Upgrade Parramatta Stadium Alliance/Lobbying

[TonyAnstee]

Wanderers and Eels join forces to fight for better facilities at Parramatta Stadium    

 

By 

Callan Lawrence

 

May 21, 2013, 4:07 p.m

 

 

 

The Wanderers and Eels might be competitors for the hearts and minds of fans but they share a common cause in campaigning for better facilities at Parramatta Stadium. 

 

Football Federation of Australia chief David Gallop said last week that the Wanderers would soon outgrow the near-30-year-old stadium. 

 

The club’s executive chairman, Lyall Gorman, then reiterated the sentiment on Friday, saying the club’s success in its inaugural season had put tremendous pressure on the ageing stadium.

 

‘‘We don’t take it for granted but as long we continue to represent the region with pride and passion, we expect that it will be very hard to get tickets at the ground soon,’’ he said.

 

‘‘I believe it’s possible this sports club can become one of the biggest sports clubs of any code anywhere in Australia.’’

 

But the club would need a world-class home ground to make that happen, Mr Gorman said.

 

The stadium’s capacity needed to at least double to 40,000 seats, he said, and more undercover areas were needed as well as better corporate facilities and a dinning suit. 

 

A world-class sports stadium would bring world-class opportunities for the region, Mr Gorman insisted.

 

‘‘We’re talking to key stakeholders about that . . . and we’re trying to make them aware of the value it could bring to western Sydney,’’ he said. 

 

‘‘We can create an identity for western Sydney and take that identity on the national and international stages.

 

‘‘The Asian Championships will bring China, Japan and Korean into our backyard and we want to showcase our region.

 

‘‘That could have an exponential effect on our economy.’’

 

Mr Gallop said Parramatta Council had estimated the Wanderer’s boost to the local economy was $17 million last season, meaning businesses will be praying the club stays.

 

But if the club out-grows Parramatta Stadium before there are signs of funding for upgrades, it will be forced to move to an alternative ground, such as ANZ Stadium, Mr Gorman said.

 

â–  Parramatta Eels chief executive said his club had been campaigning behind the scenes for an upgrade to the state-owned stadium for years.

 

■ “The new members of the board, chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tom Issa, Lawrence Shepherd and Peter Serrao, have campaigned for an upgrade of facilities and increased seating for Parramatta Stadium, noting that any redevelopment must be extremely significant,’’ he said.

 

â–  Mr Edwards said the club would be better positioned to lobby state and federal governments for funding now that a new board was in place.

 

â–  With another 1 million people expected to live in western Sydney within 20 years, the Wanderers and Eels will be well placed to capitalise on a massive fan base if they can accommodate it.

 

â–  Parramatta Council and the Eels have partnered to advocate for a $30 million high performance and community recreation centre which is proposed to adjoin the training field at the rear of Parramatta Stadium and adjacent to Parramatta Pool.

 

â–  State MP for Parramatta Geoff Lee said he had spoken to Minister for Sport Graham Annesley, and the Venues NSW authority about funding for the stadium.

 

â–  But there was little money to for it at this stage, he said.

 

â–  Federal MP Julie Owens said no one had approached her as yet about funding for the stadium.

 

â–  Ms Owens said she would do whatever she could to promote the cause if either club presented her with a proposal.

[Balkanite]

Wanderers and Eels join forces to fight for better facilities at Parramatta Stadium

 

By

Callan Lawrence

 

May 21, 2013, 4:07 p.m

 

 

 

The Wanderers and Eels might be competitors for the hearts and minds of fans but they share a common cause in campaigning for better facilities at Parramatta Stadium.

 

Football Federation of Australia chief David Gallop said last week that the Wanderers would soon outgrow the near-30-year-old stadium.

 

The club’s executive chairman, Lyall Gorman, then reiterated the sentiment on Friday, saying the club’s success in its inaugural season had put tremendous pressure on the ageing stadium.

 

‘‘We don’t take it for granted but as long we continue to represent the region with pride and passion, we expect that it will be very hard to get tickets at the ground soon,’’ he said.

 

‘‘I believe it’s possible this sports club can become one of the biggest sports clubs of any code anywhere in Australia.’’

 

But the club would need a world-class home ground to make that happen, Mr Gorman said.

