The WACA - Downfall

[PykeDream]

Was a redevolped WACA, along the same lines as the Adelaide Oval, ever a viable option for a new Perth Stadium? It's close to the city, but what is transport/ parking like? It never seemed to come up as a viable option, just wondering the reasons?

It's tiny and now its being encroached on by the apartment blocks they're building on site. Holds 19,000 now and could never get near what is required by an AFL stadium. Road and parking infrastructure is also very limited by the density of the area - eg. Police HQ next door.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Was a redevolped WACA, along the same lines as the Adelaide Oval, ever a viable option for a new Perth Stadium? It's close to the city, but what is transport/ parking like? It never seemed to come up as a viable option, just wondering the reasons?

Not seriously, no. You need to factor in the strong local politics - footy and cricket don't have a history of co-operation here. The WACA weren't interested in anything that meant giving up control of their ground. After that it was never really on the short-list of options to consider. Sites considered by the original taskforce were basically all state government owned sites that were greenfield, derelict or underutilised - all where issues of ownership were not an issue.

 

[Papa G]

Not seriously, no. You need to factor in the strong local politics - footy and cricket don't have a history of co-operation here. The WACA weren't interested in anything that meant giving up control of their ground. After that it was never really on the short-list of options to consider. Sites considered by the original taskforce were basically all state government owned sites that were greenfield, derelict or underutilised - all where issues of ownership were not an issue.

Stranger things can happen. The SANFL told Don Bradman and the SACA to go **** themselves in 1970's and created Footy Park. Barely on speaking terms since. Then (albeit with strong political prodding and a massive financial carrot) they are all of a sudden in bed together.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Stranger things can happen. The SANFL told Don Bradman and the SACA to go **** themselves in 1970's and created Footy Park. Barely on speaking terms since. Then (albeit with strong political prodding and a massive financial carrot) they are all of a sudden in bed together.

Well, we're just about about to start building a new stadium that will supposedly serve the needs of this city for 50 years. The Adelaide experience lasted about 30-40 years. If anything it will be cricket eventually forced out of the WACA financially and come in out of the cold asking to be a tenant at the new stadium.

Basically this is to be a state government stadium, neither owned or operated exclusively by one sport to suit their own needs first and everyone else second. I expect that there will be very limited state funding available after this for any further upgrades anywhere. Once this stadium is built we will have pretty much the full set - Perth Area (large indoor stadium for basketball, tennis) NIB Stadium (rectangular outdoor for soccer, rugby and possibly league), Perth Stadium (oval outdoor for footy and cricket).

 

[holybishop]

Why would the WACA ever leave a stadium that they own outright to rent out a stadium across the road.

 

[millsy29gopies]

Read somewhere that the WACA has a 999? year lease of the ground. Also is the redevelopment with the apartment buildings going ahead?

 

[holybishop]

A 999 year lease, which is what the WACA holds over the WACA ground, is as good as freehold ownership. Dont get too confused over the terminology. The WACA owns the WACA and the WA government has nothing to do with the land anymore. And the redevelopment is going ahead. It's been approved by the WACA members and apartments are on sale already.

 

[Kwality]

Stranger things can happen. The SANFL told Don Bradman and the SACA to go **** themselves in 1970's and created Footy Park. Barely on speaking terms since. Then (albeit with strong political prodding and a massive financial carrot) they are all of a sudden in bed together.

You got the details of how Adelaide Oval is going to work yet Papa, particularly how far back in the peckibg order Port members are ... lets see for seating, the SANFL, the SACA, the Ultimate Club .... anymore with priority, then Port members. At Subi its footy club members at #1, and thats the best scenario for footy.

 

[Papa G]

You got the details of how Adelaide Oval is going to work yet Papa, particularly how far back in the peckibg order Port members are ... lets see for seating, the SANFL, the SACA, the Ultimate Club .... anymore with priority, then Port members. At Subi its footy club members at #1, and thats the best scenario for footy.

The Ultimate membership has actually been an abject failure from all reports. Firstly it is too expensive and second and most importantly, it is non transferable. No body I know outside my more money than sense 70 year in laws have bought them. What the SMA thought would be a huge membership grab has not meterialised.

