Actual Works to be done on ME
This contains slightly different information from the article in perthnow earlier this week but at least there is a breakdown
http://www.rugbyweek.com/news/article.asp?id=22287
The interim upgrade and temporary works/repairs at ME Bank Stadium include:
- upgrade of the Stadium lighting (to 1400 lux) to comply with Foxtel requirements
- temporary seating to provide for a capacity of 21,165
- upgrade of the change-rooms for player comfort and amenity
- installation of interim/temporary facilities and 11 new temporary corporate suites
- improvement and upgrade of existing fixtures and fittings
- installation and upgrade of the media boxes and new Television Match Official (TMO) seating
- upgrade of the playing surface sub-soil drainage
- demolition of the former Caretaker's Cottage on the Bulwer Street frontage of Loton Park and new landscape works.
As part of the upgrade, the Town of Vincent will provide approximately $250,000 towards the various works.
Yes Virginia, there are bad seats at MES
In the last couple of seasons, we had not so bad Gold seats at Subi - in the first 2 seasons, we had row D Gold seats (the ones that Rugby WA decided to give a discount on in the 2007 season).
We got lumbered with seats in block W15 (I think) at the MES pre-season - they were excrutiatingly sh!t seats and a waste of money.
If we get offered Gold membership seats in something like W15 again, even at a discount, then we'll probably pass. Loyalty to the Western Force is one thing - wasting good money is quite another.
Rugby WA will come out ahead at MES if it retains a significant majority of its current corporate hospitality clients and most of its Diamond/Gold/Silver membership. The real trick will be in how Rugby WA manages to provide seating for the corporate hospitality crowd which it holds on to, and at the same time makes an equitable distribution of the remaining seats to its existing Diamond, Gold, Silver, Nickel and Iron members - and that's ignoring anyone who may want to come back into membership as a result of the move to MES.