Perth’s new stadium has been put in doubt by the new Liberal Premier, Colin Barnett. As part of a deal with the National Party that gave the Liberals the majority, Barnett pledged a quarter of Western Australia’s mining royalties to regional Western Australia.
This equates to removing $625 million from the State’s bottom line. With a number of large infrastructure projects in the pipeline, Perth’s new football stadium is in the firing land.
There are further concerns for those in favour of the new stadium:
“I do find it difficult in my mind to justify a billion dollars of tax-payers money on an extra 20,000 seats,” Barnett said, after a cabinet meeting yesterday.
So what does Barnett offer to appease the West Australian sporting public?
The proposal from the West Australian Football Commission to redevelop the aging Subiaco Oval has reemerged as an alternative for the Premier.
However, Barnett did not rule out building a new stadium.
Barnett said he will meet AFL chief Andrew Demetriou this week to discuss the options for a new football stadium at Kitchener Park or a progressive rebuild of Subiaco Oval.
So what does this mean for West Australian sport?
Both the West Coast and Fremantle Football clubs had more members than seats available this season, though they rarely filled the stadium. So there is no doubt there is a need for a larger capacity in anticipation of better days.
The Force desperately need a rectangular ground with Subiaco being blamed for declining membership numbers and crowd attendances.
So it can be presumed that the Force would be in favour of the proposed entirely new stadium, which is to have retractable seating.
The Glory are in the midst of another poor season and their entire future has been cast in doubt by both major West Australian papers.
As a result, the needs of the Glory are unlikely to be considered as it is extremely unlikely that they will fill the old Perth Oval in the foreseeable future, barring finals or ACL games, which both seem as unlikely as a full stadium.
However, with constant talk of Australia’s bid for an upcoming football World Cup, there is still a need for Perth to have a suitable stadium for hosting international football.
Such a requirement is, again, like the Force, in favour of a retractable seating stadium.
So what will Barnett do? Redevelop Subiaco or build a new stadium at Meuller Park?
Paul
Guest
With the new stadium now in doubt, maybe the Libs will pull their finger out and force the WAFL to co own the new stadium in it's rightful location.......... BURSWOOD. The demolition and subsequent sale of the land at Subi will more than cover the costs of a joint run brand new stadium on the Burswood Peninsula. Let the residents of leafy Subiaco have their peaceful existence back and let's build the friggin' the right !! A brand new state of the art stadium on the city's eastern doorstep, showcasing the river and the peninsula is obviously the only way to go.This amounts to a lot more than just a stadium. The whole peninsula could be turned into a new family friendly entertainment precinct along the river bank where everyone can enjoy the facilities either before or after a game, concert or show. Imagine a stadium with a ferry terminal to transport fans, a monorail link with the casino, Perth foreshore and Northbridge for people to "kick on" afterwards. Burswood were willing to pour in $500 million toward creating a wonderful area for everyone to enjoy........... Subiaco already is bursting even when footy season finishes, here is a wonderful chance to create a new sporting/social precinct away from the crowded laneways of Subiaco, Fremantle and Northbridge.....the opportunity is here to showcase our city to the world in terms of a world class destination as well as putting on world class events !! The money is there, the land, the developers, the vision, the opportunity as well as further financial backing to complement the area, all that's needed now is someone with the balls to make the right decision. 75,000 seats and nothing less...........so for the next 50 years, SORTED... Or is it just me ???
ren
Roar Rookie
honestly midfielder im not sure. There has been some word of one of the original owners getting involved once more. (Afkos, i think). but my main concern with WA sport is the footy and the warriors (I've got a good feeling about this season) so i dont feel I have the necessary knowledge to make any judgement. having said that i think you have asked me this before. just a quick thought- the development pathways for jnrs. in footy there is a clear path for kids with auskick, jnrs, school, amateur, country leagues, wafl, afl. Rugby is improving this but there doesn't seem to my mind to be anything happening from soccer. (when I was at primary school in the late nineties, we had a couple of footy, cricket and even hockey skills sessions each year, never soccer). I guess it leads to you watch what you play.
