Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium)

[wadistance]

What do you find about Perth that is not-so-boring ?

Having lived in Sydney for the past 7 years, I can also confirm that when I come back to Perth every 6 months it's definitely not what I consider boring, and it's definitely not the same city I moved away from

Gotta laugh at the detractors to Elizabeth Quay who ridicule a half built precinct. Probably still think it's a massive cost to the WA taxpayer as well.

 

[holybishop]

https://thewest.com.au/news/wa/new-stadium-train-station-on-track-for-bouncedown-ng-b88472013z

It will be Perth’s widest, longest — and probably most attractive — train station outside the CBD.

But it will only be open for AFL matches, concerts and other special events.

The $40 million Perth Stadium station is just weeks from being being finished, having been specially designed and built to move 28,000 people within an hour of the end of a football match.

The six platforms mean 117 train carriages will be waiting to transport thousands of footy fans either to the city or to Armadale and Thornlie, with another 24 carriages waiting on a stow line further along the track.

Trains will be able to leave the station every two minutes. One of the platforms is 250m long.

In addition to the 28,000 football fans expected to use the new station, another 8000 people are expected to walk about 1.5km from the East Perth station, which is undergoing a $25 million upgrade to provide more sheltered walkways, bike storage, more parking and increased accessibility for people with disabilities.

Eight thousand people are expected to arrive at the stadium on buses and another 14,000 will use the controversial footbridge being built across the Swan River.

 

[NoobPie]

I assume you jest. "league' is the the level above "seconds" or "reserve".
You need an event that's going to fill the stadium.
You need an event that's going to pay for the stadium.
You need an event that cannot be played at a lesser stadium.

Sorry? I just answered a question about "who opened the mrs"

I've already suggested that I think a derby should open the Perth stadium. I certainly don't think a rugby league match should open Perth stadium

 

[RedV3x]

Having lived in Sydney for the past 7 years, I can also confirm that when I come back to Perth every 6 months it's definitely not what I consider boring, and it's definitely not the same city I moved away from

Gotta laugh at the detractors to Elizabeth Quay who ridicule a half built precinct. Probably still think it's a massive cost to the WA taxpayer as well.

Yes, Perth has had some changes but what do specifically find "not boring".
Elizabeth Quay is some buildings surrounding a few spurts of water. Ever been to Bordeaux ? Magnificent water feature there.

 

[Beutbrute]

Yes, Perth has had some changes but what do specifically find "not boring".
Elizabeth Quay is some buildings surrounding a few spurts of water. Ever been to Bordeaux ? Magnificent water feature there.

Honestly, I think if you find any city boring it's more a reflection on you than the city. Life is what you make it.

I've been reading this thread for a while and without refreshing my memory RedV3x you don't seem to think Perth is interesting, don't rate Perth as a tourist destination, don't like the stadium location, don't like the cost benefit for the state government... It seems like there's not much you do like. I think its a shame as you obviously have a relatively informed opinion, but I think your opinion gets a bit lost amongst all the negativity.

 

[seanoff]

I find it interesting that everyone is baying for a huge event to open the beast.

In England they mandate a soft opening schedule.

Just to make sure it all works, maybe ramp it up with 20/20 games if its ready. Sell only the bottom 2 levels, then maybe 2.5 levels and then open slather. Best laid plans of mice and men etc.

There are a lot of moving parts that have to work and starting at less than capacity gives everyone involved in making it work a chance to have a bit of practice at less than full power.

 

[hitthepost]

I find it interesting that everyone is baying for a huge event to open the beast.

In England they mandate a soft opening schedule.

Just to make sure it all works, maybe ramp it up with 20/20 games if its ready. Sell only the bottom 2 levels, then maybe 2.5 levels and then open slather. Best laid plans of mice and men etc.

There are a lot of moving parts that have to work and starting at less than capacity gives everyone involved in making it work a chance to have a bit of practice at less than full power.

