Design Ideas for new Perth Stadium

[Admiral Byng]

Ok - starting my first thread ever on BF.

What do we want out of the new stadium in Perth? Bear in mind it needs to cater for as many sports as possible for the next 50 years.

My ideas:

- Oval shaped ground (obviously)
- Similar dimensions to Subiaco Oval (long and narrow)
- Roughly North/South alignment to cater for cricket as well as Aussie rules footy, as well as so footy spectators on the outer aren't staring into the sun.
- A decent fixed roof over the southern and western ends to give shade and protect from rain.
- Moveable banks of seating on the eastern wing to cater for rectangular sports.


Given this though, it means main grandstands on both the western and southern ends, with media facilities and the like. Might be a bit of duplication of facilities. Otherwise it means dropping the Subi-like dimensions and building a replica MCG.

Thoughts?

 

[Rob]

I'd rather an MCG sized ground. North-South alignment is a no brainer.

And moveable seats will be a complete waste of money. It might get a couple of rectangular events a year (Wallabies test, Socceroos match) at most, and the seats will completely stuff the playing surface up in winter and they probably won't even be used because it reduces capacity. I'd rather they spend the $50m+ in better facilites in the stadium than a feature that will barely get used, if ever.

 

[blaze036]

They can play soccer and rugby on an oval ground easily enough, the moveable seats is a bad idea

 

[Hap Hapablap]

if the state government could also invest in a 40000 seater with expandable seating on a rectangular pitch than say blowing it on perth oval then moveable seating wont be required. however due to whatever reasons it will end up with retractable seatings just to pump the price higher and the ooh and ahh factor

 

[Silent Alarm]

Obviously stadia in this city is appalling. The WACA's facilities are so poor and near dilapidated in some parts. Perth Oval is glorified (no soccer pun intended) movable seating. And the issues with Subi are very much obvious. Even Tasmania has a preferable stadium (see, the picturesque and tidy Bellerive). Perth is lagging behind – in every type of sports stadia.

First and foremost is functionality. Going to a ground like Etihad is an absolute joy.

Having an easy to navigate stadium creates ease for everyone. Plenty of gates and toilet facilities.

It should be easy to access. When I go to Subi, it's always from Fremantle station. I've always had a quick, pretty easy run to the ground. Everyone should have that ease with a new stadium. Infrastructure should be top notch. Make it available to as many people as possible, and in as many facets (trains, buses, personal transport, etc.). In my perfect world, public transport should be encouraged. There are issues involved in having everyone go by car. Although saying "no cars can park here" is absurd and detrimental, perhaps some kind of incentive would work.

Something nice about Subiaco Oval is the surroundings. There's a reasonably enjoyable atmosphere about the place. The greenery around is better than concrete and parking lots. My favourite ground is Optus Oval in Carlton, and although no longer used (obviously), the surroundings are wonderful. To cater for those having lunch, having some drinks, that's something essential to the match day experience.

I too see the movable seating as unnecessary. Etihad has the ability to move the seats in. Yet it's used no more than once or twice per season. It's a waste of money, plain and simple. Considering the Eastern-centric Football Federation of Australia, the new Perth stadium would be lucky to host the Socceroos bi-annually. The demand simply is not there.

And seating for 75,000.

Western Australia is rapidly growing. The fan bases of Fremantle and the Eagles is only going to grow. Although money is made through demand, and thus higher prices, 70-75k would be a fair balance. By the time a ground can be successfully built and played out of (let's be realistic and say season 2018), I'd say Freo could garner an average of 43,000. West Coast could attract about 50,000.

 

[wedgetail]

By the time a ground can be successfully built and played out of (let's be realistic and say season 2018), I'd say Freo could garner an average of 43,000. West Coast could attract about 50,000.

West Coast have 55k members today, nevermind 2018. And that is just the ones that can be bothered getting all hardcore, registering & paying up for a goal they will never realistically achieve.

That said the upper design limit of 70k is good enough to keep demand higher than supply... and by the time everything gets rolling they will build it to the upper limit from the outset, IMO. And it will sell out straight away.

Byng, it would be nice to retain subi dimensions, but that would basically exclude cricket from using it. The movable seats were in part to bring in the sides for soccer but equally to widen the wings for cricket (135m), while retaining Subi's 120m width.

I think the dimensions will end up more MCG like (perhaps a little longer than the G) to allow cricket and the like to use the ground.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Byng, it would be nice to retain subi dimensions, but that would basically exclude cricket from using it. The movable seats were in part to bring in the sides for soccer but equally to widen the wings for cricket (135m), while retaining Subi's 120m width.

I think the dimensions will end up more MCG like (perhaps a little longer than the G) to allow cricket and the like to use the ground.

What I meant was should we keep the length of Subi, maybe make it slightly wider. Cricket could use it as long as the pitch ran from goal to goal rather than wing to wing. It would be similar to Adelaide Oval - long boundary straight and short side boundaries. It would be perfectly adequate for playing limited overs cricket.

