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I've just changed my mind with regards to my preference to stadium options available to The Western Force. The all purpose stadium will not satisfy our needs and I believe the MES expansion option is best for The Western Force.Originally Posted by Egan
I’ve had a look at a few different designs for retractable seating stadiums and the thing that jumps out at me is the complexity of design and the cumbersome and costly operation. The capital expenditure of an "ideal" retractable seating stadium, i.e. one which satisfies the majority of each sports requirement, will be astronomical. Therefore, I suggest the stadium, if it goes ahead as currently perceived, will be a compromise that will not satisfy rectangular pitch fans. I.E. Us.
We want a stadium which will give all the supporters suitable viewing seats and a dedicated rectangular stadium has got to be the way to go. With the potential for the Glory to get back on track, following the success in the World Cup, the joint supporter base of the Western Force and the Glory will be significant.
So, the Western Force needs to get together with the Glory and use the post world cup wave of optimism to persuade the government to expedite the building of the MES expansion. This will give the Glory further credibility and hopefully increase their fan base, while satisfying the immediate and short term needs of the Western Force.
This being said, the stadium needs to be designed with a view to effective future expansion rather than some of the add-on designs I have seen in the past. This means some wise additional investment now which will reduce future expansion costs and make for a better stadium and increase its life. Accountants and governments don't generally like that but it is the only way forward to effectively satisfy our sports mid to long term needs.
It's the WA government’s lack of vision and planning with regards to sport that has landed us in this situation. Is it not about time they woke up and saw what the rest of the world is doing to support sporting development? Super 14 teams are on the world stage, should we not have the government support to reflect that?
It’s our city, it’s our money and it’s our sport, without us none survive.