Ramp it up to T20 from what and to what? I'd ramp it up with an ODI before a Scorchers game

 

[wadistance]

Yes, Perth has had some changes but what do specifically find "not boring".
Elizabeth Quay is some buildings surrounding a few spurts of water. Ever been to Bordeaux ? Magnificent water feature there.

Instead of what do I find not boring - what do you find boring?

 

[RedV3x]

Honestly, I think if you find any city boring it's more a reflection on you than the city.

Both really. I found Sydney very interesting when I was young. Now I find Melbourne interesting. Perth is a really nice city but there's not much interest in the CBD. Perth suburbs literally kill Melbourne and Sydney suburbs.

You don't rate Perth as a tourist destination,

I don't see why people would travel a very long way at great expense just to see the Perth CBD as in event tourism.
I believe the W.A. tourism model is wrong and needs to be completely re-vamped.

You don't like the stadium location,

IMO there were better and cheaper options.

Honestly, I think if you find any city boring it's more a reflection on you than the city. Life is what you make it.

I've been reading this thread for a while and without refreshing my memory RedV3x You don't like the cost benefit for the state government

The previous government has built a very expensive stadium with very expensive infrastructure that nobody can afford to play.
The government is trying to extract unrealistic rents out of football whilst at the same time has totally inflated cost/benefit analysis for imported acts.
The previous government completely overlooked the cost/benefit analysis of having a stadium in the CBD.
A stadium in the Perth CBD, with 50,000 people invading the city every week might have lifted the city out of "boring".

RedV3x It seems like there's not much you do like..[/QUOTE]

We agree on that. It's been one disappointment after another. Poor vision, poor planning and poor execution.
But Perth is not alone. When it comes to stadia, NSW has spent a fortune and the SCG is probably their best stadium.

 

[RedV3x]

Instead of what do I find not boring - what do you find boring?

You evading the question.

 

[Kwality]

You evading the question.

Hey Red, digressing from footy but what do you think WA Tourism should be doing, if anything?

 

[wadistance]

You evading the question.

Ok

Great small bar and restaurant scene
Great coffee scene
Some of the best sporting facilities in the country
Great beaches
A good local music scene
A well funded international arts festival
A good local (swan valley) beer and wine region
Good weather
Relatively easy to get around
Great waterfront areas to run/walk/boat in and around

I could keep going

 

[RedV3x]

Hey Red, digressing from footy but what do you think WA Tourism should be doing, if anything?

Perth is at a great disadvantage when it comes to the time and cost of coming here so
basically they should be developing "loops" and try to attract longer term tourists. i.e. quality over quantity.
On each loop there should be transport and accommodation options to cover all tastes,
that is car/camper hire, buses or trains with hostel/motel/hotel and camping options strategically placed.
The length of loop drives would vary on time available and desire.
Currently most people drive down to Margret River and back and that's it.
That could be extended to Albany, Esperance, goldfields, Karajini, Ningaloo and Kalbarri.
Obviously parts of this do exist but they need to be consistent and promoted.
In today's newspaper there is an extended article on great drives in WA.

We recently had a reunion with many inter-staters for a long W/E. The itinerary was.
1. Bus/train to Elizabeth Quay, walk to ferry. Ferry to Sandalford then bus around Swan Valley.
2. Get to Fremantle. Ferry to Rottnest Island and return. Look at scupltures-by-the-sea.
3. Get to Fremantle drive along coast up to Hillaries.
4. Kings Park. Some went to the races.
There was no need to venture into the CBD.

 

[RedV3x]

Ok

Great small bar and restaurant scene
Great coffee scene
Some of the best sporting facilities in the country
Great beaches
A good local music scene
A well funded international arts festival
A good local (swan valley) beer and wine region
Good weather
Relatively easy to get around
Great waterfront areas to run/walk/boat in and around

I could keep going

We're talking Perth. Why would someone want to come into Perth namely the CBD. ?
I'd argue against your bar, music, restaurant and coffee scene as being anything special.
Would you come to Perth especially just to see those that you have mentioned ? I think not.
Beaches, waterfront, wine region aren't Perth city and indeed the most interesting bits of around Perth.

