Olympic Park Redevelopment Future

[Beaussie]

Looks like the redevelopment of Olympic Park for the Melbourne Storm and Victory is on hold. Should the Victory sign on with Telstra Dome, one would assume that without the Victory involved, the project appears doomed. Bad news for the Storm and Rugby League in Victoria it seems.

How do you fit more than 30,000 fans into a 20,000 capacity stadium?
Royce Millar and Michael Lynch
January 13, 2007
http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthrea ... 776&page=5

PLANNING for Melbourne's proposed new rectangular sports stadium is in disarray, with the State Government in a quandary over seating capacity, budget blow-outs and threats of compensation claims by rival venue Telstra Dome.

Well-placed sources have confirmed that the new home for A-League soccer club Melbourne Victory and National Rugby League side Melbourne Storm was close to being scrapped by the Government late last year and does not have the support of senior cabinet members.

Construction giant Grocon yesterday said it believed a Government review of the size and budget of the multimillion-dollar project had put it on hold.

In April, Premier Steve Bracks revealed a scheme by Cox Architects to build a 20,000-seat, $190 million stadium at Edwin Flack field, next to Olympic Park. Builders Grocon, Baulderstone Hornibrook, Abi Group and Leighton were invited to bid.

But now the Government is under intense pressure to increase capacity because of Victory's success and popularity. The club has dominated the A-League and has attracted average crowds of 30,000 in the seven matches it has played at Telstra Dome since quitting the smaller Olympic Park earlier this season.

This week the Government wrote to the bidders flagging an increase in the stadium size and budget.

In the letter, a Major Projects Victoria officer said the Government was "still finalising the overall capacity" that would "allow the final funding arrangements to be finalised". Under the tender deal, a contract was to be let by March 1 and construction finished in 2009. But the letter acknowledges there will be a "delay" in moving to the next stage of the tender process.

Victory has told the Government that a 20,000-seat stadium would be obsolete before it was built, and an embarrassment.

It has not yet signed a deal with the Government to make the new stadium its home and is being hotly courted by Telstra Dome.

The team will play its home matches at Telstra Dome until the end of the 2008-09 season.

Despite the Government brief seeking bids on a stadium with a capacity of 20,000, at least two of the builders have proposed 30,000-seat schemes.

Victory is believed to want a minimum capacity of at least 30,000, which would allow it to play most games at the new venue but move blockbusters to the larger Telstra Dome.

Worsening the predicament is a deal the Government struck with Telstra Dome during the early planning for the Docklands venue. Telstra Dome can seek compensation if the Government opens a stadium of 25,000 or more seats within 10 years of its opening in 2000.

The new stadium's future is looking increasingly uncertain, with senior Government, sporting and building industry sources agreeing that Spring Street is "in a pickle".

"They've painted themselves into a fine old corner," one development source said.

A Government insider confirmed that a seating capacity of 27,750 could be accommodated in the existing Cox design. But greater size would require a total redesign and create a huge cost blow-out.

The project, believed to have been initially costed at $80 million and last year officially at $190 million, is now believed to be edging towards $250 million.

Sources say bureaucrats working on the project have gone back to the Government, seeking more money to cover an expansion.

"Obviously, if we build more seats more money will be required, yes," a senior Government source said.

Without Victory, which would play a minimum of 10 home A-League matches a season plus high-profile Asian Champions League matches, the project looks doomed.

Government, building industry and sporting sources agree it is highly unlikely the Government would spend so much money for a stadium for rugby league games attracting an average crowd of about 10,500.

Grocon spokeswoman Jane Wilson the company looked forward to the Government resolving its capacity and financial issues soon.

Government spokesman Licardo Prince said Melbourne Victory's success had affected crowd numbers. He said the Government was discussing capacity issues with tenderers but remained committed to a 20,000-seat stadium, with scope to expand to 25,000.

Telstra Dome chief Ian Collins declined to comment.

Some sports industry observers believe the simplest solution would be to spend a much smaller sum refurbishing Olympic Park for Melbourne Storm and other tenants. Soccer could be catered for through the construction of a 40,000-plus stadium elsewhere that could also host Socceroo matches against high-profile opponents.

