with Elizabeth Lee unveiling plans for a 30,000-seat stadium at Acton Waterfront.
If elected, the Liberals have promised to end years of uncertainty by building a new stadium at the West Basin site, which Chief Minister Andrew Barr had earmarked for luxury apartments.
Barr's preference is to build a new venue at Bruce, but he is yet to settle on a preferred site after turning his back on the vision for a stadium in the city.
But after staying out of the stadium debate for some time, Rattenbury says the existing stadium - which was built in 1977 - still has life in it.
"In terms of the infrastructure priorities in the city, a new stadium is not on the top of the list from us," Rattenbury said.
"Bruce Stadium certainly needs some refreshing, both for player amenity - modern sports infrastructure is far beyond what is currently at Bruce - and fan amenity as well, the concessions and the like.
"For a modest investment, we can bring Bruce Stadium up to a good standard Canberrans can really enjoy.
"I was out at the Socceroos game this year, a big crowd, the biggest complaint was getting in and out of the ground. A bit of investment in getting the bus lines marked in would make a real difference to people's game day experience as well in our view."
A set of figures released by the ACT government suggested the price of a new 30,000-seat city stadium on the Civic pool site would sit between $2.128 billion and $2.9 billion.
The government's preferred option of a new stadium on a new site at Bruce would cost between $1.339 billion and $1.869 billion, while a refurbishment of the existing venue would cost between $1.163 billion and $1.194 billion.
ACT Sports Minister Yvette Berry said the costs of upgrading the current site would include "minor cosmetic and operational improvements", as well as upgrades to hospitality areas, bathrooms, seating and a new multi-storey car park.
"What I found interesting in that was they had a lot of figures in there that went to things outside the actual stadium, a multi-storey car park and the like at Bruce," Rattenbury said.
"I don't think they're the things fans are focused on. The focus needs to be in the ground.
"For a couple of hundred million dollars, you could do a good job of upgrading Bruce and bringing it back to being a comfortable stadium with modern amenities that fans expect these days."
'Worrying': Greens' plan criticised
The crown jewel in the ACT Greens' vision for sport has attracted criticism on the road to the ACT election amid concerns of a "worrying" trend across the capital.
At the top of the Greens' priority list for sport is a $124 million injection into immediate projects outlined as major priorities by Canberra's sporting bodies, and a further $100 million in a long-term plan to improve the city's facilities.
"We have been clear, our focus when it comes to sporting expenditure is on community sport," Greens leader Shane Rattenbury said.
"Literally seven days a week across Canberra, people are out there doing activities and we want to make sure they've got good facilities."
The Greens say the crucial part of their vision is to create a new sports and recreation peak body - led by two full-time employees in positions created by an $800,000, four-year investment - to provide sports with a direct voice to government.
The plan has attracted criticism after a former sport and recreation body, ACT Sport, was axed during Rattenbury's time as Sports Minister in 2015 amid financial struggles and a shifting sporting landscape.
"Independents for Canberra announced our commitment to a new peak body for sport and a 10-year strategic facilities plan five weeks ago," Independents for Canberra leader Thomas Emerson said.
"This is another example of the major parties following the lead of independents, which is becoming a trend in this campaign and is exactly how we perceive our role.
"What's worrying is that when sporting organisations across the ACT were asked for input on necessary facilities upgrades in early 2023, respondents reported 267 facilities were in need of work. According to all the sporting organisations I've spoken with, nothing has happened since."
