Old Thread: http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=715976

There is currently talk of a new 60,000 seat multi-purpose stadium at Kitchner Park, a redevelopment to the W.A.C.A. Ground up to 30,000 seats with the inclusion of 4 towers, and also a rectangular stadium, whether that be an upgrade to Members Equity Stadium or a new one at another site is yet unknown.

Proposals
W.A.C.A. Ground
http://www.waca.com.au/news/detail.asp?offset=50&ID=745

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WACA GROUND REDEVELOPMENT Q&A

• What does this mean for the future of the WACA Ground?
Under this proposed redevelopment the WACA Ground will be transformed into a world class 30,000 seat cricket venue as well as being home to two residential towers, two office blocks and a retail and entertainment precinct.

• Where will cricket be played under this proposal?
This proposal enables all cricket, both domestic and international, to be played at the WACA Ground.

• What about the new stadium or a redeveloped Subiaco Oval?
The 30,000 capacity proposed for this redevelopment will cater for the majority of cricket fixtures however the WACA will consider moving blockbuster matches such as a Twenty20 international against England or a 2015 World Cup match to a new stadium or a redeveloped Subiaco Oval should either of these occur.

• What will the capacity of the WACA Ground be with this proposal?
The WACA Ground will be able to hold 30,000 people which is some 2000 more than the capacity at Lords.

• What corporate facilities will there be with this proposal?
The corporate facilities of the WACA Ground will be significantly upgraded with approximately 80 corporate boxes to be built in the new stand on the northern side of the ground. The number of function rooms and facilities are yet to be finalised.

• Where is the funding coming from for the project?
This project will be financially backed by Ascot Capital Limited, a property development company. The State Government will be approached for some comparatively modest support to upgrade the lighting facilities at the redeveloped ground for the benefit of neighbouring residents and to create a Centre for Cricket Excellence at The University of Western Australia’s Sports Park in Floreat as the development would take our entire existing training facilities at the WACA Ground.

• Who is Ascot Capital Limited?
Ascot Capital is a global property investment and development house which has developed approximately 150,000m2 of offices, 200,000m2 of industrial space and 100,000m2 of retail space, in Australia, United Kingdom and South Africa. It has recently purchased the lease on Jandakot Airport and is in the process of developing 160 hectares of office, warehouse and distribution facilities.

• Will it be a noose around the WACA’s neck like the last redevelopment in 2002?
No, it will be quite the opposite. The proposed project is expected to generate a long term revenue stream which will help to ensure the Association is financially viable into the future.

• Have you sold the WACA?
No. The title to the stadium remains with the WACA. The balance, namely the offices and the towers, will be held with the joint venture.

• What time frame will this project be completed in?
Subject to zoning approvals the entire redevelopment is expected to take three to four years.

• Will there be any interruption to cricket fixtures at the WACA Ground during this time?
No. Development will not affect the playing arena.

• Who has been briefed about the proposed redevelopment?
The WACA has had discussions with the Premier, Government and Opposition representatives and departmental heads, the Major Stadia Taskforce as well as the East Perth Redevelopment Authority and Trinity College to brief them on the proposed redevelopment.

• Will Government support be required?
Yes. A major issue will be the zoning required. The residential towers would need to be some 17 storeys for the project to be viable. This height is in alignment with the Raffles development and could be favourably compared to the 25 storey towers earmarked for along the Marina in the Riverside project.

• What is the proposed Centre for Cricket Excellence?
Part of the redevelopment proposal requires the existing practice facilities (both indoor and outdoor) at the WACA Ground to be removed. These therefore need to be replaced and we have been working on a proposal to relocate them to a state of the art facility at The University of Western Australia’s Sports Park in Floreat. The WACA Administration could also be relocated there.

• What does it cost and what’s in it for the WACA?
$250m provided by the developers. A long term revenue stream, new northern grandstands and an increase in capacity to 30,000.




Perth's Multi-purpose Stadium
http://www.perthstadium.com.au/index.php?id=1

Development Timeline

Since the latest State Election this porject and come into deep trouble and is looking unlikely to be built.

Planning for Perth's new, multi-purpose stadium is already underway.

Because Perth Stadium is such a large and complex undertaking, the important planning phase will take two to three years prior to the staged construction starting in 2011. During this period the Project Team will work closely with all stakeholders, including the Subiaco Redevelopment Authority and the Subiaco City Council, to prepare the site for development.

Construction will occur in two stages. The existing oval will remain in operation with a capacity of around 40,000 seats while the new stadium is being built adjacent on Kitchener Park. In 2014 the new stadium will host its first AFL games. The old Subiaco Oval will then be demolished and the last 20,000 seats of the new stadium built and parkland developed.

When the stadium is fully completed in time for the 2016 football season it will have a total capacity of 60,000 seats.


http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/7913/stage1kg0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/2695/stage2ro8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/661/kitchparkaj8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/4536/subiaco206000020duskb20af3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)



current Subiaco Oval
http://www.perthstadium.com.au/assets/images/existing-.jpg

Stage 1 of new stadium
http://www.perthstadium.com.au/assets/images/Stage-1.jpg

Stage 2 of new stadium
http://www.perthstadium.com.au/assets/images/Stage-2.jpg

Final Development of new Stadium
http://www.perthstadium.com.au/assets/images/Stage-3.jpg


video
PXC9czlkMwM


Most recent News...

WAFC in cash hunt to rebuild Subi Oval
MARK DUFFIELD and ROBERT TAYLOR

The WA Football Commission is poised to push ahead with an ambitious plan to redevelop Subiaco Oval to hold at least 50,000 in the wake of the State Government's indefinite shelving of the $1.1 billion stadium project.

The WAFC has begun "sounding out" government representatives on a range of funding options for the project, including part-private, part-public arrangements or government guarantees for private investors or lenders.

The State Government has said it would not look at the multi-purpose stadium project for at least two years and all sports are now sceptical that the stadium will be built. Premier Colin Barnett favours a gradual rebuilding of Subiaco Oval.

Treasurer Troy Buswell left the door open this week, saying: "The Government is always willing to listen to alternative ideas and approaches for getting the stadium plan off the ground."

Western Force has committed to play at Members Equity from next year. Funding at least part of Rugby WA and the Town of Vincent's proposed $75 million upgrade of the rectangular stadium has some support in the Government.

WAFC chairman Neale Fong said that with cricket committed to staying at the WACA Ground, football could not sit still for two years hoping that the Government would change its mind.

"We are talking to the Government and people in the private sector about possible options," Dr Fong said. "It really comes down to a matter of funding for a staged rebuild."

But he made it clear football would not be happy running second to rugby in a funding battle. "If the Government were to pour $40 million into Members Equity Stadium without consideration to football that would be outrageous," he said.

"Have we a final proposal? No. We are exploring all options. about a funding model where footy pays its way."

Although the final proposal will depend on what, if any, State Government support was available, any redevelopment would include the replacement of the 40-year-old three-tier stand at the western end of the ground. Replacement of the 30-year-old two-tier stand alongside it would also be a high priority.

The WAFC will consider putting third tiers on top of the 10-year-old two-tier stands in other. areas of the ground, with a focus on re-vamped and upgraded entrance areas and toilets, bar and catering facilities to bring it up to modern standards.



Member's Equity Stadium

http://www.watoday.com.au/sport/stadium-upgrade-could-be-done-in-18-months-claims-mayor-20090127-7qvn.html?page=-1

Stadium upgrade could be done in 18 months, claims mayor
* Tim Clarke
* January 28, 2009 - 7:58AM

http://img90.imageshack.us/img90/9848/membersnewstand2420x0qz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
The state government will consider plans to upgrade Members Equity Stadium. Photo: Town of Vincent

Despite a global financial crisis, a player mutiny and another stadium in Perth demanding a billion dollars of government funds, Mayor of Vincent Nick Catania has boldly predicted the Western Force could have a new home, seating 25,000, within 18 months.

Force fans sent a massive message to the state's sporting and political leaders last Friday, with around 18,000 packing Members Equity Stadium for a trial game against the Crusaders, despite most of the side's international stars sitting the game out.

The timing of the sellout was perfect for the club, who had used the fixture to lobby the state government on plans to increase capacity from 18,000 to 25,000 - if Colin Barnett's administration accepts a $75 million redevelopment proposal.

And unveiling plans for a three-tier grandstand on the eastern side of the ground, Catania told gathered dignitaries, including state and federal MPs, that if the money was there, his council would deliver the upgrade in a year and a half - if the state government came to the party.

"Anyone who has dealt with it will know when we say we will deliver we do, and we intend to deliver 25,144 seats with the help of the state government," Catania said.

"With the proper management of funds we can ensure no burden is placed on government, we can create about 200 jobs on site and about 1,000 jobs off site, and that helps in tough economic times.

"We can help, sport, help the community and help the economy by creating immediate jobs.

"And you may not believe that (we can finish it in 18 months) but we built the original in about 11 months and had it open in 15. We will deliver."

Such is Force fan dissatisfaction with Subiaco Oval, RugbyWA's board has already committed to move to Members Equity next season, despite it being too small for expected crowds, and not having corporate or media facilities needed for Super 14.

The Force believe they need a revamped rectangular stadium to secure their place in the WA sporting landscape - and the Super 14 competition - with the Victorian Government forging ahead with a $275 million project ahead of an expected aggressive bid for a Super 14 franchise.

"This is something the fans and the supporters are demanding, and is needed to ensure the future growth and development of rugby in this state," RugbyWA chairman Geoff Stooke said.

"We strongly believe Perth needs and serves a quality rectangular stadium for rugby union, soccer and rugby league.

"And it should be remembered that Melbourne has the MCG, Telstra Dome and they are currently spending $275m on a rectangular stadium adjacent to the MCG - for a Storm rugby league team which averages crowds of less than 10,000 and no representative rugby union team.

"They are suffering like every other state and commonwealth in regards funding … but the Victorian government has decided to spend, and hopefully our government sees it the same way."

Sports minister Terry Waldron said he would be speaking to premier Barnett and treasurer Troy Buswell about the proposals this week - but would need much more detail before a decision is made.

"We recognise there is a need for a new stadium … but with the current world conditions the government is considering all infrastructure over $20 million," Waldron said.

"We will look at the proposal put forward, and it will be considered along with the other infrastructure projects.

"If government were going to consider to Member's Equity Stadium, we will still be looking for quite a lot more detail than what we were given the other day.

"We have got no details of costings, and if government was to spend money there we have got make sure the i's are dotted and t's crossed. But we are not going to turn a blind eye."

Waldron said a decision on the Subiaco development would have to be made by the time the May budget came down - and a delay of that project could mean the plans for the former Perth Oval could still be considered.

"Everyone is assuming (the Subiaco Oval redevelopment) is not going ahead - that decision has not been made yet," Waldron told radio 6PR.

"If that stadium was delayed, I have been keen to look at what could happen at Members Equity Stadium because I am very cogniscent of the needs of rugby and soccer.

"With the possibility of it being delayed you may look at what else you could do in the meantime."




Under Construction Projects
AK Reserve (Athletics, Basketball, Rugby)

http://www.akreserve.com.au/

The State Government is developing new sporting facilities for Western Australia through the construction of a new basketball stadium, athletics stadium and rugby facility at AK Reserve in accordance with the State Sporting Facilities Plan. The project is being delivered in partnership by the Department of Sport and Recreation and the Department of Housing and Works.

The project will provide world-class sporting facilities for all Western Australians, from community level to major national events.

The three new facilities will replace the dilapidated facilities at nearby Perry Lakes. They also add to the existing facilities at Challenge Stadium and UWA Sports Park (McGillivray Oval), creating a major new sporting precinct for Perth. As part of the project, an east-west bush corridor link will be retained to protect and provide for local fauna.

The sporting facilities, which are now under construction, include:

* a tailored athletics stadium with a 2000 seat grandstand and grassed banking with a total capacity of 10,000 spectators, office accommodation for Athletics WA and the capacity to host state and national events
* the stadium will meet International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) requirements
* a basketball facility with eight courts, including a 2000 seat showcourt, and office space for local clubs and Basketball WA
* rugby playing facilities with a grandstand, office accommodation for Rugby WA and some training facilities for the Western Force team


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Latest Update

Some AK Reserve pics.
Athletics - showing stand, track area, grass, etc.
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/2272/akathletics1.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/638/akathletics2.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2673/akathletics3.jpg

Basketball (photo order from east to west)
http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/2918/akbasketball1.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/7766/akbasketball2.jpg

http://img527.imageshack.us/img527/8392/akbasketball3.jpg

Facts to support your claims Aux? On this topic, I think you are letting your love of the world game cloud your judgment on the growth propsects of AFL in Aus.

Oh and thanks for linking the new thread at the end of the old one Docker, much easier that way :)

i will try and bring in some updates for the AK Reserve, seeming i work right next door :)

Very very impressed by the Perry Lakes works. Such a big step up from the existing facilities.

Will certainly be a benifit for athletes and hopefully a suitable home for the Force and Basketball.

Very very impressed by the Perry Lakes works. Such a big step up from the existing facilities.

Will certainly be a benifit for athletes and hopefully a suitable home for the Force and Basketball.

Me too. I can't wait to see the Basketball stadium.

But seriously, Labor didn't do anything for us.

Can't wait to have a closer look at the athletics when it opens. Obviously still a way to go on the basketball. It will be a nice little sports area.

cant fucking wait to run there.
this weekend is the second last week of comp ever at perry lakes. doubles as the state champs this week and next week. if anyone wants to come and watch me destroy a 3k field, get down there sunday 9.15am, or the 5k next friday at 7pm

While we are on sports stadiums in the western suburbs has there been any recent news on Lords?

Its been in closing down stages for a few years now but hasn't actually shut.

While we are on sports stadiums in the western suburbs has there been any recent news on Lords?

Its been in closing down stages for a few years now but hasn't actually shut.

Last I heard, it was going to be reopened by the council.

EDIT: No quite right, the council is thinking about reopening it.
http://westernsuburbs.inmycommunity.com.au/news-and-views/local-news/Comment-period-for-Lords/7516883/

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/the-other-outdoor-stadium-20090308-8s8b.html

The other outdoor stadium
* March 8, 2009 - 12:41PM

When will Perth ever get a new sports stadium? Well actually, we get one next month, as Tim Clarke discovered in an exclusive preview tour.

It might not have the cachet, or controversy, of the long debated, long awaited replacement for Subiaco Oval, but the $73.3 million AK Reserve - the new home of WA's elite track athletes, basketball and rugby - is set to open on schedule in April.

WA's Department of Sport and Recreation granted WAtoday.com.au exclusive access to the site, where the new 12-lane, 10,000 capacity athletics facility will be finished within weeks.

The eight court basketball complex is also taking shape, and should open for players to dribble and shoot in October.

The facility is the replacement for the crumbling Perry Lakes, which has slowly deteriorated since it was built to house the Empire Games in 1962.

While that edifice won't entirely disappear until the sports administrators who currently reside there relocate to their new home, the athletic facility is building up to hosting schools events next month, with Athletics Australia consulted about a launch event soon after.

Rob Thomson, spokesperson the Department of Sport and Recreation, said the project was two years in the planning and eight months less than that in the construction.

"We have flown under the radar, but we should be finished on time and on budget," he said.

As well as the two arenas being built simultaneously, the project also involves a massive underground rainwater tank, which will allow the site to become almost aqua self-sufficient.

Underground parking for more than 100 cars will compliment more than 100 more above ground, while the facility will be surrounded by local fauna to give the impression of a boutique stadium in the bush.

The new facilities will join the sports precinct which is already home to Challenge Stadium, the Western Australian Institute of Sport and UWA Sports Park.

But the project has not been without its issues, with new headquarters planned for the Western Force thrown into doubt by significant budgeting increases to clear the old tip the site will sit on.

The site has now been shifted away from the former Brockway Road tip, with the design due to be released in the coming weeks, and put out for public consultation. Construction is hoped to be completed by early next year.

The landfill site originally earmarked for the RugbyWA HQ is now planned to become playing fields.

The no worries World Cup

Dan Silkstone
March 12, 2009

THE "No Worries" World Cup — that is the simple idea driving Australia's pursuit of the largest prize in world sport. After a tender process involving submissions from 50 companies, a handful have been selected to drive Australia's proposal — bankrolled to the tune of $46 million by the Federal Government.

At the forefront will be the people who have created and sold some of the world's largest brands, aided by the company that has put together the past two winning World Cup bids. It is some team. Alongside it will be the man who created the internet marketing campaign that transformed a pointy-headed bureaucrat into loveable Queenslander Kevin 07.

"We are delighted to have these people aboard. All are leaders in their field," Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said yesterday.

"The bid will portray Australia as a place that is fun and easy to visit but that also has the experience and organisational know-how to run a major event. Focus will be placed on the friendly and welcoming nature of Australians and the multicultural make-up of the nation's cities."

The relaxed comfort of holidaying in Australia will be contrasted against more "difficult" environments such as England, Russia and Qatar, while a track record in running and organising major events without hiccup will be pitted against the credentials of rival bidder Spain.

An official launch is planned for May and leading Australians, such as sport stars, actors, politicians, musicians and business leaders, will be asked to act as celebrity ambassadors.

LOGO
FutureBrand, an international company based in Melbourne, will design the bid's "visual identity" — marketing speak for the logo and associated colour schemes and imagery. This is known as "the look and feel of the campaign". Futurebrand has done similar work for Tourism Australia, creating "brand Australia" to market the nation overseas as a holiday destination. The company was not behind the maligned "Where the bloody hell are you?" campaign and its strategies have been widely credited for raising the country's profile. The firm has also created high-profile brand campaigns for BHP Billiton, ANZ and Coca-Cola, and runs the Country Brand Index, which examines and rates the reputation of nations across the globe using traveller surveys and market research to gauge how each country is regarded. Australia has been rated the most desirable country for foreigners to visit, topping the survey for the past three years.