[Willis 21]

Bad news how?

I can see the capacity for the new stadium increasing to 30,000.

But now the Government is under intense pressure to increase capacity because of Victory's success and popularity. The club has dominated the A-League and has attracted average crowds of 30,000 in the seven matches it has played at Telstra Dome since quitting the smaller Olympic Park earlier this season.

This week the Government wrote to the bidders flagging an increase in the stadium size and budget.

So the project is on hold whilst they determine whether to build a bigger stadium?

[Beaussie]

Bad news how?

I can see the capacity for the new stadium increasing to 30,000.

Clearly you've not thought about these important factors.

Victory has told the Government that a 20,000-seat stadium would be obsolete before it was built, and an embarrassment.

It has not yet signed a deal with the Government to make the new stadium its home and is being hotly courted by Telstra Dome.

The team will play its home matches at Telstra Dome until the end of the 2008-09 season.

Victory is believed to want a minimum capacity of at least 30,000, which would allow it to play most games at the new venue but move blockbusters to the larger Telstra Dome.

Worsening the predicament is a deal the Government struck with Telstra Dome during the early planning for the Docklands venue. Telstra Dome can seek compensation if the Government opens a stadium of 25,000 or more seats within 10 years of its opening in 2000.

The new stadium's future is looking increasingly uncertain

If Melbourne Victory sign on with Telstra Dome for all home games, well you don't need to be a rocket scientist to appreciate the redevelopment of Olympic Park is doomed. Willis you obviously seem to have overlooked the following.

Government, building industry and sporting sources agree it is highly unlikely the Government would spend so much money for a stadium for rugby league games attracting an average crowd of about 10,500.

[Willis 21]

I haven't overlooked anything...

Typically of the articles you post, the author tries to have a bet each way,yet you only read what you want to read..

Also, its all opinion, and they haven't even quoted any "anonymous spokesman" that always seem to suck you in...

The 10 year agreement on Telstra Dome ends in 2010.. if they decide to build a bigger stadium, I'm sure that the Storm and Victory won't mind waiting another year ( especially as Telstra Dome seems so keen to acquire the Victory in the meantime and they will secure themselves a sweet deal..)

In the long term however, the Victory will want to have a proper rectangle stadium to play out of... I'm sure that they are not going to put that in jeopardy by signing a long term contract with the T Dome...

Also, Melbourne needs a proper rectangle stadium to attract more quality RL SOO and Tests and Wallaby games ( and perhaps even a Super 14 team..).

Its coming, its only a matter whether its a 25,000 stadium in 2009 ( with the prospect of being upgraded later) or

30 to 35,000 stadium in 2010...

Next!! :D

[Beaussie]

Interesting that the new stadium if it ever gets off the ground could also be hosting AFL games. Would it therefore be similar to Telstra Stadium in Sydney and not really rectangular, particularly at the goal ends?

Govt, Victory dispute delays new stadium
Saturday January 27, 9:44 AM
http://au.sports.yahoo.com/070126/2/12k9m.html

Melbourne's new $190 million rugby league and soccer stadium will be delayed because of a dispute between the state government and Melbourne Victory soccer club.

The government wants to go ahead with its planned 20,000 seat stadium, News Limited newspapers says.

NRL team Melbourne Storm and the A-League's Victory will be the key tenants at Edwin Flack Field.

It will be built on the Olympic Park site in central Melbourne.

But AFL and rugby union could also field games there.

Victory now wants a bigger stadium, saying that the seating capacity would be small.

It was attracting crowds up to 30,000.

The government is now considering expanding the stadium's seating capacity.

Storm chief executive Brian Waldron said he was confident the stadium would go ahead soon.

"It needs to be financially viable, and a capacity to include up to 27,500 without a major impact on the cost would be a fantastic size," Mr Waldron said.

"Anything above that is what Telstra Dome is for. There is no point in having two large multi-purpose stadiums side by side."

Victory says it was in negotiations with the Olympic Park Trust.

Major Projects Minister Theo Theophanous said a decision would be made soon.