Amid the grandstanding, Sydney’s new stadium leaves same issues unresolved

The Allianz Stadium has been rebuilt at a cost of $800m but the harbour city still lacks the right grounds in the right places

• Get our free news app, morning email briefing or daily news podcast

Walking into Sydney's new Allianz Stadium feels a bit like walking into an old house with new fixtures. Everything is a bit brighter and works a little better - the couch somehow feels closer to the TV and that pesky leak in the roof has stopped - but the foundations are much the same.

That isn't all that surprising given the architectural firm that designed the old 42,500-capacity venue is the same firm that designed the new 42,500-capacity venue. But it does prompt a query: if a stadium is demolished and rebuilt to look strikingly similar, was it rebuilt at all? If the New South Wales government had not spent $828m on it, could we say it had really happened?