Midfielder
Guest
Ren In your opinion aside from winning a few games what do the Glory Boys need to do to get back their crowds. Some have said that the controls by FFA in Hal 1 on shed behaviour has turned the Shed support away ...... and the colour the shed brought to Glory is a miising part of PG today ....... ant views ......
ren
Guest
Interestingly in today's west the WAFC said that they preferred a new stadium vs a redeveloped subi. Their main gripes being it would be equally expensive and at times have a greatly diminished capacity
Midfielder
Guest
Just adding to the Perth position is the AU having made the ACL finals cannot even get seating improved … secondly the treatment of football ……. By as I understand it by a non football person saying what football folk have been saying for yonks now Plus an AU story coming out of Adelaide. (http://business.theage.com.au/business/tvs-switch-to-a-different-game-20081021-55j2.html) The minister told the Senate estimates committee on Monday: "The free-to-air networks should hang their collective heads in shame for how they've treated football (soccer) in the past. "We should thank Foxtel and Austar. Without them we wouldn't have an A-League," he said, referring to the lucrative rights deal the subscription networks signed with the Football Federation of Australia that has ensured regular coverage of A-League games and the Socceroos' World Cup qualifying matches, after Channel Seven held the rights but rarely broadcast soccer. (http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,24540050-5006301,00.html) Over 100 comments to this story running in Adelaide Now No more seats for Reds' final October 23, 2008 02:30pm THE State Government will not install extra seating for Adelaide United's Asian Champions League final against Japan's Gamba Osaka next month. Instead, the Government is in talks with the Adelaide City Council to erect a large screen in Elder Park to cater for those who cannot buy a ticket to the match. Sport Minister Michael Wright said there was also a problem with availability of suitable temporary seating Comments This State Government not installingl extra seating is no surprise. This is the same State Government whose leader stated that AAMi could be upgraded to accomadate world football on advice received. yeaaaaaaaaahhh Posted by: c of in las vegas 5:27pm today Comment 128 of 128 Telecast and broadcast to millions - SA Government will have faces redder than a United shirt. The world will realise what we already know. GO YOU REDS - so proud of you all
Midfielder
Guest
Just adding to the Perth position is the AU having made the ACL finals cannot even get seating improved … secondly the treatment of football ……. By as I understand it by a non football person saying what football folk have been saying for yonks now Plus an AU story coming out of Adelaide. (http://business.theage.com.au/business/tvs-switch-to-a-different-game-20081021-55j2.html) The minister told the Senate estimates committee on Monday: "The free-to-air networks should hang their collective heads in shame for how they've treated football (soccer) in the past. "We should thank Foxtel and Austar. Without them we wouldn't have an A-League," he said, referring to the lucrative rights deal the subscription networks signed with the Football Federation of Australia that has ensured regular coverage of A-League games and the Socceroos' World Cup qualifying matches, after Channel Seven held the rights but rarely broadcast soccer. (http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/comments/0,22638,24540050-5006301,00.html) Over 100 comments to this story running in Adelaide Now No more seats for Reds' final October 23, 2008 02:30pm THE State Government will not install extra seating for Adelaide United's Asian Champions League final against Japan's Gamba Osaka next month. Instead, the Government is in talks with the Adelaide City Council to erect a large screen in Elder Park to cater for those who cannot buy a ticket to the match. Sport Minister Michael Wright said there was also a problem with availability of suitable temporary seating Comments This State Government not installingl extra seating is no surprise. This is the same State Government whose leader stated that AAMi could be upgraded to accomadate world football on advice received. yeaaaaaaaaahhh Posted by: c of in las vegas 5:27pm today Comment 128 of 128 Telecast and broadcast to millions - SA Government will have faces redder than a United shirt. The world will realise what we already know. GO YOU REDS - so proud of you all
Redb
Roar Guru
Westy, Therefore both Adelaide and Perth are fine. Redb
Michael C
Guest
Gerry - we hear your gripe - - - - but, really, why should it be any different??
Midfielder
Guest
Westy SMH ........ said the report shows a net income to Australia of over 3 billion .........
Westy
Guest
I merely say this in information only. The federal Cabinet was today considering the proposal to support Australia's world Cup bid including its requirement to have 8 grounds available across the mainland states with a minimum 40000 capacity.
