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CHRIS THOMSON
September 30, 2009 - 7:48AM
The Western Force's failure to sell alcohol-free memberships at Subiaco Oval may see the number of family seats at Perth Glory and South Sydney Rabbitohs fixtures in Perth slashed by 93 per cent.
In support of a liquor licence application for its new home at ME Bank Stadium, the Force admits it sold only 20 - or 1.2 per cent - of its 1671 alcohol-free seats at Subiaco this year.
In 2007 the Force quarantined 661 alcohol-free seats for its members at Subiaco.
WAtoday.com.au has obtained a submission from Western Force management to liquor approval authorities that reveals there was "almost no take-up" of the bays then or in 2008.
In response, the rugby franchise this year extended its alcohol ban to an additional 1010 seats which were marketed at a cheaper price.
"Despite the extra seats being added, and the consistent promotion to our members of the alcohol-free seating option available, we currently only have 20 members who elect to sit in these areas," the Force submission says.
For its inaugural 2010 season at ME Bank Stadium, the Super XIV rugby franchise plans to offload to the general public any alcohol-free seats not bought by members.
Responding to the Force's relocation, Perth Oval caterer Spotless has demanded the State Government approve a 93 per cent cut to the venue's alcohol-free "family" seating from the current 1922 seats to just 144.
This would slash the venue's proportion of alcohol-free seats from the current 10 per cent to just 0.7 per cent - well below the 4 per cent of Subiaco seats from which Western Force fans had been banned from consuming alcohol.
The Government's Drug and Alcohol Office, and Liquor Enforcement Unit, have already expressed concerns about the plan.
In another blow to rugby's relocation, WAtoday.com.au can reveal that at a secret session last week, Town of Vincent councillors rejected a bid by the Force to erect a 750-patron marquee on a park beside ME Bank Stadium for the entire Super XIV season.
Before the meeting, council CEO John Giorgi slammed as "totally unacceptable" the mooted Loton Park location.
He expressed dismay that the town had not been consulted over the plan, hatched by the Force and stadium management company Allia.
Also scuppered at the secret session was a plot by the Force to usurp the council's stadium executive suite while imminent venue renovations were underway.
Mr Giorgi claimed he was not consulted on that idea either, and that his council needed the suite for "various events".
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/fo...0929-ga50.html