page_title: Sydney Showground Stadium
section_title: History
hierarchical_section_title: Sydney Showground Stadium / History
caption_attribution_description: Sydney Royal Easter Show,
context_page_description: Sydney Showground Stadium is a sports and events stadium located at the Sydney Showground in Sydney Olympic Park. It hosted the baseball events for the 2000 Summer Olympics. The Showground, including the stadium, is operated by the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, under lease from the New South Wales Government.
  The stadium hosts flagship events of the Sydney Royal Easter Show, such as the Grand Parade. The stadium is also used for sport. It is the primary home ground of the Australian Football League's Greater Western Sydney Giants and the home ground of the Big Bash League's Sydney Thunder. It was also the primary home ground of the A-League's Western Sydney Wanderers during the 2016-17 A-League season. Events and festivals to have been held at the stadium include Soundwave, Big Day Out, Stereosonic and Big Exo Day.
  The stadium opened in 1998 as the Sydney Showground Main Arena. In conjunction with an expansion and upgrade in 2011–12, it was renamed Sydney Showground Stadium.
context_section_description: Giants Stadium was constructed as part of the development of the new Sydney Showground, it was built to replace the ageing Showground at Moore Park and to provide a venue for the 2000 Summer Olympics.
  A $65 million upgrade of the stadium to accommodate the GWS Giants was announced on 9 June 2010. Jointly funded by the NSW Government, the AFL and the RAS, the upgrade included two new stands which increased seating capacity from 13,000 to 25,000 (the stadium seated 13,000 but its full pre-redevelopment capacity was listed as 21,500), upgraded hospitality facilities, improved audio and sound systems and new media facilities. The playing surface was also reconfigured. The upgrade was officially opened on 23 May 2012.
  The RAS is seeking funding from the New South Wales Government to expand the stadium as part of a major upgrade of the Showground precinct. It has targeted a total post-extension capacity of 30,000 seats but is considering revising the target capacity to 35,000 seats.
caption: View of the 2001 Sydney Royal Easter Show Grand Parade, showing the Main Arena prior to redevelopment
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