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Having just read the multi-purpose stadium article in 'The West' I have sent this letter to the Letters page. Probably won't get printed but I suggest that we all have a go to get our point of view across. Sorry about the length, once I got started ....
Here it is:
The long awaited release of plans for the new so called "multi- purpose" stadium has revealed it to be the major disaster anticipated by many. The spin spouted by ex-Eagles coach Ron Alexander , comparing it to other sub-standard facilities fools nobody. Comparison was made with one first class facility - Suncorp Stadium - claiming that spectators will be "on average only 9m farther from the action" . Now 9 metres is a long way, but its even further when you consider that the comparison is between stadia of 30,000 here and 52,500 in Brisbane. So what that means is that we should be happy to be 9 metres further from the action than people sitting in a stadium which is 75% bigger. Yes, that certainly sets my thrill metres spinning.
Lets look at another claim " … a similar view to ticket holders at State (sic) de France in Paris.." Stade de France is another multi-purpose venue, it seats 78,500 with a running track around the playing surface and has retractable seating a long way from the action. The view might perhaps be a little better than the existing Subiaco Oval but nothing to get excited about.
It is admitted that the front row of seating will be twice as far from the sideline compared to a purpose built stadium. As compensation we are offered large video screens, and monitors to watch while we queue for food, drink and toilets. I have a video screen at home - at the game you want to see the live action. The provision of the monitors suggests that the Subiaco queue for ever for everything problem is not going to improve.
The planned capacity is 30,000. I am not sure of the size of the average Force crowd but 25000 to 27000 wouldn't be unusual, even at Subiaco. With a rectangular stadium, even a sub-standard one, 30,000 would soon be too small - can the unused 'graveyard' seating be progressively made available?
Lastly, this 'graveyard' seating is also an issue. I think the artist has been somewhat dishonest in leaving it out of the 'artists impression'. We are talking about a further 30,000 seats - half the stadium - glowering over the spectators, that will no doubt give the stadium all the atmosphere of a pub on the moon.