CREATIVE THEME
Responsibility for creating the slogan and associated "taglines" that are used to define and promote the bid, as well as capturing its themes, has been entrusted to Australia's largest advertising and communications firm, STW Group.

Creative control will fall to Neil Lawrence — the creator of the Kevin 07 campaign. His team will be charged with creating a grass-roots movement in support of the cup bid, and using the bid website — to be designed and built by Melbourne firm DT Digital — to recruit ambassadors from the general public and create popular culture "buzz" around the bid. It is a similar approach to that used by US President Barack Obama and Rudd to build broad-based support online and will take advantage of cyber methods such as YouTube and Facebook.

STW's brief is that bid themes should be youth oriented and focused on the diversity of the Australian community. The "No Worries" idea, which promotes Australia as a trouble-free destination where complex events are run well, is a guiding principle.

"Both Future Brand and STW Group have demonstrated their ability to inspire Australians to support national campaigns," Buckley said.

STADIUMS
A consortium will carry out detailed work around infrastructure planning, architectural design and stadium modifications required for a successful bid. It will assess what changes are needed to existing stadiums and what new facilities would have to be built to meet FIFA bid criteria. This group includes HOK Sport Architecture and Cox Architects & Planning — already responsible for the redevelopment of Suncorp Stadium and design of the new Wembley and Swan Street stadiums.

For Melbourne, the new Swan Street stadium, which is under construction, would need to be expanded from its current capacity of 32,000 to seat 40,000. Small changes, mostly improvements to corporate facilities, also would be needed at the MCG, which would expect to host larger-drawing matches, including a semi-final and, possibly, final.

Planning is also required for the event "precinct" around match venues. Located between the two stadiums, Melbourne Park would be the preferred location for a massive media and broadcasting centre to host the world's press.

FIFA will not release its stadium criteria for the 2018 and 2022 bids until next month. Only then will nations bidding for the event know how many venues are needed. The current criteria requires at least 10 compliant venues. These would most likely be drawn from a possible pool, including Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, the Gold Coast's Skilled Park or Carrara, the redeveloped Energy Australia Stadium in Newcastle, the Sydney Football Stadium, ANZ Stadium, Canberra Stadium, MCG, Swan Street Stadium and new venues in Adelaide and Perth. Launceston's Aurora Stadium is also under consideration.

State governments would be required to foot the bill for new facilities or stadium refurbishments. Buckley is meeting with all state premiers to inform them of the changes likely to be needed.

THE GERMANS
Abold — the German firm responsible for preparing the "bid book" for the German and South African bids — will perform the same role for Australia, compiling the information required by FIFA's executive committee and using it to create a slick expression of Australia's credentials that will be the official bid document. The German firm has also created winning bid books for the 2011 women's World Cup and 2009 and 2010 club World Cups. The firm has unparalleled experience in presenting documents that win favour with FIFA. Significantly for Australia, Abold has been signed to an exclusivity deal. No other bidder may use the company's services to prepare any aspect of its bid for the 2018 or 2022 World Cups. "They have a demonstrable record of success with FIFA tournaments and other major events, and we are very excited to have them as part of the team," Buckley said.

Only one stadium can be used in Sydney or Melbourne.



I seriously don't like our chances for 2018 but you never know.

I think the general understanding is that 2018 will go to a European nation (England or Russia) while Australia is the front runner for 2022 with the US.

I remember reading that ANZ Stadium could be sold as part of the City of Parramatta, while the football stadium is in the City of Sydney (or South Sydney, i forget). Thus is seperate "cities" allowing for Melbourne to have two venues.

Only one stadium can be used in Sydney or Melbourne.



I seriously don't like our chances for 2018 but you never know.


FIFA rules are made to be broken or bent. In any case one city is allowed two stadia in the same city.

The classification of what is a city is a bit vague. At WC06 Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund were separate cities in a single urban area and were considered separate cities. If The Netherlands hosted a WC they'd have trouble given the two largest cities are effectively part of one urban area.

I think the general understanding is that 2018 will go to a European nation (England or Russia) while Australia is the front runner for 2022 with the US.

I remember reading that ANZ Stadium could be sold as part of the City of Parramatta, while the football stadium is in the City of Sydney (or South Sydney, i forget). Thus is seperate "cities" allowing for Melbourne to have two venues.
Ok I understand that GC and Brisvegas are seperate but Bitch Please, Parramatta and Sydney???

I would like to put forward Subiaco and Perth Oval. Ones in Subi, the other in Perth. Booo Yahhhhhhhh!!!!!




*(Obviously im taking the piss)

FIFA rules are made to be broken or bent. In any case one city is allowed two stadia in the same city.

The classification of what is a city is a bit vague. At WC06 Gelsenkirchen and Dortmund were separate cities in a single urban area and were considered separate cities. If The Netherlands hosted a WC they'd have trouble given the two largest cities are effectively part of one urban area.
Yeah very true point.

But point i was trying to make more or less is that by 'bending' these interpretations, its not going to help our bid.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=130003

Race over for Perry Lakes as replacement nears completion
http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=558553&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=270362

http://www.thewest.com.au//contentversion/-24405062/images/stadium-MP.jpg

WA’s elite athletes have run their last race in the shadow of the dilapidated grandstand at Perry Lakes Stadium with a long-awaited replacement to be finished next month.

A new 10,000-capacity athletics facility in Floreat next to Challenge Stadium is only weeks from completion and represents part of the $73.4 million AK Reserve that will become WA’s track and field, basketball and rugby precinct.

The stadium will feature a 2000-seat grandstand, a 12-lane running track, lighting towers and grassed viewing areas sheltered by fixed shade sails. It will open on July 1.

An eight-court indoor basketball complex with a 2000-seat show court will complement the athletics arena and is due to be ready by October.

The construction of both arenas started in January last year and Department of Sport and Recreation project manager Rob Thomson said the development had flown under the radar amid heated debate about the future of Subiaco Oval.

He said the decision had been made not to match the 30,000 capacity for athletics offered at Perry Lakes, built for the 1962 Commonwealth Games.

“We’ve built a smaller boutique stadium that meets all the requirements of athletics plus the school groups and little athletics rather than going to the expense of building a dedicated athletics stadium for a oneoff Commonwealth Games type event, which may or may not happen,” he said.

Athletics WA will shift into the grandstand once it is completed while plans are under way for RugbyWA’s headquarters to be built next to the basketball complex.

DALE MILLER

meh. so what happans if we do end up with commonwealth games ... build another one .. such smart ppl we have running this state ...

meh. so what happans if we do end up with commonwealth games ... build another one .. such smart ppl we have running this state ...

yeah. because we really need a 60,000 seat athletics stadium. :ohno: all that will happen is if we get a new stadium, they will drop a track in there. think before you post goran

If it's any consolation we won't get the cwlth games in the near future. I don't even know whether the event will even be viable in this economic climate. As for Perry Lakes, it's nice but it's really a suburban sports complex for the schoolkids to enjoy (by world standards) as well as a training ground. Nothing more

If it's any consolation we won't get the cwlth games in the near future. I don't even know whether the event will even be viable in this economic climate. As for Perry Lakes, it's nice but it's really a suburban sports complex for the schoolkids to enjoy (by world standards) as well as a training ground. Nothing more

Thats all its meant to be.

Thats all its meant to be.

to be honest, it is an A Grade athletics facility, capable of hosting meets of up to 10,000 people. Most european tracks that host IAAF Permit meets are of about that size. Check out Zurich, Brussels, Oregon (USA), Heusden-Zolder, Ostrava - they all have tracks around this size, which get packed out with high quality athletes. I'm not saying that this will happen here, but hopefully with the resurgance of the A-Series athletics package in the years to come, we will once again see athletes like Ben Johnson, Ato Boldon, Craig Mottram, Youcef Abdi and the likes to return, and I would expect if promoted properly, would attract a crowd of 5000-8000 people, much like the Melbourne and Sydney GP's

to be honest, it is an A Grade athletics facility, capable of hosting meets of up to 10,000 people. Most european tracks that host IAAF Permit meets are of about that size. Check out Zurich, Brussels, Oregon (USA), Heusden-Zolder, Ostrava - they all have tracks around this size, which get packed out with high quality athletes. I'm not saying that this will happen here, but hopefully with the resurgance of the A-Series athletics package in the years to come, we will once again see athletes like Ben Johnson, Ato Boldon, Craig Mottram, Youcef Abdi and the likes to return, and I would expect if promoted properly, would attract a crowd of 5000-8000 people, much like the Melbourne and Sydney GP's

Which is exactly the purpose.

WA hasn't tried to build a replacement to Perry Lakes. It's an upgrade to the facilities we have and in carrying out that, have dowgraded the size of the venue.

There is a huge market for expansion of athletics in Australia..and on that, in the world. Of all the major sports it probably gains the least recognition... largely due to the decommericalisation of the Olympic Games. Whether thats a good or bad thing is another question.

I think Athletics is the way it is, is because its just a plain boring sport to watch.

Don't get me wrong, the 100m is probaly the most exciting thing in sport but can you really say watching Craig Mottram running around in circles is all that exciting?

Another example, Steve Hooker is the most well known (and Cleo's Most ugliest batchelor candidate lol) ranger in Australia. But how many of us would give a shit about the Pole Vault, if he was say Russian.

I love watching athletics, regardless of the event, or how ugly a competitor is. I don't think you can make such a sweeping statement as that, Ari. It may not interest you, but you shouldn't project that onto others. Athletics is enormously popular in Europe.

If the popularity of a sport rests upon whether it is exciting or not, cricket would have zilch interest in Australia (as it has in the US and much of the rest of the world). Some say soccer with the potential of a nil-all draw is boring, so why is it the most popular sport in the world? I can't explain why athletics in Australia isn't so popular, but it is probably something to do with a lack of it in our general culture rather than a lack of excitement. The second half of the Olympic Games is the most popular.

Seriously, watching Craig Mottram run 10kms is far more exciting than a 5 day Test Match in cricket (with a boring draw due to rain).

Oh, and can you please change your avatar - I hate Bill Cosby :)

I love watching athletics, regardless of the event, or how ugly a competitor is. I don't think you can make such a sweeping statement as that, Ari. It may not interest you, but you shouldn't project that onto others. Athletics is enormously popular in Europe.


Handball is also popular in Europe.


If the popularity of a sport rests upon whether it is exciting or not, cricket would have zilch interest in Australia (as it has in the US and much of the rest of the world). Some say soccer with the potential of a nil-all draw is boring, so why is it the most popular sport in the world? I can't explain why athletics in Australia isn't so popular, but it is probably something to do with a lack of it in our general culture rather than a lack of excitement. The second half of the Olympic Games is the most popular.

Seriously, watching Craig Mottram run 10kms is far more exciting than a 5 day Test Match in cricket (with a boring draw due to rain).


But yeah, people in Aus (besides through Little Athletics) probably don't have the affinity with athletics that most of the world does. Not sure if it is just because Australians (besides a small handful of athletes in a small number of events) aren't that successful in them that countries like US, Kenya, Ethiopia, etc are - or if they just prefer team sports more.


Oh, and can you please change your avatar - I hate Bill Cosby :)


And don't you mean Family Matters? (Steve Urkel)

Yes I had a small inkling that Athletics was popular in Europe but isnt it more or less a seasonal thing? I mean once the season is over, how many of them care about what so-so did in Australia? For example.


With say Cricket the 'boring sport' you brought up, fans still want to know how well Australia are doing in South Africa or how shit England are doing against the Windies.



Maybe its a swapping genarilisation but thats just the way I perceive it. I mean isn't running just running?




P.s. Everyone loves the Erkle.

Maybe its a sweeping genarilisation but thats just the way I perceive it. I mean isn't running just running?

It isn't just about running. What I love about long distance running, marathons included, are the mind games and tactics going on. Once you understand those, the race becomes much more interesting, and the longer it goes on the better. Same goes for other long distance events like the Tour de France and triathlons. The psychological battles become draining just in watching.

I reckon StadiumDesigner will come in tmw with a thing or two to say for running (being the competitor he is), so will leave him to defend it more articulately.

And don't you mean Family Matters? (Steve Urkel)

Oops, my bad. Always thought Ari's avatar was Bill Cosby.

to be honest, it is an A Grade athletics facility, capable of hosting meets of up to 10,000 people. Most european tracks that host IAAF Permit meets are of about that size. Check out Zurich, Brussels, Oregon (USA), Heusden-Zolder, Ostrava - they all have tracks around this size, which get packed out with high quality athletes. I'm not saying that this will happen here, but hopefully with the resurgance of the A-Series athletics package in the years to come, we will once again see athletes like Ben Johnson, Ato Boldon, Craig Mottram, Youcef Abdi and the likes to return, and I would expect if promoted properly, would attract a crowd of 5000-8000 people, much like the Melbourne and Sydney GP's

Brussels is way bigger mate.

It isn't just about running. What I love about long distance running, marathons included, are the mind games and tactics going on. Once you understand those, the race becomes much more interesting, and the longer it goes on the better. Same goes for other long distance events like the Tour de France and triathlons. The psychological battles become draining just in watching.

I reckon StadiumDesigner will come in tmw with a thing or two to say for running (being the competitor he is), so will leave him to defend it more articulately.
I see your point. But with cycling, its a team sport and triathlons compare 2 disaplines, each athletes with their own stregths and weaknesses, etc.

Running to me is like swimming. It just goes on & on & on trying to perfect every stride/stroke to gain maximum advantage. Only difference is that swimming doesnt go on for that long (bar the 1500).

i guess some people think, yeah, its just running. but in the end, running is the backbone of every sport, but this time in its purest form. i get such a thrill out of seeing people push themselves to the absolute limit, whether it be over 100m over 5000m or a marathon, chasing something that everyone else is but only one person can get.

its a pretty weird sport. lots of people ask me why i run, and why i put myself thru the pain and inconvenience of 160km/week. and i cant really answer them. its just something you experience.

however i challenge you to watch a running race at an elite level, and not be impressed and marvel at the athleticism of the competitors.

on the side, my mate and I have made a website devoted to running, and are now one of the biggest websites going around, with 100s of thousands of hits per month. http://www.runnerstribe.com

Oh no denying that.


Running is the easiest sport to do yet the hardest to perfect. I.e. You cant.

I think though that with athletics its just the base form of sport.

With sport you have the addition of skills as well as the athleticism.

But like all sport, each to their own.

Brussels is way bigger mate.

The city or the athletics stadium?


King Baudoin Stadium (Heysel) has a 50k capacity.

The city or the athletics stadium?


King Baudoin Stadium (Heysel) has a 50k capacity.

i was thinking bislett, typed brussels. also gateshead

The Brussels stadium is pretty big and is packed for the goldend league meet. They usually have a concert right after the athletics and they play african drums when the distance races are on. Yeah the Oslo stadium is awesome too. Definitley a boutique stadium. No silly field events getting in the way. The front row of seating is literally right next to the outside lane. I don't think we have that with AK reserve?

The Brussels stadium is pretty big and is packed for the goldend league meet. They usually have a concert right after the athletics and they play african drums when the distance races are on. Yeah the Oslo stadium is awesome too. Definitley a boutique stadium. No silly field events getting in the way. The front row of seating is literally right next to the outside lane. I don't think we have that with AK reserve?

its close, probably about the width of 3 lanes away from lane 12 of the home straight. pity its 12lane and not 8.

olympic park in melbourne is sensational, especially for 400m runners - lane 8 is literally 30cm from the fence, and the roof overhangs lane 8...so for meets such as the Melbourne GP and Zatopek, there is a huge buzz on the back straight. Most of the track crew rather watch from there, and the general public are more often than not on the home straight...so it gets pretty loud.

its close, probably about the width of 3 lanes away from lane 12 of the home straight. pity its 12lane and not 8.

olympic park in melbourne is sensational, especially for 400m runners - lane 8 is literally 30cm from the fence, and the roof overhangs lane 8...so for meets such as the Melbourne GP and Zatopek, there is a huge buzz on the back straight. Most of the track crew rather watch from there, and the general public are more often than not on the home straight...so it gets pretty loud.

12 lanes all the way around? or just on the home or back straight? That's a shame that they couldn't make it more like olympic park. Still better than perry lakes though eh where the font row is 20m from the outside lane.

12 lanes on both straights, 8 on the bend.

p19 today's West

AFL boss seeks fix for 'tired' Subiaco
STEVE BUTLER MELBOURNE

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou wants to revive plans to get Perth a world-class stadium and has admitted the recently failed bid for one has left WA without an appropriate elite football ground.

Mr Demetriou, who dubbed Subiaco Oval and Adelaide's AAMI Stadium as the AFL's worst venues, said he would meet Premier Colin Barnett and Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron next month with a view to building new strategies to replace what he called a "tired" Subiaco.

The State Government has said it would not look at the stadium project for at least two years and all sports are now sceptical that the stadium will be built. Mr Barnett favours rebuilding Subiaco Oval gradually.

While Mr Demetriou would not commit to whether building a new stadium or redeveloping Subiaco was the best option, he told The West Australian yesterday that pushing for a WA venue with increased capacity was high on AFL's agenda.

West Coast confirmed it still has 7000 households, which would include multiple members, on a waiting list because Subiaco could only accommodate 43,400 people. Fremantle last year had a record membership of 43,366 and has signed up more than 38,000 people this season.

