The new rectangular stadium is going ahead.....
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Victory for a bigger stadium
EXCLUSIVE: Chris Tinkler, State politics reporter
Herald-Sun
March 04, 2007 12:00am
A NEW-look sports stadium for Melbourne will be announced today.
The redesigned stadium -- to seat 31,500 fans if Melbourne Victory come on board or 27,750 without the soccer club -- will be unveiled by Premier Steve Bracks.
The announcement will end more than 18 months' speculation over the stadium.
The Government will today announce its preferred bidder for the Olympic Park project.
Detailed talks will then begin immediately over construction, with the deal expected to be finalised within a few weeks.
Melbourne Victory has so far refused to sign up to the new ground because it wants a 40,000-plus venue.
"If Victory is not with us then it will be frozen out for good," a government source warned yesterday.
The 27,750-seater option will cost $256 million, with most money coming from the government.
The 31,500-capacity option, including Victory as one of the tenants, is understood to cost a few million dollars more.
The new stadium, due to be finished in 2009, will not differ significantly from the original 20,000-capacity design.
But it is likely the stands will be extended towards the pitch sidelines and additional seats will be fitted behind each goal.
The announcement will place immense pressure on Victory.
Telstra Dome, which has hosted several Victory games this year, has offered the champions a cut-price deal to stay there for 10 years.
But that could leave Victory playing most games in a half-full stadium not designed for soccer.
And the expected arrival of a second Melbourne team in the A-League in 2010, playing in the new purpose-built rectangular stadium, could signal a mass exodus of Victory fans.
The Government has said it is happy for Victory to switch to the MCG or Telstra Dome for blockbuster matches, such as games against Sydney FC, if it chooses Olympic Park as its main base.
Government sources said the stadium could also host a Melbourne rugby union team if the Super 14 expands again.
"This is the best possible stadium for fans of soccer, rugby league and rugby union," a government source said yesterday.
"We have made it clear that we will go ahead with or without the Victory."
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,21321331-2883,00.html
