2 More Years at Subi!

[Darren]

<img src="http://www.thewholeforce.com/cpg/albums/userpics/10168/normal_Subi.jpg" align="right" />
RugbyWA have confrmed that Subiaco Oval will be the home of the Force for the next 2 years.

This *is* an interim measure whilst we await the outcome of the Major Stadia Taskforce - RugbyWA remain committed to getting us a RECTANGULAR stadium - here's to 2009!

[Em-Forcer]

Sounds OK to me - I certainly enjoyed the one Force match I saw (10 Feb 06 - wish I could have stayed for more!).
Subi's easy to get to; plenty of options for pre-match refreshments; and not very far to the train after.
Didn't realise the Subi locals were snobbish - rugby crowds are by & large good-natured; Edinburgh certainly seems to tolerate them OK and you don't get much more snobbish than here!

[LarryNJ]

Just from looking at the picture, I think you need a new stadium where the seats are closer to the field. It looks like the view from the lower center section would be terrible.

[Darren]

You got it in one Larry - you're pretrty perceptive for a yank

[Em-Forcer]

Just from looking at the picture, I think you need a new stadium where the seats are closer to the field. It looks like the view from the lower center section would be terrible.

Sure, that's true but better to wait for the right solution rather than getting a quick fix which swaps one stadium with problems for another. In the meantime, take your bins to the match if that's where you sit...

[Shaun]

SUBI YES!!!! Can't wait till that new stadium is built that would be awesome! Any idea where the stadium will be built? near rugby Wa?

[Darren]

Crikey - you northern hemispherians are on the ball tonight!!!

Sorry, spot on EM-Forcer, I'm willing to wait (as I'm sure we all are) for the right decision - I just hope and pray that the right decision is made!

[Shaun]

yeah im with u coach... if they need time to make the right desision, give them time. If oyu want them to make a mess of it, rush them. I WANT A QUALITY STADIUM! so im gonna wait patiently and enjoy Subi for now...

[Burgs]

One thing that has always been in the back of my mind is that we have never really known how many people would go to a Rugby International in Perth because the big ones sell out. Once the house full sign goes up we have no way of knowing how many people would go to the match if they could get a seat.
Bare in mind that to get a decent seat you have to make a commitment 10-12 weeks out, many people are unable to commit that far out and choose to watch the TV rather than have an ordinary seat.
Every Wallabies match I have been to at Subiaco(which is most) and the South Africa v England WC match, I have had people chasing spare tickets and always run into mates who say they would have gone on the night but it was sold out.
It's a shame that as part of their service Ticketek doesn't keep recording enquiries for tickets after the venue is sold out.
If we are getting a sold out 41k + to Subiaco for a Springboks fixture I seriously think that we could sell out a 60k Stadium for a Bledisloe match and come very close for a South Africa or England fixture.
Then, for the Force matches, have the Memberships of all classes along the sidelines until full before selling seats to the ends.
For example, at the Olympics in Sydney I was in the second lowest priced seating and (although I felt a bit like Whoopi Goldberg in "Eddie" and nearly got a nose bleed!) was directly in line with the finish line. I think there was five price divisions there and I was still able to get side on.
I would love to see a Lang Park style fully enclosed rectangular field in Perth rather than a disjointed pile of different stands that lets the elements in and the noise out!

[LarryNJ]

You got it in one Larry - you're pretrty perceptive for a yank

Over the last 10-15 years many cities have gone through stadium issues for all 4 of our major sports. Football, baseball, hockey, & basketball. The biggest issues were making the stadiums more fan friendly, better site lines, better food & drinks, ect. Also adding more corporate suites, a huge revenue stream for the owners. The biggest issues were who was going to pay for the stadiums. The multi million/ billionaire owners wanted the public to pay. In most cases it was split between public & private money.

The new stadiums are much better to watch and enjoy a game. I hope that if they are going to do it. The spend the little bit of extra money and do it right. It's well worth it.

[Egan]

25 million dollar budget to convert MES into a 22,000 seat stadium is still allocated towards the State Budget.

Should be completed after those two years.

Then the big Rugby Matches would be played at the new stadia or upgraded Subiaco Oval.

But the real story is that this has been common knowledge for about 6 months.

[Burgs]

Egan, if that is to be the site, wouldn't it to be better to bulldoze that tinpot affair and put the $22k towards a decent stadium there, or at a better location?
Fair dinkum, 22k isn't worth it.
Take away the novelty of the first match and we were averaging 25k for a losing team with 22k Members. Once we hit our straps from 2007 we are going to be needing at least 30k per week.
For mine Members Equity is redundant and was only appropriate back when RugbyWA was budgetting 4k Members in the original proposal.