 

The stadium’s capacity needed to at least double to 40,000 seats, he said, and more undercover areas were needed as well as better corporate facilities and a dinning suit.

 

A world-class sports stadium would bring world-class opportunities for the region, Mr Gorman insisted.

 

‘‘We’re talking to key stakeholders about that . . . and we’re trying to make them aware of the value it could bring to western Sydney,’’ he said.

 

‘‘We can create an identity for western Sydney and take that identity on the national and international stages.

 

‘‘The Asian Championships will bring China, Japan and Korean into our backyard and we want to showcase our region.

 

‘‘That could have an exponential effect on our economy.’’

 

Mr Gallop said Parramatta Council had estimated the Wanderer’s boost to the local economy was $17 million last season, meaning businesses will be praying the club stays.

 

But if the club out-grows Parramatta Stadium before there are signs of funding for upgrades, it will be forced to move to an alternative ground, such as ANZ Stadium, Mr Gorman said.

 

â–  Parramatta Eels chief executive said his club had been campaigning behind the scenes for an upgrade to the state-owned stadium for years.

 

■ “The new members of the board, chairman Steve Sharp, deputy chairman Tom Issa, Lawrence Shepherd and Peter Serrao, have campaigned for an upgrade of facilities and increased seating for Parramatta Stadium, noting that any redevelopment must be extremely significant,’’ he said.

 

â–  Mr Edwards said the club would be better positioned to lobby state and federal governments for funding now that a new board was in place.

 

â–  With another 1 million people expected to live in western Sydney within 20 years, the Wanderers and Eels will be well placed to capitalise on a massive fan base if they can accommodate it.

 

â–  Parramatta Council and the Eels have partnered to advocate for a $30 million high performance and community recreation centre which is proposed to adjoin the training field at the rear of Parramatta Stadium and adjacent to Parramatta Pool.

 

â–  State MP for Parramatta Geoff Lee said he had spoken to Minister for Sport Graham Annesley, and the Venues NSW authority about funding for the stadium.

 

â–  But there was little money to for it at this stage, he said.

 

â–  Federal MP Julie Owens said no one had approached her as yet about funding for the stadium.

 

â–  Ms Owens said she would do whatever she could to promote the cause if either club presented her with a proposal.

No Proposal has been put forward to Ms Owens office? Mr Gallop, get onto it!

 

With labor and liberal both trying to secure seats in Western Sydney, putting them against each other would be interesting!

[mack]

Owens is just the member for Parramatta, a backbencher and not a minister. Plus she's likely going to get dumped out on her arse at the election.

[BruceL]

I love the idea of a Wandering season. Playing games across all of the West's venues.

Definitely need to transform the home end to fold up seats so we stop standing on the seats.

We should push for the rail seats. They can all be locked upright when not needed for sitting.

 

[BruceL]

.

[Wanderboy]

 

I love the idea of a Wandering season. Playing games across all of the West's venues.

Definitely need to transform the home end to fold up seats so we stop standing on the seats.

We should push for the rail seats. They can all be locked upright when not needed for sitting.

 

They would be perfect......at least for the northern end. Edited May 22, 2013 by Wanderboy

[wendybr]

hi folks [apologies for the long post],

 

I'm 100% supportive of Turner's thread to get things moving and get Parramatta the stadium it deserves. We need to send communications to government decision-makers to show them the community support this has. I've drafted a pro forma letter that anyone who is supportive can easily send to the Premier, Barry O'Farrell and the Minister for Sport, Graham Annesley. Feel free to send letters or email to any other 'decision-maker' you can think of. I'll post up some email addresses later, this is just the start. Amend it as you like:

 

<date>

 

<addressee>

 

<salutation>

 

Re: upgrade Parramatta Stadium

 

I write to you concerning the urgent need for an upgrade to Parramatta Stadium. The needs of the western Sydney community have outgrown the football ground built in the first half of the 1980s. At the same time Parramatta has grown tremendously, in all respects including demography, as the capital of the western Sydney region.

 

I would like to see the government commit to a stadium in Parramatta befitting the events that will take place there and community demand. This means a modern stadium with a capacity of 35-40,000+ and vastly improved corporate and other facilities.

