That is no knock on the wonderful team who punch above their weight to present the centre in the manner they do. You could only feel for them on Sunday night when they watched their facility embarrassed on the national and international stage.

Make no mistake, as a community we should be embarrassed. This spectacular site deserves to be planned and rebuilt as a world class, integrated entertainment and retail precinct, 365 days of the year. We deserve nothing less. What are the components that can help make this happen?

Anyone who has tried to send a picture from a Hawks game knows that technology is not one of precinct's strengths. In 2022, over 500 international media will converge on Wollongong to cover the road cycling championships and they need somewhere to base themselves, a role that the En Modern stadiums improve the guest experience through social media interaction with teams and the ability to order food and drinks from your seats rather than wait in lines while tries are scored and classics are sung. The ability to host e-gaming should also be on the cards. Best we add technology to our vision.

The views from the precinct are stunning yet when you are inside the facility you would have no idea you can see water. Let's face it, you are inside a tin shed. Whatever the future use of the Entertainment Centre site, it needs to maximise the value of its location. International conference delegates would love to be distracted by ocean views and breaching whales. The fact the precinct sits metres from the beach is our point of difference. Best we make the most of it.

Historically, when the showground was built back in 1911, showground number two was known as the "Village Green", a place where the community met. A component of any master plan should include returning part of the site to the community as a genuine community asset, with a mix of commercial and free uses. This could include any combination of immersive playground, walking and bike trail networks, half-court basketball, water play, picnic grounds and pop-up food and beverage vendors. London's O2 Arena boasts best practice precinct development, allowing for seven-day-a-week activation. Having the community engaged with the space on a daily basis can only underpin future investments in the precinct.

We hear wonderful words like "multi-use asset" bandied around when it comes to this redevelopment. However, the reality is "purpose built facilities" are more profitable and user friendly. A basketball court is not efficiently repurposed into a concert venue, and certainly not into a conference facility. Each of the uses has different requirements and attempting to cater to all is a good way to secure a lot of site inspections and very few bookings. Identifying the best long term use for the site and investing accordingly is crucial.

Wollongong has a critical shortage of accommodation, which will likely get worse before it gets better. Any master planning process needs to address this and allocate suitable space for short-term visitor accommodation. Innovative solutions may be required. Creative use of air space, relocation of other facilities and uses, quarantining or re-zoning of land by government - look at all options. We need to find a solution; it's as simple as that.

We all know parking at the precinct is a problem. Stewart Street car park could be adapted into a multi deck parking facility, but given the lack of land in the area, it's hard to see that being the best use of this significant space. The Blue Mile Master Plan adopted by council over 20 years ago suggested parking should be located under Lang Park, similar to the Domain in Sydney. Are better public transport solutions and connections a more sustainable solution? Entertainment precincts are no longer planned with car parking being the primary transport solution - Perth's market-leading Optus Stadium is a case in point - and ours should be no different.

Most importantly of all, any future uses of this site need to be developed with the community and the fans who are spending their hard earned money buying tickets front of mind.

Getting the vision right now will ensure that the best grass in town is growing on WIN Stadium, not in the gutters of an underperforming, unloved and outdated facility next door.

Mark Sleigh is the general manager of Destination Wollongong

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