[The EnForcer]

25 million dollar budget to convert MES into a 22,000 seat stadium is still allocated towards the State Budget.

Should be completed after those two years.

Then the big Rugby Matches would be played at the new stadia or upgraded Subiaco Oval.

But the real story is that this has been common knowledge for about 6 months.

I keep on hearing various stories about stadiums and I think I may have my information mixed up. Can anybody answer the following questions for me.

Has the MES project been sanctioned yet, i.e. is it definately going ahead?

By new stadia, do you mean the multi purpose stadium that people have been talking about?

What exactly is the basis of the new multi purpose stadium, i.e. capacity, shape etc?

Is the idea to have rugby in the new stadium?

Have they announced any time frame on the new stadium, or is it still just conceptual?

Am I right in saying that the Subi upgrade to 60k capacity is completely independant from these other projects and is not Government funded?

Does the WACA proposal have any bearing on any of the above?

[Egan]

I keep on hearing various stories about stadiums and I think I may have my information mixed up. Can anybody answer the following questions for me.

Has the MES project been sanctioned yet, i.e. is it definately going ahead?

Budget has been allocated by the State Government, negotiations between Allia Holdings, Town of Vincent, Department of Sports And Recreation, in order to reach a compromise as the Force do not want to move to MES in its current proposal

By new stadia, do you mean the multi purpose stadium that people have been talking about?

No, that is either Subiaco or Cockburn with a capacity of 60-70,000 with it being an oval, with retractable seating to accomodate Rugby and Soccer major events. The 25 million dollar redevelopment of MES involves creating an upper tier of the eastern grandstand, seating where the terracing is and lights being upgraded to Super 14 standards.

What exactly is the basis of the new multi purpose stadium, i.e. capacity, shape etc?
See above
Is the idea to have rugby in the new stadium?
New Stadium - For major Rugby events eg Bledisloe Cup, Tri Nations, Force Finals
Have they announced any time frame on the new stadium, or is it still just conceptual?
For MES it was meant to have gotten underway, but as I revealed a conflict of interest within Allia Holdings and the Western Force disagreeing with the capacity and asking for an increased capacity and corporate facilities has delayed the stadium

Am I right in saying that the Subi upgrade to 60k capacity is completely independant from these other projects and is not Government funded?

No, Subiaco would be funded by State Government and would be in preference to the Cockburn option - Which I believe is in a better interest for all involved, rather then Subiaco which is only in footballs interests

Does the WACA proposal have any bearing on any of the above?

No

From Burgs

Egan, if that is to be the site, wouldn't it to be better to bulldoze that tinpot affair and put the $22k towards a decent stadium there, or at a better location?

MES Location is ideal, next to Graham Farmer Freeway, two train stations, Northbridge and easy walking distance from CBD (I do it often) The 24.5 million dollars will increase the capacity of the eastern grandstand and put seats on the terracing, with an eventual capacity of 35,000 subject to Heritage Council rulings

I do not believe the Force should ask for a 35,000 seat stadium, if after a year or two we are constantly selling out, yes then increase the ground...but to refuse any funding that is like getting money out of hens teeth, just because you are shutting out potential crowds is not a reasonable or very fair system.

Because the Eagles have been doing this for years, when they could get 60,000 to some games, they still have a 43,000 seat stadium.

22,000 for now accept any money allocated and then if crowds are still great and selling out, then ask for an increase to 35,000.

Do not build for possibles, build for realities...which is the Government motto, I would love a 35,000 Rugby Stadium...IT JUST WILL NOT HAPPEN (knowing and writing on stadiums for years I know how scrooge we are in funding of stadiums)

Alexander the Director General of Sports and Recreation will have the last word in what the government positon is.

"Five years ago Perth Glory were getting crowds of 18,000 and now they are getting crowds of 7-8,000...it's like building a stadium in the honeymoon period"

Thus look at the realities and accept it and move on...no use asking for something the government will not deliver.

Just get the damn thing built...and then develop to 35,000 after that...seeing where we are after the hype noobs have dissapeared (which had the same boost of crowds that Perth Glory/Warriors/Heat/Reds all received)

[Shaun]

MES SUCKS! I would absolutley hate it if when wer 2 play games there... Build a frigin stadium 40- 45 thousand! we need to look towards the future rugby is on the rise!