 

Parramatta Stadium has year-round tenants from major football codes, the Eels of the NRL and the Wanderers from the A-league. Both of these clubs could satisfactorily draw regular crowds of this magnitude. A redeveloped Parramatta Stadium could also play host to games from other NRL clubs.

 

Transferring more games from either of the Stadium’s current tenants to Homebush [stadium Australia] is not on the cards. The chairman of the Wanderers, Mr. Lyall Gorman, has committed to not taking A-league games to Homebush in the face of very strong supporter opposition to such a move. The scenario is similar at the Parramatta Eels with fans voicing strong opposition to playing at Homebush. This was a key factor in the recent elections to the Parramatta Leagues Club and may indeed play a larger role in local and state politics in future.

 

Parramatta Stadium has excellent transport links and these could be upgraded still further. It is within easy walking distance of a major train station. Different rail lines converge on Parramatta including the Western (Penrith), Richmond and Cumberland lines. Numerous bus routes reach Parramatta including the T-ways from Liverpool, Fairfield and Rouse Hill. There are also buses from the north-west and light rail is proposed to go very close to the ground. The Rivercat along Parramatta river provides one further option. Parking issues may need to be resolved including new carparks near the city centre and stadium yet this could be done consistently with the non-gameday needs of the city.

 

Related to these links is the wonderful game-day atmosphere provided by Church St and unmatched by any of the other proponents for stadia in western Sydney. The mutual boost that major events at Parramatta Stadium and local business provide for each other is highly significant. It has recently been reported that the night-time business of Parramatta CBD is among the fastest-growing in NSW.

 

Parramatta Park is a great community resource and the open space it provides is highly-valued by the community. The redevelopment of the stadium can be done consistently with preserving and promoting this open space. It can also be done consistently with heritage concerns including indigenous history.

 

yours,

< … >

 

Great idea Dochers. Your excellent letter made easy for me to compose a similar letter to O'Farrell and Annesley...will be posted tomorrow!! There is no point in simply bemoaning the sad likelihood that the Wanderers will outgrow Parra Stadium in a few years.... 

[ManfredSchaefer]

Not sure of the who's and the whats but it may be useful to whoever is pushing the Parra upgrade to get in contact with the likes of ex-Liberal MHR Ross Cameron (a Parra based Liberal old hand who would be good to network into the current Opposition) and possibly the office of John Alexander (he's the local member for Bennelong which includes part of the WSW catchment area plus must be a strong candidate to become sports minister if the ALP get knocked out). My biggest concern is that if the Coalition get in expect money to go more towards the north and eastern suburbs (don't be surprised if Abbott flicks more money towards Brookvale).

[Burztur]

Can't you cram more seats in with rail seats anyway? i.e. the stadium can get 20k to 21-22k with a seat upgrade alone? then add a top tier for the ends --> 28k? 

 

good for the short term.

[westofcentre]

Frank Lowy is the man needed to lobby this. He manages to get the FFA funding on a couple of crucial occasions. I hope he is working on this behind the scenes (hope being the operative word!)

[BeefB]

 

Just a mockup of upgraded Parramatta Stadium (adding a second tier to the Northern and Southern stands):

Amazing job!!! Although that needs to be a single terrace of that size at the north end of parra

 

South end can be terrace and stand, like in the picture.

and the new giant video screen could be moved just behind the corner terrace (in between western & southern stands!)

[BeefB]

Iv'e said it before and I'll say it again...

Why not organise a 'Football is Unity' senate ticket at the upcoming federal election?

Politics is a (rotten) game, but played properly you can get results.

It is likely that the next senate will be hung (no, not hung like Heskey... rather balance of power hung).

Craig Foster could lead the charge here in NSW.

All political parties will BEND OVER BACKWARDS to get all the preferences that they can.

Although unlikely, picking up one of six seats on offer in NSW would deliver the goods for football and then some.

You know it makes sense!

You had me until you mentioned Craig Foster

 

 

 

Just a mockup of upgraded Parramatta Stadium (adding a second tier to the Northern and Southern stands):

Amazing job!!! Although that needs to be a single terrace of that size at the north end of parra

 

South end can be terrace and stand, like in the picture.

and the new giant video screen could be moved just behind the corner terrace (in between western & southern stands!)

Yep, should have read further on first !!

