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Nick Taylor
PerthNow
May 9, 2022 7:49PM
Perth Glory and Western Force home games will be thrown into chaos with clubs kicked out of HBF Park for several weeks next season.
The move could be a financial disaster for both sides with two concerts and stadium upgrades for the Women’s World Cup in July next year forcing them out.
Optus Stadium is the only realistic option but the clubs are likely to demand financial compensation from the government if they are forced to use the more expensive venue.
Work on the $35 million HBF Park upgrade, bringing it into line with FIFA requirements, is due to start at the end of the year.
English singer-songwriter Harry Styles plays at the stadium on February 20 with another artist pencilled in for the first weekend in March.
The stage will remain on the ground between shows before six weeks of turf restoration for the five internationals.
Glory will be unlikely to play any A-League fixtures at HBF Park between October, when their season opens, and January before being turfed out for up to seven weeks a month later.
The Force would have to play their first nine Super Rugby games on the road from mid-February and be left with five consecutive home games in May.
Glory have played Australia Cup games at Dorrien Gardens but it is not suitable for the A-League, chief executive Tony Pignata said.
“Keeping us out of HBF Park would be a disaster after our two terrible COVID years,” Pignata said.
“Potentially losing four months at HBF Park is ridiculous.
“If we had to play at Optus we’d have to get some compensation.
“We are one of the major tenants of HBF Park. VenuesWest needs to sit down with us and come up with a solution.”
Force chief executive Tony Lewis said the club was “extremely frustrated” to be left without a home until late April.
“About a month ago a general chat with VenuesWest informed us of the two concerts and the absolute unrealistic grass maintenance program meant HBF was not available to late April,” Lewis said.
“We have requested VenuesWest re-look at the grass maintenance program and work on a solution that is fair, equitable and consistent for a long-term hirer.
“The burden of cost both financially and from a high performance perspective is something we need addressing.”
A VenuesWest spokesperson said: “With the return of world class international concerts and the necessary timing of the pitch upgrades there are unavoidable disruptions to the fixtures for Western Force and Perth Glory.
“VenuesWest continues to work closely with Western Force and Perth Glory and is looking at opportunities for the teams to play at other venues around Perth.
“Works to upgrade the pitch have been carefully planned to ensure an optimum playing surface.”
https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/we...ason-c-6736028
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Considering that WA got a pretty lousy deal for the Women's World Cup, that sucks big time.
Given that Glory and the Force are the bread and butter tenants for HBF park, that sucks even more
Big thumbs down VenuesWest
Seems so strange they can't do this before the season starts!! There is a big chunk of the year this venue is not used is there not?
Simon Cron: “People talk about winning and losing all the time and they are critical, but there’s a process to get into and it’s the ability to stay present, do your job and execute skills under pressure.”
I'm not sure that would be an issue. The article says "grass maintenance". Any construction issues off the pitch would likely be work-around-able given some cooperation between the parties. Can anyone see a reason to do a grass maintenance program and then allow 5 - 6 weeks of consecutive Rugby matches immediately before a football tournament? Imagine what the pitch would look like if we had a lot of rainy match days. Shirley earlier would be better, with the Force playing away in April-May.![]()
"The main difference between playing League and Union is that now I get my hangovers on Monday instead of Sunday - Tom David
I saw an article on Austadiums earlier today, the works include:
New LED floodlighting
Upgrade of the playing surface via removal of the current surface and leveling of the surface
Upgrades to power supply, including a new switch room
New player races and bench areas
Player facilities
Total lack of State Govt support for two ball codes that aren't AFL and are trying to recover from the impact of Covid-19??
So there's nowhere else to hold some rock concerts??
Off to the Velodrome we go
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
please excuse my ignorance.
Have Cricket Test Matches, International One Dayers, etc moved to Optus?
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa
Japan and the Pacific Islands for Aussie Super 9's!
Let's have one of these in WA! Click this link: Saitama Super Arena - New Perth Stadium?
Exile
Port Macquarie
"Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard ya hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done! Now if you know what you’re worth then go out and get what you’re worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain’t where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain’t you! You’re better than that!" - Rocky Balboa