<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The playing surface at Sydney's $870 million Allianz Stadium is to undergo a major repair job despite being just three years old. </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>A recent investigation has found the turf simply isn't draining properly, leaving it waterlogged in heavy rain.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It has, too often, resembled more of a swamp that a football field, leaving players soggy and underwhelmed.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/trump-putin-meeting-first-lady-melania-trump-writes-letter-to-russian-president/9ea285b2-0079-436d-9540-86c7b96241a2"><strong><span>'It is time': Trump hands Putin letter written by wife Melania</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fullback Clint Gutherson last year called it "probably one of the worst fields I've played on for a while." </span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Now, after a major investigation, the waterlogged surface at Allianz is to be ripped up and replaced.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"It hasn't been good enough and, for a stadium that in every other way is absolutely brilliant beautifully located, the punters absolutely love it. The surface has let down playing teams," NSW Premier Chris Minns said.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/allianz-stadium-stdney-playing-field-replacement/2984ad7c-78cf-405f-a2c2-f570509a65a4" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Venues NSW says the investigation found the sand drainage layer of the field, installed at the time of construction, is contaminated with too much clay and fine silt.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>That means it drains at 40mm an hour instead of 300 to 600mm an hour.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/hurricane-erin-rapidly-intensifies-into-category-five-storm/4bea666a-2ada-4f60-9dfd-2f28ee5db61a"><strong><span>Rare, rapidly-developing Hurricane Erin intensifies into Category 5 storm</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Minns promised it won't be taxpayers footing the bill.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"For want of a better expression, it's still under warranty. I mean, the thing's brand new so we would expect the builder to fix it up," Minns said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Replacing the contaminated sand will take an estimated ten weeks starting September 13, to be ready for two concerts in December.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>New turf will then be installed in time for Sydney FC's first home matches in January.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"We want the stadium up to scratch, it's important that, as a showpiece stadium, one of the best in the country if niot the world that it's as good on the playing field as it is in the stands," Minns said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f"><em><strong><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727"><em><strong><span>Apple App Store</span></strong></em></a><span> </span><em><strong><span>and</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1"><em><strong><span>Google Play</span></strong></em></a><em><strong><span>.</span></strong></em></div></div>