Glory fans 'to lose out' under nib Stadium revamp
Perth Glory boss Tony Sage has threatened to "walk away" from the team's home of 15 years after it was revealed a $95 million redevelopment of the nib Stadium would see capacity at the ground halved for the 2012/13 soccer season.
Work on the upgrade will begin next month - to be completed in March next year - and while the stadium will remain open during the A-League soccer season, capacity will be halved to 9,500 while construction takes place.
The state government today announced BGC Construction had been awarded the contract for the redevelopment, which has been broadened to include a new permanent southern stand and seating of the northern bowl, as well as the eastern stand redevelopment.
He told 6PR's Paul Murray he was "incensed" given the Glory was the anchor club for the stadium, and said the club was looking for a new home.
"We've been the anchor tenant there since 1996, we play 14 games a year there... and for them to come and destroy our entire season and not impact on rugby union whatsoever, who only play seven games there, is just an absolute farce," he said.
"We would have got 13 or 14,000 throughout the season. They're telling us we're now only going to have 9,500."
"They could have started this many months ago, or leave it until the end of the season."
Mr Sage said the Glory's first game next season, a grand final replay against Brisbane, would be played at Patersons Stadium in order to cater for an expected crowd in excess of 20,000.
The club is discussing the possibility of playing future games next season at either the Burswood Dome or Patersons Stadium.
The Glory's contract at nib is up at the end of next year, but Mr Sage said the deal had effectively been "torn up" by the reduction in crowd capacity for the upcoming season.
The redevelopment will consist of a covered eastern grandstand complete with new food, beverage and toilet facilities, a 250-seat barbecue terrace and seating for 420 patrons in open corporate boxes.
Work will start on July 2, following the last home game of the Western Force's 2012 season, with the major works due to be completed in March next year.
Sport and Recreation Minister Terry Waldron acknowledged the club's frustration but said the long-term benefits would be worthwhile.
"It's a little bit like when you re-do a freeway, you have a period of time when it's a bit annoying to motorists... but the long-term for the rectangular sports and for Glory is going to be highly beneficial," he said.
"We hope (Glory) are successful in the following season, that they can pack this stadium."
"This is a fantastic result for our rectangular sporting codes as the redevelopment will provide a huge boost to the stadium amenity and, in turn, will provide a much better spectator experience."
Rugby WA chief executive Vern Reid welcomed the announcement today.
"To be able to have a properly fitted-out and fully undercover stand is crucial for the comfort of our members going ahead... so across the board we're very, very pleased," he said.
The construction wouldn't affect the Western Force, Mr Reid said, as the club had arranged to play two away games followed by a bye, before returning to the completed stadium in March.
He hoped the 13,000-strong rugby membership would be boosted as a result of the revamp.
WA Rugby League chairman Richard Campbell said the decision would boost WA's bid for a new NRL side to be based in Perth.
A decision on the location of the new team will be announced in August.
Read more: http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/gl...#ixzz1x4eFqlyT