[Michael]

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

[PAL81]

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

Eels have 154k likes????

Assuming 3/4 of those numbers are just randoms who like clicking the "like" button on every post they see on FB, where the hell are the remaining eels supporters on game day??? they would have already had a brand spanking new stadium built for them if even 1/4 of that number rocked up consistently to the existing venue.

[westofcentre]

 

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

Eels have 154k likes????

Assuming 3/4 of those numbers are just randoms who like clicking the "like" button on every post they see on FB, where the hell are the remaining eels supporters on game day??? they would have already had a brand spanking new stadium built for them if even 1/4 of that number rocked up consistently to the existing venue.

 

 

No thats the number of teeth. On average each Eels fan has 5 teeth so thats about 30,000 fans. 

[PAL81]

 

 

 

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

Eels have 154k likes????

Assuming 3/4 of those numbers are just randoms who like clicking the "like" button on every post they see on FB, where the hell are the remaining eels supporters on game day??? they would have already had a brand spanking new stadium built for them if even 1/4 of that number rocked up consistently to the existing venue.

 

No thats the number of teeth. On average each Eels fan has 5 teeth so thats about 30,000 fans.

Of course!!!! How could I be so naive...

[Wanderboy]

 

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

Eels have 154k likes????

Assuming 3/4 of those numbers are just randoms who like clicking the "like" button on every post they see on FB, where the hell are the remaining eels supporters on game day??? they would have already had a brand spanking new stadium built for them if even 1/4 of that number rocked up consistently to the existing venue.

Mate, they've come second last and last in the past two seasons, and still have a healthy home ground average.

They will be there in numbers, don't you worry, if they even look like becoming half successful.

Last year they got 45000 to Hindmarsh's farewell game in the last round, even though they were coming last.

Don't discount their support.

[HungHuynh]

 

 

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

Eels have 154k likes???? Assuming 3/4 of those numbers are just randoms who like clicking the "like" button on every post they see on FB, where the hell are the remaining eels supporters on game day??? they would have already had a brand spanking new stadium built for them if even 1/4 of that number rocked up consistently to the existing venue.

Mate, they've come second last and last in the past two seasons, and still have a healthy home ground average.They will be there in numbers, don't you worry, if they even look like becoming half successful.Last year they got 45000 to Hindmarsh's farewell game in the last round, even though they were coming last.Don't discount their support.

It's not membership that us Sydneysider have problem with. It's the actual fact that our culture here is all about watching our sport everywhere else other than at the venue.

 

Our support for Wanderers is to watch the game live at the venue. Nothing beats braving the weather, supporting our club however we like including singing, chanting, dancing in unison with 5000 others like fans.

[Wanderboy]

 

 

 

I think everyone agrees with upgrading parramatta stadium, both rugby and football fans/clubs, as well as the head of each sports. Though if we want to see some progress on the idea we have to really push the government. Why don't we start a petition to get some names and numbers to our cause. Wanderers have 30k like on facebook, Eels have 154k, RBB have 9k. If the government sees this amount of support for a upgraded stadium they will act.

Eels have 154k likes???? Assuming 3/4 of those numbers are just randoms who like clicking the "like" button on every post they see on FB, where the hell are the remaining eels supporters on game day??? they would have already had a brand spanking new stadium built for them if even 1/4 of that number rocked up consistently to the existing venue.

 

Mate, they've come second last and last in the past two seasons, and still have a healthy home ground average.They will be there in numbers, don't you worry, if they even look like becoming half successful.Last year they got 45000 to Hindmarsh's farewell game in the last round, even though they were coming last.Don't discount their support.

 

It's not membership that us Sydneysider have problem with. It's the actual fact that our culture here is all about watching our sport everywhere else other than at the venue.

 

Our support for Wanderers is to watch the game live at the venue. Nothing beats braving the weather, supporting our club however we like including singing, chanting, dancing in unison with 5000 others like fans.

Yes, I understand that. Wanderers haven't been tested with a wooden spoon season yet though.

I suspect that we would see a drop off in support as well, although I'd argue that the Wanderers games are more of an event than an Eels game.

[PAL81]

Yes, I understand that. Wanderers haven't been tested with a wooden spoon season yet though.

