AFL urges Barnett to build $1.1b stadium

[AndyS]

I wouldn't care if we had to play on a school field if it meant I could see what was happening on the far sideline without the aid of binoculars.

And that may even go for most people here too, but I am not so sure about the other 27,000 punters that show up to the matches. How many members have substandard facilities already driven away? If there were even less parking, less food, less toilet facilities, no big screen and everyone had to sit at the end of the ground because the corporates took all the pitchside seats....?

[Swee_82]

And that may even go for most people here too, but I am not so sure about the other 27,000 punters that show up to the matches. How many members have substandard facilities already driven away? If there were even less parking, less food, less toilet facilities, no big screen and everyone had to sit at the end of the ground because the corporates took all the pitchside seats....?

Maybe I'm the wrong person to be championing the cause- I don't care about the food line or the beer line (you're only there for 2 hours max), haven't found myself in an overly long queue outside the WC, don't expect to be able to drive to any games that attract crowds bigger than an interstate cricket match (and even then not to a Twenty20- too many people). Perhaps, like the Stadium Taskforce report says I'm one of those West Aussies who 'don't even know what a great stadium is'. Then again, I'm from Sydney, have been to the Olympic Stadium many times, though only to the SFS once I think, and know that building a big-ass 'modern' stadium doesn't solve those problems.

The big screen, though not essential to the game, is probably part of the wider 'experience', or at the very least, something to sell advertising on (forgive my cynacism)

I've no doubt we won't go anywhere unless the corporates are catered for, but while I've not been talking to RugbyWA myself- I'm just the proverbial-kicking worker monkey; I know others have and I suspect we'd have got a big STFU if we were heading in a direction they didn't want to know about.

[Darren]

A six seater open Box is almost 10 grand! - those suites will be a bit more than that I'd imagine!

Open Boxes:
Seat 4 $6,360
Seat 6 $9,540
Seat 8 $12,720
Seat 10 $15,900
Seat 12 $19,080

Black Swan Bar / Premium Dining (for 10)
Season $30,400
Per Game $5,500

[jargan83]

MES needs at least $150 million spent to get it close to what RugbyWA needs for seating, corporates, lighting, parking and other facilities.

If they have to spend that much you would think it would make more sense to build a new ground? Do i need to mention skilled stadium was built in about 18 months for about $200 million?

There isn't a lot of room around MES, bulldoze Belmont Park Racecourse and build it there, it doesnt look like it used very often.

Of course we will end up with yet another quality West Australian half arsed approach

And that may even go for most people here too, but I am not so sure about the other 27,000 punters that show up to the matches. How many members have substandard facilities already driven away? If there were even less parking, less food, less toilet facilities, no big screen and everyone had to sit at the end of the ground because the corporates took all the pitchside seats....?

Food and drink doesnt affect me, i rarely get a feed or a drink at subi 1. becasue i'm usually nicely toasted already and 2. the lines are too freakin long and 3. I dont much feel like going for a 3km trek through the stadium to find either one. Obviously though the average punter may want a feed or a drink so unfortunately it is something that would have to be looked at. The A-League games have a portable big screen, so does the WACA when International cricket is being played so I can't see that being too much of an issue. It would rather shithouse if all the corporate seats got the good seats down the touchlines

don't expect to be able to drive to any games that attract crowds bigger than an interstate cricket match (and even then not to a Twenty20- too many people). Perhaps, like the Stadium Taskforce report says I'm one of those West Aussies who 'don't even know what a great stadium is'. Then again, I'm from Sydney, have been to the Olympic Stadium many times, though only to the SFS once I think, and know that building a big-ass 'modern' stadium doesn't solve those problems.

parking at sports events is just asking for trouble, i rarely drive to them, and if i do, i'm usually to drunk to care how long the trip home takes

I have been to the olympic stadium twice, SFS several times, Suncorp Stadium (which is the best in the land if you ask me) once and nothing in Perth even comes close to matching any of those venues, even as far as ovals go i have been to the SCG a few times and it s**ts all over subiaco oval. How can Perth be so far behind the east coast in terms of stuff like this??

[NTT]

i don't know the exact cost of each Coach but i know for certain RugbyWA makes a killing off them and would like a stadium with a similar number of suites when they do move.

