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From today's Sunday Times (for our interstate friends, or those who just don't want to walk to the paper shop):
By Nick Taylor
Western Force will struggle to survive unless it gets a suitable rectangular stadium, the WA goverment will be told this week.
Senior Force exectutives will push new sports minister Terry Waldron for answers about an upgrade to Members Equity Stadium when they have their first formal meeting on Wednesday.
Force supporters, members and sponsors have expressed growing dissatisfaction with Subiaco Oval.
Crowds have dropped because ground and lower level seating is too far from the pitch.
The previous government promised $25 million towards an upgrade when the bid was made to get a Super 14 team to Perth.
But it reneged, saying the cash had been swallowed up in the $1.1 billion needed for the new multi-purpose Subiaco stadium.
With the Subiaco plan now in doubt, the government will be asked for the $25 million to be used for it's originally promised purpose.
That amount would be25-30 percent of the cost of upgrading MES to a 25,000 seat stadium, with 2000 corporate seats.
A push for the upgrade has also come from the Town of Vincent, which sent a letter to Waldron pushing it's case last week.
The council, which has set aside $35,000 to investigate an upgrade, estimated two years ago that it could be built for $64 million. It now says it cuold cost $80 million, but other estimates say it could be ask high as $100 million.
In an open letter to Force members, RugbyWA CEO Greg Harris said "...a crucial element in the sucessful long term viability of the Emirates Western Force is securing a rectangular stadium to host out games. We are continuing to lobby the government and the Rugby WA board has confirmed its support for an upgrade to MES"