Todays Paper- Subi redevelopment still on WAFC Agenda

[Swee_82]

From today's Sunday Times:

West Australian Football could rebuild Subiaco Oval in a bold go-it-alone mission after the State government's decision to defer plans for a new state-of-the-art sporting stadium.
WAFC Chairman Neale Fong confirmed that, while only in its early stages, the audacious plan could cost $100-350 million.
A staged rebuilding, similiar to the MCGs redevelopment over the past decade, would lift Subiaco's capacity to 55,000.
The plan requires massive funding from private sector investors and some government assistance.
In a scheme almost identical to AFL loans taken for Melbourne's Dome, leading the eventual ownership by 2025, the WAFC blueprint would protect football's independence and also revenue source from Subiaco Oval.
Fong fears for future football development programs and the capacity to maintain growth if Subiaco is not revamped. He revealed the WAFC was exploring funding options.
"We can't afford to do nothing" Fong said. "Clearly, it's the commission's job to provide this leadership and we're doing that".
"We have to look at all options and we're rigourously doing this, now the government has said they can't do anything for some years".
In the wake of mounting hardships due to the global financial crisis abd capped revenue capacities at Subi, Fong has called on West Coast and Fremantle to provide projected budgets for this year.
The Eagles and Dockers inject almost $10 million into WA football coffers. Royalties for 2009 are expected to be down at least $200,000 this year, even beforefinal membership and corporate box sales are considered.

[blueandblack]

...
The Eagles and Dockers inject almost $10 million into WA football coffers. ....

they do? the wafl clubs dont see any of that...apart from Spewbi maybe.

back on topic now...

wonder exactly how much they'll get done for $100 mil. new carpets in the corporate areas and offices, bigger fridge for holding more crates of chardonnay,...

[Burgs]

Good luck to them.
The may have their faults but they can't be criticised for not having a determined vision for their sports future.

[Swee_82]

Good luck to them.
The may have their faults but they can't be criticised for not having a determined vision for their sports future.

Well, not until they get the job half done and come running cap in hand to the government again. As long as they are genuinely going to be doing this privately then good luck to them.

Determined vision is one thing, but given their dominance of the sporting landscape, I am still going to vehmnently dislike the way they abuse that position from time to time-such as how it is so important to continue generating a revenue stream from Subiaco, an asset they never had to pay for anyway (no, I don't count $1 a year as paying for it)

[tragic]

... (no, I don't count $1 a year as paying for it)

Nothing wrong with paying market rates, Swee

Well, I wish them good luck. I agree with Swee, though. I doubt they'll plan far ahead enough. It'll probably start out primarily privately- and club-funded, get halfway through, run out of money, then the WAFC will run to the pollies cap in hand and tears in their eyes for substantial government assistance saying that the financial crisis was worse than they thought and the interest alone is crippling them when the rates rise.