"We understand Government priorities but in my view he (Mr Barnett) understands that there's capacity issues at Subiaco. So we'll look at other options," Mr Demetriou said. "What's wrong in Perth is that there's no point having 43,000 West Coast Eagles members and you get 43,000 people going every week and the next generation of football fans can't go."

He understood why there was a priority for hospitals and other developments but that did not negate the fact Subiaco was too small. The fundamental problem was children could not get into the football.

It was acknowledged AAMI was a "tired stadium" and with Subiaco, had "the most tired facilities and amenities for comfort levels".

WAFC chief executive Wayne Bradshaw said two years was too long to wait to start work.

Mr Demetriou said the "clean" stadium deal enjoyed by West Coast and Fremantle provided steady income from corporate sales and was an ideal blueprint for Victorian clubs under financial pressure.

He and AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpa-trick were both confident they could soon sway officials at Melbourne's two venues — the MCG and Etihad Stadium — to agree to new arrangements for clubs, which would override current contracts.

I hope the AFL applies all the pressure they talk about. Even if the stadium is AFL dominated, so long as it is suitable for other sports, or at least major events (Socceroos, Wallabies rugby, COmmonwealth Games) i'm happy for the AFL to throw its weight around.

A stadium suitable for AFL, major A-League games (if the Glory ever need more than 18,000) and Western Force matches on a regular basis is ofcourse the main goal.

I'm really looking forward to the AFL's plan to redevelope Visy Park (Optus Oval). Another 35-45,000seat venue in such a prime location could be a major win for northern/western AFL clubs. Carlton and Essendon would certainly benifit and it would allow for more flexibility for the operators of the MCG and Tesltra/Etihad.

p12 today's West

Subi safety sparks new stadium calls
KIM MACDONALD

Revelations that Subiaco Oval fails to meet international evacuation standards have renewed calls for a new sports venue.

It takes longer to evacuate Subiaco Oval than London's Wembley stadium, although it is half the size.

Leading stadium expert Alastair Richardson, from HOK Architecture, told the State Government of concerns about evacuation times in a 2006 report to the stadium task force.

Mr Richardson said yesterday Subiaco Oval breached international guidelines, known as the Green Guide, which included the width of walkways and seating dimensions.

The Wellington Street Arena stadium will meet the international standards, even though it is not a strict licensing requirement in Australia.

International standards require seating to be cleared in less than eight minutes in an emergency. This has been met by the 90,000-seat Wembley stadium.

But the WA Football Commission's estimate for clearing 42,000 people from Subiaco Oval is 10 minutes.

Shadow sports minister Ken Travers said it was another sign that Subiaco Oval was an old stadium and that a new one needed to be built.

Mr Travers said it was likely that WA would be excluded if an Australian bid to host the World Cup in 2018 or 2022 was successful because it lacked an appropriate facility. He said this would be a lost opportunity for the economy.

WAFC Subiaco Oval operations manager Nick King said the evacuation time was not a safety problem, claiming the clearance times were in line with other major stadiums.

A major evacuation drill of the venue was undertaken every year.

"To our knowledge no major stadium has practised a full stadium evacuation," Mr King said. "This matter has been discussed and it has been deemed to be not practical to conduct a trial evacuation of a full stadium."

WorkSafe said it had no complaints from workers at the venue and would not investigate unless there was a claim.

Sports Minister Terry Waldron said he recognised the need for a new stadium, but the Government would not actively consider the matter for another two years because it had other priorities.

HOK was the lead architect for the Sydney Olympic stadium, Melbourne's Telstra Dome, Cardiff's Millennium stadium and Wembley stadium.

Trying everything to swing the favour of a new stadium.

Keep going I say.

i have to say the West does seem a strong supporter for a new stadium and i have liked what they have published in relations to the stadium debate.

i have to say the West does seem a strong supporter for a new stadium and i have liked what they have published in relations to the stadium debate.

Yeah same. First thing they've been biased on that I agree with.

Still, if they weren't biased against Labor we might have the stadium anyway :P

Its been so long now that hearing news on it just makes me feel so annoyed now!

Inaction has cold us so big this time its not funny. Could now be over a decade before we see anything unless the federal government step in!

FIFA World Cup. Hopefully the Feds have to step in an save the day.

I'm all for a stadium but the article is really clutching at straws. Do you really think Banrey's going to build a stadium because it doesn't meat some Intl evacuation standard....come on. I'm sure every bit of infrastructure we have in Perth doesn't meet some intl standard at some level. Let's bulldoze them all (which I'm not against btw).
Good to see they're maintaining the momentum but we need to come up with better arguments.
HOK is just drumming up business for themselves.

"The Wellington Street Arena stadium"

DEAR GOD!

I'm all for a stadium but the article is really clutching at straws. Do you really think Banrey's going to build a stadium because it doesn't meat some Intl evacuation standard....come on. I'm sure every bit of infrastructure we have in Perth doesn't meet some intl standard at some level. Let's bulldoze them all (which I'm not against btw).
Good to see they're maintaining the momentum but we need to come up with better arguments.
HOK is just drumming up business for themselves.


Just shows how desparate we are to get a stadium.

I'm happy to pull out any card to get it.

But the WA Football Commission's estimate for clearing 42,000 people from Subiaco Oval is 10 minutes.



I have been told on good authority this estimate for clearing is based on west coast supporters/match days.

They are a bit slow ;-)

I have been told on good authority this estimate for clearing is based on west coast supporters/match days.

They are a bit slow ;-)

Yeah - we leave all at once at the end of the match. Freo fans leave between half time and 3 quarter time when they realise their team has lost. :)

or they wait until the end of the game to clap their team off after LOSING a final.



:nuts::nuts::nuts:

Because were proud of our team not disrespectful, we dont leav at half time, we are loyal supporters. :)

Ps. Im a eagles supporter

I went to the footy yesterday.

They've got the flash new electronic advertising billboards at ground level along the spectator fence. Spent a bit of money there.

Yet, the member seats we have are the old wooden benches, rotting away and falling apart. Uncomfortable as hell. They could have at least given them a coat of paint in the off season me thinks.

I went to the footy yesterday.

They've got the flash new electronic advertising billboards at ground level along the spectator fence. Spent a bit of money there.

Yet, the member seats we have are the old wooden benches, rotting away and falling apart. Uncomfortable as hell. They could have at least given them a coat of paint in the off season me thinks.

Commiserations to you then.

^^
:lol:

Yea I can think of much better ways to waste a good Sunday afternoon.

Cutting my toenails for example.

or they wait until the end of the game to clap their team off after LOSING a final.



:nuts::nuts::nuts:

as u should. i take it u only support your team when they are winning by the sounds of your post?

by the way im not an AFL fan.

as u should. i take it u only support your team when they are winning by the sounds of your post?

by the way im not an AFL fan.

To a degree - but if the performance is horrible you don't as a crowd act as if it was a win.

Anyway - getting off topic. I think fans will have to continue to put up with substandard facilities for years to come - more if a "revamped :puke:" Subi Oval goes ahead.

as u should. i take it u only support your team when they are winning by the sounds of your post?

by the way im not an AFL fan.

Why would you go gooo goo gahhh gaaaa when your team got belted by 40 points??? Thats just accepting failure.


Your not an AFL fan so we should just leave it at that in fear of repeating myself a million times.

I was in Melbourne last years about round 4 5 Eagles Vs Collingwood at the MCG, We got belted by 113 points did I leav no I did not. Shows how much I love my team, I'm not just ehre for them when there on there highs, with them through and through :banana:

p 3 today's West

http://www.thewest.com.au//contentversion/1690074887/images/WA2.jpg
$600m plan to revive Subi Oval
MARK DUFFIELD
CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER

The AFL and WA Football Commission have asked architects to produce a new $600 million redevelopment plan for Subiaco Oval in a fresh bid to woo State Government money to a project to replace the stalled plan for a multipurpose stadium.

The West Australian understands that regular WAFC architect Peter Hunt and Melbourne-based Daryl Jackson, a leading architect on the MCG redevelopment, have been briefed on the new project on Subiaco's current site.

WAFC chief executive Wayne Bradshaw said yesterday the commission hoped to have a new stadium proposal by early June and it was then up to the Government to decide if funds would be allocated.

"We are asking people to talk to us about developing concepts," Mr Bradshaw said. "The AFL are putting it out to a couple of architects."

The Carpenter government had committed to building an $850 million, 60,000-seat stadium with retractable seats at Kitchener Park to be used for AFL, rugby union and soccer internationals.

But the plan, which also included about $230 million in associated infrastructure, stalled after the election.

The project's prospects have been further damaged by the global financial crisis, rugby's wish to play Super 14 matches at Members Equity Stadium and Premier Colin Barnett's publicly stated preference for a gradual MCG style re-building of Subiaco Oval.

Mr Barnett has said the stadium project is on hold for two years. But Treasurer Troy Buswell has also said the Government would listen to development proposals for both Subiaco Oval and Members Equity Stadium.

AFL chief operating officer Gillon McLachlan insisted that new plans for Subiaco Oval were at a formative stage but acknowledged that architects had been spoken to.

"Any briefs that are given to any architects are pretty broad and nothing specific that I can talk about," he said. "We are in exploratory stages. There was a clear plan ahead that changed with the change of government and we need to work out what to do with the football facilities that the AFL plays its games out of in WA.

"They are drawing 30,000 or 40,000 people a week and we need to make sure they keep up with what is best practice and how we go about that is the question that confronts us. We need to look at all options.

"Subiaco needs work, there is nothing new in that. Whether it is redeveloping Subiaco or a new ground, or whatever we think the right way is, we are having chats about that."

Mr McLachlan said the AFL would probably commit funds to a new project but the bulk of the money would have to come from government.

"I think it is premature to work out how the thing is funded,," he said. "We need to work out the appropriate next step for football in terms of making sure that WA has an elite facility comparable to the rest of Australia."

BOOOOOOO!

just do it properly...

get funding from the;

State Government,
Federal Government,
AFL,
WAFC,
Australian Rugby Union,
Western Force,
Football Federation of Australia and
Coporate Sponsorships

and then it means of the $1.1b cost of the stadium and surrounding infrastructure (which can be partly paid off with the land sales of surrounding blocks) the state government would only have to pay approximately $600m. and considering that Subi plan, probably won't include surrounding infrastructure you are winning...

do it properly!

Yeah - boo if it means spending that much money to bandaid Subi Oval - but at least they mention that it isn't the only option, so a new stadium is still an option. But it shoul be the only option.

Talk about going about it the wrong way. They should have reviewed all these options first, BEFORE commenting about cancelling the stadium (political mileage?). Then they would have discovered a new stadium would be the best option after all, and they can spin it to the public all they like.

Now they've painted themselves into a corner where they can no longer revive the stadium plans without having egg on their faces. So I guess we're going to be stuck with the protracted, complicated, drawn-out drama of a second-rate re-build of Subiaco Oval....for the same price as a new Stadium. Go Barney.

I agree, this government has created so much confusion and speculation on the issue. He could have taken the easy route by saying they will progress with planning but won't be constructing the stadium until the states finances improve.

But that wouldn't have satisfied the spend every $ on health brigade. It always comes down to politics and not common sense.

$600million, redevelopment.


I stopped reading.

I can't say I've been following all the details but I don't think the govt's creating any confusion. They have clearly said they're not going to be doing anything about it for another 2 years and in the meantime they're happy look at any submission or plans or ideas from whatever parties.
I don't see the problem with that. So when they're ready to do something about it they'll have some stuff on their desk to evaluate.
If the other parties are getting excitied thinking they'll get some quick commitment from the gov't (I'm sure they're not that naive) it's their problem

BOOOOOOO!

just do it properly...

get funding from the;

State Government,
Federal Government,
AFL,
WAFC,
Australian Rugby Union,
Western Force,
Football Federation of Australia and
Coporate Sponsorships

and then it means of the $1.1b cost of the stadium and surrounding infrastructure (which can be partly paid off with the land sales of surrounding blocks) the state government would only have to pay approximately $600m. and considering that Subi plan, probably won't include surrounding infrastructure you are winning...

do it properly!

Given the happenings in Melbourne regarding the AFL and control of venues/venue deals i doubt they're going to be very supportive of a state controlled stadium this time around. Esspecially if they progress with plans to build their own stadium in the inner Melbourne suburbs.

I can't say I've been following all the details but I don't think the govt's creating any confusion. They have clearly said they're not going to be doing anything about it for another 2 years and in the meantime they're happy look at any submission or plans or ideas from whatever parties.
I don't see the problem with that. So when they're ready to do something about it they'll have some stuff on their desk to evaluate.
If the other parties are getting excitied thinking they'll get some quick commitment from the gov't (I'm sure they're not that naive) it's their problem

But I think that is almost sending the message - "Water it down, make it cheaper and we might consider it". And interested parties will do that because they are desperately crying for better facilities and extra capacity.

But I think that is almost sending the message - "Water it down, make it cheaper and we might consider it". And interested parties will do that because they are desperately crying for better facilities and extra capacity.

Given the current economic situation i doubt (and yes i am crossing my fingers) the current government will be able to make a solid decision on this. It will probably come out as an election promise next time around.

In any case, 4years down the track i'd hope we'd be in a position for both parties to be considering something similar to what was produced under the previous government.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=77&ContentID=136886
Premier kills Subi Oval hope

20th April 2009, 6:00 WST

Premier Colin Barnett has dashed hopes that Subiaco Oval could get a $600 million redevelopment in the near future.

He said the Government would be happy to look at any proposals by the AFL and WA Football Commission, but the stadium was on hold for two years because there were other priorities such as a children’s hospital.

BLOG: Should Subi revamp get the green light?

“We don’t rule it out, but I made it very clear to the football commission this issue is on hold for two years,” Mr Barnett said.

The West Australian revealed on Saturday that the AFL and WAFC had asked architects to produce a new $600 million redevelopment plan in a fresh bid to win State Government money for a project to replace the stalled plan for a multi-purpose stadium.

It is understood that regular WAFC architect Peter Hunt and Melbourne-based Daryl Jackson, a leading architect on the MCG redevelopment, have been briefed on the new project on Subiaco’s current site.

The WAFC has said it hopes to have a fresh stadium proposal by June and it will then be up to the Government to decide if funds will be allocated. The AFL has said it will probably commit funds to a new project but the bulk of the money will have to come from the Government.

Shadow sport minister Ken Travers said the State Government had mismanaged the issue and even if it wanted to delay the construction for the project it needed to be doing the planning, particularly on financial modelling, now.

He said a public-private partnership was one option for considerably reducing the cost of such a project to the taxpayer.

JESSICA STRUTT

lol that's exactly what I said 4 posts above. I thought it was obvious.

AK Reserve

Basketball
http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/1581/akbb1.jpg

http://img4.imageshack.us/img4/1669/akbb2.jpg

http://img16.imageshack.us/img16/1079/akbb3.jpg

Athletics

http://img11.imageshack.us/img11/8346/akath2.jpg

http://img525.imageshack.us/img525/7923/akath3.jpg

hey bart bart you can actually walk onto the track, i ran a few laps today. the builders dont seem to care. i will go there soon, of if your near, just enter off underwood ave, just before the challenge entry

Feel free to take pics from inside if you are there!

looking very nice. very close to the renders IMO - the athletics stadium at least.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=13&ContentID=137922
http://www.thewest.com.au//contentversion/522708604/images/MAIN.jpg

Codes combine to call for stadium upgrade

24th April 2009, 12:30 WST



The State Government’s rejection of plans to upgrade Subiaco Oval or develop a new multi-purpose stadium in the near future has not tempered the desire of three of WA’s football codes for an upgrade of the rectangular Members Equity Stadium.

RugbyWA, Perth Glory FC and the WA Rugby League this morning made a joint call to the State Government to inject funds into the further redevelopment of the East Perth stadium into a top-class sporting facility.

HAVE YOUR SAY: Should the government step in to keep the Force in Perth? Click here

The West Australian today revealed that a report from Melbourne-based company LEK Consulting says Perth is in danger of losing Super 14 rugby franchise the Western Force if a suitable rectangular facility is not built.

The most viable option is a $73 million upgrade of Members Equity Stadium, a redevelopment that could save the Force and provide a massive boost to soccer and rugby league in WA.

“The upgrade is essential for the long-term viability of the Western Force, it’s as simple as that,” outgoing Force chief executive Greg Harris said.

The Gallop government’s promise of a $25 million upgrade was a key component of RugbyWA’s successful pitch which brought top-level rugby union to Perth instead of Melbourne five years ago, but a suitable upgrade is yet to eventuate.

Meanwhile, the Victorian government is aggressively pursuing further tenants for its 31,500-seat rectangular stadium, which is currently under construction. A-League champions Melbourne Victory and NRL club Melbourne Storm have already committed to the Olympic Park venue and there is room for a third football team.

Harris said it would cost the WA Government comparatively little to save the Western Force in the short term and provide three of WA’s football codes with the basis of a suitable long-term venue.

“We’re not asking for $1 billion, we’re asking for $70 million to ensure that you have a pathway for young footballers of three different codes in this State to be able to play at the highest level they possibly can.

“I don’t think that’s an unrealistic expectation, especially in relation to the $300 million which the Victorian State Government are currently spending on a rectangular stadium or the $165 million which the Queensland State Government have recently spent at Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.”

While the Force are desperate for a suitable rectangular facility to satisfy public calls for a decent view of the action, which is not provided at Subicao Oval, the upgrade would also assist soccer and rugby league.

Perth Glory currently spend around $20,000 per match to meet minimum A-League ground requirements, while WARL boss Bill Nosworthy says that a top-class facility would be a key attribute in his organisation’s bid to bring the NRL back to Perth in 2012.