Gerry
Guest
Shaun, Since those Stadium Taskforce forums were written the WAFC through the AFL convinced the ex Carpenter government that they would be dissadvantaged if they could not run the Stadium ( ie screw $250,000 out of the Force each home game). While the Stadium Taskforce says it can re-configure the stadium in 8 hours the other clause in the report is that " the Eagles and Dockers are priority tenants" - and based on previous experience over here that means they they can do anything they like to disrupt Force game eg pre booking game time over Force games as happened with the Crusaders match this year where we had to play on a Sunday afternoon in terrible heat or not marking the lines fully so that they can paint them out easier for their games the next day. http://www.weneedcorners.com
Midfielder
Guest
Ren Not to sure if this will make you happy or sad ........ but in NSW our state gov does not know what a surplus is ...... and everything is falling apart ...... in by elections last week there was about 30% swing against the NSW gov ...... if this swing holds true in the state election NSW labour will hold about 3 seats and will no longer be seen as a major political party as per rules of NSW parliment ......... thats how bad everything is run down.
Koala Bear
Guest
Shaun, I certainly hope it gets off the ground; it really is very impressive and if the 2018 FIFA world cup is won; no doubt it will get also Federal Government support .. It is very interesting to see in the Video that the both ends of the stadium come in as well as the sides that is what has been a gross negative in the Sydney Olympic (ANZ) stadium .. It certainly looks like it will do the job for 4 codes of Football and Cricket .. Sure hope the 2018 FIFA world cup comes to Australia so it will happen ;) ~~~~~~~~ KB
ren
Roar Rookie
midfielder- there has been a lot written in our local press how Rudd's future fund will largely go to sydney, mainly because perth and others have managed their infrastructure well. The new railway line has recently opened, the eastern line is being extended and groundwork has begun on the new hospital. The only thing put at risk by the stadium is the royalties to regions scheme, and tax cuts (which are currently being slated). Though I am a little confused as to what has happened to our $2 billion surplus from the last state budget.
mudskipper
Guest
Western Australia is the land of the generous deal and the home of the big Deal-breaker...Push for a purpose built rectangular field Force fans and accept nothing less. Traditionally stadiums are built over time and don’t have to be built complete with one huge cost up front, look at the MCG still been added to this year. A more modern example is the Canberra Stadium built alongside the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS), it has been added to over years and even after 25 plus years it still has room for development. Furthermore it’s a great well pointed modern stadium to watch rugby and sits in its semi bush environment comfortably. A realistic finical development plan is what is needed; another example is Skilled stadium on the Gold coast.
Shaun
Roar Rookie
KB- I definately hope it will fly- perhaps not so quickly in the face of politics though.. Gerry- If you take a look at the article in question you will see that it says: "Taking no more than eight hours to reconfigure the stands using this high-tech system, a Friday night Western Force crowd will be out celebrating while the stadium will be converted to AFL mode for the next West Coast Eagles or Fremantle Dockers home game." Management will be determined by an independant trust, as ren alluded to and as the website also says: "The new stadium will be owned by the government and governed by an independent trust. Day to day management of the new stadium which includes the oversight of bookings, hirers, scheduling, catering, cleaning, maintenance and ticketing will be determined by the trust prior to the completion of the stadium." http://www.perthstadium.com.au/index.php?id=33 So you just have to hope that said independant trust won't be filled with pro-AFL members.. I have faith(despite my not living in Perth!) that this will go ahead and be probably the best thing for ALL codes in Perth.
Midfielder
Guest
In the current economic climate no government of either colour State or Commonwealth ........ other than for a WC bid will invest in new stadiums. The WC stadiums only then if we are successful in the bidding process. In NSW there is not a single piece of infer-structure managed by the NSW State Government that is not falling apart, it would be a brave government to build a new stadium instead of a new TAFE or Bridge in NSW. I assume other states are in similar situations ........so WS / SA, QLD are not about to commit either as I see it, Vic will finish their new stadium, NSW will finish SCG and may upgrade WIN but that’s about it for the foreseeable future as I see it.
Koala Bear
Guest
Norm, have you noticed that Jimbo has been missing for some time on the this forum.. :D Ren, I had no idea it rained every weekend during the Grooky season .. :( Shaun, that looks very impressive ... But will it fly..? :D ~~~~~~~ KB
Norm
Guest
KB.."and the beautiful athletically sculpted female bodies who will procreate the future Socceroos for the 2018 FIFA WC in Australia" …just wanted to check that we're not talking about Doris..
Gerry
Guest
Shaun, Thats IF the WAFC deem it suitable to extend out the retractable seats. Given that they wont even mark the Rugby lines properly in a childish attempt to styme Rugby.