Perth to get new 60k stadium at Burswood

[one-eyed]

Premier Colin Barnett has confirmed the worst kept secret in Perth - the new sport stadium will be built on the Burswood peninsula.

Mr Barnett today announced the new structure would be built at a cost of $700 million, plus an extra $300 million for additional infrastructure, and was scheduled to be completed in 2018.

It was expected to have the third-biggest capacity of any stadium in the country and would be the second-largest AFL stadium behind the MCG.

The WA Football League and West Coast Eagles would remain based at the existing Subiaco Oval, but the Eagles and Fremantle Dockers would play home games at the new ground.

Mr Barnett said it would have a capacity of 60,000 seats with provision for future expansion to 70,000 seats in the style of Melbourne's Etihad Stadium, with similar views, amenities and level of comfort.

In explaining his preference for the location, Mr Barnett said it was unconstrained by surrounding developments and had the additional benefit of being government-owned.

The location has previously been criticised for its poor soil quality and its lack of transport, being serviced by only one train line and one major arterial road.

As the site stands, access is limited by a single road while people have to rely on one rail station with a line that terminates in the CBD and does not feed other lines.

Mr Barnett recognised the lack of transport around the stadium but said the government would spend about $300 million to build a new special events train station, which would service every line in the Perth network.

"You will be able to catch the train anywhere in Perth to the stadium,'' he said.

However Mr Barnett said there needed to be a change in culture in Perth in which people would have to accept catching public transport to sports events.

No carpark would be built underneath the stadium, with drivers expected to park in the CBD and walk across the bridge.

Read more:
http://www.watoday.com.au/wa-news/barnett-bets-on-a-burswood-stadium-vision-20110628-1goos.html#ixzz1QYTHmbwt
http://www.perthnow.com.au/news/western-australia/burswood-sports-stadium-gets-government-nod/story-e6frg13u-1226083462323

[gerkin greg]

Don't know how it can be the second biggest AFL ground after the MCG at 60,000

Even the proposed future expansion of 70,000 is short of the 72,393 that saw Sydney v Collingwood at ANZ in 2003

If I was a West Australian i'd check the math on the cost too 

[mightytiges]

Don't know how it can be the second biggest AFL ground after the MCG at 60,000

Even the proposed future expansion of 70,000 is short of the 72,393 that saw Sydney v Collingwood at ANZ in 2003

Looks like that journo isn't counting ANZ Stadium as an AFL stadium even though games are played there and IIRC Mike Fitzpatrick's consortium has a controlling interest in it.

Anyway good to hear now both Adelaide and Perth will finally have a 21st century stadium. Subi and Footy Park have aged badly.