sport news Angry fans slam $828billion Sydney Football Stadium rebuild as they get their ... trends now Fans have been given a glimpse inside the newly-rebuilt $828million Sydney Football Stadium (SFS) as the ground prepares to hold its grand opening on September 2 - but many have slammed the excessive cost and postulated whether it is in fact any different. Also known as Allianz Stadium, demolition began on the original SFS in 2019 after it opened 34 years ago, with the redevelopment costing taxpayers a staggering $828million. The new 42,500-seat stadium features a 360-degree open concourse both inside and outside the ground, steeper seating angles and a roof that is supposed to cover all seating areas. The eye-catching blue seating was designed by Indigenous artist Tony Albert, and depicts 'two worlds colliding: water and land'. A look at the artwork on the new Sydney Football Stadium redevelopment, which was designed by Indigenous artist Tony Albert The state government's Tourism Minister, Stuart Ayres, was on hand to look over the completed stadium, and said it would ensure NSW could 'host the best sporting and entertainment talent' in not just the nation, but the world. 'This state-of-the-art venue has the best community and player facilities in the country and I can't wait for everyone to experience it,' he said at a press conference on the new turf. 'I know it's been a long time coming for fans, but I know as soon as they step inside, they'll see the wait was worth it.' No doubt regular tenants like the NSW Waratahs and Sydney FC would agree - but taxpayers aren't so sure. A look at the newly rebuilt Sydney Football Stadium from the air NSW Tourism Minister Stuart Ayres inspects the brand new Sydney Football Stadium The grand opening at the Roosters vs Rabbitohs NRL game on September 2 will be the first in a jam-packed weekend of fixtures; with a Wallabies Test and Matildas friendly following on consecutive days. It'll be exciting for many sports fans after almost three years since the last event at the stadium - but at what cost? The new stadium does certainly look eye-catching and slick in photos, but the question becomes whether spending $828million of taxpayer money was worth it. The previous SFS was 34 years old, but many sports stadiums around the world have lifetimes of 50 or more years. Can you spot the difference? The old Sydney Football Stadium in December, 2018 The fact the seating capacity wasn't increased was pointed out by many on social media, while others questioned why the money wasn't spent on schooling and health care when both industries are severely struggling for staff and funding. Many also suggested the upgrades still only appear 'minor', and that the previous SFS was often only half-full for NRL, Super Rugby and A-League games. We knocked down a 45000 seat stadium to build another. Nurses and teachers do not get pay rises. Coincidence me think not. — Jason MARKS (@JasonMA29309156) August 1, 2022 So disappointing that we spent so much on such a minor upgrade.Should have went all in and spent more for a truly great stadium, or saved the money.50-55k, with a curtained top tier lowering it to ~30-35k would have been amazing. And the bottom tier still looks so flat. — Alex Carter (@abbacarter) August 2, 2022 Prominent journalist Peter Fitzsimons has been a particularly vocal critic of the state government's decision to spend so much money on both the Stadium Australia and Sydney Football Stadiums when they aren't particularly old. He started a petition, which was signed by 223,746 people, to stop the NSW Government wasting money on rebuilding the two stadiums; and has continued to voice his displeasure consistently over the last five years. In his regular column on June 25, Fitzsimons lashed the state government yet again. 'And yet beyond the ludicrousness of knocking down a perfectly fine stadium to build a new one that looks remarkably similar – same architectural firm, as a matter of fact – the NSW Government’s largesse to NRL clubs is already well established,' he wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald. An artists mock-up of the outside of the for a NSW Waratahs game If you think the new and old Sydney Football Stadiums look almost identical, that's because the same architectural firm designed it again. Granted the artwork on the seats does jazz the place up a bit - but the redevelopment begs the question, was it necessary to spend almost a billion dollars to achieve a slightly shinier version? If social media is anything to go by, many think not. All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility