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RUGBYWA WELCOMES MEMBERS EQUITY ANNOUNCEMENT
Thursday, 30 July 2009 7:28pm
Chris Pike - Sportal
ME StadiumRugbyWA chief executive Vern Reid is delighted with the Members Equity Stadium redevelopment news and is hoping in time Emirates Western Force matches are the best events in Perth.
The Force will play its home games at the rectangular venue in East Perth from next season with a $2 million upgrade taking place before then to bring it up to SANZAR specifications.
However, the WA state government's decision for a $160 million revamp is massive news for RugbyWA, and the Perth Glory A-League club that also plays out of Members Equity Stadium.
Plans were already on the table for a possible upgrade by the Town of Vincent, butt the announcement by the state government is something RugbyWA and Reid are delighted with.
"It's fantastic news for RugbyWA. We knew that we had to be in a rectangular stadium going forward and were confident that the original plan put forward by the Town of Vincent would be sufficient, but to now be guaranteed a brand new facility that caters to all of our needs is wonderful news going forward," Reid said.
"We have been on the government's case for three or four years about this. We were certainly cognisant of the difficult economic times that we're in, so were expecting the interim funding to come through for the eastern stand, which the Town of Vincent had proposed, but for this to now overtake that and give us the realistic prospect of a new stand is terrific."
The plans are still to be put into place and signed off on by the state government, Town of Vincent, RugbyWA, Perth Glory and the WA Rugby League, but Reid is confident that will soon happen and that the new facility will be fully up and running after no more than three Super 14 seasons.
"The way these types of things work is that the body providing the stadium work in close liaison with its major tenants, which will be RugbyWA and the Perth Glory to work out what is required to provide the facility that caters to all our needs, and that is capable of being done," he said.
"The elements outlined in the plan by the Town of Vincent are still good, and a lot of those will be automatically taken on board into this new plan. We are more than confident that our needs will be catered for in the new plans.
"We are awaiting the timetable for it to all happen as we speak, but obviously from our point of view we would like to happen as quickly as possible. In the interim, what is being proposed should be enough to see us through for next three seasons and then we can move into the new stadium. That's the plan anyway, if it happens any quicker that will be great."
Reid is also delighted that sports outside of the AFL are now being treated with the respect they deserve for playing in large sporting competitions.
With the Force playing teams from South Africa and New Zealand, and Super 14 games beamed globally, to now have that recognised with a new facility is a great step forward.
"There was a realisation that WA was lagging behind in terms of its sporting facilities, and that has now been recognised by the government," he said.
"With the Force competing in a strong international competition and the Glory also in an international sport, there were general requirements needed by the community that meant that something had to be done about the facilities. There was a demand for that with the strong clubs we have and it's now being met."
Things don't go on hold until the new facility, though, and in the meantime $2 million will be spent on upgrading the lighting and a host of other features of Members Equity Stadium to take it up to SANZAR requirements, and to also offer the best possible environment for Force members and supporters.
"That will provide money for lighting that will take it up to SANZAR specifications, and there other SANZAR standards we have to lift in terms of showers, walkways and things like that," he said.
"We will also improve the media platform for the commentary, coaches and TMO, as well as temporary corporate facilities. We'll be installing some new seats where they are required and will be looking to provide an overall package that is adequate before being in a position to look at moving into the new stadium."
The redevelopment of the venue is a massive boost for RugbyWA and all its stakeholders, and Reid wants to make sure the majority of fans come out to games to support the Force in person rather than stay at home watching on television as they did more and more with the games at Subiaco.
"This is certainly helpful news to us. To now have a rugby dedicated stadium on the way is something that will instil great confidence in all of our stakeholders," he said.
"It will reinvigorate our members, who weren’t that happy with us playing at a hybrid ground, knowing that we will have a rectangular stadium of a high standard to now play at.
"Our biggest competition is the live telecast on television, so we want to build a terrific match day experience for all our supporters, and make it a must have ticket at our games."
One advantage Subiaco Oval had was its ability to cater for the corporate clients, but Reid is also hoping to still take care of them in the best way possible.
"We will change the format that we offer corporate hospitality. Today we will be able to offer everybody that was in corporate hospitality in 2009 the same going forward, albeit in a different overall package."
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