I suspect that we would see a drop off in support as well, although I'd argue that the Wanderers games are more of an event than an Eels game.

 

Agree. Your second point is the key point of difference here. The game day experience at a wanderers game at the moment, by far outdoes that of any nrl game. I'd even be game enough to say that it's probably responsible for the majority of interest being shown in the club at the moment (lets be honest, in terms of actual football, barring a few good games, most of them were average at best)

 

Notwithstanding, i'd also be curious to see how many actually drop off once we do experience a bad dip in form like the eels have in recent years. Althugh its still poor form on the eels supporter base behalf . For a club so well established, i wouldve expected them to be up there with the likes of some of the big AFL clubs in terms of ticketed memebers by now (regardless of the lack of silverware since the 80's). 

 

Anyways, heres hoping both clubs have a cracking current/next season so we can push for this freakn upgrade already (or build a new venue in blacktown).

[TonyAnstee]

Wanderers and Eels unite for stadium revamp pushAdrian Proszenko Strange bedfellows: the Western Sydney Wanderers and Parramatta Eels have teamed up in a bid to get Parramatta Stadium a much-needed upgrade. Parramatta and the Western Sydney Wanderers might be cross-code rivals, but they have joined forces in their campaign for a better stadium.Eels officials have been in talks with their Wanderers counterparts about their future venue needs, with a revamp of Parramatta Stadium or the construction of a new facility in the region their preference. The teams are in heated competition for fans, members and sponsors, but they have found common ground in their desire to provide them with the best possible amenities. Both have ambitions of building membership bases that far outstrip the 20,000-seat capacity of their current premises.Eels chief executive Ken Edwards, who has extensive experience in stadiums strategy as the former chief executive of ANZ Stadium, confirmed he was in talks with Wanderers officials. ''We've had some discussions with the Wanderers around what their plans and what our plans are,'' Edwards said. ''Our public position is that Parramatta is our home and where we always want to be. At the end of 2012 we had 12,000 members and now we have 16,000 members. Our market research, coupled with the work we've done with the NRL, tells us we should have up to 40,000 members by 2017.''That obviously brings into sharp focus our stadium issues in terms of capacity and the facilities that go with it. Parramatta Stadium was built in the '80s, and pretty much nothing has happened to it since then. In the meantime, there have obviously been redevelopments at ANZ Stadium and Allianz Stadium, meaning that, as a club, unless there are upgrades at Parramatta Stadium we are at a significant financial disadvantage and our members aren't getting the sorts of facilities other members are getting. Anything that we and the Wanderers can do to get a better facility at Parramatta Stadium - or a new facility somewhere in Parramatta - is a good thing.''Advertisement Parramatta have managed to grow their membership base during difficult times on the field - they ''won'' the wooden spoon last year - while attendances for home matches remain fairly stable. However, the Wanderers became the hottest ticket in town during their fabled run to the A-League grand final. Their supporter group, the Red and Black Bloc, grew exponentially throughout the club's debut season, and Football Federation Australia boss David Gallop is on record as calling for an upgrade of Parramatta Stadium ''based on the phenomenal success of the Wanderers in year one which has seen three sold-out matches''.The NSW government has outlined a stadium consolidation strategy, with ARL Commission boss David Smith confirming there will be a move towards playing matches in two or three larger venues in future. The Eels also plan to create a centre of excellence to replace their aged training facilities.Asked if they could share a high-performance unit with the Wanderers, Edwards said: ''It's very difficult to share high-performance facilities, there aren't too many examples that we're aware of where that works. Our rugby league high-performance training requirements are very different to those of football. That's not to say it couldn't work … While have been having some informal discussions with the Wanderers we haven't done anything formal with them. We're still pursuing our own stand-alone high-performance community centre.''Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/l...l#ixzz2U3ckWcS

[PAL81]

Yer we need to have our own training facilitates. Can't be sharing that with another club, especially where the codes are different.

[FairPlay]

Safe seating/rail seats FTW! Its a no brainer!!! A lot safer as ppl will be stopped from falling fwd or back into the other aisle.

[Davo]

 

Safe seating/rail seats FTW! Its a no brainer!!! A lot safer as ppl will be stopped from falling fwd or back into the other aisle.

 

And considering it costs the stadium money to constantly replace broken seats it'd probably work out cheaper to replace them all with something like rail seats and hardly ever have to replace them.

