WACA days numbered as Manuka Oval looms large

Thanks SFM for the links. The WACA has really shot themselves in the foot with this calamity. With the collapse of the 7 yr deal, the only choice is for Tests at Burswood with Shield games at increasingly derelict Waca ground such a shame. What I want to know is: where are all the super-rich iron ore tycoons to build stuff within 2yrs, as was required by CA and ICC re WC. Poor Perth, with its sub-standard cricket venue and domestic airport, is being left in the dust by Adelaide, and by a good 4 years as well. How humiliating! I remember being in Perth for its first ever Test match (72?) and the feeling that Perth had finally arrrived on the national arena. To be undressed like this, even for 4 yrs, will bring much gnashing to the WA public, given the role their lauded entrepreneurs and liberal state govt have brought to the table.

Well if Bellerive is considered good enough I see absolutely no reason why the Capital shouldn't get a test. You now it will be packed every day and there is a much larger population base than Hobart. Canberra does not get the sporting recognition it deserves in this country and it'd be great to finally have a decent sporting event in the Capital.

These news articles may be of interest: http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/20358507/waca-facelift-collapses/ http://www.smh.com.au/sport/cricket/waca-may-never-host-a-test-match-again-20131217-2zho9.html I for one certainly hope that they continue to play Tests and all cricket at the WACA, the ground just needs to be brought up to 21st Centruy standard without touching the pitch. Where are the $$ going to come from for a privately owned ground - Thats the $200M question

except for 4 Rugby league & the AFL GF nothing else comes anywhere close to cricket's ratings (all 3 formats)

As a Sydney resident, the Perth test is brilliant. You can get home from work on a weekday and catch the full final session in prime time, beats the other rubbish on at that time. If there is no money going to into the ground from the gov or WACA, leave it as a first class ground and move the test to Burswood when it is finished. To not have a Perth test is criminal, especially for channel 9 (can't believe I'm sticking up for them!) Leave Manuka for the one-dayers, or a PM XI game.

The WACA is a historic and a crucial part of international and domestic cricket in Australia. Moving to somewhere like Manuka would just mean whoever tours will only play on the East side of the country and miss out on the challenge of playing test cricket on the WACA pitch. Bellerive (Blundestone) was granted money by the Gillard government in her time as PM for important redevelopment in preparation for the 2015 World Cup as well as for AFL games, so if it just a matter of out-of-date facilities at the WACA then some redevelopment should be done. It would be better and probably cheaper than starting from scratch in at a venue like Manuka where there aren't any decent facilities to begin with.

The problem you can't expect anyone to invest in a stadium that only hosts one significant event each year. Eventually International Cricket will have to move to the new Burswood stadium with the WACA losing a stand or two and becoming a first class venue much like the one CA want to build at the Junction Oval. I believe they should try Manuka Oval, instead of Hobart having a Test every second year I would rotate the "6th" Test between Hobart and Canberra for awhile. Maybe even Newcastle if they were interested.

I see this as mainly CA trying to put a bit of a rocket up the WACA. The ground really does need to be upgraded but the WACA seem incapable of getting it done. It's more of a strong message that this can't go on forever. One thing to consider is that the TV ratings issue isn't a major issue for CA as they have the TV money locked away already. Their deal with 9 is signed. Not having a WACA test may be an issue for the next deal (I imagine having a Perth test match every year will be a mandatory demand from interested networks but it obviously wasn't put in the current contract) but that's a good 4-5 years away. Plenty of time for the WACA to get a redevelopment if they can find the cash from somewhere

Jorji, The AFL grand final, NRL grand final and the NRL origin series ALWAYS out rate the cricket. You can look it up if you like. The smh/theage put up those figures a couple of weeks ago.

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Can't see the WACA being replaced as a test venue with Manuka Oval coming in to replace it for the various reasons listed above. Certainly the pitch is unique, the ratings phenomenal, and the Aussies do have a good track record there also. The issue for the WACA moving forward is the stadium and the facilities. Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide have all got state of-the-art stadiums used for cricket (and AFL) at the moment and the WACA has been left well and truly behind. If Canberra starts putting money into Manuka it will go further behind. This is precisely the reason that TAS misses out on Tests pretty much every other year - Stadium, Facilities and spectator numbers The WA government is spending its money building a huge stadium at Burswood for the AFL and in hope to secure other international sport events, Rugby Union, Soccer etc. They have also been putting funds into NIB Stadium with a partial redevelopment completed at this time. Hopefully someone from WA is on this thread later but as I understand it the WACA is privately owned by the W.A.C.A and this is the reason that pretty much no government funding will be considered? They had plans to develop but they fell through with funding problems? For the WACA it is the 21st Century and the stadium needs to be brought up to 21st Century standards or continue being left off on the summers with a 4 test series.

Jorgi, No. We arent - cricket support is a mile wide and an inch deep. You're taking the one good day a year cricket has most years, and using that to say cricket is healthy. Right now, I'd bet that Central Districts, East Perth, the Newtown Jets and the Redcliffe Dolphins get better crowds that their state Shield sides, and lets not talk about the one-day competitions crash in crowds. Cricket. Its just not that popular, and cricket in Australia can either lie about that, or it can do something about it.

With the proliferation of football grounds with drop-in pitches, the WACA is a breath of fresh air for it's unique pitch and atmosphere. With a booming population of cashed up bogans, Saffas and Poms, the idea of not playing Test cricket in the West should never be contemplated.

Spot on Nick, with regard to Channel 9 and evening prime time Test cricket coverage. Sutherland's push for day/night Tests is precisely to maximise this audience. As a GWS Giants supporter I have also heard lots of complaints about Manuka's spectator, mainly food and beverage, facilities not being up to usual AFL standard.

On the tv ratings. I believe the Boxing Day test is consistently the highest rating Australia sporting event coast to coast year on year. It rates more than either of the grand finals. It also lasts for 7 hours. Beat that footy codes. We are still a cricketing nation at the end of the day.

As a Perth resident I will be livid if we lose the test matches.

As an ex-Canberra resident, I cannot see Canberra hosting a test in the near future. Manuka oval is a joke for watching any sport and it seems that ACT govt only want to host games there so that the parking officers can book all the illegally parked cars (because there is nowhere else to park) and make some quick cash. Nor can I see Channel 9 ever allowing CA to move tests away from Perth. With the timezone difference, they are a ratings goldmine and a cash cow for both CA and Channel 9. No test gets better 5 day average ratings than the Perth test. Remember Channel 9 vented their extreme displeasure at Perth being dropped for the Indian tour...I don't think CA will risk biting the hand that feeds them again. My bet is that both CA/Channel 9 will put up with the WACA until the Burswood stadium is built and then jump ship to that ground.

This is completely wrong. Manuka will never get a test. Remember WACA is in front of Bellerive, I can't see Canberra jumping in front of the two traditional cricket grounds.

What a load of rubbish. There is less cover for spectators at Manuka than WACA for a start Dunno about guaranteeing 5 days either - the weather aint so hot there Lovely ground, give it a few ODIs but a Test match ahead of Perth. You're kidding!

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