From my understanding, and I'm happy to be corrected on this, is that current Port/Crows SANFL members can simply become Port/Crow members who sit in the Western stand (the SACA members stand) and all of the membership money goes to the club instead of the SANFL/SMA.

The new Adelaide Oval has basically the same amount of seats as Footy Park, so current members of Port/Crows who sit in the outer basically get the same deal, just in a far superior stadium.

I am a Port SANFL Member and a SACA member. I will simply keep my Port membership (sitting in the members) with as I understand it all the money going to Port, and also simply keep my SACA membership also.

 

[brucetiki]

Spot on Papa G. Essential Crows/Power members have already transitioned to their respective clubs.

 

[Papa G]

Spot on Papa G. Essential Crows/Power members have already transitioned to their respective clubs.

So of the $330 (well $660 as i have 2) I paid this year all goes to the club and none to the SANFL?? If so, ****ing great!

 

[Kwality]

The Ultimate membership has actually been an abject failure from all reports. Firstly it is too expensive and second and most importantly, it is non transferable. No body I know outside my more money than sense 70 year in laws have bought them. What the SMA thought would be a huge membership grab has not meterialised.

From my understanding, and I'm happy to be corrected on this, is that current Port/Crows SANFL members can simply become Port/Crow members who sit in the Western stand (the SACA members stand) and all of the membership money goes to the club instead of the SANFL/SMA.

The new Adelaide Oval has basically the same amount of seats as Footy Park, so current members of Port/Crows who sit in the outer basically get the same deal, just in a far superior stadium.

I am a Port SANFL Member and a SACA member. I will simply keep my Port membership (sitting in the members) with as I understand it all the money going to Port, and also simply keep my SACA membership also.

I'm still not sure how far back ordinary footy club members are - SACA & SANFL members get priority, Ultimate Club members get priority, then ordinary footy club members.
Where do Port SANFL members fit?

PS: cheering on the failure of the Ultimate Club.

 

[brucetiki]

So of the $330 (well $660 as i have 2) I paid this year all goes to the club and none to the SANFL?? If so, ******* great!

Correct.

 

[Kwality]

So of the $330 (well $660 as i have 2) I paid this year all goes to the club and none to the SANFL?? If so, ******* great!

Is there a problem here, I am trying to understand where bog standard Port/Crows club members stand - if they are in the far queue, who gets priority (no one @ Subi).

 

[brucetiki]

I'm still not sure how far back ordinary footy club members are - SACA & SANFL members get priority, Ultimate Club members get priority, then ordinary footy club members.
Where do Port SANFL members fit?

PS: cheering on the failure of the Ultimate Club.

Lets make this very simple:

For football:
Essential Crows (AFC Members), Essential Power (PAFC Members), SANFL Premier and Adelaide Oval Ultimate members have the western stand
Port reserved seated Members (PAFC Members)/Adelaide reserved seated Members (AFC Members) have the southern and eastern stand, with a smattering of these members having GA Memberships on the northern hill.
SACA Members get no priority access (unless they have one of the above memberships).

Everyone who has a football season ticket now will have a seat at Adelaide Oval on a like for like basis. No priority system is needed.

For cricket:
SACA Members/Adelaide Oval Ultimate members have the western stand, and I believe part of the southern stand.
Essential Crows/Essential Power/SANFL Premier/Port reserved seated Members/Adelaide reserved seated Members (AFC Members) get no priority access.

 

[Kwality]

Lets make this very simple:

For football:
Essential Crows (AFC Members), Essential Power (PAFC Members), SANFL Premier and Adelaide Oval Ultimate members have the western stand
Port reserved seated Members (PAFC Members)/Adelaide reserved seated Members (AFC Members) have the southern and eastern stand, with a smattering of these members having GA Memberships on the northern hill.
SACA Members get no priority access (unless they have one of the above memberships).

Everyone who has a football season ticket now will have a seat at Adelaide Oval on a like for like basis. No priority system is needed.

For cricket:
SACA Members/Adelaide Oval Ultimate members have the western stand, and I believe part of the southern stand.
Essential Crows/Essential Power/SANFL Premier/Port reserved seated Members/Adelaide reserved seated Members (AFC Members) get no priority access.

