Stadium Update
ME Bank Stadium takes shape for the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 season
The move to our new ‘home ground’ at ME Bank Stadium for the 2010 Investec Bank Super 14 season is exciting news for all our members . . . and one of the big questions on everybody’s lips is “what are the improvements being made to ME Bank Stadium to cater for professional rugby?”
RugbyWA has been working closely with the Town of Vincent (stadium owner), Allia Venue Management (Ground Management company) and NS Projects (RugbyWA's Project Manager) to ensure a range of improvements to make our move to ME Bank Stadium a success for all. These improvements represent an investment by RugbyWA into the venue facilities of more than $2M.
The improvements planned include:
- Major improvements to the lighting at the venue to bring it up to broadcaster quality – including the installation of 2 new lighting towers.
- New stands (temporary structures) being installed parallel to the eastern side line, in the south-eastern corner, and adjacent to the existing southern stand. Members can gain a reference point by noting that the existing permanent grandstand structure is on the western side).
- The 2 new eastern stands will be labelled as the ‘EEE’ stands (blocks EEE1 – EEE7 and blocks EEE8 – EEE14) and will be located immediately behind, and attached to, the existing ‘EE’ stand sometimes referred to as the “GLORY Stand”. This seating will be comprised a combination of category 1 and category 2 seating.
- A new stand in the south eastern ‘corner’ of the stadium which will be labelled as the SE stand (blocks SE1 – SE3) and will be category 3 seating.
- An additional block of seating added to the eastern end of the existing southern stand – block SS1.
- New terracing for standing room members on the hill at the north eastern corner
- The installation for Emirates Western Force matches of 2 new ‘big screens’ – one alongside the “shed” at the north western corner of the stadium, and another at the western end of the southern stand.
- New corporate suites being installed at both north western corner and alongside the grandstand on the south western side.
- Major upgrade works to the existing change-room facilities to ensure both our Emirates Western Force players and our visiting team guests are catered for up to a Super Rugby standard.
Some of these improvements have already been completed – with most underway to some extent. Construction teams are having to work ‘around’ a busy summer concert schedule at ME Bank Stadium including major events for international artists ‘Pearl Jam’ and ‘Fleetwood Mac’. This will mean that some of the works will not be fully completed until well into January 2010 – just in time for our season kick-off against the Brumbies on February 12.