The Force will lose around $2.8 million this year, while Perth Glory chief executive Scott Gooch said his club would lose $1.5 million. Glory’s losses will be absorbed by sole owner Tony Sage.

PERTH
SHAYNE HOPE

tha question is why have both force and glory made losses?

tha question is why have both force and glory made losses?

Because they are in a market where Aussie Rules is (quite rightly) the No.1 footy code by a long way. It also doesn't help that they have been spectacularly unsuccessful of late.

tha question is why have both force and glory made losses?

Force: a couple of sponsorship disasters, crowds staying away because of poor viewing at Subiaco (they sell out every time they play at MES). Why pay for a season ticket when it gives you a rubbish view of the match, or even turn up at all?

Glory: poor marketing (including non-enagement with the public), poor management, boring on the pitch - keeping the fans away and memberships down. I'd rather watch a quality EPL etc game on the telly than an uninteresting one in person.

Will be interesting to see what happens with the Perth Reds (currently playing in the NSWRL). They've got enough sponsorship to fly the team east every other week PLUS fly the other teams over here to play, in addition to facilities, staff etc.

Force: a couple of sponsorship disasters, crowds staying away because of poor viewing at Subiaco (they sell out every time they play at MES). Why pay for a season ticket when it gives you a rubbish view of the match, or even turn up at all?

Supposedly the game is live on Foxtel - which would explain a lot about why they don't turn up too.

Glory: poor marketing (including non-enagement with the public), poor management, boring on the pitch - keeping the fans away and memberships down. I'd rather watch a quality EPL etc game on the telly than an uninteresting one in person.

Glory's time when they were popular came a bit too early for the A League. I think they shot themselves in the foot when they started playing around with the day and time the games were being played. Once it went to Sat night I stopped going because I had cricket commitments and couldn't get there in time.


Will be interesting to see what happens with the Perth Reds (currently playing in the NSWRL). They've got enough sponsorship to fly the team east every other week PLUS fly the other teams over here to play, in addition to facilities, staff etc.

I think (personally) League is the most boring of the footy codes in Aus - and wouldn't go if I was paid to. Reds were once in Perth but collapsed. Not sure of the reasons behind it.

I think you will find quite a few AFL clubs losing money. If it wasn't for the AFL taking from the rich and giving to the poor clubs like the Kangas, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Port, Sydney etc would disappear within 5 years.

I think you will find quite a few AFL clubs losing money. If it wasn't for the AFL taking from the rich and giving to the poor clubs like the Kangas, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Port, Sydney etc would disappear within 5 years.

Agree that there are clubs looking for handouts in the AFL. Port recently put their hand out.

Todays west says len buckridge will build the MES upgrade at cost price if the state funds it.

Todays west says len buckridge will build the MES upgrade at cost price if the state funds it.

Does that mean it will get unapproved extensions added to the new stand?

p5 today's West

I'll extend stadium for no fee: tycoon
DAVE HUGHES

Construction tycoon Len Buckeridge offered to build the proposed extension to Members Equity Stadium at cost yesterday.

The BGC boss, who played for the State colts rugby team in 1954, indicated the measure would save between 8 and 10 per cent of the estimated $73 million price, dropping the cost of the upgrade to about $66 million.

Mr Buckeridge's proposition came after a report in The West Australian yesterday that revealed the Western Force was headed for a $2.8 million loss this year, mainly because increasing spectator dissatisfaction with Subiaco Oval was causing crowds to drop.

The Force has signalled a move to Members Equity Stadium next year to reduce losses but the 18,000-capacity rectangular stadium still fails to meet minimum standards for Super 14 rugby and the organisation will continue to lose money, putting its long-term future in doubt.

"I'm not prepared to sit back and watch the Western Force disappear because Perth lacks a suitable stadium," Mr Buckeridge said. "There's a grave risk the Force will end up in another State if nothing is done.

"I'll do whatever I can to stop that happening."

He made his offer to stadium owner the Town of Vincent on condition the State Government agreed to fund the proposal to increase the capacity of Perth's major rectangular venue to 25,000. He said BGC would undergo a competitive tender process to secure the redevelopment contract and Mr Bucke-ridge promised to make his books available for audit to ensure the work was done with no profit margin. One of WA's biggest private companies, BGC is involved in several major stadium contracts in Perth, including the indoor arena being built in Wellington Street.

Mr Buckeridge said he wanted his grandchildren, who are Force members, to be able to watch top-class rugby in a suitable stadium. "I've been to Subi for Force games and it's bloody awful," he said. "You can't enjoy rugby in an AFL-style ground."

Shadow sports minster Ken Travers said Mr Buckeridge's offer showed the State Government had bungled the stadium issue by not considering innovative ideas to upgrade Members Equity and Subiaco stadiums

Sports Minister Terry Waldron said the Government was doing everything it could to support the upgrade of facilities at Members Equity. "I understand their needs and the report that was presented to me earlier this week, the LEK report, is a very good report and I've taken it on board," he said.

Mr Waldron welcomed Mr Buckeridge's offer but said he would need to see more details.

A-League soccer club Perth Glory, up to now the major tenant at Members Equity Stadium, revealed yesterday a loss of $ 1.5 million from last season.

I'm a cynic. He needs to work (regardless). Define Cost Price. Not to mention the 10% 'saving' will mostly be eaten up anyway. I haven't seen a large scale govt project in recent times that's stayed within 10% of budget. Not really charitable imo. Anyway I'm just crapping on.

I'm not a Buckeridge fan, so I'm cynical too. Oh wait - I am always cynical anyway.

Official Opening day for the Athletics Centre is on the 18th May

Official Opening day for the Athletics Centre is on the 18th May

Are they doing anything special for it and can anyone go?

Are they doing anything special for it and can anyone go?

I think the opening is for government officials, and there is one show race on...a 100m race i believe. I will find out more and confirm tho.

there is an official meet on the 30th of may i think. its a pity i will be in melbourne competing that weekend, i'd have had a great excuse to get u guys down to watch me run!

MES upgrade makes sense. great venue and will be better for Union and Football...

sure Perth will only fill a 3rd of the upgraded stadium when built but then again that isnt uncommon at the other venues... Plus it will be very attractive for the FFA to host friendlies and AFC Nations Cup qualifiers there or other matches... suitable finals venue for Perth and The Force can actually have a decent ground where fans can be close to the action and not have to view the game via a telescope...

From what i have heard from Perth HQ with a new logo and all... and potential signings of international calibre of Recoba, Denilson and Todd i would say these are good signs... although the players i mentioned are just mentioned in press circles...

MES upgrade makes sense. great venue and will be better for Union and Football...

sure Perth will only fill a 3rd of the upgraded stadium when built but then again that isnt uncommon at the other venues... Plus it will be very attractive for the FFA to host friendlies and AFC Nations Cup qualifiers there or other matches... suitable finals venue for Perth and The Force can actually have a decent ground where fans can be close to the action and not have to view the game via a telescope...

From what i have heard from Perth HQ with a new logo and all... and potential signings of international calibre of Recoba, Denilson and Todd i would say these are good signs... although the players i mentioned are just mentioned in press circles...

Any international matches the would draw a decent crowd would probably still be played at Subi though.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/25/2552509.htm

WAFC to support upgrade of Subiaco Oval
Posted April 25, 2009 11:10:00

The WA Football Commission says it will work with the Government to secure an upgrade of Subiaco Oval.

The comments come as a new report, commissioned by Rugby WA, was released yesterday recommending an increase in the capacity of Perth Oval from 18,000 to 25,000 seats, as well as improving the facilities.

The Chief Executive of the Commission, Wayne Bradshaw says the different football codes have different needs but plans for a multi-purpose stadium have been shelved for the time being.

Mr Bradshaw says the Commission is now focussing on developing Subiaco Oval.

"We understand there's limited resources and we'd be keen to work with the Government to apply those resources in the best manner, relative to what they can afford, so that sports, and football in particular can go ahead in this state," he said.

That's bad news. We will never get a decent stadium if $ are spent on a bandaid Subi Oval.

I think you will find quite a few AFL clubs losing money. If it wasn't for the AFL taking from the rich and giving to the poor clubs like the Kangas, Melbourne, Western Bulldogs, Port, Sydney etc would disappear within 5 years.

As far as i know all clubs made a profit last season except for North Melbourne. In saying that Melbourne, Port and the Bulldogs are swimming in debt.

However, you've got to remember that although the AFL might be proping up these clubs, it is the clubs like those listed above that make the AFL the money machine it is. I doubt Ch7/10 would have paid $700m in television rights without a Sydney or second Adelaide team in the competition.

The AFL helps to redirect the wealth to where it is needed. If the abovementioned clubs had the ability to sell the television/stadium rights to their homegames they would be in a much more stable financial position.

Any international matches the would draw a decent crowd would probably still be played at Subi though.

perhaps... but it is a woeful ground to watch football and union...MES is brilliant... sure the facilities are not flash but it is only stage one atm ;) :lol:

perhaps... but it is a woeful ground to watch football and union...MES is brilliant... sure the facilities are not flash but it is only stage one atm ;) :lol:

Trade MES for Subiaco Oval and thats basically what they would have been saying in the early 90's.

Although i agree MES is a good, suitable facility we should be exploring the option of a new, upgradable, standalone, 25,000-35,000 seat rectangular stadium on a greenfields site.

As mentioned in the media, follow the lead of Queensland and Melbourne.

A new venue, rectangular facility, with upgradable capabilities would go a long way towards us winning the World Cup. Even if the venue had a smaller capacity than the planned 60,000 multi-purpose venue.

today's West Editorial p20

State needs to press for Federal help on stadium

WA Sports Minister Terry Waldron says he wants to see Western Force remain in WA and the Government will do all it can to see that happen, but also wants to ensure that spending $73 million on upgrading Members Equity stadium is a responsible use of taxpayers' money.

Mr Waldron has expressed a willingness to consider building magnate Len Buckridge's offer to provide the stadium upgrade at cost, shaving an estimated $7 million off the price, which is a welcome move.

But the Government should make sure it approaches the stadium project with vision and exhausts every avenue it can to make it a reality. That should include pressing the Federal Government for funds.

WA fares pitifully in the allocation of Federal sports grants compared with all the other States and Territories. RugbyWA chairman Geoff Stooke is right when he says that WA's representatives in Canberra, particularly in the Senate, need to act to redress the inequity. They should have the solid backing of the State Government in doing so.

Trade MES for Subiaco Oval and thats basically what they would have been saying in the early 90's.

Although i agree MES is a good, suitable facility we should be exploring the option of a new, upgradable, standalone, 25,000-35,000 seat rectangular stadium on a greenfields site.

As mentioned in the media, follow the lead of Queensland and Melbourne.

A new venue, rectangular facility, with upgradable capabilities would go a long way towards us winning the World Cup. Even if the venue had a smaller capacity than the planned 60,000 multi-purpose venue.

I don't think we need a new rectangular stadium. If you upgrade MES to a solid 25,000 it should become a decent mid-sized stadium. None of our rectangular codes look like they will need anything bigger in the short term. I believe one of the reasons for the Melbourne Bubble Dome was because they lacked a mid-sized venue. If any rectangular codes wanted a bigger venue there is always Docklands.

The 60,000 Multi-purpose venue is the one that must go ahead. It is the only one that has the capacity for the FIFA World Cup and still sustainable because of the WCE and Dockers.

I don't think we need a new rectangular stadium. If you upgrade MES to a solid 25,000 it should become a decent mid-sized stadium. None of our rectangular codes look like they will need anything bigger in the short term. I believe one of the reasons for the Melbourne Bubble Dome was because they lacked a mid-sized venue. If any rectangular codes wanted a bigger venue there is always Docklands.

The 60,000 Multi-purpose venue is the one that must go ahead. It is the only one that has the capacity for the FIFA World Cup and still sustainable because of the WCE and Dockers.

And commit to ANOTHER quick fix, patch up job. So Perth.

Or build a new 25,000-35,000 that is suitable for current day capacities, able to cope with future demand, on a site with expansion potential and one which is able to host international rugby, league, concerts, football and upgradable to 40,000 seats for a FIFA World Cup?

A 30,000 seat premier rugby venue would still be suitable for international rugby and major Western Force matches wouldn't it?

To me I just think that should grab some brains and do it in Burswood on the Golf course,
You have
-main fwy
-Train
-possible ferry
-before/after game activities

You have all these stadiums in one
-Rectangle stadium
-Tennis stadium
-Oval stadium for football
and one big race course pissing off Gloucester park and Ascot
and ust having Belmont park

its that simple :bash:

They should do it instead of building new multipurpose at kitchener park
then having everyone whinge about it

rant over :D pointless? i know :lol:

The biggest problem with Burswood is it is supposedly silt, so quit e bit extra $ to build there.

It would be worth it with the end result though :D

But the State Govt won't give up the $ for a cheaper solution. Not arguing against the Burswood sporting hub, but realism kicking in.

The biggest problem with Burswood is it is supposedly silt, so quit e bit extra $ to build there.

- Its private land
- Its further from the CBD than any other proposed site
- Would hinge on the development of Belmont Racecourse
- Offers little variety with regards to post game entertainment
- Would be controled by PBL
- No associated land use outside of competition times.

- Its private land
- Its further from the CBD than any other proposed site
- Would hinge on the development of Belmont Racecourse
- Offers little variety with regards to post game entertainment
- Would be controled by PBL
- No associated land use outside of competition times.

Good points. On the plus side (compared to Kitchener) - parking probably better, able to make the ground north/south - players don't need to look into sun straight down the ground, liquor laws probably more relaxed, ability to have a sporting precinct, ...

Anyway - I am happy enough with Kitchener.

Id be happy with Kitchener, just think itll be cool to have a sporting precinct.

but aaron you say about post game entertainment, go to Melbourne and look at there precinct, there no post game entertainment..
atleast ours would have burswood.

but oh well my dream wont come true.:bash:

Id be happy with Kitchener, just think itll be cool to have a sporting precinct.

but aaron you say about post game entertainment, go to Melbourne and look at there precinct, there no post game entertainment..
atleast ours would have burswood.

but oh well my dream wont come true.:bash:

Olympic Park is far closer to the CBD and has better transport connections. I doubt anyone would walk from the CBD to Burswood as they can from Flinders to Olympic Park.

Also, i would not be raving about Olympic Park either. It works as a sports precint. Though the same thing could be achieved if the venues were scattered across the city. The only advantage is seen when hosting major competitions such as the Olympics or Commonwealth Games.

And commit to ANOTHER quick fix, patch up job. So Perth.

Or build a new 25,000-35,000 that is suitable for current day capacities, able to cope with future demand, on a site with expansion potential and one which is able to host international rugby, league, concerts, football and upgradable to 40,000 seats for a FIFA World Cup?

A 30,000 seat premier rugby venue would still be suitable for international rugby and major Western Force matches wouldn't it?

And commit to ANOTHER quick fix, patch up job. So Perth.

Or build a new 25,000-35,000 that is suitable for current day capacities, able to cope with future demand, on a site with expansion potential and one which is able to host international rugby, league, concerts, football and upgradable to 40,000 seats for a FIFA World Cup?

A 30,000 seat premier rugby venue would still be suitable for international rugby and major Western Force matches wouldn't it?

I'd love a new rectangular stadium just like the one you described. However, I don't see it being a reality anytime soon. This MES upgrade is on the table and for much cheaper than what it would cost for a new stadium.

Currently any sustainable 40,000+ stadium has to involve the Eagles and Dockers. That would mean the World Cup would also have to be held at this stadium, therefore the 60,000 multi-purpose is the way to go.

I'm advocating building the 60,000 Multipurpose Oval before a new 30,000+ Rectangular Stadium.

And onto Burswood
- Its private land
I'm just wondering where you got this information and why it would be bad.

- Its further from the CBD than any other proposed site
Subiaco isn't exactly next to the CBD either. It will have comparable public transport links and superior road links.

- Would hinge on the development of Belmont Racecourse
Why does it hinge on this development? Isn't a 60,000 stadium development enough?

- Offers little variety with regards to post game entertainment
The casino is there. Pubs, clubs, cafes, restaurants can be built on the site.

- Would be controled by PBL
I'm just wondering where you got this information and why it would be bad.

- No associated land use outside of competition times.
There is plenty of room for other land use.

But anyway, I think we've had this argument many times before. You are against Burswood, I am for it.

It is a moot point at the moment anyway. Just put the $80m into a new stand at Perth Oval and get it good enough for the rectangle ground sports for now. There is enough room for it to be expanded later anyway. And don't pour more good money after bad in bandaid-ing Subi Oval. Get the approvals, etc. ready for Kitchener ready to go once a government is around that is willing to bite the bullet. But that involves forethought and working outside the electoral cycle and, as such, is unlikely to happen.

in regards to the rectangular stadium, they should definitely build this current upgrade, because considering by adding this one stand (which adds 7,000) to the side of the ground which already has the largest capacity now, means that if this same stand design is continued around the ground in the same manner Lang Park (in brisbane was built, with one stand being built and the other three following a decade later) would easily give Perth Oval a capacity over 35,000 in the end (probably closer to 45,000) basically meaning, if it is a good design, it won't be a band-aid solution and could actually give perth one of the best rectangular stadiums in Australia, especially if the western stand when redeveloped has a third tier ontop of the current design the eastern stand has proposed (which would give an already greater capacity than what i have mentioned)

so i truely do hope Perth Oval is redeveloped with this current proposal. and ofcourse, everyone already knows how much i want a kitchener park stadium.

Sounds like we are reading from the same page docker. There was an agreement between the State Government and rugby officials to do the $80m Perth Oval development - so no problem there. At least the process of fixing the stadium issues will be started then.

Rectangular Stadium @ East Perth????

