Perth Stadium Management commits to ongoing operations at Domain Stadium

In the wake of not securing the contract to manage the new Perth Stadium, venue manager Perth Stadium Management (PSM) has committed to the ongoing management of Perth's Domain Stadium.

Created as a strategic alliance between the West Australian Football Commission (WAFC); Delaware North; Live Nation and Ticketmaster, PSM had been seen as the front runner to run Perth's new 60,000 seat stadium when it opens in 2018.

However, earlier this week the Western Australian Government named Stadium Australia Operations, the current operator of Sydney's ANZ Stadium, as the "preferred respondent" to manage the new venue.

Following the Western Australian Government's announcement, PSM issued a statement that explains "we are deeply disappointed with the decision and still strongly believe that PSM is best placed to run Perth Stadium because of our local experience and the skills of our international partners.

“While we have not tendered for our stadium business before we believe PSM clearly demonstrated its skills and experience in managing a major stadium and are disappointed that we have not had an opportunity to discuss this in detail with Government during the submission process.”

In relation to the future management of Domain Stadium, the PSM statement added “despite the State’s decision we are committed to running Domain Stadium at the highest level and hosting AFL, entertainment and other major content at the venue into 2018 and beyond.”

“Our team will remain focused on giving fans great experiences at Domain Stadium as long as the venue continues to host events.”

“We are genuinely concerned about our ability to continue generating vital revenue for WA football into 2018 and beyond as a result of this decision and the impact that will have on the financial future of the sport.”

WAFC Chairman Murray McHenry also provided the following statement: "we are deeply disappointed about this decision and believe that football and its major international partners have the experience, skills and imagination to operate Perth Stadium on behalf of all West Australians.

“We are now deeply concerned about the future financial model for WA football because stadium operations have been critical to the development and success of the game.

“At all times during the development of Perth Stadium the State Government has reassured football that the sport will be no worse off as a result of the new venue. We now need the Government to show how this will be the case in order to safeguard the future of our game.

“We need the State Government to progress discussions on how to preserve football’s financial future as the sport now has no certainty for its future.

“We will immediately start re-assessing how to sustain the ongoing growth and development of football and its various operations like Auskick, Community Football, WAFL, Female Football, indigenous and multicultural programs.

“This decision also presents us with a range of concerns about the potential user agreements for our two AFL clubs at Perth Stadium and whether they will generate sufficient returns to sustain football in Western Australia.”

Images: Perth Stadium Management (top) and an artists' impressions of the new Perth Stadium (below).

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23rd October 2015 - PLANS FOR SURF PARK ON SITE OF DOMAIN STADIUM

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12th May 2015 - FOUR VENUE MANAGERS NAMED ON SHORTLIST TO OPERATE NEW PERTH STADIUM

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