WA opts for rectangular Members Equity Stadium

The Western Australian Government has committed to rebuild Members Equity Stadium as a dedicated rectangular venue in a staged $160 million upgrade.

However, work on the stadium will not start for at least another year while detailed plans are drawn up and negotiations are held with the Town of Vincent over the level of control the WA Government will have.

The first step in the project will see the demolition of the scaffold stand on the eastern side of the ground and its replacement with a new state-of-the-art facility. Change rooms and player facilities will be built into the new eastern stand with a large drive through undercroft for team buses.

The second stage will be to replace the current grandstand with the goal ends linked under one roof in the final stage.

Most of the construction work will take place out of the Super Rugby season.

The Western Australian Government is believed to be aiming for a final stadium that will closely resemble the 27,000 capacity Skilled Park on the Gold Coast.

In the short term, the stadium will get a $2 million facelift to accommodate the arrival of the Western Force Super Rugby franchise in 2010.

The $2 million, an interest free loan from the State Government, will pay for upgraded lighting, corporate facilities and extra general seating that will raise stadium capacity from 18,156 to more than 20,500.

The timing of the rebuilding has raised concerns that Perth could miss out on staging any games if Australia's bid to host the FIFA World Cup is successful as Football Federation Australia has previously said it will make a decision on potential World Cup venues by the end of this year. 

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