Have the two stadiums book end Perth. Multipurpose in Subi. Rectangular, Cricket, trots, races in East Perth/Belmont and Perth Arena in the middle for Tennis, basketball, ping pong, table cricket, slapsies and all the other indoor crap.

Only problem is, we need to find 1.6 billion benjamins from somewhere and ummm some vision and balls might be needed as well.

- Its private land
- Its further from the CBD than any other proposed site
- Would hinge on the development of Belmont Racecourse
- Offers little variety with regards to post game entertainment
- Would be controled by PBL
- No associated land use outside of competition times.

Burswood don't own the land im pretty sure.

When you compare Burswood to East Perth and Subi, the CBD has nothing to do with it. Its either within walking distance or not.

Belmont? How so? For parking?

East Perth is a gun idea agreed by all on here. No entertainment afterwards. Ditto for Olympic Park.

PBL just wants money. Not control.

So what exactly is Subi used for outside Eagles/Dockers/Force games? I'm struggling to see what you mean by this.

The trade off was for PBL to be allowed an increase in the number of pokies, or to be allowed to use a different type or something.

to be able to use the pokies with the pull lever

^^ PBL or Crown/Burswood owns nothing more then where the casino is now. stop thinking this! its government land!

Who owns the golf course?

in regards to the rectangular stadium, they should definitely build this current upgrade, because considering by adding this one stand (which adds 7,000) to the side of the ground which already has the largest capacity now, means that if this same stand design is continued around the ground in the same manner Lang Park (in brisbane was built, with one stand being built and the other three following a decade later) would easily give Perth Oval a capacity over 35,000 in the end (probably closer to 45,000) basically meaning, if it is a good design, it won't be a band-aid solution and could actually give perth one of the best rectangular stadiums in Australia, especially if the western stand when redeveloped has a third tier ontop of the current design the eastern stand has proposed (which would give an already greater capacity than what i have mentioned)


I'm not too sure how much you can expand the western stadium given its proximity to the roads in the NW and SW corners. In the TOV Proposal from the taskforce documents, the final capacity is 32,000. I don't see MES as a long term solution.

Sounds like we are reading from the same page docker. There was an agreement between the State Government and rugby officials to do the $80m Perth Oval development - so no problem there. At least the process of fixing the stadium issues will be started then.

Do you have any evidence on this? As far as I know, the previous state gov. promised the Western Force $25million to upgrade MES. When they started playing, their crowds were too big for MES and so they moved to Subi. That $25million was then meant to go into the 60,000 Multi-purpose. Now that the multipurpose proposal has fallen over and that the Force want to move back to MES, it seems only logical that they get at least the $25million they were already entitled to from the state gov. That just leaves $50million to go.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuID=12&ContentID=138620

AFL chief labels Subiaco Oval ‘least adequate’

28th April 2009, 15:45 WST

AFL boss Andrew Demetriou has labelled Subiaco Oval the “least adequate” ground in the competition as the league continues to push for a new or upgraded stadium in WA.

The AFL has set up a working party comprising of chief executives from the Eagles, Dockers and WAFC, as well as senior members from the league, to keep the stadium issue on the table despite the State Government’s decision to shelve all plans for the near future.

BLOG: Should Subi revamp get the green light?

Premier Colin Barnett said today it was likely Mr Demetriou’s views on the quality of Subiaco Oval were “probably right” but he would not prioritise possible redevelopment or rebuilding.

“Subiaco stadium is not up to the standard of stadiums in other States,” Mr Barnett said.

“What we are looking at now though is the rectangular stadium and when we took a decision to defer a redevelopment or a rebuilding or a progressive rebuilding of Subiaco we have also had discussions with rugby and soccer on a rectangular stadium because those sports are not catered for.”

The Premier said it was simply a case of WA not being able to afford to upgrade Subiaco Oval right now and a decision had been deferred for two years.

“Rugby fans tell me watching rugby at a place like Subiaco Oval doesn’t work. The membership of the (Western) Force demonstrates that,” he said.

“Similarly, attendance at soccer games has fallen so that is a far smaller, more modest project. It seems to me reasonable that we could proceed with improving the rectangular sports – soccer and rugby – facilities.

“A new stadium, an entirely new Subiaco Oval, is well in excess of $1 billion and in this environment frankly, Western Australia cannot afford that.”

The AFL and the two WA clubs are disturbed by the relatively small capacity (43,000) and decrepit facilities of Subiaco Oval, where thousands of fans are denied the opportunity to see live football due to regular sell-outs.

Mr Demetriou said he could see the reasoning behind the State Government’s short-term decision but remains concerned for followers of the code.

“I understand that it’s been parked by the Government, which is understandable given what’s going on financially around the world,” Mr Demetriou said.

“These are difficult and uncertain times, so every government has got to be prudent. But we need to keep working on that issue because at the moment everyone acknowledges that the Subiaco stadium is probably the least adequate of all of our grounds throughout Australia.”

Mr Demetriou said that seating reserved through the sale of season tickets had become a problem due to the limited capacity of the stadium and the lack of opportunity to watch live football could be disenfranchising the sporting public.

“When you’ve got 43,000 capacity and you’ve got a lot of reserved seating being sold and lots of members for both Fremantle and West Coast, it means that there’s a lot of young people that can’t go to the football and pay at the gate,” Mr Demetriou said.

“So we’re actually denying a lot of young people, children, an opportunity to come to the football and watch and enjoy the experience. So we have the potential to disenfranchise a lot of people from a generational perspective.

“We want people to go along to the football. It’s a good place to go along, it’s a good place for families to go. So we’ll keep working with the clubs and the WAFC and keep working to go forward on that.”

Mr Demetriou wants to see at least 50,000-52,000 seats at Subiaco Oval in the near future with the possibility of further upgrading the stadium to 60,000.

PERTH
SHAYNE HOPE and JAYNE RICKARD

Who owns the golf course?

the state gov.

well barnett sounds keen on a upgrade to the rectangular stadium, this is promising, hopefully we get it.

well barnett sounds keen on a upgrade to the rectangular stadium, this is promising, hopefully we get it.

All this is telling me is that Barnett does not give a flying fuck about rectangular sports but only wants to applease the concensus by choosing the cheapest option.



With the Force in MES, is this any different to the eagles being at Subiaco???




Barnett just misses the point that although we can't afford to build now, we should plan so that when we can afford to build, we will. What a fucking knob.

Who owns the golf course?

PBL only owns the casino land, Holidae Inn land, Dome & staff parking area if IIRC.

I'm not too sure how much you can expand the western stadium given its proximity to the roads in the NW and SW corners. In the TOV Proposal from the taskforce documents, the final capacity is 32,000. I don't see MES as a long term solution.



could just simply do what they did with the Gabba, and hang the stadium over the road, (which is what is likely to happen to the southern stand if the current subiaco oval is redeveloped)

wiccked (http://www.flickr.com/photos/wiccked/53988000/in/set-457470/) on flickr
http://img79.imageshack.us/img79/7017/5398800093ee6a4619o.jpg


Tannykid (http://www.flickr.com/photos/thetannykid/2908968321/) on flickr
http://img244.imageshack.us/img244/3307/2908968321473bb256e0b.jpg


as for the capacity, as i said, if the change the design so that the western stand has a third tier, (instead of just two like the current proposal for the eastern stand) a higher capacity could easily be achieved, especially if they build over the road like they did at the Gabba, especially seeing how it is only the corners that would be a problem..

Scrap highway for stadium: opposition
Tim Clarke
April 29, 2009 - 6:54AM

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v299/Miensie/stadium.jpg
An artist's impression of the proposed outdoor stadium at Kitchener Park in Subiaco. Photo: www.perthstadium.com.au

The state opposition has put forward a radical solution to two of Western Australia's prevailing infrastructure dilemmas - scrap the controversial Roe Highway stage eight extension and use the money to revamp Subiaco Oval.

The ensuing arguments about the decision to mothball the proposed redevelopment of Subiaco Oval blasted back on to the agenda yesterday when AFL boss Andrew Demetriou said WA's home of football was now the worst stadium in the competition.

Raising the stakes with Premier Colin Barnett ahead of the state budget next month, Demetriou said the AFL, the Eagles, Dockers and the WAFC were all united in their determination to keep the stadium issue alive.

Mr Barnett swiftly replied, saying while Demetriou may have been right, it did not mean he would get his way.

"Subiaco is not up to the standard of stadiums in other states," Barnett said.

"But a new Subiaco is well in excess of $1 billion, and in this environment frankly WA cannot afford that. We would have to ditch several hospital projects to do that.

"I except what Andrew Demetriou says - it is a poor standard."

Opposition sports minister Ken Travers said the decision to scrap the proposed stadium redevelopment had been made too hastily, and a solution could be found in the controversial Roe Highway

"They currently have in their budget Roe Highway stage eight, which is a $400 million project that will destroy internationally important wetlands but will not improve the road system in the southern suburbs.

"Why don't we use that money to build the new stadium?"

Mr Travers said the state of WA's sporting facilities was becoming a national embarrassment.

"It is not just about sporting events, it is actually a key piece of infrastructure for the tourism industry, and the quality of facilities in Melbourne, particularly Docklands, leaves Subiaco for dead," Mr Travers said.

"Victoria is constantly improving their sporting infrastructure because they see the benefits to their economy. The state government has been mismanaging the stadium issue from the day they arrived in government.

"They have been making ill-informed comments, not seeking expert opinions before making decisions."

Local community unrest over the construction of stage eight through the Beeliar Wetlands has prompted protesters air grievances to federal government.

The Save Beeliar Wetlands group expressed their concerns the road extension between Bibra and North Lakes could have a negative effect on migratory birds.

And protestors even vowed to stand if the State Government ignored a 4000 signature petition opposing the proposal.

"But a new Subiaco is well in excess of $1 billion, and in this environment frankly WA cannot afford that. We would have to ditch several hospital projects to do that.

Of course. There would be no other way other than to ditch hospital projects.

"I except what Andrew Demetriou says - it is a poor standard."
Ahhh, what?

must be a Gen Y journo :lol:

those hospital comments never get old. Only if I could find a way to capitalise on bshit catchphrases.

well thats a new low point for the opposition. no one has sense these days.
scrap something to fund a patch up job? get some brains fuktards.

Ahhh, what?

Could be disagreeing with Demetriou...

Could be disagreeing with Demetriou...

Its the grammar I'm talking about.

Its the grammar I'm talking about.

It's

It's

at least your not pedantic

Ok - I'll take this back on topic:
p11 today's West

Barnett firm on 'worst' stadium
JESSICA STRUTT, CRAIG O'DONOGHUE and PETER KERR

Premier Colin Barnett agreed with AFL chief executive Andrew Deme-triou's description yesterday of Subiaco Oval as the "least adequate" ground in Australia but continued to argue that WA could not afford a new stadium.

Mr Demetriou said a working party, which includes representatives from West Coast and Fremantle football clubs, the AFL and the WA Football Commission, had been set up to continue the push for the stadium's redevelopment and increased capacity even though the Government had put the issue on hold for two years.

He said it was unacceptable that people were being locked out of the ground each week even though reserved seats were vacant and the game faced a big problem if the next generation of football fans couldn't watch games live.

"Everyone acknowledges that the Subiaco stadium is probably the least adequate of all of our grounds around Australia," Mr Demetriou said. "So we're actually denying a lot of young people, children, an opportunity to come to the football and watch and enjoy the experience."

The AFL boss said he would be happy to see Subiaco Oval redeveloped gradually with a starting capacity of 52,000.

Mr Barnett said he was aware of Mr Demetriou's views and agreed that Subiaco stadium was not up to the standards of interstate stadiums.

He gave a strong indication that the Government was likely to go ahead with upgrading Members Equity Stadium, after a report last week warned Perth would lose Super 14 rugby team Western Force to another State unless a pledge, made by the former Gallop government, was honoured.

"We have got to balance as a Government which projects can go forward," Mr Barnett said. "Now it seems reasonable to me that we could proceed with improving soccer and rugby's facilities. That is something more manageable.

"A new Subiaco stadium is well in excess of $1 billion. In this environment, WA can't afford that. We would have to ditch several hospital projects to do that."

The West Australian revealed this month that the AFL and the WAFC
had asked architects to produce a $600 million redevelopment plan hi a fresh bid to win State Government money for a project to replace the stalled plan for a multi-purpose stadium.

Shadow sport minister Ken Travers said a generation of young people would miss out on seeing live football because of the Government's refusal to build a new stadium.

He said he understood why the AFL had decided to establish a working party but believed the Government should drive planning for the redevelopment to ensure it was in the best interests of the community.

It's

I'm hardly publishing a newspaper article am I?

at least your not pedantic

;)

Its the grammar I'm talking about.

He could be excepting what Demetriou said, as in ruling out. You'd need the context to be sure...








:lol:

at least the Force and Glory will play in a better ground compared to one that you would need a telescope to see any action... No wonder the force cant win at home most the time :lol:

id rather see ROE 8 Scrapped and the new ground built...

as for Hospitals... PMH is a joke and there should be TWO children's hospitals... one north and one south AT LEAST... a city pushing towards 2 million and one hospital is rather 'country town'-ish

much like the government 'we' elected to stall on building suitable oval and rectangular stadia...

at least the Force and Glory will play in a better ground compared to one that you would need a telescope to see any action... No wonder the force cant win at home most the time :lol:

id rather see ROE 8 Scrapped and the new ground built...

as for Hospitals... PMH is a joke and there should be TWO children's hospitals... one north and one south AT LEAST... a city pushing towards 2 million and one hospital is rather 'country town'-ish

much like the government 'we' elected to stall on building suitable oval and rectangular stadia...

I guess this is already in the works. FSH will no doubt have some intensive childrens hospital fucntions, or it will expand to do so in the future while QEII is likely to expand within the next decade to accomodate a relocated PMH.

true it is a start... but it still wont cope with a city thatreached 2 million people...

http://i41.tinypic.com/e7gj89.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/r7kj6s.jpg
http://i41.tinypic.com/16874m0.jpg
http://i44.tinypic.com/dgtkeq.jpg

http://i43.tinypic.com/35215rl.jpg

http://i41.tinypic.com/16874m0.jpg

I've always wanted to know what the holes in the track were for, I almost falled into one at Perry Lakes.

The Steeplechase

http://steeplechics.com/images/SR454.jpg
http://www.runnerstribe.com/images/youcef.JPG

So if you don't make the jump you fall into the pit of doom? Sounds kinda cruel lol.

Thats what I was thinking. Looks really dangerous.

probably the most entertaining event for those not overly interested in athletics.

im sure it has some kind of origins as to why there is a hurdle then a pool of water but CBF looking it up.

quote wiki

The event originated in the British Isles. Runners raced from one town's steeple to the next. The steeples were used as markers due to their visibility over long distances. Along the way runners inevitably had to jump creeks and low stone walls separating estates. The modern athletics event originates from a two-mile cross country steeplechase that formed part of the Oxford University sports (in which many of the modern athletics events were founded) in 1860. It was replaced in 1865 by an event over barriers on a flat field, which became the modern steeplechase. It has been an Olympic event since the inception of the modern Olympics, though with varying lengths

p.s the pit is half a metre deep at max and filled with water. basically iyou just hurdle the barrier anyway and land one foot near the edge. that, or one foot on the barrier and push off

http://i44.tinypic.com/dgtkeq.jpg


for the next 3 years this is probably will be the best stadium west of adelaide.

jarkti - fell :)

^^ I failed english :lol: ...not realy :)

Imagine if Perth (eventually) got something like this... the design is quite similar to the old proposal for Stadium WA actually.

Barcelona's Camp Nou, designed by Foster+Partners. Capacity will be 106,000 people. To put that into perspective, the MCG is [around] 98,000.

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/11511_5_nou%20camp7big.JPG

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/11511_3_nou%20camp5big.JPG

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/11511_1_nou%20camp2big.JPG

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/11511_4_nou%20camp4big.JPG

http://static.worldarchitecturenews.com/news_images/11511_2_nou%20camp1big.JPG

Nou Mestalla in Valencia is pretty cool too...cap. 73,200.

http://img54.imageshack.us/img54/6769/copyofimg4028np3.jpg

http://acidmind.iespana.es/estadio-rfa1.jpg

http://acidmind.iespana.es/estadio-rfa2.jpg

Cant wait for the Valencia stadium. The designs have been around for a few years now but i'm not sure if it is under construction yet. There seems to be a lot of new large football stadiums being developed in Spain ATM. Even more so if Madrid wins the 2016 Olympics.

I saw the interactive display for that at the Camp Nou in March citything. Very, very cool. I wonder if it has stalled though given there's been no news on it since 2007. Even at the Camp Nou they only had it described as a proposal.

what are they doing to Nou Camp? Just putting some fancy shit on the outside?

the valencia stadium was a complete fuckup as it has made the team nearly bankrupt as a result.

what are they doing to Nou Camp? Just putting some fancy shit on the outside?

They're adding 8,000 capacity and remodelling the hospitality and players' facilities (amongst other things).

the valencia stadium was a complete fuckup as it has made the team nearly bankrupt as a result.

Bad management didn't help....

They're adding 8,000 capacity and remodelling the hospitality and players' facilities (amongst other things).



Bad management didn't help....

wow. because 98,000 isnt enough!

This is the scaled down model - they were originally going for 116,000 so they could claim to be the largest soccer stadium in the world (the Azteca in Mexico is the largest).

This is the scaled down model - they were originally going for 116,000 so they could claim to be the largest soccer stadium in the world (the Azteca in Mexico is the largest).

I thought there was a football stadium in Rio with a larger capacity?

And isn't SoccerCity in South Africa larger with 115,000 seats?

