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The West- 24-04-08 Dave Hughes
Rugby spectators will be on average only 9m farther from the action at Perth's proposed $1.1 billion multi-purpose stadium than fans at Brisbane's Suncorp Stadium, considered the best rugby venue in the world.
New swing-seat technology will transform the lower tier of the oval at Kitchener Park into a rectangular arena holding 22,000, with the front row of seats more than half as close to the touchline as at Subiaco Oval.
Two higher tiers of corporate facilities, holding 7500 and 880 guest respectively, will complete the stadium in a Super 14 configuration, wht the 30,000 upper tier likely to be closed off teh concentrate fans- and therefore atmosphere- as close as possible to the field.
The operators of Suncorp Stadium used the same approach when the Western Force lost to the Queensland Reds last Friday. With only 18,000 attending the game, the upper tiers at either end were off limits to fans.
Department of Sport and Recreation boss Ron Alexander said Western Force followers would be closer to the playing field then at such notable rugby grounds as Sydney's ANZ Stadium , the Brumbie's Canberra Stadium, AMI Stadium in Christchurch and Westpac Stadium in Wellington They would have a similar view to ticket holders at State de France in Paris, the venue for last year's World Cup Final.
"The big thing for the Western Force is that the lower tier will form a complete rectangle, rather than having large gaps in the corners," Alexander said yesterday. "That will give it the look and feel of the rugby stadium, rather than a footy oval with a block of seats pulled out".
Alexander said 80 percent of the seats would be under cover and the roof had been designed to capture light and sound. "The stadium will appear more enclosed and this will enhance atmosphere", he said. The seating tiers will be more steeply raked than at Subiaco Oval, creating better viewing and rows will be further apart allowing spectators easier access to seats from stairways.
The front row of seats will be a minimum of 1.5m above the playing surface, giving customers an unrestricted view over advertising signage and team benches.
Although fans will not be as close to the players as at a purpose built rectangular stadium, where the distance from the front row to the sideline is usually 5.7m- or half that at the multipurpose area spectator facilities will be considerably better than at any existing stadium in Australia.
There will be two huge video screens in the arena and dozens of monitors scattered throughout the concourses behind the seating areas to enable those at food and beverage outlets to watch the on-field action.
The concourses, containing food outlets, bars and toilets, will circle the ground and be built under cover. Public and private facilities for dinner are being planned and the long queues for food, drinks and toilets which fans are used to will become a thing of the past.
Construction is scheduled to start in 2011 with Super 14 to be played there from 2016. The adjacent West Leederville train station will also undergo a major upgrade to cater for large crowds.