 

[wadistance]

We're talking Perth. Why would someone want to come into Perth namely the CBD. ?
I'd argue against your bar, music, restaurant and coffee scene as being anything special.
Would you come to Perth especially just to see those that you have mentioned ? I think not.
Beaches, waterfront, wine region aren't Perth city and indeed the most interesting bits of around Perth.

Would you go to any city just to go to a bar or restaurant? No. But once you're there you do it and take advantage of it. That's what it's all about. Most people decide their destination then look what to do

 

[Tyler Hodges]

I'd consider Brisbane a boring city, and Adelaide is quite a dull city. Great places to live but not a lot going on there. Perth's biggest flaw is its isolation. If we are talking about the appeal of being here, it wouldn't matter if it was as entertaining as Sydney, it wouldn't be enough because no one would pay flights and accomodation to come to Perth over the east coast. Perth is the second most scenic Capital city in Australia behind Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane are nothing special to look at (Ugly rivers are a big factor). If you think of isolated modern cities in the world, they have to be extremely unique/or a hub of interst and appealing to attract a high level of tourism ie. Las Vegas(Gambling capital), Dubai ($$$ and architecture). I think Perth does everything within its power to be a stunning city with vibrance but is held back purely by its location.

 

[RedV3x]

Most people decide their destination then look what to do

Exactly and why would anyone choose Perth ?
There are plenty of nice cities around the world so you have to have some attraction.
People have to know about that attraction and the city has to live up to that perception
if you want return business.

 

[wadistance]

Exactly and why would anyone choose Perth ?
There are plenty of nice cities around the world so you have to have some attraction.
People have to know about that attraction and the city has to live up to that perception
if you want return business.

Do you live in Perth?

 

[RedV3x]

Do you live in Perth?

The question was "Exactly and why would anyone choose Perth ?"
That's asked within the context of the thread. If you cannot answer then don't feel obliged.

 

[dockshark]

The question was "Exactly and why would anyone choose Perth ?"
That's asked within the context of the thread. If you cannot answer then don't feel obliged.

You may mean well, but you come across like a real jerk. You're all "I know better than everyone and if everyone listened to me things would be better". If you think Perth is boring and that there's better places to live then why stay? I spent 20 years in a job that necessitated traveling extensively both nationally and internationally and I think Perth stacks up as both a place to visit and a place to live.

 

[RedV3x]

i

You may mean well, but you come across like a real jerk.

I also think Perth stacks up as both a place to visit and a place to live but that's irrelevant to what we're talking about is it.

We have an expensive stadium and the government is saying event tourism is the way to go to pay for it at the expense of football.
The facts are that Perth is disadvantaged by travel in both time and cost.
The current low levels of tourism to Perth WA demonstrate that fact.
The question is what can be done to overcome that.
Just being a nice city is generally not going to cut it.
The City of Perth have long acknowledged the exodus from the city. It is common to many western cities.
Adelaide is another nice city to Perth and I have lived and recently visited but I wouldn't normally target it as a tourist destination.
Sydney and Melbourne are mainly pretty ugly in comparison but there are reasons why tourists target those cities.
The CBD as the centre of attraction has a lot to do with it and the Perth CBD is largely dead.

 

[WestCoast05]

We're talking Perth. Why would someone want to come into Perth namely the CBD. ?
I'd argue against your bar, music, restaurant and coffee scene as being anything special.
Would you come to Perth especially just to see those that you have mentioned ? I think not.
Beaches, waterfront, wine region aren't Perth city and indeed the most interesting bits of around Perth.