I thought there was a football stadium in Rio with a larger capacity?

And isn't SoccerCity in South Africa larger with 115,000 seats?

The Maracanã in Rio used to have a capacity of over 200,000 (mostly standing) but now has a capacity of somewhere between 90,000 and 100,000. Soccer City when the renovations are complete will hold about 95,000.

I'll be away in Melbourne racing that weekend, so wont be able to show you a good performance in the 3000m. But for anyone else interested....

http://i39.tinypic.com/14y9uer.jpg

I might have to pop down there to watch.

p2 today's West

Power station still stadium contender
MARK DUFFTELD and JONATHAN COOK

The old East Perth power station could yet be the site for a $100 million 25,000-seat rectangular stadium.

Sport Minister Terry Waldron's office confirmed the site would be one of several greenfield options analysed before the State Government decided on the Town of Vincent's proposal for a $75 million upgrade to Members Equity Stadium.

Lake Monger's Utis Stadium is another likely to be assessed.

The greenfield option gained momentum this week at meetings between the Football Federation of Australia and the Government.

The FFA's Stuart Taggart met officials, including Premier Colin Bar-nett's chief of staff Deidre Willmott, to outline requirements for WA's involvement in Australia's bid to host the 2018 or 2022 soccer World Cup.

Similar meetings in South Australia sparked an outcry over claims the FFA told the State none of Adelaide's three main stadiums — AAMI, Adelaide Oval and Hindmarsh — was suitable for World Cup finals.

The FFA was unavailable for comment yesterday but has denied issuing ultimatums for new stadiums.

A spokesman for Mr Waldron said the Perth talks were "productive" and the State would work with rugby, soccer and the Federal Government on the stadium issue.

But it is understood the FFA is also using the World Cup bid to drive the establishment of new stadiums.

It regards Members Equity Stadium as unsuitable for World Cup finals and, if Perth had no suitable major stadium, believes a 25,000-seat purpose-built ground with up to 20,000 temporary seats is an option.

The State Government fears the cost of the Members Equity Stadium redevelopment could blow out to more than $100 million and make building a stadium at East Perth with a grandstand on one side cost-effective and with better long-term development prospects.

The power station ran second to Kitchener Park in stadium task force assessments for a 60,000-seat multipurpose ground. It would also come without the complications of the management lease that Nick Tana's Allia Holdings has on Members Equity Stadium or the heritage listing of the Fred Book Stand there.

The WA Football Commission wants architects Daryl Jackson and Peter Hunt to produce a plan for Sub-iaco Oval as a 52,000-seat stadium which meets FIFA's World Cup criteria. These include a minimum 40,000 capacity for group stage games and 60,000 for knockout matches.

What is the "Lake Monger's Utis Stadium " I have not heard of that and where exactly would tit be?

What is the "Lake Monger's Utis Stadium " I have not heard of that and where exactly would tit be?

Former 1962 Empire Games venue for cycling. It is where Floreat Athena play.. E & D Litis Stadium

The stadium is located in Mount Hawthorn and can hold between three and five thousand people. There are two grand stands, the Eleni grandstand and the more modern stand in front of the clubrooms which were built 20 years ago. The ground is used by all three Saturday premier league sides as well as the Sunday amateur teams. The stadium is also a popular choice of venue for the annual night series trophy before the start of the season.

The stadium used to be a velodrome used for West Australian cycling and held cycling events for the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, but has since been redeveloped into one of the best stadiums in the state. The Cycling tunnel has been left intact for players to use to and from the change rooms and is a feature of the ground. The tunnel has been named after two famous Athena players: Stan Lazaridis and Vas Kalageracos. The stadiums surface has been complimented as one of the best surfaces in the state amongst other West Australian clubs.

Former 1962 Empire Games venue for cycling. It is where Floreat Athena play.. E & D Litis Stadium

Is that the one right next to Brittania Reserve?

Is that the one right next to Brittania Reserve?

Yeah that would be the one im talking about... i assume WCG was asking about that one BartBart? :S

Hmmm - why would that be considered as a new rectangular stadium location, when Perth Oval is pretty much fulfilling that role. To not be held to the Tana contract? To avoid the Town of Vincent? Or is it just to put pressure on those interests to come to the table?

Hmmm - why would that be considered as a new rectangular stadium location, when Perth Oval is pretty much fulfilling that role. To not be held to the Tana contract? To avoid the Town of Vincent? Or is it just to put pressure on those interests to come to the table?

im wondering the same thing BartBart... i think there might be the anti Tana thing to move away from East Perth... although i think an upgraded MES would be perfect for Both Rugby Codes and Football...

The more I think about it, it must be to put pressure on Tana and Town of Vincent.

yeah it's just for leverage. that's all

MES is constrained by heritage issues as well. It may almost be cheaper to build greenfields than redevelop.

Whats with "Bar-nett" in that article?

Also, although its outside of the Town of Vincent, are the Stirling Gardens and adjacent vacant land near the council being considered as the site has been in the past?

Whats with "Bar-nett" in that article?

Also, although its outside of the Town of Vincent, are the Stirling Gardens and adjacent vacant land near the council being considered as the site has been in the past?

That would be because I scanned it using OCR and didn't change it from the printed version.

bloody hell, the SCG is getting another redevelopment, to increase to 48,000. and yet we are still screwed :nuts: although the SCG redevelopment does look nice, it's unfortunate that they are not allowed to go above 48,000 seats as it would breach the Homebush Stadium contract...

http://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=89753#89753

bloody hell, the SCG is getting another redevelopment, to increase to 48,000. and yet we are still screwed :nuts: although the SCG redevelopment does look nice, it's unfortunate that they are not allowed to go above 48,000 seats as it would breach the Homebush Stadium contract...

http://www.austadiums.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=89753#89753

Probably a good thing. Homebush already costs the NSW State Government a lot each year. Certainly wouldn't help if it lost some of the major AFL and cricket matches to the SCG.

The biggest AFL match (home/away season) in Sydney is the Swans v Magpies. The past few years it has drawn 45,000-50,000 suporters. If the SCG was greater than 50,000 there would be no obvious reason to play at ANZ/Homebush/Stadium Australia.

I dont understand why league is played at Homebush considering how empty it always is. Surely the suburban grounds would be cheaper.

Hmmm - why would that be considered as a new rectangular stadium location, when Perth Oval is pretty much fulfilling that role. To not be held to the Tana contract? To avoid the Town of Vincent? Or is it just to put pressure on those interests to come to the table?

Correct me if im wrong but isn't Floreat Athena Park in the Town of Vincent boundaries?





AND I will take full credit for the suggestion of the new rectangular stadium at the Power station site, THANK You.

I dont understand why league is played at Homebush considering how empty it always is. Surely the suburban grounds would be cheaper.

From purely a spectator's point of view I'd prefer Homebush. Although it's further out from the city, Public Transport and Parking is better. The SCG area is an absolute dog's breakfast when it comes to traffic on game nights.

From purely a spectator's point of view I'd prefer Homebush. Although it's further out from the city, Public Transport and Parking is better. The SCG area is an absolute dog's breakfast when it comes to traffic on game nights.

I can understand why the dont play at the SCG.

But i thought they would prefer to play more games at other, smaller, suburban grounds and the SFS.

Correct me if im wrong but isn't Floreat Athena Park in the Town of Vincent boundaries?


It is.


It's a pretty bad area to put in a stadium given it's in a public transport black spot.

It is.


It's a pretty bad area to put in a stadium given it's in a public transport black spot.

It's a vey short walk from the train station, isn't it? Not sure which one...

It's a vey short walk from the train station, isn't it? Not sure which one...

As the crow flies, it is 1.3km from Leederville and 1.5km from Glendalough.

It's a vey short walk from the train station, isn't it? Not sure which one...

Used to go to school in the area and always used Brittania all the time for sports. Not a short walk if you ask me.


And its 'crossing the nullabor' for Perth standards.

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25511832-2761,00.html



Braden Quartermaine

May 20, 2009 12:00pm

FORMER premier Alan Carpenter has called for WA's new athletics facility to be named after late sports broadcaster and administrator Wally Foreman.
The idea has support from Foreman's widow, Lyn, who said naming the AK Reserve complex in Mt Claremont after him would be a wonderful gesture.

Mrs Foreman, a former champion hurdler, met her husband at WA's mothballed athletics stadium at Perry Lakes.

"It of course would mean the world to us,'' she said.

"It would mean a lot to the family and I'm glad people still remember him.

"It would be a lovely reminder of the work he did.''

Mrs Foreman said Wally would have been thrilled at the benefit the new facility would provide for WA athletes.

"He was someone that worked hard. He had the will, he had the drive to get things moving,'' she said.

"He was passionate about all sports, but obviously because of my involvement he enjoyed track and field.

"He sold ice-creams at the Commonwealth Games so he could watch the athletics in '62.''

The AK Reserve complex will be officially opened next Tuesday. It has a 2000-seat grandstand, along with grassed areas which raise the capacity to 10,000.

The venue will host next year's national athletics titles.

WA has not held the track and field nationals since 1988. The national titles, to be held in April, will act as selection trials for the 2010 Commonwealth Games in New Delhi.

New stadium won't be named after Wally

21st May 2009, 6:30 WST

http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=621462&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=298592


The new State athletics stadium to be opened next week is unlikely to be named after broadcaster and tireless promoter of the sport in WA, the late Wally Foreman, however his contribution will be recognised in some form according to the sport’s peak body.

WA Athletics chief Wayne Loxley yesterday said calls to honour Foreman were welcome but others such as Olympians Herb Elliot and Shirley Strickland were also in the frame for the naming honour.

“Wally no doubt was one of the leading proponents to provide facilities for the sport, so any acknowledgement of Wally in the new facility would be appropriate,” he said. “But in saying that there are other people who have contributed to the history of athletics facilities in this State and are as equally deserving such as Herb Elliot and Shirley Strickland.”

“I think you’ll find that when it’s opened next week there’s some acknowledgment of…his contribution.”

Mr Loxely’s comments came after former Premier Alan Carpenter called for the replacement for Perry Lakes, currently known as AK Reserve, to be called Wally Foreman Field because of his work promoting athletics facilities across the State.

Mr Foreman’s wife Lynn said yesterday that any acknowledgment would be a “proud moment” and a “beautiful gesture” for the family, given her husband’s passionate advocacy for the sport.

A spokesman for Sports Minister Terry Waldron said the Government would announce a new name for the facility next week.

Mr Foreman died of a heart attack in 2006.

PERTH
PETER KERR

Foreman isn't eligible under Barnett's naming rules ...

he was a great supporter of WA sport but i mean naming a stadium is a tad rich... id rather a statue or a gate or a track bend or the stand named after him.

or name the road that goes to the athletics complex would be good.

or name the road that goes to the athletics complex would be good.

I like that...much like Australia II Drive at RPYC, which was a much better idea than renaming the club the America's Cup Yacht Club or Australia II Yacht Club!

Aux I like your ideas, Id rather the street but the stand would be good aswell

Well, the fact that they mentioned Elliott and Strickland as well as Foreman would lead me to the conclusion to all three getting something named after them. So that could be the field/arena in general, the grand stand, maybe the road, maybe the media box, ...

I just went for a short drive to check out the athletics and basketball stadiums. Starting to put up some glass in the eastern bit of the basketball. They have taken down the fencing around the athletics area. Still a little bit to do around it, but mostly complete. It looks pretty good - they've left a bit of the vegetation in the area.

I just went for a short drive to check out the athletics and basketball stadiums. Starting to put up some glass in the eastern bit of the basketball. They have taken down the fencing around the athletics area. Still a little bit to do around it, but mostly complete. It looks pretty good - they've left a bit of the vegetation in the area.

i hope they leave the fence up...otherwise its going to be hard to monitor who uses the track, and enforce the training fees!

i hope they leave the fence up...otherwise its going to be hard to monitor who uses the track, and enforce the training fees!

I meant the builder's fence around the work site. The green cyclone fence looks like it is pretty permanent.

I meant the builder's fence around the work site. The green cyclone fence looks like it is pretty permanent.

ahhh thats good news then

ahhh thats good news then

I assume the access road will only be from the south until the basketball stadium is finished.

yeah you'd think so. i havent seen if they have cleared up behind the grandstand yet. there is set to be a parking lot behind there, and the new one directly south of the challenge stadium entry. that should suffice for now, no major meets for a while, except for PSA and IGSSA. when is the bball meant to be finished?

Basketball officially still Oct '09. Parking wise, there is the already opened bays to the north of the roundabout near Challenge. There will be a few more to the south of the stand. Buses will drop off people here. The area behind the stand is being done up by the landscape people at the moment. Mostly done. A few more bays just north of this area. Then the road goes east and then north past the west side of the basketball stadium. There will be underground bays under the west side of the basketball stadium (which are the two show courts). There will be temporary parking on the grassed area on the west side of the road (to the south of the now planned Rugby Union building, which will have some parking underneath). There will also be some parking to the north and east of the basketball building.

http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=77&ContentID=143856

Stadium honours star WA athletes

26th May 2009, 6:00 WST

http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=624717&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=300485

Superstar athlete Shirley Strickland’s indelible mark on WA athletics has been honoured with WA’s new athletics grandstand bearing her name.

VIDEO: WA Athletics Stadium

The Shirley Strickland Grandstand is the centrepiece of the $73.4 million WA Athletics Stadium and will be linked to Challenge Stadium and the new basketball arena by Herb Elliott Drive and a shared path called Wally Foreman Walk.

With a $1.2 million, 12-lane track covered in the same type of synthetic surface used at the Beijing Olympics, 2000 grandstand seats and room for 8000 spectators on grassed embankments, WA Athletics chief Wayne Loxley yesterday predicted it was just a matter of time before the new stadium became home to a new world record.

Unlike Perry Lakes stadium, which had been constructed so the Queen would not have to look into the sun during the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games opening ceremony, the new stadium had been designed to ensure all sports will be able to take advantage from a tail wind.

Mr Loxley said the stadium would host the National Track and Field Championships in April, which was also the sole Commonwealth Games team selection qualifying event, for the first time since 1988. “The national championships will bring all of Australia’s best to WA and I have no doubt we will see records broken,” Mr Loxley said. “With the wind and the lights, our competition will be world class and I think we will have the opportunity to attract major championships on a regular basis.”

Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron said the WA Athletics Stadium would be WA’s competition venue for elite athletes at major meets but would also be a home for the wider athletic community in the State.

As workmen put the finishing touches to the stadium in time for its official opening today, Department of Sport and Recreation stadium project manager Rob Thomson said the stadium was expected to host up to 35 significant events a year. It would be the home training ground of some of Australia’s best track and field athletes, including Olympic gold medallist Steve Hooker.

Mr Thomson said the stadium incorporated energy efficient lighting to allow twilight and evening training events, used solar hot water panels, flow controllers and timers on taps.

International ground test engineer Anthony Apparailly spent hours yesterday testing the track’s shock absorption, evenness, flatness and friction to ensure it met strict international standards.

TIFFANY FOX

Just a thought - ok the stand, the road and the footpath (walk) were given deserving names, but the actual athletics field/track is still known as AK Reserve. I can't see it remaining as that, so is there an announcement still to come on the naming. Or is the whole basketball, rugby, athletics precinct going to have all the same name? Or is it going to be a sponsors name? That must be the answer. (Sorry - thinking on the run/type)

edit: (see below) it looks like it is called WA Athletics Stadium. wtf?!

http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25542313-5005401,00.html
WA sporting identities honoured at WA Athletics Stadium opening


May 25, 2009 10:00pm
THREE of Western Australia's most influential sporting identities were honoured today as the state's new $73m WA Athletic Stadium was officially opened.

Olympic pole vault champion Steve Hooker was among the crowd of athletes and officials at the opening, as was Premier Colin Barnett, minister for sport and recreation Terry Waldron and Department of Sport and Recreation director general Ron Alexander.

The stadium's intended users also helped welcome the WA Athletics Stadium.

Track talent Jody Henry, who was recently named to make her world championships debut at Berlin in August, took out a women's 100m sprint which was started by the Premier, before fellow Berlin-bound athlete, javelin thrower Kim Mickle, planted the first throws into the arena's field.

Indigenous group Common Ground performed a corroboree and Aboriginal elders carried out a smoking ceremony and presented a message stick, a traditional form of indigenous communication, to Premier Barnett.

Three of the state's influential sporting figures were also honoured with the unveiling of the Shirley Strickland Grandstand, Herb Elliot Drive and Wally Foreman Walk.

WA Athletics Stadium replaces the dilapidated Perry Lakes, which was originally built to host the 1962 British Empire and Commonwealth Games, and adds to the bustling Claremont sporting precinct.

Hooker, who is preparing to head overseas to begin his pre-worlds campaign, says he hopes the state-of-the-art facility will reignite a passion for athletics in the state.

"I think athletics in WA has been a bit stagnant over the past few years and Perry Lakes has probably had something to do with that," Hooker said.

"I think (the new stadium) is a perfect venue for athletics in Australia. I've been in big venues around the world and they would not have been appropriate here.

"What you want is something that's going to get full and have a bit of atmosphere in it. And this definitely will, I think the embankments around the edge are a great place for families to come and watch little athletics or elite competitions."

Mickle echoed the Beijing gold medallist's hopes and said the AK Reserve stadium finally gave athletics a suitable home.

"We have a lot of great little athletics clubs and have a lot of talent, but they usually come to Perry Lakes and think 'oh, so this is what it's like', and fall through the wayside," Mickle said.

"So if they come here and see we've got a world-class stadium and have the national champs coming, they'll want to come and stay in the sport."