The only thing this means is that it would need to have a north-south orientation so the batsman don't get the sun in their eyes. What this means for the design of the stadium is that the best seats in the house for cricket would be at the southern and northern ends (behind the bowler's arm), but the best seats for AFL footy would be along the western and eastern wings. It would mean some duplication of prime corporate boxes, members facilities and media facilities most likely in the western and southern sectors.

The other option is to drop the long and narrow oval shape and go for a more rounded shape. At the MCG for example, the cricket pitches run more or less wing to wing compared with the layout for AFL footy - so the best seats in the house for footy are also the best for cricket. That's what I mean about choosing the shape and orientation of the ground.

 

[blaze036]

Have they announced what the official capacity for this stadium will be?

 

[Alexwce]

Change the title to Stadium WA. It will be Stadium WA rather than Perth Stadium. Give the name some respect

Have they announced what the official capacity for this stadium will be?

60k with the ability to build to 70k

 

[Eastern Rangers]

Linley Lutton and the Gatekeepers of Perth have released their vision for the new Perth Stadium.
You can see it's actually just the esplanade, you can see St Georges Cathedral in the background. Perth City area will naturally be returned to 1840's to ensure it's heritage values are maintained as you can see from this render.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Change the title to Stadium WA. It will be Stadium WA rather than Perth Stadium. Give the name some respect

We can call it Universe Central Stadium for all I care.

 

[LadyPants]

I think the public transport is ok at best. I go to most Eagles/Dockers home games and the trains are absolutely chockas after the games so maybe some footy shuttle buses that go from the stadium to the city/freo.

 

[Rob]

I think the public transport is ok at best. I go to most Eagles/Dockers home games and the trains are absolutely chockas after the games so maybe some footy shuttle buses that go from the stadium to the city/freo.

Trains are always going to be chockas no matter how many buses you provide, as you need to move 50,000 plus people all at once. If you want a comfortable ride, wait 90 minutes after the game and jump on one then.

Buses would really only be used to provide limited services to areas not covered by trains, and even then they wouldn't be expected to transport more than 1000 or so people. They're not very efficient in moving lots of people quickly.

 

[Andy Brennan]

Don't build it at shitty burswood

 

[jko'neal]

Don't build it at shitty burswood

I agree, and don't let the people who designed the Convention centre or the new Rubix Cube in the city within a million miles of the plans.

 

[LadyPants]

It really can't be that hard can it? Just look at the MCG and copy at 85%.

 

[Silent Alarm]

From what I understand, it's not likely that the new stadium will host cricket.

Is this true? I believe it's basically because of the WACA and their obvious owning and affiliation with the ground of the same name.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

From what I understand, it's not likely that the new stadium will host cricket.

Is this true? I believe it's basically because of the WACA and their obvious owning and affiliation with the ground of the same name.

Potentially 20Twenty and One Day Internationals.

For all domestic and test cricket the WACA suits fine.

 

[Eastern Rangers]

I agree, and don't let the people who designed the Convention centre or the new Rubix Cube in the city within a million miles of the plans.

Well the Convention centre looks like it does because the Perth public are too stupid to support a more expensive facility and one without large volumes of cheap ground level parking space.

And the ARM design of the Perth Arena is fantastic.

 

[RodneyMaynard]

60,000 is fine for now I think. Travelling supporters will finally have a chance to get seats in Perth games. Huzzah!

I hope they learn lessons from other recent stadium design in Australia, and factor in:

The direction of the sun
The effect the stands' shadows have on the playing surface
The reflection of the sun off of corporate box glass
The direction of the wind

I also hope they retain the unique dimensions of Subiaco. Oval size diversity is an aspect of Aussie Rules that needs to be maintained.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

I think it should be built dug into the ground (if that makes sense) like what they were going to do to the mcg for the soccer world cup

would allow for easier upgrades should the wa population grow significantly, and being in Perth, wouldn't look like an eyesore in amongst all the town-houses and mini-lofts

 

[Alexwce]

Don't build it at shitty burswood

2 venues. Kitchener Park where they can halt at only 60k or build it in Burswood and have potential to build up to 70k. Seems like a nobrainer.

We can call it Universe Central Stadium for all I care.

You're missing the point. It isn't called Perth Stadium.

 

[Rob]

I think it should be built dug into the ground (if that makes sense) like what they were going to do to the mcg for the soccer world cup

would allow for easier upgrades should the wa population grow significantly, and being in Perth, wouldn't look like an eyesore in amongst all the town-houses and mini-lofts

Might be a tad problematic as burswood is partly reclaimed land. Going deeper poses a higher flood risk. Not really sure why you'd do it in any case.

 

[Admiral Byng]

... and don't let the people who designed the Convention centre or the new Rubix Cube in the city within a million miles of the plans.

They are at opposite ends of the spectrum.

Those two should have been built in opposite positions. The squashed beer can should have been on the river site where it can show off it's unique outline, the bland looking convention centre in the centre of the city surrounded and dwarfed by other city buildings.

We need something that stikes a happy medium between the two. Something built with conventional technology, but something that looks good too.

 

[Admiral Byng]

You're missing the point. It isn't called Perth Stadium.

Not sure it has a name yet.

Anyway, I can't edit, so looks like we're stuck with it.