[Wanderboy]

 

Yes, I understand that. Wanderers haven't been tested with a wooden spoon season yet though.

I suspect that we would see a drop off in support as well, although I'd argue that the Wanderers games are more of an event than an Eels game.

 

Agree. Your second point is the key point of difference here. The game day experience at a wanderers game at the moment, by far outdoes that of any nrl game. I'd even be game enough to say that it's probably responsible for the majority of interest being shown in the club at the moment (lets be honest, in terms of actual football, barring a few good games, most of them were average at best)

 

Notwithstanding, i'd also be curious to see how many actually drop off once we do experience a bad dip in form like the eels have in recent years. Althugh its still poor form on the eels supporter base behalf . For a club so well established, i wouldve expected them to be up there with the likes of some of the big AFL clubs in terms of ticketed memebers by now (regardless of the lack of silverware since the 80's). 

 

Anyways, heres hoping both clubs have a cracking current/next season so we can push for this freakn upgrade already (or build a new venue in blacktown).

In NRL terms, the Eels aren't doing too badly crowd wise, considering their lack of success.

Memberships are up this season (believe it or not!), and they are still playing like ****.

There aren't many NRL clubs that can match it with the bigger AFL clubs crowd wise atm - (Bulldogs and South's maybe), but the Eels certainly could be up there with those two if they start winning.

It'll happen. But when? **** knows.

 

Safe seating/rail seats FTW! Its a no brainer!!! A lot safer as ppl will be stopped from falling fwd or back into the other aisle.

Is this country smart enough to do that though? I think not.

[FairPlay]

Is this country smart enough to do that though? I think not.

 

Your probably right... They usually wait for a kid to be run over @ a high traffic school crossing before they put in traffic lights or better yet build a bridge (speaking from experience as this happened @ my old high school), so they will probably wait for somebody to break their neck in an active area before they change the seats to a safer active area option.

[dochers]

Absolutely right here, Manfred, we need to take an all-of-the-above strategy when it comes to lobbying for a Parramatta Stadium upgrade, Libs/Lab/Indeps, and State/Federal/Local.

 

Not sure of the who's and the whats but it may be useful to whoever is pushing the Parra upgrade to get in contact with the likes of ex-Liberal MHR Ross Cameron (a Parra based Liberal old hand who would be good to network into the current Opposition) and possibly the office of John Alexander (he's the local member for Bennelong which includes part of the WSW catchment area plus must be a strong candidate to become sports minister if the ALP get knocked out). My biggest concern is that if the Coalition get in expect money to go more towards the north and eastern suburbs (don't be surprised if Abbott flicks more money towards Brookvale).

[dochers]

Yeah I'd love to see rail seats, fair call for the short term.

B

ut we know the decision for a longer-term upgrade (40k+) will be made soon (I've tried unsuccessfully to find out what exactly is their timeframe) and we need to be the one. Other possible sites are lobbying hard and if we can't win it for WSW at Parramatta then we will end up with an inferior outcome. No more marching & singing up and down Church St...

 

Can't you cram more seats in with rail seats anyway? i.e. the stadium can get 20k to 21-22k with a seat upgrade alone? then add a top tier for the ends --> 28k? 

 

good for the short term.

 

So get a-writing people.

[krisp]

 

Safe seating/rail seats FTW! Its a no brainer!!! A lot safer as ppl will be stopped from falling fwd or back into the other aisle.

 

And considering it costs the stadium money to constantly replace broken seats it'd probably work out cheaper to replace them all with something like rail seats and hardly ever have to replace them.

im going to be a negative bastard and say that its our fault that seats get broken, not the stadiums. we could all just stand on the concrete instead of the seats (wouldn't that be safer?), but we choose the seats. but yes, rail seats would be ideal!

[Sobkowski]

Can't you cram more seats in with rail seats anyway? i.e. the stadium can get 20k to 21-22k with a seat upgrade alone? then add a top tier for the ends --> 28k?

 

good for the short term.

With safe-standing rail seats, the capacity for an area compared with a regular seated area can be doubled.

 

Check out the link for other info on rail seats

 

http://www.safestandingroadshow.co.uk/the-case-for-safe-standing/case-for-3