[jargan83]

i don't know the exact cost of each Coach but i know for certain RugbyWA makes a killing off them and would like a stadium with a similar number of suites when they do move.

it would be a bad business decision if they did anyway, i want a rectangualr stadium, but i dont want RugbyWA to have to suffer, or put up the prices for the average punter which is how they would probably go about recouping some of that money

[NTT]

Bullshit bulldoze the Belmont Park Racecourse : A its privately owned B The TAB contributes too much to state Tax revenue and C it would put 20 000 people out of work, but well thought through none the less.

You got to look at the stadium issue from what RugbyWA needs and i know for certain that an upgraded MES is a passable quick fix from a RugbyWA viewpoint but its definitely not ideal. I mean its all well and good stating what individuals want but not to the detriment of the overall picture. As i stated earlier Stookies mates with the new sports minister Terry Waldron? and RugbyWA should do well out of this election result.

[jargan83]

Bullshit bulldoze the Belmont Park Racecourse : A its privately owned B The TAB contributes too much to state Tax revenue and C it would put 20 000 people out of work, but well thought through none the less.

Privately owned isn't a big deal, there are private owned houses near subiaco oval that the governnment was going to aquire for the new ground. 20,000 is a big number, i fail to see that many people being out of a job

just a quick edit, is that possibly why they never got beyond talking about plans to build a "super-stadium" there about 5 or 6 years ago??

[GIGS20]

What RugbyWA ideally needs is a rectangular stadium that has seating for 35 000 and corporate suites numbering about 75.
There is 70 odd corporate suites at subiaco which RugbyWA has groups on waiting lists for as these are usually the first packages to sell-out each season. The current MES only has around 10 corporate suites. So if RugbyWA sells 70 odd corporate suites at $10 000 thats $700 000 and if the MES upgrade goes ahead at only $25 - 30 million then there would only be an additional 10 corporate suites built meaning 20 suites sold at $10 000 is $200 000. So even if the $25 - 30 million MES upgrade goes ahead to 25 000 seats, the corporate suite situation will leave RugbyWA $500 000 a year worse off instantly. So don't be surprised if RugbyWA is only lukewarm on this upgrade option. MES needs at least $150 million spent to get it close to what RugbyWA needs for seating, corporates, lighting, parking and other facilities.

The basis of the MES proposal from TOV was essentially an upgrade to corporate facilities, they were only throwing another 6000 odd seats at it mate.

AFAIK RugbyWA would be served by the MES proposal (although I do admit, it's a bit of a stop gap) Essentially the MES option was considered by WNC committee to be the best we had any shot of getting under the previous government, since we had a reasonable case that they had breached a (albeit impled) contract with the fans by not doing it.

I guess all bets are off ATM until we see what sort of a commitment the current government wishes to make. I hope the work we've done with Barry House won't be lost and we might get some sort of a seat at that table to represent the fans, because as you so clearly pointed out RugbyWA are stuffed without the corporate dollar, the fans do actually come second to them......It sucks but I'm a pragmatist!

After reading Jargan's post about Belmont Park, I'm reminded about the Burswood Option.......Private developer, close to the train, GEH and the tunnel right next door and close to a really expensive hotel for the rich and famous.....Surely the Liberals would be a lot happier about a deal like that than Labour.

I mean it is really hard to tell the difference these days but the socialists would've said no simply because it wasn't state owned woudn't they?

[NTT]

The size of the Racing Industry would make it ny-on impossible to take on, it is a billion dollar industry afterall. It employs everyone from jockeys to cleaners, trainers to totalisator attendants. Plus Perth Racing are going to start they're $2.5 billion development of the whole riverside area there by building something like 8500 apartments, pubs, shops etc.

Im not saying that RugbyWA won't go to MES, don't get me wrong. I was just painting the picture of what the RugbyWA ideal stadium would feature, 35 000 seats and plenty of corporate facilities. If only the government would throw $500 million at RugbyWA and let it build the stadium everyone wants.

[GIGS20]

I'm SURE we don't need 500 Mill to build the right stadium NTT. I reckon we could get out of it for half that!

[NTT]

yeah then pocket the rest !!

[Darren]

if we only spent half, the remaining 250million would be enough for all current Force members to have a gold membership for the next 30 years....

[NTT]

or tv screens in the back of the seats in front of them for instant replays aswell as 20 yr diamond memberships

[jono]

fuck that. spend the other $250 mil screwing the WAFC for all the shit we have endured because of them!