The move to ME

[TrevorM]

Has Rugby WA said anything officially to the Force membership about next year's move to the ME stadium?

That stadium can take about 18,000 - 14,000 seated and over 4,000 standing. But take out the seats in the southern stand and the horror seats in corner blocks like E1 and W15, and there's probably less that 9,000 quality seats available. Last I heard, there were around 11,500 members left in the Force, so the numbers don't seem to work, unless the Force management is planning on the membership numbers going even lower (but then I thought the theory about the move to ME is that having a square stadium for S14 rugby will bring some of the lost membership back).

[jargan83]

last I heard from the grapevine is that RugbyWA are still talking to the Town of Vincent regarding temporary seating to get the capacity of MES higher, I think a move will happen, given the crowds this year you would have to think that has sealed the deal.

Having read your post about E1 and W15 I have to say the worst seats at MES are still better then the best seats ab Subiaco Oval

Possibly could depend of whether the state government says they will permantly upgrade MES, having MES as a construction site would probably be the only thing that keeps the Force at Subi, I think any upgrade will see the family stand replaced and the scoreboard side, the stand not the actual "Bowl" seating

[Blackswan]

The current set up at MES does not meet the minimum requirements set by Sanzar for hosting Super 14 matches. So there will have to be some upgrading at MES if the Force are to play there in 2010. Otherwise it will have to be cap in hand to WAFC and "how far do you want me to bend over ?" It doesn't bear thinking about. Even if the state government does come to the party in the May budget, the proposed re-development would not be finished in time for 2010 so RWA are in the same position regardless of what the government decides.

It's also a matter of overall facilities quality not just seating capacity so the initial upgrade may have to be focussed on meeting Sanzar requirements rather than seat/capacity upgrades, depending upon how much money is available in the shorter term.

So the upshot is that members will probably have to make do with what is available in 2010 - grin and bear it and hope that 2011 will see the rectangualr stadium upgrade of the preferred quality. The alternate may be getting on the plane for Melbourne and I'm sure that's not an option any of us would want - members or otherwise.

Hopefully I'm wrong .........

[JediKnight]

The current set up at MES does not meet the minimum requirements set by Sanzar for hosting Super 14 matches. So there will have to be some upgrading at MES if the Force are to play there in 2010. Otherwise it will have to be cap in hand to WAFC and "how far do you want me to bend over ?" It doesn't bear thinking about. Even if the state government does come to the party in the May budget, the proposed re-development would not be finished in time for 2010 so RWA are in the same position regardless of what the government decides.

It's also a matter of overall facilities quality not just seating capacity so the initial upgrade may have to be focussed on meeting Sanzar requirements rather than seat/capacity upgrades, depending upon how much money is available in the shorter term.

So the upshot is that members will probably have to make do with what is available in 2010 - grin and bear it and hope that 2011 will see the rectangualr stadium upgrade of the preferred quality. The alternate may be getting on the plane for Melbourne and I'm sure that's not an option any of us would want - members or otherwise.

Hopefully I'm wrong .........

What are the SANZAR minimum requirements?

Force have come out with a statement that they will be playing at MES in 2010, whether it's a construction site or not!

[jargan83]

If MES is a construction site they won't be there. MES capacity will be severly reduced, possibly by 3,000 or 4,000 (thats just me guessing though)

[WF2006]

What are the SANZAR minimum requirements?

Can't be too stringent after what I remember seeing of the Higlanders home ground (on Fox). thought I saw 3 marquees and a hotdog van?

[JediKnight]

Can't be too stringent after what I remember seeing of the Higlanders home ground (on Fox). thought I saw 3 marquees and a hotdog van?

Still an improvement on Subi Oval!!!

[WF2006]

Still an improvement on Subi Oval!!!

True - at least it had corners!

[Darren]

Otherwise it will have to be cap in hand to WAFC

cap? more like ankles

[waratahjesus]

ankles in hands? i dont know what you guys get up to out west, but there has to be an easier way of raising the cash doesnt there?

[jargan83]

I don't think you understand how much the Government here bows down to an independent organisation called the West Australian Football Commision

[hertryk]

Can't be too stringent after what I remember seeing of the Higlanders home ground (on Fox). thought I saw 3 marquees and a hotdog van?

I saw that too....pretty basic....
What has happened to the EWF member Tent at subi?

[Elf1]

I would stand on a milk crate at MES if it came to getting away from Subi

[blueandblack]

I saw that too....pretty basic....
What has happened to the EWF member Tent at subi?

is kaput. bye bye...

[jargan83]

I saw that too....pretty basic....
What has happened to the EWF member Tent at subi?

Members bar is at Subiaco Football Club now