The WA Athletics Stadium will host Athletics WA's end-of-season meet on Thursday evening. Members of the public are welcome.
----------------------------------------
Stadium facilities
Stadium seating of 2000. Total capacity (including grassed embankment area) is 10,000.

12-lane running track on straight with nine lanes on bend.

Five jumps pits.

Four pole vault runways.

Four shot put circles.

Two hammer and discus cages.

Two high jump and javelin sites.

----------------------------------------


http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6643723,00.jpg
LEGEND HONOURED: Triple Olympian track legend Shirley Strickland de la Hunty has been honoured with a grandstand in her name at the new WA Athletics Stadium. Picture: Richard Polden

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6643727,00.jpg
WARM WELCOME: Indigenous group Common Ground performed a corroboree to help celebrate the opening of the WA Athletics Stadium. Picture: Richard Polden

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6643729,00.jpg
IT'S OFFICIAL: Track talent Jody Henry breaks the tape in a women's 100m sprint to help celebrate the opening of the WA Athletics Stadium. Picture: Richard Polden

http://www.news.com.au/common/imagedata/0,,6643733,00.jpg
IT'S OFFICIAL: Javelin thrower Kim Mickle welcomed the opening of the WA Athletics Stadium on behalf of the state's field athletes. Picture: Richard Polard

Went for a walked lap of the track and through the stand. Looks pretty good. Obviously, they have worked hard at retaining the native vegetation. By the time it is used seriously after the winter the grass will have settled down.

Today's paper (The West) p46

http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/4761/vwest1.jpg

It looks like this is their page:
http://www.wasct.wa.gov.au/index.php?id=1222

From that site:

WA Athletics Stadium

One of Western Australia's newest sporting facilities, the WA Athletics Stadium, will be opened on Tuesday 26 May with the first events expected to take place from 1 July 2009.

Situated next to Challenge Stadium on Stephenson Ave, Mt Claremont and owned by VenuesWest, the stadium features the following:

Designed by Cox Architects to international standards
Design takes advantage of weather (wind) direction for athletes
Capable of running sprint events on front or back straight
Nine lane 400 metre Mondo athletics track
Two 12 lane 110 metre sprint straights (front and back)

19 sports rooms including:

Drug testing facilities
Officials rooms
VIP area
Photo finish room
Administration offices
Pre and post event areas
Presentation stores
Three function rooms
Athletics WA offices

Additional features:

Grandstand for 1971 spectators
Grass bank seating for 8000 spectators
Two kiosks and food services areas
Museum room
Full timing equipment
Floodlighting for night events
Full CCTV coverage
Lift
12 change rooms and bathrooms

Events that will be held at the stadium include:

All track and field including hammer, discuss, pole vault and steeplechase
Soccer
Rugby
Concerts
Market fairs
Trade shows

Parking
There is specific athletics parking however the intention is that all minor car parks will be used as satellite support for the surrounding sporting venues, particularly during large events.

Contact
Please direct your enquiries to Gary Conyard, Operations Manager
Telephone: 9441 8230
Email: gary.conyard@challengestadium.wa.gov.au

So its a 14,500 arena now! lol

So its a 14,500 arena now! lol

I assume you are referring to the article on the Perth Arena thread. And (as we discussed previously on that thread - the seating capacity will vary depending on the event being held. In the case they mentioned (boxing) you will probably get the extra 500 people seated on the floor area (where basketball, tennis, etc. will be played) around the ring which won't take up the same area that the bigger court sports will. :bash:

On another issue - I reckon if they start the 4km walk/run for the City To Surf inside the stadium (rather on the road nearby), it would be good for people to feel like they "own" the stadium.

i wish everyone would stop refering to it as the $1.1b stadium, it is only $850m with $300m for infrastructure. but i wshi barnett would just build it already. come on Rudd give us some money...

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/perth-oval-sidesteps-english-premier-league-lawsuit-20090616-cgbg.html

Perth Oval sidesteps English Premier League lawsuit
Chris Thomson
June 17, 2009 - 6:52AM

http://images.watoday.com.au/2009/06/16/581164/members%20equity%20420-420x0.jpg

EXCLUSIVE: Inadequate facilities at Perth's Members Equity Stadium have sparked fears that two visiting English Premier League teams may sue the venue for injuries to elite players.

In a coup for the World Game in Australian Football-mad Western Australia, the local Perth Glory side will lock horns with the Premier League's Wolverhampton Wanderers at Members Equity on July 10.

On July 15, the Glory will back up to tackle Fulham at Members Equity - formerly known as Perth Oval.

However, the planned friendlies hit a snag after stadium owner the Town of Vincent, and stadium operator Allia Venue Management, inspected facilities and found them severely lacking.

WAtoday.com.au can now reveal the inspection found the two player runways leading from the main change rooms to the pitch were unsafe, due to their steep grade and slippery surface.

The town considered this a serious enough safety risk to order immediate remediation, at a cost of $4530. Council officers believed a fall by an elite player could expose the town to a legal suit.

Other immediate upgrades in an approved $30,000 renovation rescue, before players from the world's best soccer competition arrive in July, include:


to front entrance paving also assessed to be an insurance claim risk in the event of a patron falling;

installing a $3806 permanent siren, the absence of which had caused RugbyWA to previously use a handheld horn that did not comply with Australian Rugby Union requirements;

repairing dilapidated weather shelters in the player dugouts; and

replacing rusty shower heads in the stadium's change rooms.


Among the visiting Premier League players to be spared a rusty change room shower nozzle are Fulham goalkeeper, and recently-crowned Australian player of the year, Mark Schwarzer.

In February, WA's Barnett Government deferred a much-anticipated decision on a new $1.1 billion multi-purpose stadium at Subiaco that would have brought patrons of rectangular-field sports closer to the on-field action.

In response, RugbyWA said it would start playing Super 14 matches at the rectangular, but currently substandard, Members Equity from the 2010 season.

Went for a drive before it got dark to check out how the development at AK Reserve was going. They have installed the first five (at eastern end) of the wire features (whatever they are called) at the front of the basketball stadium.

http://img104.imageshack.us/img104/4445/contentheader1.jpg

Open for public comment 6 July 2009 to 2 September 2009

http://www.akreserve.com.au/assets/templates/akreserve/images/headers/content_header_7.jpg
http://www.akreserve.com.au/index.php?id=9

http://www.akreserve.com.au/assets/files/AK%20Reserve%20Redevelopment%20Plan%20Rugby.pdf

^^

http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8800/contentheader7.jpg

Sorry docker - obviously you put up the image the same time I edited my original post to include it.

:D

Looks pretty good. Does anyone else know the status of further upgrades to sporting infrastructure in addition to the new AK Reserve facilities. I remember seeing a masterplan for extensions to UWA Sports Park, additional tennis and hockey facilities and school playing fields south of Challenge.

the rugby building looks like a hookers nose

I drove past the mini stadiums in floreat and they look ok. The new basketball arena looks a bit like the style they used at ECU Joondalup campus.

I drove past the mini stadiums in floreat and they look ok. The new basketball arena looks a bit like the style they used at ECU Joondalup campus.

The new venues look fantastic. I am really excited about the new basketball stadium.

I wish they had seperated them slightly more from Underwood Ave and each other. I know there is a number of different uses in that area and recreational/sport uses aren't the only functions. Though i wish they were better spaced to allow for residential/commerical/retail development into and around the venues in the longer term. Hopefully the area is better connected with public transport in the future to.

I like the grass embankments of the stadium too. Gives great potential for expansion of the venue should Perth host any form of major IAAF event in the future.

Interesting - Sage is trying to get more $ than what the Western Force were promised.


Sage demands stadium action after rain threatens to wreck Glory’s big night

16th July 2009, 10:30 WST

http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=679645&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=323701

Furious Perth Glory owner Tony Sage has again demanded an upgrade to the “substandard” facilities at Members Equity Stadium after a huge downpour and howling winds threatened to wreck last night’s soccer spectacle.

Sage forked out $2 million to bring English Premier League clubs Fulham and Wolverhampton Wanderers to Perth, along with new A-League club North Queensland Fury and their marquee striker Robbie Fowler.

He was rewarded for his investment when nearly 15,000 fans braved the weather at last night’s double-header.

They were rewarded by seeing Fowler score a penalty in his first game Down Under in Fury’s 2-1 loss to Wolves, and then watched Socceroos goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer in action for Fulham as the Premier League side turned on the style in a 5-0 win over Glory.

But the heavens opened during the second half of the Glory-Fulham game and sent fans on the eastern side of the ground and in the Family Stand at the southern end ducking for cover, before most abandoned the match and went home.

“The only thing that put a dampener on it was that rain and it just proves to me and everyone that the ground needs to be upgraded,” Sage said.

“If you had covers on those stands they wouldn’t have been empty by the end of the game, they would’ve been full as they were at the beginning of the game. It really does prove that Perth does lack very good facilities and that’s the thing I was most disappointed with, for the fans sitting out there to pay $50 a ticket to get wet for more than half of a game.”

Sage hopes the move by Super 14 rugby side Western Force to the East Perth ground will entice the State Government to approve an upgrade of the eastern stand before a new stadium is built in the advent of Australia successfully bidding to host either the 2018 or 2022 football World Cup.

“The Premier (Colin Barnett) came to the game on Friday night and he’s very aware of the situation,” sage said.

“He knows Frank Lowy’s probably going to be successful in getting a World Cup bid up but he also knows that it’s seven or eight years away before a new 45,000-seat rectangular stadium will need to be built.

“If we can get $45-55million to upgrade that eastern stand that’ll fit 4000-5000 people under cover, that will be a fantastic start and I think it will happen before the beginning of next season for Glory.

“The good thing about it is the Western Force are with us now for the next three years and (the Government) has certain obligations to the Force as well, so we’ll be swept up into that.”

Despite the facilities, Sage confirmed that he will continue in his pursuit of bigger names for future friendly fixtures Down Under.

A Glory delegation will have its first official meeting with officials from English giants Liverpool in Singapore next week and contact has been made between the A-League club and Italian powerhouse AC Milan.

But next year’s World Cup in South Africa could pose a problem for Sage, who said he would not rule out postponing further pre-season fixtures with first-class opposition until 2011 to avoid a clash.

“I don’t want to bring a Liverpool or AC Milan out here if they’ve got none of their stars, it’s just bringing a brand out,” Sage said.

“You really want to bring out the players that are going to be playing regularly in the league, like Fulham last night.”

While Glory were outclassed by a near full-strength Fulham team that turned the screws in the second half last night, coach Dave Mitchell was happy with the hit-out ahead of the A-League season, which begins away to Adelaide United on August 7.

Mitchell expects to have star recruits Chris Coyne and Branko Jelic in the squad for Saturday’s warm-up clash with North Queensland in Mandurah.

Socceroos midfielder Jacob Burns could return after sitting out last night with a minor hamstring complaint, while right-sided defender Jimmy Downey is still struggling with a knee injury.

PERTH
SHAYNE HOPE

More potential crap from the WAFC in the West today.

"WAFC eyes $300 millon public purse to kick off Subi plan"

Mark Duffield

The WA Football Commission will ask the State and Federal governments to fund the $300 million first stage of a rebuilding program at Subiaco Oval, taking its capacity to more than 50,000.

WAFC chairman Neale Fong confirmed the proposal would be put to the State Government within a month. It is understood AFL officals are lobbying the Federal Government on the WAFC's behalf to get further funding.

The first stage would invovle the demolition and rebuilding of the old three and two-tier stands on the ground's north-western corner and work along the southern side, which is constricted by Roberts Road.

"We are just completing the concept plan now," Dr Fong said. "As soon as we have done that we will be speaking to governments at every level."
"Our plan has always been to rebuild it, it may take 10 to 15 years to get it to the final stage. It (the cost of the first stage) has to be a number the State and/or Federal government can swallow and at least get it started."

Although the State Government is analysing a range of options for a limited upgrade of the rectangular Members Equity Stadium, Colin Barnett has put all major stadium plans on hold for two years because of the financial crisis.

But Dr Fong said the Premier had agreed to discuss any plan presented.
"We have been upfront with the Premier and public and Colin has said he would be willing to have a look at it," he said.
Dr Fong said new grand stands would make Subiaco Oval suitable for major Soccer internationals and surface work would ensure better viewing.

The West Australian understands tha AFL would like the oval shortened permanently for better spectator viewing but local clubs are loath to surrender the advantage the longer surface offers.

Dr Fong said future stages could be undertaken in plenty of time for the 2022 soccer World Cup.

Previous WAFC concept plans for Subiaco Oval have not been well received, but Dr Fong was adamant critics would be "pleasantly surprised" by the new designs, which he compared with Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.

Firstly I hope this is not just a rehash of the previous Peter Hunt design. Boring and way too much like the MCG.
Previous WAFC concept plans for Subiaco Oval have not been well received, but Dr Fong was adamant critics would be "pleasantly surprised" by the new designs, which he compared with Melbourne's Etihad Stadium.
I'm very happy for a "pleasant surprise" but when he goes on to compare it to Etihad Stadium I get pesimistic.
What is with the self simulating love for all things from Melbourne. We can be our own city. Do we need to mimic the MCG in one concept then draw parallels with Etihad which was designed over a decade ago with the next design?
The bar has been raised since then. Get over Melbourne and and go for something different and unique.

WAFC chairman Neale Fong confirmed the proposal would be put to the State Government within a month. It is understood AFL officals are lobbying the Federal Government on the WAFC's behalf to get further funding.
Well I like the lobbying for Federal funds, we get dick all for sport, seems to go to Qld.

"Our plan has always been to rebuild it, it may take 10 to 15 years to get it to the final stage. It (the cost of the first stage) has to be a number the State and/or Federal government can swallow and at least get it started."

A bit of Dr Fong playing Barnett's card of stage rebuild even though the venue is needed now. Minimum 3 year build, not a grose 15 years. As for getting started, I would prefer ground work for the former taskforce's Multipurpose Stadium to be done at the East Perth Power Stadium (my prefered location, and wouldn't interfere with the current venue Subi) and in 2/4 years when ready to build, we can dive straight into it.

Dr Fong said new grand stands would make Subiaco Oval suitable for major Soccer internationals and surface work would ensure better viewing... Dr Fong said future stages could be undertaken in plenty of time for the 2022 soccer World Cup.

Oval's just don't work for Rectangle codes, the multipurpose design was a suitable compromise with seating even slightly closer than Stade de France.
As for the "Surface Work" I assume Dr Fong mean's removing the domed drainage field and levelling the surface flat like the MCG and SCG have done in recent years. Good idea which should be done regardless.

As for Soccer World Cup, we are not going to win if we insist on using non-reconfigurable Australian Football / Cricket venue's. Germany 2006 used 3 athletic tracks, South Africa will use 2. By 2018, 2022 we will be up against countries like England, Spain and the USA who can offer Rectagular stadiums for the whole bid, the bar has been raised and we must comply to compete.

The West Australian understands tha AFL would like the oval shortened permanently for better spectator viewing but local clubs are loath to surrender the advantage the longer surface offers.
I bet the AFL would. Fact is Australian Football dimensions are fluid like Baseball whic is a special feature of our game. At 175m long and 122m the Subi playing area is actually less than the MCG's 162m / 140m. Will the AFL also prefer tha Geelong's Skilled Stadium be shortened, it's a long, narrow ground aswell. I personally prefer the the longer, narrower grounds or WA to the short and stout cricket grounds or Victoria. It leads to direct long running and kicking football instead of being lost in nomans land on a fat wing, kicking to a bottleneck at Centre Half Forward. Zoning and ugly football is harder to implement at Subi. I imagine the traditional WA field is why WA breads awesome running midfielder but not to often pack marking forwards where the tight ground of Victoria promote the development of this in the slower, wetter surfaces and bottle necked forward confines.

All in all, we have heard it all before. The fact remains that the Subiaco site is too constricted for a decend 21st century venue. Rebuilding would reduce Subi's capacity to an unsatisfactory level, the MCG was able to stage rebuild because of Melbourne having an alternative venue in Waveley (Great Southern Stand rebuild) and the then Etihad plus its mammoth size ment capacity never dropped below 70 000 during the Northern Stand construction. WAFC Subi plans can not adequately satisfy Rugby and Soccer.

I don't really care, as long as we get the football World Cup (the noises are saying we're in with a very good chance of winning one of the bids). Even if they just redo Subi, that'd be enough to keep FIFA happy (and if it's a 60k+ stadium, we'd be in with a decent shot of getting atleast a quarter final or even a semi). It'd be a travesty if Aus missed outt due to Barney being a tool.

I thought the noises are we have little chance of winning the first of the two events up for grabs and an outside chane at the 2nd.

As for a rebuild, (I know I have said it before) it is throwing good money after bad, will result in a still limited capacity, take longer than a new stadium, be too far away on the wings for good viewing of rectangular matches, ...

The thing is though, rectangular games would only be played there in *very* limited circumstances (WC, socceroos/wallabies games). Obviously the new stadium is preferable, but given the option of no WC or a rebuilt Subi, i'd take the rebuilt Subi.

also p18 today's West
http://www.thewest.com.au/default.aspx?MenuId=77&ContentID=156426


Basketball stadium to draw in new fans

20th July 2009, 6:00 WST
http://www.thewest.com.au/getfile.aspx?Type=image&ID=682032&ObjectType=3&ObjectID=324979

The national competition may be foundering but WA grassroots basketball is expected to thrive under the aerofoil-shaped roof of the new State Basketball Centre.

The eight-court, 2000-seat stadium next to the new athletics stadium at Perry Lakes is expected to rejuvenate interest in the sport that, at the height of its popularity, rivalled the AFL.

