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Premier Alan Carpenter confirmed yesterday that a $1.1 billion, 60,000-seat stadium would be built by 2016 at Kitchener Park - adjacent to Subiaco Oval - finally resolving the long-running debate about where to locate it.
- WHILE WA will finally get a new sporting venue capable of holding world-class events, West Coast is now a club in need of a new home.
Negotiations between the government and the WA Football Commission, which manages Subiaco Oval and favoured a refurbishment of the 43,000-seat ground, were at an impasse until AFL chief executive Andrew Demetriou recently persuaded the state's football bosses to accept a move.
While resolving that dispute opened the path for the announcement - with the venue to host football games from 2014 at an initial seating capacity of just 40,000 - the stadium's management is likely to be an ongoing issue, as will housingf the Eagles.
The Eagles will continue to use Subiaco Oval for training and matches until it's demolished in five or six years.
The Eagles were reluctant to discuss the announcement.
"We won't react to it just yet," a club spokesman said.
"But essentially we are delighted about the decision and believe it is an exciting step forward for football in this state, and for many thousands of fans."
WAFC chief executive Wayne Bradshaw confirmed it was likely West Coast would be forced to find a new home for both its administration and training.
But Bradshaw told Perth radio the WAFC had reached an agreement with the government when it gave its support to the new stadium that will ensure West Coast, which announced a massive profit of $3.87m for 2007 after costs, is looked after.
"The Eagles would be offered the best of a world-class facility," Bradshaw said.
"We don't know (what that will be), but it is absolutely imperative we maintain the success of our two AFL clubs."
West Coast has reached saturation point in terms of membership at Subiaco Oval, with the house-full sign going up on virtually all its home games.
The greater capacity at the Kitchener Park Stadium will ensure further growth in both membership and match-day attendance for West Coast, with the Fremantle Dockers also likely to benefit given the rapid expansion of their supporter base.
It was a point acknowledged by Demetriou, who is in Dubai for tonight's season-opening NAB Cup game between Collingwood and Adelaide.
"One of our key objectives is to maximise attendances at AFL matches and provide world-class facilities for all Australian football supporters and the premier's announcement will make this possible," Demetriou said.
Fremantle president Rick Hart also welcomed the move but said it was important football maintained a dominant presence at the new stadium.
"It is critical that Fremantle, as an anchor tenant, has a significant involvement in this process and a strong presence at the new stadium," Hart said.
Bradshaw also said AFL would fight to maintain its dominance of a market that includes Super 14 rugby union side Western Force and A-League team Perth Glory.
"There will be mechanisms put in place to protect football," he said.
"There will be no-one riding on our back and it will be up to the other sports (to ensure their own success)."
But Carpenter signalled that AFL may not hold its power base of previous years in announcing his government will promote the new stadium as a key vehicle if Australia is successful in its bid for the 2018 soccer World Cup.
Rugby WA chairman Geoff Stooke said the new stadium would allow the body to push to host Tests, with the Bledisloe Cup a particular goal.
"Certainly in our discussions with the ARU, they have said, 'you get the stadium, you will get the game'," Stooke said.
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