Host city price hike threatens Canberra's international sporting status as 2027 rugby World Cup bid waits

The Canberra Times can reveal the capital is at serious risk of being left out of Australia's rugby World Cup bid for 2027, despite being one of only a handful of rugby union strongholds in the country.

ACT Sport Minister Yvette Berry says the government will delay re-entering the marquee sport bidding war until the coronavirus pandemic subsides and international travel increases.

But it may come too late, with interstate rivals desperate for content at new or refurbished stadiums, which is driving up the cost of being a host venue.

The ACT government has already opted not to host games for the men's Twenty20 cricket World Cup next year and the women's soccer World Cup in 2023, citing exorbitant match fees and demands.

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The same decision could be made about rugby. It's understood Rugby Australia has contacted potential host cities to negotiate deals, but the ACT fell well below the asking price. It's believed the match fees required for a variety of sports are now considered "out of Canberra's league".

Ms Berry insists securing sporting content is "definitely on the radar", but there are fears among administrators it has become unviable for Canberra to compete.

ACT Brumbies chairman Matt Nobbs was hopeful the government could still strike a deal with Rugby Australia as it enters the final stage of the bid process.

"We hope that Canberra can be a part of the World Cup if Australia's successful," Mr Nobbs said. "If we weren't, it would be terribly disappointing for the rugby community and Canberra community to not have the capital city involved in a World Cup."

The government has changed its sporting event strategy over the past 10 years. The centenary celebrations in 2013 helped Canberra secure international cricket, soccer, rugby league, netball, basketball, golf and rugby union.

The government no longer wants to be a sporting afterthought, refusing to accept lower-tier matches and instead aiming for marquee fixtures.

The government opted to host women's Twenty20 cricket World Cup matches last year because it was guaranteed to host Australia, choosing to go down that path rather than hosting lower-ranked men's teams.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr declared: "That era [of exhibition games] is behind us. We'll never, ever be left behind in the way we were previously across pretty well all of the major sports.

The trade-off of no longer chasing lower-ranked games is that prices increase when targeting the top teams and Canberra is finding it difficult to compete against NSW, Queensland, Western Australia and Victoria.

All have new venues or have invested in stadium rebuilds while Canberra Stadium is nearing 50 years old and the AIS Arena has been shut because Sport Australia deemed it unsafe for events.

Manuka Oval, however, will host Big Bash cricket this summer as well as a women's Ashes Test and a Twenty20 international between New Zealand and Australia.

The AFL is also finalising its draw for next year, with Canberra to host up to four games in what will be the final year of a 10-year, $23 million deal with the GWS Giants.

Neither Cricket Australia or the AFL have contracts beyond next year, but both organisations have been in regular contact with the government throughout the pandemic.

"When we were looking at ways for people to celebrate sport last year ... we've seen how important sport is to the community's health and wellbeing," Ms Berry said.

"We want to make sure we have those opportunities in place. We still have the promise for the Matildas game coming before the World Cup [in 2023] and we've got that in our minds to bring an opportunity for people to engage in sport. I'd like to see more opportunities for more sport in the ACT.

"We're looking at [sporting events] ... Once we get over those [pandemic], it's definitely on the radar."

Ms Berry said talks were ongoing with Football Australia about hosting a postponed Matildas game, but there's no indication of when that will be or who it will be against.

The Wallabies were set to play Argentina at Canberra Stadium last month, but the game was cancelled because of coronavirus restrictions. Berry said there have been no discussions yet to reschedule the game.

Rugby World Cup bid team members have previously expressed concern about the age of Canberra Stadium, former Wallabies captain Phil Kearns saying: "By the time of the World Cup, Canberra Stadium will be 50 years old so it doesn't qualify [to host]. So Canberra will need to get a bit of a wriggle on if they want to get a World Cup game."

Canberra was considered a genuine chance of hosting State of Origin this year when COVID forced a change of plans in Sydney, but Queensland swooped with a financial offer far greater than what the ACT could provide.

The AIS Arena is being used as a COVID vaccination hub, but has been deemed unsafe to use for sports or events when it is no longer required by ACT Health.

Manuka Oval is in the best shape of all three and has been a regular international cricket and AFL venue for the better part of a decade, but it can only cater for 15,000 fans.

Ms Berry said the ongoing AIS Arena shutdown was frustrating. The government has not been able to strike a deal with its federal counterparts about funding the necessary work to reopen the doors.

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