The under-construction 60,000-capacity Perth Stadium in Australia faces the prospect of opening the 2018 AFL Aussie rules football season empty as talks between the WA Football Commission (WAFC) and Barnett government stalled.
The WAFC has turned down a proposed compensation deal from the government worth around A$100m (€71.7m/US$76.3m/£61.7m) to hand over its 74-year lease at Domain Stadium.
According to The Age, the WAFC has demanded A$11m a year over 10 years and financial help to relocate its headquarters to the WACA, and with talks currently on hold, potential stadium deals involving West Coast and Fremantle are unlikely to be struck.
WAtoday has said that a deal has been agreed in principle for Perth-based West Coast and Fremantle to play at the new stadium, but uncertainty over the WAFC compensation deal could hamper their chances of opening the 2018 season at the venue.
However, WAFC chief executive Gavin Taylor has said that the Commission is yet to officially accept or reject any deals, and is hopeful and agreement can be struck
“The negotiations are still live… we are working in good faith with the state government to work through the balance of items that are relevant to our negotiations to achieve an outcome for football,” Taylor told Radio 6PR.
“I think football recognises the investment the state has made to this wonderful new asset that is the Perth Stadium. There are separate deals that are been done between the AFL clubs user’s agreement and our future baseline funding model.
“That also relates to our future accommodation and where the footy commission and all of its staff and its programs and activities will be held.”
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