Australia’s blockbuster Test matches against India, England, and South Africa will be moved from the WACA Ground to the new Perth Stadium under a new plan.
FULL SCOREBOARD FOR AUSTRALIA VS ENGLAND ODI
As recommended by the WACA’s Vision 2030 blueprint, international limited-overs games and Test matches involving South Africa, India, and England will be moved to the new $1.2 billion, 60,000-seat stadium at Burswood, which will be completed by 2018.
The WACA board has already approved the plans, and will now seek funding from the State and Federal Governments.
Big Bash League matches will also be moved from the WACA to Burswood.
The WACA will still host Sheffield Shield matches, as well as Test and one-day internationals not involving South Africa, England, and India.
The WACA, which will be redeveloped into a boutique ground with a capacity between 10,000-15,000 people, also hope to host WAFL matches under its new plan.
The redevelopment is set to cost between $150-200 million.
WACA chief executive Christina Matthews predicts it will take about 10 years to complete all stages of the redevelopment.
Matthews guaranteed the iconic WACA pitches wouldn’t be dug up to accommodate football being played at the ground.
And she said plans would soon be in place to develop a drop-in pitch for the new Perth Stadium that would replicate the unique characteristics of the fast and bouncy WACA wicket.
Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said moving blockbuster matches to the new Perth Stadium would dramatically boost attendances.
“I am very confident that an Ashes Test match at the new Perth Stadium will perhaps see 200,000 people over the course of a five-day Test match, or more,” Sutherland said.
WACA chairman Sam Gannon said redeveloping the WACA into a boutique ground – and moving blockbuster matches to the new Burswood stadium – was critical for the survival of the WACA Ground.
“To do nothing was not an option,” Gannon said.
“The ground is deteriorating … and eventually would be rejected by international cricket authorities as being fit to host international events.”
SportsFanGC
Roar Guru
jamesb - is the WACA Ground not privately owned by the W.A.C.A and therefore the WA Government doesn't see fit to spend money on the venue when the owners should be spending money on it? I thought I read this somewhere previously about the WACA, which is why it is the way it is currently? I could be wrong however if any WA guys know the circumstances.
JohnB
Guest
I wonder what happens if the drop-ins more replicate the bland nothings you get at Adelaide and Melbourne than they do the traditional WACA? Do "marquee" tests move back to the WACA?
jamesb
Guest
WA government has overspent on Burswood which in turn has left the WACA with nothing.
Wasim Ranamadroota
Roar Pro
$200m on an "asset" that won't host ODIs, T20s or the three biggest Test series? If it is just for Shield games, that is about $1,000,000 per customer. Perth can't fill a 15,000 specialist (iconic) cricket stadium for a Test, so they move the big games to a 60,000 multi sport stadium that hasn't been built yet with drop in pitches that "might" replicate the WACA? Doesn't remotely pass the sniff test. There is obviously more going on here than is being reported. No wonder Dennis was disgusted.
Bakkies
Guest
They need to refurbish the ground completely as the facilities aren't up to standard and to keep the ground as an asset.
peeeko
Guest
i cant understand why you would spend 200 million redeveloping it into a small boutique ground?
Common Sense
Guest
I wonder if they could drop in the WACA pitch?