UFC’s plans to put roof over 4 Pines Park

[Mal Cochrane]

NRL 2024: UFC’s plans to put roof over 4 Pines Park, Vegas 2025 ins and outs, Eels interested Zac Lomax | Sport Confidential​

In a shock crossover, Manly Sea Eagles have held talks with the UFC over a potential 4 Pines Park major upgrade, in the full SPORT CONFIDENTIAL.
Michael Carayannis and Brent Read

7 min read
March 8, 2024 - 2:21PM
News Corp Australia Sports Newsroom
49 comments

Manly have held talks with the UFC over an alliance that could culminate in 4 Pines Park being turned into a modern 20,000 seat stadium with a roof.
Sea Eagles chair and majority owner Scott Penn met UFC powerbrokers while in Las Vegas for the club’s season opener against South Sydney, where they discussed a potential partnership that would result in the UFC using 4 Pines Park as their training base in Australia.
The ambitious plan would crucially mean an overhaul of 4 Pines Park, resulting in the venue being turned into a boutique stadium capable of holding up to 20,000 people.
Penn revealed they were also keen to incorporate a roof as part of the renovation. It is understood the cost of the project could be as much as $300 million, but it would give Sydney’s northern beaches a stadium worthy of hosting an NRL team as well as other major events.

Manly Chairman Scott Penn met with UFC powerbrokers in Las Vegas to discuss a potential partnership. Picture: Getty Images
“We would like to see it as a 20,000 seat stadium with a roof,” Penn said.
“We talked to the UFC guys and they said they would be interested in a partnership with us on it.”
Manly haven’t given up on securing government funding to help with the project and it is understood that chief executive Tony Mestrov will hold talks with government officials in coming weeks over the plan.
The Sea Eagles have discussed incorporating first responder accommodation around the ground as part of their project to help justify government investment.
Manly trained at the impressive UFC headquarters in Las Vegas as part of the preparation for their win over the Rabbitohs.
The UFC Performance Institute is a one-stop shop for UFC fighters, housing a sprawling gym, medical and training facilities and a kitchen.

An alliance with the UFC an alliance could culminate in 4 Pines Park being turned into a modern 20,000 seat stadium with a roof. Picture: Getty Images
The UFC has a similar facility in China and Sydney’s northern beaches could become their base in Australia under a plan that has been put forward by the Sea Eagles.
Manly are keen to return to Las Vegas next year given Penn struck up a relationships with San Francisco 49ers president last week, prompting discussion over the NFL giants buying a stage in the Sea Eagles.

 

[Frogz]

Similar facility in China????... a council owned park??... why would the UFC spend all that cash on something they dont own.?? F#ck me there is an enormous amount of spin from News Ltd journos on the Vegas trip.

 

[Ben]

This would be absolutely incredible if it was to come to fruition. Penn is definitely in the mood to make some big moves and I’m liking it. Really enjoying the leadership at the club over the last year or so.
The club is heading full steam ahead for a very bright future.

 

[Under the Sticks]

UFC? More likely a UFO landing at Brookie.

Roofed stadium would mean carnage for the two year old Bob Fulton stand.

Maybe they are also planning a High Speed Rail to the front door which will be announced next election.

I think I have now covered the last 5 seasons of Utopia!

 

[Ned]

Pipe dream, I can't see any reality where this happens.

 

[The '47ers]

Had a Prime Minister as local member and nothing so....

 

[lsz]

Up there with the days when we were going to be the crazy John’s sea eagles

 

[Under the Sticks]

A

Had a Prime Minister as local member and nothing so....

And two premiers more importantly.

 

[Under the Sticks]

Up there with the days when we were going to be the crazy John’s sea eagles

Roll out the Bernabeu Stadium ripoff renders on cue

 

[BOZO]

Eagles Undercover .....
Sounds Good to me

 

[mave]

Im going to have to see an artists impression before I believe this news.

 

[Ryan]

But, but, but, where are the plans projecting what it will look like hahahaha

 

[Shoe1]

What about playing in the wet? I love it in the rain.

 

[The Wheel]

For once I hope on these would come off, just once

 

[LeonardCohen]

A football ground with a roof just flies in the face of everything that is great about rugby league. Our game is working class and there is nothing better than the atmosphere of the sun streaming down upon the hill on a beautiful Sunday afternoon on the Northern Beaches, or the stars shinning on a Manly victory on a chilly Saturday evening.

Keep your crappy fancy roof to yourself UFC.

 

[ManlyTragic]

I like the idea….. we always seem to play crap in the wet!

Just sayin’

 

[Highflier]

Not until I see a diorama will I believe this

 

[The '47ers]

Not until I see a diorama will I believe this

View down from roof

 

[HoldenV8]

Brookvale Oval has had more upgrade/rebuild "plans" than most people make New Years Resolutions. And they all seem to last as long.

 

[manly al]

Bit hard to see a suitable return on investment with this type of proposal even for a very large scale U S company .
Unless it also included integrating some commercial or business operations on some of the street frontages around certain parts of the ground and that was mooted some years ago in another ground upgrading or development proposal .
Then incorporating other activities for the ground and facility successfully or in a serious way .
Just based on previous examples , probably very limited interest in government funding or major contribution .
Have to be something in it for the local council as well or at least some reasonable indication of local community benefit .
No harm in ambitious proposals that at least look good on paper or theoretical but really has to stack up in the realistic stakes at some early stage before it can have some level of credibility .