Hey Ramps, here's South Melb's chance
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Government threatens Victory with new team
Ellen Whinnett
Herald-Sun
February 09, 2007 12:00am
THE Victorian Government has threatened to seek a rival A-League team for Melbourne if Victory snubs the planned new rectangular stadium and signs with Telstra Dome.
Major Projects Minister Theo Theophanous said last night the Government would approach Football Federation Australia to bring a second team to Melbourne if Victory refused to commit to the $190 million rectangular stadium the Government plans to build at Edwin Flack Field.
The threat comes after talks between Victory and the Government failed to resolve the deadlock over the proposed stadium, which would house the NRL's Melbourne Storm, the AFL's Melbourne Demons and, the Government hopes, the A-League's Melbourne Victory.
Theophanous confirmed last night Victory chairman Geoff Lord had suggested to him this week that the Government abandon the planned stadium and instead spend $50 million modifying Telstra Dome to better showcase sports that use rectangular playing fields.
The Government rejected the proposal and Theophanous reaffirmed its commitment to building the new stadium, at an increased size of at least 27,500 seats.
"I made it clear to him that we would be building the stadium," Theophanous said.
He said he would not let Victory's "sweetheart arrangement" with Telstra Dome stop the Government building the stadium, which is already months behind schedule.
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21195120-2883,00.html