Here was I thinking one level of seating was superior to others, that club members get 2nd best ... SANFL members get priority.
No seat allocation to SACA members at AFL games is good to hear, none of the MCC members allocation at the MCG

What are SANFL Premier members, do they sit on the same level as footy club members or do they have a ticket allocation. Why do they get a gig at all instead of joining the clubs they support?

 

[brucetiki]

Here was I thinking one level of seating was superior to others, that club members get 2nd best ... SANFL members get priority.
No seat allocation to SACA members at AFL games is good to hear, none of the MCC members allocation at the MCG

What are SANFL Premier members, do they sit on the same level as footy club members or do they have a ticket allocation. Why do they get a gig at all instead of joining the clubs they support?

Premier Members are on the same level as club members. They're part legacy product (ie the original Football Park members pre-AFL days) and part those that see the need/desire to have access to both Crows and Port games.

 

[Kwality]

Premier Members are on the same level as club members. They're part legacy product (ie the original Football Park members pre-AFL days) and part those that see the need/desire to have access to both Crows and Port games.

Seems an amazingly top heavy mthod of seating compared to the Subi template of join your footy club to get a seat.
Do any of these groups, other than the SANFL, fund footy at any level?

 

[brucetiki]

Well, Adelaide/Port Members don't really fund any level of football - they're merely filling the coffers of their respective clubs. Of all the members whose money goes to local footy, it's the SANFL administered Premier Members whose membership fees filter back to local footy.

Anyhoo, we've taken this thread way off topic. Happy to continue it in a more appropriate thread, but should be bring this back to discussion about the WACA?

 

[Oneiros]

What was the reason as to why the WACA stopped hosting AFL games for FREO and WCE?

Was it simply because of the capacity? Its max was early 30,000's, some 10,000 less than subiaco, although if kept surely it could house games when freo play an interstate team, as FREO AVE around 35,000's over last couple of years, im sure when it plays a gold coast GWS it could be used.

Can anyone find any articles or media on this?

From 1987 to 2000, the ground was used by the West Coast Eagles, and from 1995 by the Fremantle Dockers, both Perth-based AFL teams. 72 AFL matches were held at the ground during this time. From 1995 to 1997 the WACA also served as the home ground for the Western Reds rugby league team. In the late 1990s the ground played host to the Perth Heat in the former Australian Baseball League (1989-1999).
However, for various reasons these sports moved away from the WACA (in the case of night football, toSubiaco Oval), and as a consequence the WACA was again redeveloped in 2002. The capacity of the ground was reduced to around 20,000 and the dimensions of the playing arena were also decreased by a total of 31 metres at the eastern and western boundaries, meaning Australian rules football could no longer be played at the ground. From time to time, temporary stands are used to boosts the ground's capacity to 24,500.

Why was it solely moved due to night football?

It is important to remember when considering the WACA as a venue for either AFL team that the Subiaco Oval deals for the clubs are less like a business transaction and .... more like a deepthroat from a supermodel.

Clean-skin, low-rent, gate and concession takings in full. And the money you end up paying to the controlling body goes to fund the same upcoming young players you get the best scouting access to and helps fund the competition your reserves play in. It's a large part of why our Footy Department spend is the same as Collingwood's despite an apparent revenue discrepancy.

 

[Rob]

Subiaco isn't low rent. The WA clubs pay more rent than any other club in the country.

They both pay approx 7 times what Geelong pay for Kardinia Park, for example.

 

[Oneiros]

Subiaco isn't low rent. The WA clubs pay more rent than any other club in the country.

They both pay approx 7 times what Geelong pay for Kardinia Park, for example.

Are you including the direct payments to the WAFC in that more-rent-than-any-club calculation?

 

[Rob]

Are you including the direct payments to the WAFC in that more-rent-than-any-club calculation?

Direct payments that are rent, yes. It's around $3.5m a year, per club.

Not royalties if that's what you're referring to.

 

[Scotland]

Yeah, but we keep 70% of the profits while clubs with shit stadium deals only take 30%.

 

[Defacto]

Yeah, but we keep 70% of the profits while clubs with shit stadium deals only take 30%.

my club has sunk about 7 million into etihad, just in writing cheques for games