I am yet to meet a tourist who has travelled to a city and assumed they were confined to the Central Business District!?
I'm now not sure whether you are a troll or just a little simple.

 

[WestCoast05]

 

[Tyler Hodges]

i


I also think Perth stacks up as both a place to visit and a place to live but that's irrelevant to what we're talking about is it.

We have an expensive stadium and the government is saying event tourism is the way to go to pay for it at the expense of football.
The facts are that Perth is disadvantaged by travel in both time and cost.
The current low levels of tourism to Perth WA demonstrate that fact.
The question is what can be done to overcome that.
Just being a nice city is generally not going to cut it.
The City of Perth have long acknowledged the exodus from the city. It is common to many western cities.
Adelaide is another nice city to Perth and I have lived and recently visited but I wouldn't normally target it as a tourist destination.
Sydney and Melbourne are mainly pretty ugly in comparison but there are reasons why tourists target those cities.
The CBD as the centre of attraction has a lot to do with it and the Perth CBD is largely dead.

The state government has, for sure, sold the idea that the new Arena will boost tourism and is a great selling point for getting eastern states tourism to increase due to the sporting events it will be able to hold, but in no way is that the main driving force behind the stadium being built as you say. The WA public has been dying for a state of the art stadium for decades and THAT is the absolute primary reason why this stadium is being built. The reason why tourists target those cities are because they are on the same coastline...

Have you ever been to the states? I lived there for 2 years on a working holiday and no one knows Perth at all, if you ask anything about Australia its always Sydney/ Melbourne/ Gold Coast/ GBR. What do they have in common? they are all on the east coast and you can comfortably visit all of it in one vacation.

The stadium is nothing more than a basic economics lesson in supply and demand. We have the population to now fill a 60k stadium and demand better facilities in this modern age of sports, and the government has responded in kind. The only people who are actively opposing this stadium are the nanny state, Labor voting, daylight savings hating WA residents who oppose literally any change.

Btw I'm not a personal fan of the city of Sydney, but is one of the most scenic and visually pretty cities in the world, let alone Australia..

 

[RedV3x]

The state government has, for sure, sold the idea that the new Arena will boost tourism and is a great selling point for getting eastern states tourism to increase due to the sporting events it will be able to hold, but in no way is that the main driving force behind the stadium being built as you say. The WA public has been dying for a state of the art stadium for decades and THAT is the absolute primary reason why this stadium is being built.

Yes, that's reason it is being built. Totally agree.
Now we have to pay for it.

The reason why tourists target those cities are because they are on the same coastline...
Have you ever been to the states? I lived there for 2 years on a working holiday and no one knows Perth at all, if you ask anything about Australia its always Sydney/ Melbourne/ Gold Coast/ GBR. What do they have in common? they are all on the east coast and you can comfortably visit all of it in one vacation...

Yes, totally agree. You've just backed up what I said in that it's hard to get tourists to Perth.

The stadium is nothing more than a basic economics lesson in supply and demand. We have the population to now fill a 60k stadium and demand better facilities in this modern age of sports, and the government has responded in kind.

Yes, totally agree it's basic economics, As the price goes up the demand goes down. The first thing you learn. The price is too high leading to rents being too high. Simples.

The only people who are actively opposing this stadium ..

long gone. it's nearly completed. it's irrelevant now.
We.re talking about, now that's it's nearly finished how we are going to PAY FOR IT.
You know. the things that any sensible organisation would address in the PLANNING STAGE.
If the rent is too high there is a huge problem.

Btw I'm not a personal fan of the city of Sydney, but is one of the most scenic and visually pretty cities in the world, let alone Australia..

Sydney has a lot of natural beauty and some other stuff as well. Great for the first time tourist and conveniently located on the coast closest to the USA.
Sydney is the target for heavy promotion and Sydney icons are used to sell Australia when in fact they are mainly selling Sydney.
I don't see how that helps us here in Perth to pay for a nearly completed stadium.