Government opts for $160m rectangular Members Equity Stadium

The State Government has committed to rebuild Members Equity Stadium as a rectangular dedicated rugby-soccer venue in a staged $160 million revamp.

But work 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 government will have.

The first step in the project that will take at least two years to complete will be to demolish the scaffold stand on the eastern side of the ground and replace it 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 14 season.

The government has based its plan on Skilled Park on the Gold Coast that opened in March last year and holds 27,400 spectators, has 100 open corporate boxes, 25 closed corporate suites and two 450 seat function rooms.

Short-term $2m facelift

Meanwhile the stadium will get a more immediate $2 million facelift as the home of the Western Force.

The Force will play its Super 14 games at MES from next season after leaving Subiaco Oval where crowds have fallen drastically because of appalling viewing conditions.

The club secured the $2 million, interest free loan from the State Government this week for upgraded lighting, more corporate facilities and extra general seating.

It will lift stadium capacity from 18,156 to more than 20,500. Force membership, including corporates and season ticket holders was 17,000 last season.

Upgraded lighting, particularly in the north west and south west corners on the grandstand side, is expected to cost between $300,000-$800,000.

The lighting is needed for the ``super slo-mo'' cameras used by video referees adjudicating on contentious tries.

It is not yet known what is needed but work will start next month when S14 broadcaster Fox Sports is in Perth for the Wallabies Test against South Africa at Subiaco Oval.

The stadium currently has 12 large suites catering for 240 people and seats another 240 in small open boxes.

The Force will build temporary suites at the northern end, either side of ``The Shed'' to cater for a further 180 corporate patrons.

A corporate marquee for match day functions will hold another 500 who will have seats in the eastern stand.

The final part of the make-over will be an extra 900 seats in the south east and north west corners.
The main grandstand will hold only corporate members and ``The Shed'' will remain a standing only terrace stand.

The Force has said in the past that it believes the State Government should honour a $25 million pledge to help upgrade the stadium.

The former Labor government promised the money when the Perth bid for the Super 14 side was being prepared.

A $30,000 upgrade of some player facilities was carried out by the Town of Vincent for the Glory games with Wolverhampton Wanderers and Fulham.

The council estimates the stadium could be upgraded for $60-$70 million.