Despite being a work in progress with construction expected to continue until October, the arena’s light and airy interior belies the thousands of tonnes of metal needed to support its curved roof.

Department of Sport and Recreation senior facilities consultant Rob Thomson said the biggest challenge was designing an energy efficient and environmentally friendly centre that could fit eight courts, including two showcase courts, on a small footprint.

The southern side is glass-walled, allowing enough natural light so the courts do not need to be lit artificially during the day.

The centre was aligned to catch the sea breeze, limiting the need for air-conditioning to the two showcase courts where up to 2000 people can be seated. Rainwater from the roof is captured and stored underground.

The showcase courts, to be flanked by a function centre catering for up to 200 people, will be training courts for the Perth Wildcats.

Mr Thomson said a secondary sports hall with six courts would be home to basketball, netball, volleyball and badminton teams.

“Our aim was that during the day there is no need to turn on the lighting or air-conditioning because in terms of energy consumption for a space this large it just did not make sense,” Mr Thomson said.

Wildcats captain Paul Rogers said basketball had experienced tough times in recent months but facilities such as the new stadium would boost awareness of the sport and encourage attendance at games.

TIFFANY FOX

in tomorrows West Australian...

State flags rugby, soccer arena
Saturday July 25 2009
Peter Kerr

A rectangular stadium will be built by the State Government, potentially as early as 2012, after it rejected a Town of Vincent proposal for a $75 million patch-up of Members Equity Stadium.

Although the plans are yet to be detailed, Sports Minister Terry Waldron confirmed yesterday that the government would negotiate with the council, rugby and soccer authorities with the aim of delivering a firm proposal by the middle of next year.

Meanwhile, the Government will provide Rugby WA with a $2 million interest-free loan to improve facilities at Members Equity Stadium, where the Western Force will play next year.

It is understood the Government’s preferred option is a progressive rebuild of Members Equity Stadium.

The template the Government is working on is believed to be the $160 million multi-purpose Skilled Park rectangular stadium on the Gold Coast. It was built in two years and designed for rugby and soccer. It holds about 27,000 spectators and includes 100 open corporate boxes and 25 closed corporate suites as well as offices and associated facilities.

“This Government has been a strong advocate for a rectangular stadium to meet the needs of our State football and rugby codes and I will be working to deliver that vision over the next 12 months,” Mr Waldron said.

“There will obviously be a need for some interim measures to help bring Members Equity to an acceptable standard... and the Government will be providing a $2 million interest-free loan to Rugby WA to develop interim infrastructure.”

“This will help the Western Force host home games during the Super 14 season and benefit other users.”

The Government had feared the Town of Vincent’s proposal could blow out to more and $100 million without the full benefits of a new stadium and would have been complicated by the management lease that Nick Tana’s Allia Holdings has at the site.

The decision will throw the spotlight back on development options for Subiaco Oval, which the Government has said it would not revisit until 2011.

Mr Waldron would not be drawn on the issue but the WA Football Commission has said it will ask the State and Federal governments to fund the $300 million first stage of a rebuilding program at Subiaco Oval, taking its capacity to more than 50,000.

Rugby WA chief executive Vern Reid said he was delighted with the new rectangular stadium plan.

“It will be a terrific boon for rugby in WA and the Western Force and vital for out long-term viability,” he said.

deleted

Great news!

If true, this is incredible!

hahaha, beat you bump by 5 mins :D

delete

AFL fans feel cheated again.

hahaha, beat you bump by 5 mins :D

This happens to me frequently :)

i am a massive afl fan. and im not that disappointed. AFL isn't leaving this state, and will always flourish. rugby and soccer need more help at this point in time...the force aren't viable at subi oval. its a much needed boost for these two sports. afl's time will come eventually. just like athletics waited 15 years too long for a new track.

On the radio yesterday the editor of the West mentioned that the State Government was investigating the construction of a new rectangular stadium though NOT on the MES site.

Given the article mentions negotiating with Vincent, are there any other suitable sites? Is the power station site within the TOV?

LOL at the comments on Perthnow. 'WONT SOMEBODY THINK OF THE CHILDREN???'

You either go back to the Power Station site, or renew Belmont Park or Burswood plans. Or they may steal Kitchener Park right under WAFC noses!! Sacre bleu!

A renewed MES is definitely what football/rugby in WA needs. Screw Subi if our Dear Leader can't seem to get his act straight. A new MES is better than anything at this stage really.

Would they still keep the shed though? Heh

You'd think Rugby Union would have to be the major tenant.

Looks like they are gearing up for the soccer world cup bid. Don't think for a minute this is specifically driven by any sport in Perth.

http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/rectangular-stadium-for-perth-20090725-dwnc.html

Rectangular stadium for Perth
July 26, 2009 - 8:04AM

The State Government says it intends to run a new rectangular sports stadium for WA itself, after turning down a council proposal to upgrade Member's Equity Stadium and instead announcing its own plan for a $160 million dollar upgrade.

Sports minister Terry Waldron revealed today his intention to build a rectangular stadium for rugby and soccer after rejecting the Town of Vincent's plan for a $75 million revamp of the former Perth Oval.

With negotiations to start with the council, the Force and the Perth Glory which are likely to continue at least into the middle of next year, the Force were granted a $2 million interest free loan so they could continue their plans to move to Member's Equity next season.

And Mr Waldron flagged a potentially fiery negotiation with current rights holder Allia - saying if the government was going to pay for the new facility, it would also want to run it.

"If the state is putting in the funding then we would like to have some control over the facility, but we have got to work through that," Mr Waldron told the ABC.

"If the state is putting in we will want to have governance. That is a process that we will go through now. I think we can work through that issue."

Western Force chief Vern Reid today promised the club will help to deliver a stadium for the state, not just for rugby, with the interim upgrade likely include upgraded lighting, extra corporate boxes and more seats

"It is great news for rugby and we are delighted the government has moved to this position to identify the site at Member's Equity Stadium and for us to be part of the planning to deliver the stadium for WA," Mr Reid said.

Mr Waldron said while he had ruled out the Town of Vincent plan in its entirety, elements of it could be incorporated.

"We want a complete rectangular stadium … and want to finalise that by the middle of next year, and it would be a staged rebuild of Member's Equity," Waldron said.

"It is not the proposal as put forward by the Town of Vincent, we will be looking to incorporate aspects of the Town of Vincent proposal so we can deliver a complete rectangular stadium that will meet the long-term, future needs of the sport.

"Well they'll be looking at things like corporate boxes, lighting and general improvements to just improve the ground to what it is at the moment, but rugby won't be spending that on things we'll incorporate in a new completed stadium.

Waldron said today the $160 million multi-purpose Skilled Park rectangular stadium on the Gold Coast - which holds about 27,000 spectators - was a good model for Perth - It was built in two years and designed for rugby and soccer.

Temporary corporate suites at the northern end of the ground, a corporate marquee for match day functions and an extra 900 seats will make up part of the $2 million makeover.



http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/26/2636548.htm

Perth Oval revamp gets council's support
Posted July 26, 2009 11:27:00
Updated July 26, 2009 11:52:00

The plan to develop a rectangular stadium at Perth Oval is getting wholehearted support from the Town of Vincent.

The Mayor Nick Catania says the council's original proposal was to add one grandstand and more corporate facilities.

But the State Government has gone much further and committed to building a rectangular stadium to cater for rugby and soccer.

Mr Catania says he is hoping it will be built by the end of 2012.

He says it will require at least a year of planning.

"The Town of Vincent certainly has a lot of work to do to address the parking issue, to address how we ensure that the people who live in, and around, the stadium, will not be adversely affected." he said.

i am a massive afl fan. and im not that disappointed. AFL isn't leaving this state, and will always flourish. rugby and soccer need more help at this point in time...the force aren't viable at subi oval. its a much needed boost for these two sports. afl's time will come eventually. just like athletics waited 15 years too long for a new track.

While I understand the need for Rugby and Soccer to have their facilities upgraded, this is a nail in the coffin of for the Kitchener Park proposal. The additional cost of building a standalone rectangular stadium all but guarantees that a multi-purpose stadium will not be pursued. It also precludes Perth from hosting any games should Australia be successful in bidding for the 2018 or 2022 World Cup, and seriously endangers the Australian bid aswell. The criteria for hosting the World Cup is that you must have a stadium with a minimum capacity of 40,000:

Taken from: http://www.espnstar.com/football/other-football/news/detail/item185719/FIFA-outline-World-Cup-criteria/

The letter states that around 12 stadia with a minimum capacity of 40,000 will be needed to host the tournament. The stadium for the final will have to have at least 80,000 seats - Wembley has 90,000.

It adds: "FIFA would like to emphasise that the infrastructure and facilities of the host country must be of the highest quality in order to fulfil the requirements of the world's most popular sporting event."

This decision once again highlights the Barnett Government's short-sightedness and lack of common sense. It also underlines Barnett's personal opposition to any form of innovative and exciting change and his sentimental attachment to the status quo. Aside from ignoring the extensively researched recommendations of the Statium Taskforce report, the biggest joke was that Barnett was using the $1B price tag for the Kitchener Park proposal as an excuse to dump it. When you add the $160 million for the rectangular stadium upgrade to the $750m estimate for upgrading Subiaco oval, we're already at $910m without even including associated infrastructure costs. Significantly, the Stadium Taskforce reports clearly states that the WAFC masterplan does not address an upgrade of existing transportation infrastructure, such as the desperately needed upgrade of West Leederville station:

Taken from: http://www.dsr.wa.gov.au//assets/files/Major%20Stadium/The%20Stadium%20and%20the%20City%20Vol%201%20Transport.pdf

The WAFC's transport plans for Subiaco Oval falls short of the Taskforce's objectives for public transport mode share target of 50% - 70% of patrons, with a maximum of only 48% of venue capacity capable of being accommodated on public transport. Despite the transport plans for the redeveloped stadium focussing on a single transport mode, rail, there are no requirements stated to upgrade the existing rail station infrastructure despite significant proposed increases in patronage.

Reading this, and the weight of evidence proving that a redevelopment of Subiaco oval is simply not cost effective, it is blatently obvious that Barnett has dismissed the Stadium Taskforce report outright without even reading it. As a result, instead of an iconic, world class facility that could service all sports on a world stage for 60 years to come, and allow flexibility for future expansion, we end up with a mediocre stop-gap solution that will need likely last just long enough to deny Perth any chance of hosting the FIFA world cup, before we're right back where we are now.

Regardless of what happend with Subiaco or a new multi-purpose stadium, a new specialised rectangular stadium would have to be built within the next decade.

In an ideal world we would have a 60,000 seat multi-purpose venue that would allow us to host a World Cup and other major rectangular events in the larger stadium AND a new, well sized rectangular stadium suitable for national league level rugby and football.

The fact is achieving this isn't within the boundaries of WA's budget. The next best alternative is a 30,000 seat rectangular venue with the capability of expansion.

I wish the State Government had more vision and looked beyond the next few budget cycles like the taskforce has suggested but this is just the society we live in.

Stadium plans leave World Cup bid in danger
Tim Clarke
July 28, 2009 - 7:01AM

The plan to completely rebuild Member's Equity Stadium at a cost of around $160 million will still leave Perth in danger of missing out on staging any games if Australia's bid to host soccer's World Cup is successful.

Staged upgrade plans will be officially unveiled tonight, with the intention to reshape the former Perth Oval based on Skilled Park on the Gold Coast, which houses 27,400 spectators.

With Town of Vincent mayor Nick Catania boldly predicting a 2012 finish date - if they are given the construction - planning with the council which owns the land freehold will take at least a year.

However, Sports Minister Terry Waldron has acknowledged the Government's plans will not solve WA's lack of a major arena to host soccer internationals - with the FFA looking to make a decision on potential World Cup venues by the end of this year.

"This stadium is going to be designed to meet the requirements of our State, our competitions, the state provincial competitions, Super 14 and the A-League," Mr Waldron said.

"With the World Cup, you are talking 2018 and 2022. There are other options including a greenfield site, and if we couldn’t work through the issues with this stadium we would have to look at that.

"There is Subiaco Oval which will always be used to host the bigger games, Test matches and those with crowds of 25,000-plus people.

"We have been talking to the football commission, and in the next two to three weeks they will be coming to us with a proposal.

"To meet the requirements of the World Cup I think Subiaco Oval could be the best answer."

The decision on Australia's bid for either the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be made in December 2010, with Australia having to show a minimum of 12 stadiums, two of which must hold 80,000 fans and 10 with a minimum capacity of 45,000.

Opposition sports spokesman Ken Travers said this should be addressed urgently by the Government.

"I welcome trying to address the stadia in this state but this announcement is just another unfunded thought bubble," Mr Travers said.

"The Government does not have plans for stadia in WA, and have come up with an idea without funding and no lack of any detail.

The Government also needs to address the issue of Australia's world cup bid and Perth's place in it.

Mr Catania, who along with the Town of Vincent had been awaiting a decision its own $73 million proposal for improvements to Members Equity, admitted he had been "pleasantly surprised" by the Government announcement over the weekend.

With a year of planning details now to be thrashed out, Mr Catania flagged the authority's intention to push for control over construction, rather than the State Government.

"We were very pleasantly surprised at the extent of the plans," Mr Catania said.

"The Government well advised to give us that responsibility because we do it better, we know the oval, we are better negotiators in getting the best bang for our dollar.

"We are better at it than the Department of Sport and Recreation would be, they are sports people they are not builder, they do not know the oval like we do, and they don't know what services and how to use them.

"We will build it, and if that is the case the timeline will be shorter as well … we could deliver it by late 2012."

please please please don't give it to catania or TOV. They can barely build roundabouts let alone stadiums.

Stadium plans leave World Cup bid in danger
Tim Clarke
July 28, 2009 - 7:01AM

"There is Subiaco Oval which will always be used to host the bigger games, Test matches and those with crowds of 25,000-plus people.


I dont doubt Rugby & Soccer need a new stadium, they do. MES is a joke.


But for how long do you expect die hard footy fans to wait for something that was needed almost 10 years ago?

please please please don't give it to catania or TOV. They can barely build roundabouts let alone stadiums.

haha that was my thought. they are fucking hopeless yet he comes out with talk like that.

^^ I think he has serious delusions of grandeur!!

A 45,000 seat rectangular stadium is too large for normal weekly use by football (soccer) and rugby. Football particularly is all about crowd atmosphere and a (good) smaller stadium is far superior unless you can fill a larger one, which obviously Perth can't. 27,000 is a good size, in my opinion.

They are going to need to do something for the World Cup (which I'm quietly confident we're going to get although probably in 2022) but we have plenty of time for that. It might take a long time but perhaps the WC question will in fact help the AFL fans as well as it will effectively FORCE Perth to get a great new bigger stadium, which surely is going to be reconfigurable. If they delay for two more years (which let's face it they probably will) then the WC hosting decision will have been made and there could well be a large amount of extra WC-related funding because of it which would mean that it would finally go ahead and probably end up a better stadium anyway... just SO LONG COMING!

^^ I think he has serious delusions of grandeur!!

I think he has delusions of adequacy.

A 45,000 seat rectangular stadium is too large for normal weekly use by football (soccer) and rugby. Football particularly is all about crowd atmosphere and a (good) smaller stadium is far superior unless you can fill a larger one, which obviously Perth can't. 27,000 is a good size, in my opinion.

They are going to need to do something for the World Cup (which I'm quietly confident we're going to get although probably in 2022) but we have plenty of time for that. It might take a long time but perhaps the WC question will in fact help the AFL fans as well as it will effectively FORCE Perth to get a great new bigger stadium, which surely is going to be reconfigurable. If they delay for two more years (which let's face it they probably will) then the WC hosting decision will have been made and there could well be a large amount of extra WC-related funding because of it which would mean that it would finally go ahead and probably end up a better stadium anyway... just SO LONG COMING!

Im pretty sure that the World Cup rules say that any host nation MUST place group games geographically across the whole country. Therefore success of our bid would have to include Perth in the equation. Having all the games played on the eastern seabord would not satisfy FIFA requirements.

Unfortunately that patheic excuse of a stadium, Subiaco Oval would probably be our only option, unless the govt decides to bite the bullet and build a new one at east perth or belmont.

As you suggested MES would best be around that 27 000 capacity, even with the option to increase for the World Cup, i dont see too much space around there for much expansion, then add in the transport issues in the area and it makes this not such a good idea...

We need 2 decent stadiums, 1 for football(AFL) and cricket, and 1 for rugby and soccer. Because of poor planning and foresight by govts we now have to spend money on both of these at the same time.

If we do end up using Subi, it will be virtually rebuilt once we know that we have the WC. I'm not even that worried about it - there will be extra funding available because of that and they will be able to create something workable, even though it won't be perfect. I'm confident that all this funding/indecision bollocks will disappear once our bid succeeds.

I'm worried that in their quest for the perfect WC stadium, people will compromise the rectangular stadium that is in use regularly for normal matches.

I would rather a slightly sub-par stadium for the WC (within reason, obviously) but a GREAT one for the many years before it, and after it, where normal sports fan can watch their team week-in, week-out.

Not ending up with an appropriately-sized, good quality dedicated rectangular for years would be a big price to pay for a one-off tournament lasting a couple of weeks, even if it's the biggest tournament in the world.

The only other possible option would be, as you hinted at, a 27K MES which is upgradeable to 45K or 50K. I doubt that's achievable in terms of available space, or simply due to COST when another big stadium for AFL will still be needed as well.

cant fucking wait to run there.
this weekend is the second last week of comp ever at perry lakes. doubles as the state champs this week and next week. if anyone wants to come and watch me destroy a 3k field, get down there sunday 9.15am, or the 5k next friday at 7pm

Good luck :)