WACA, Subiaco Oval to be sold

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Hiraldo
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Post by Hiraldo »

james_ wrote:
Egan wrote:Only way to do this is to get a Super 12 side, more people will become WACA members. At the moment they are at the lowest levels ever.
I've said it before elsewhere, but I'll say it again: Surely rugby spectators would be better catered for by Members Equity Stadium. The rectangular playing field offers greater intimacy, which I believe creates better atmosphere.
That would be the way to go, since it wouldn't affect the surface for soccer matches if the APL is from July-January and the Rugby from Febuary-May.

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Egan
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Post by Egan »

Its just that the WACA would be more persistant.

If it did go to MES then surely the WACA would concede defeat and start destroying itself.

The redevelopment means that rectangular Sport would be just as good at the WACA as at MES. The Goal area would have rectangular boundaries would be rectangular. It wouldnt be that much different viewing then MES. It just has a 4000 greater capacity then MES.

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perthsmike
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Post by perthsmike »

but the WACA still has pretty round sides (obviously gor its use of cricket) ME Stadium would be better even after the recent developments. when will a decision be made about the new super 12 expansion?

mike

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Jeffles
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Post by Jeffles »

I think the TV contract for the "super" 12 is up this year.

I don't know if they will get that much more money.

1)The initial deal was struck at a time when there was more money around for sports TV.

2) The moving of games off Channel 7 (due to the 90 minute clause and bad ratings) could be a bargaining tool for the TV ompanies (to pay less)

3) With Foxtel in a Monopoly for Pay TV now, it is hard to see a big increase (since they have no counteroffer to beat).

This is why I've always been cautious when talking about a 4th "super" 12 franchise.

But there are some experienced negotiators working for SANZAR and the ARU. Anything is possible.

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Egan
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Post by Egan »

Hopefully this does not happen. The last thing we need is heritage listing on the ground if we want a 200 million super stadium. Please Government do make the right thing. Heritage in this city is going mad. Not that Im against protecting assets. But even Perth Oval have heritage listed items at the ground. That can never be touched. Thanks again to thewest.com.au. THEY PLAN TO REPLACE THE THIRD TIER, I Wonder what they plan

Heritage list plan for Subi Oval

AMANDA BANKS

A move by the WA Heritage Council to assess the heritage listing of the entire Subiaco Oval could have implications for the stadium's planned redevelopment, naming rights and signage.

Senior football authorities are concerned that a listing could interfere with plans to replace the ageing three-tier stand. It could also hinder a State Government vision to replace the oval and the WACA with a $200 million multi-purpose facility in Belmont.

The Subiaco City Council has thrown its support behind the heritage proposal.

It hopes the move will add weight to its fight against the WA Football Commission over naming rights and signs at the oval.

While the WAFC's primary concern is that the heritage listing will not adversely affect football in the State, chairman Neale Fong said he was confident the commission could work with the Heritage Council to ensure both heritage and sporting interests were protected.

The oval was nominated for heritage assessment in October 2002 and stakeholders have recently been asked to comment on the proposal.

Heritage Council director Ian Baxter said the oval's original entrance gates were heritage listed in March 2000.

Mr Baxter said a draft assessment of the oval had been provided to stakeholders - including the Subiaco Council, WAFC, State Government and Subiaco Football Club - for comment.

The WAFC and Subiaco council have been embroiled in debate over the oval's naming rights since a $5.5 million offer for the naming rights at the ground by mobile phone dealer Crazy Johns was revealed last year.

But the deal, which would have seen the oval renamed Crazy Johns Stadium, was conditional on the company being able to put its name and logo on the outside of the stadium.

The proposal prompted strong council opposition and Crazy Johns withdrew its offer.

The WAFC has since been working to prove it has the right to put signs on the perimeter of grandstands in an attempt to attract another bidder.

It has appealed to Local Government Minister Tom Stephens over the council's decision to knock back signs saying The Home of Football and club logos.

Subiaco mayor Tony Costa said he hoped heritage listing would strengthen the council's bid to ensure the oval retained its name.

While recognising the important role of the oval in the State's history, Mr Fong said it was essential heritage listing was not detrimental to the sport of football.

Mr Fong said he was not concerned that heritage listing would affect any decision on naming rights and signs at the ground.

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perthsmike
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Post by perthsmike »

i originally heard they were planning to place the entire subiaco oval under heritage listing. what a joke. those bastards should have no say what so ever. now i kno we should preserve structures but this is just stupid. so for the sake of these people saying "look we have an old 3 teir stand", thousands of fans each week have to sit in discomfort. stupid idiots. (and yes my seats r in the 3 teir stand)

mike

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Egan
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Post by Egan »

Again from the Sunday Times who report that the WAFC are trying everything possible to get Crazy Johns as their naming right sponsor.
www.sundaytimes.com.au



`Crazy' bid for Subi is kicking on
By DIGBY BEACHAM
23may04
THE Crazy Johns multimillion- dollar bid for naming rights of Subiaco Oval could be back on the agenda by the end of next month.

Crazy Johns and the WA Football Commission reached an in-principle agreement last year over the mobile phone company's willingness to pump $5 million, plus $500,000 for junior development, into WA football.

The agreement was scuppered by Subiaco City Council, which declared the ground it leased to the WAFC would not have external signs that affected the oval's ambience.

But the commission has appealed to Local Government Minister Tom Stephens, who is expected to receive a report from his advisers in a fortnight. Mr Stephens could make a decision by the end of June.

If he upholds the appeal, it opens the way for Crazy Johns to restart negotiations with the commission.

Asked whether his company was still interested, Crazy Johns owner John Ilhan, who was in Perth during the week, replied "absolutely".

"We would love to sit and talk with the commission again," Mr Ilhan said. "If the commission is able to pave the way, we'd certainly listen and see if it's a good fit."

WAFC chief executive Wayne Bradshaw met advisers of Mr Stephens during the week to discuss the commission's appeal against the council's decision to reject a building licence. The WAFC received approval for a sign licence. However, a building licence that would enable the commission to erect four signs at Subiaco Oval, titled "Home of Football" and flanked by the logos of both the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers and nine WAFL clubs, at gates eight, 10, 19 and 26, was turned down.

If the appeal is upheld, the minister's decision will override the council's objection, presenting the WAFC with the green light to erect the signs – the first step towards re-entering the business world and chasing a naming rights sponsor.

"We've been hamstrung in our search for a naming rights sponsor for the ground because of the signage restrictions," Mr Bradshaw said.

"If the signs are going to affect the amenities of the area, the council has the right to object, but we don't believe they're over the top."

The WAFC recently concluded its 10-year strategic plan, which included its financial direction and how best to erase the $30 million owing on Subiaco Oval after redevelopment.

The burden will be eased next year when the Fremantle Dockers resume paying royalties.

Dialogue between Crazy Johns and the WAFC has continued behind the scenes in the past 10 months.

Mr Ilhan is expected to agree to a proposed sponsorship deal with the WAFC by the end of next week.

"We've got a proposal in front of us from the commission and it's almost a done deal," Mr Ilhan said.

"It's a deal worth up to $200,000 that will see us sponsoring junior footy throughout the state and that's something we are keen on."

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