Proposed new multi-purpose stadium

[Greydemon]

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.

[chiselhead]

The lack of vision is disturbing to me.
The super 14 is international standard rugby. It is top shelf.
With Perths population expanding and the number of migrants from NZ, England, South Africa and the east coast, interest in rugby will also grow. Local interest will also be cultivated with a successful team.
Perth will never attract internationals of quality with small stadiums. Internationals of other codes would also be courted with a bigger rectangular stadium.
Perth gets some internationals which are full houses despite the worlds worst view at Subi. The view is so bad for the plebs in the outer at Subi that it just isn't worth turning up. I speak from experience.
We need to build a coalition of the willing and build the bastard ourselves. In a recent post we had a lad who was involved in building stadiums for the soccer world cup in South Africa. Amongst the rugby fraternity are the people who can build it. We are the arse kickers of the world. Intelligent and 'ard. Big business can be wooed. They want private boxes and shitloads of them. Private enterprises would get interested if we built hotels, bars, restaurants in the facility. The public would go nuts over it. Ever tried to get a feed after a Force match? Ever tried to travel from the country and get accomodation in Subi for a game?
A winning Force team would get 40000 to matches. Internationals would get 60000. The only reason those wankers in Sydney and Melbourne get the big tests is because they have a stadium that will seat 100000.
WA is where it is at. There has been a transition of power and wealth in this country. Perth rocks. WA rocks. We are booming. lets seize the moment.

30000 seat stadiums are for pussies. That sort of shit is all the government can afford. Private enterprise will think big and kick arse.

I need an architect to draw my vision.
We need a building engineer to give us quotes
We need an accountant to do a business plan. Business deals in numbers in the black. The red zone is off limits. We need to make it self supporting with a positive cashflow. That's why we need investors to build businesses into the stadium and freehold apartments in the upper levels which will return big $$$
We need negotiators to sell the dream to hotel chains (Hilton and the like), restaurants(global chains), bars, clubs, apartments.
Anybody live in Subi? If you are 6-10 stories high can you see the ocean? Top level apartments would sell for millions (ocean views, views of the games)
Anybody speak arabic? Emirates sponsor the team. Lets get the oil billionaires in on it. Anybody seen Dubai? They know how to think big. Put a dirty club on the top floor and advertise it to lecherous arab businessmen. Watch the game and get a lap dance afterwards. They will fly from everywhere for it if it is marketed properly....on Emirates. It's win win for the airline.
Packer would jump at the chance to get a casino in it. He'd invest billions. Shit, he's carving up his old mans media empire to invest money overseas in a casino. Lets get him in. John Singleton would chuck in a few million for something. Singo loves a battle as long as there's a quid in it for him.

In every city in the world, projects like this are achieved. Skyscrapers are common. Why can't Perth build something magnificent? Just because it is hard?

Hilton hotel, Packer casino, penthouse apartments, clubs, bars, restaurants. The yanks would do it

The government would end up chucking some money at it so they didn't miss out on a piece of the pie.

Who's in?

[GIGS20]

In every city in the world, projects like this are achieved. Skyscrapers are common. Why can't Perth build something magnificent? Just because it is hard?

No mate, not because it's hard but because Alan Carpenter wants to build a legacy before his house of cards comes tumbling around his ears. Even his own party is starting to crack! Try and get approval for a 50,000 seat rectangle which will take an important source of revenue out of Carpenter's White Elephant. He needs every sport sited there for a number of years so he can collect enough rent to pay for his 1.1 Billion dollar flashing LED lightbox!

I'm with ya buddy, and I'm sure I can speak for all the other people pushing the petition, we're all right there, and will doo what we can to help, I am pretty unconfident about our chances of getting it in the air though!

BTW I have skills in public speaking, and teaching....have a heavy rigid drivers' license and will happily dig holes (probably not as well as a REAL labourer, but I'm willing to help) that's my lot!

[jono]

i have mixed martial arts skills. so i guess i should probably be talking to no. 8

in all seriousness though, if there is any way i can help get perth a retangular stadium i'll dam sure give it a good go. and i'll go down fighting!

[htbd]

Great to see the passion and vision chislehead . I agree we need to be bold and visionary... something not really akin to the WA culture.

Can I suggest (as an addition) to the stadium design to incorporate the approach that was taken at the 'Caketin' in Wellington. This being to build the 1st row of seating 2 metres above ground level so that the spectators in the front row have a 'colosseum-esque' view of the ground and view the action from an appreciable angle – thus no one is disadvantaged. This is a simple but incredibly effective innovation. A further benefit/spinoff is that sponsors have some decent real estate to advertise their products. For those that have experienced rugby at the Wellington stadium I am sure they can appreciate/relate to this.

Let's be smart, confident and strategic about the way we do this for all of WA and the future of rugby.

[chibi]

Great to see all the stadium talk is still alive and kicking. Personally, I wonder if it would possible for the three rectangular codes to get together on this one and see if they can come up with something plausible that they can put forward to Allia (Member's Equity Stadium owners) and get the renovations done themselves; with only a little bit of help from the government.

All this talk of sightlines and viewing angles, but one other thing I'd like to add, I don't wanna pay for a season's membership so I can sit out in the bloody rain!!!

[Jehna]

Great to see all the stadium talk is still alive and kicking. Personally, I wonder if it would possible for the three rectangular codes to get together on this one and see if they can come up with something plausible that they can put forward to Allia (Member's Equity Stadium owners) and get the renovations done themselves; with only a little bit of help from the government.

All this talk of sightlines and viewing angles, but one other thing I'd like to add, I don't wanna pay for a season's membership so I can sit out in the bloody rain!!!

Frankly if it meant i got to sit in a rectangular stadium i would battle hail storms and blizzards...

Chibi - stadium talk is definitely alive and kicking and we are pushing for cooperation between all three codes. Take a look at We Need Corners - A Rectangular Stadium For Perth! to see what we've been up to

[jono]

getting wet is part of a winter sport mate.

[chibi]

Ha ha, not for me it ain't!

[chiselhead]

Ha ha, not for me it ain't!

Lets put a roof on it
Australian teams suck in the wet weather.
Millenium Stadium in Cardiff's got nothing

[jono]

we have to get a stadium before we can think about a roof.
one step at a time.

[jargan83]

We don't need a roof, I love the wet weather.

Theres no way Australian teams will get better at playing wet conditions playing under a roof

like jono said, Rugby is a winter sport

[jono]

the players get wet if it rains. they dont have a choice.

[laura]

I love it when it rains, it adds to the atmosphere & the experience. Obviously I'd prefer not to get wet but its a sports match who cares!

[NTT]

i got a trade ticket in stonemasory, i can make a headstone for carpenters legacy ...... i'll chip in with some labour and dogman skills and a carton every second friday and possibly some mates to help with labour..... lets get it on!!!!!!