❓ Mr. Watson questions potential membership fee increases at the new Perth Stadium, citing surveys indicating a possible 50% rise. The Minister responds that clubs are entitled to survey members and the government is committed to 'fans first' with reasonably priced tickets.
AnsweredQoN 347Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
PERTH STADIUM — MEMBERSHIP COSTS
347. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Minister for
Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the recent surveys done
by the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles that clearly indicate that
members and supporters will be hit by increases in membership fees of up to 50 per
cent at the new stadium.
(1) Will these
membership price increases be due to the increased fees charged to the football
clubs at the new stadium?
(2) When the
government says that the new stadium will be ''fans first'', does
that mean that fans will be the first ones hit hard in the hip pocket?
Several members
interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first
time. Carry on, member for Albany.
Mr
P.B. WATSON : Shall I start again, Mr Speaker?
The
SPEAKER : I think carry on. I think it is a long question.
Mr
P.B. WATSON : I continue —
(3) What is the
maximum increase in ordinary members' ticket prices the minister would
be prepared to allow?
347. Mr P.B. WATSON to the Minister for
Sport and Recreation:
I refer to the recent surveys done
by the Fremantle Dockers and the West Coast Eagles that clearly indicate that
members and supporters will be hit by increases in membership fees of up to 50 per
cent at the new stadium.
(1) Will these
membership price increases be due to the increased fees charged to the football
clubs at the new stadium?
(2) When the
government says that the new stadium will be ''fans first'', does
that mean that fans will be the first ones hit hard in the hip pocket?
Several members
interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Members! Member for Wanneroo, I call you to order for the first
time. Carry on, member for Albany.
Mr
P.B. WATSON : Shall I start again, Mr Speaker?
The
SPEAKER : I think carry on. I think it is a long question.
Mr
P.B. WATSON : I continue —
(3) What is the
maximum increase in ordinary members' ticket prices the minister would
be prepared to allow?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(3) The
member is referring to surveys that have been conducted by both the Fremantle
Football Club and the West Coast Eagles. Those clubs are getting ready to
transition into a new 60 000-seat stadium that will provide a fantastic
opportunity for them as football clubs to attract new members and new corporate
support, and they are working through that process. They are perfectly entitled
to do that. They are surveying their members to find out what they would be
willing and prepared to pay. That is not something that the state government
has any influence over. They are doing their due diligence as they prepare to
transition into this new stadium. We are absolutely committed, member, to a fans-first
experience, and there has been a commitment by this government from day dot to
make sure that there will be reasonably priced tickets for general admission
and for mums and dads and their families to be able to walk up and purchase
tickets on the day. What that will be when the stadium is actually opened —
Mr P.B. Watson : Minister, what is a ''reasonable
price''?
Ms M.J. DAVIES : Can I finish answering
the question?
The
SPEAKER : Carry on, minister.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : What that will be when the stadium opens will be up to and
subject to the negotiations that have to be completed by the stadium operator
with the user groups. I would anticipate that, yes, there may be an increase in
prices but, member, they are getting an increase in experience and a far better
outcome from attending a game or a function —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I am talking to you now, member for Albany! I have been pretty
lenient on you. Let the minister finish the answer.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : Really and truly, members opposite are the only people in the
state who are not excited about this stadium. Everywhere I go in this state,
they cannot wait. When the stadium operator has finalised the negotiations, the
operator —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Premier, member for Collie–Preston, member for Albany: I do
not want to hear you.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Just now, somebody is going to be asked to have a rest. Do not be
upset.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I am absolutely positive that the member opposite will be
there on the day the stadium opens, with all his constituents who are
exceptionally excited about this new stadium. We have stated categorically that
this new stadium will be a fans-first experience. We have given the two AFL
clubs that will be the users at the stadium the most amazing opportunity to
grow their memberships and to continue to contribute to grassroots football
right throughout the state. I am very confident that once that operator agreement
is signed and the operator can negotiate with the users, there will be clarity
for the clubs and their members—of which I am one—about what
the membership prices will be, but I expect and continue to expect that that
stadium will offer an experience for everyone—mums, dads and kids—and
we have made that very clear from day one.
(1)–(3) The
member is referring to surveys that have been conducted by both the Fremantle
Football Club and the West Coast Eagles. Those clubs are getting ready to
transition into a new 60 000-seat stadium that will provide a fantastic
opportunity for them as football clubs to attract new members and new corporate
support, and they are working through that process. They are perfectly entitled
to do that. They are surveying their members to find out what they would be
willing and prepared to pay. That is not something that the state government
has any influence over. They are doing their due diligence as they prepare to
transition into this new stadium. We are absolutely committed, member, to a fans-first
experience, and there has been a commitment by this government from day dot to
make sure that there will be reasonably priced tickets for general admission
and for mums and dads and their families to be able to walk up and purchase
tickets on the day. What that will be when the stadium is actually opened —
Mr P.B. Watson : Minister, what is a ''reasonable
price''?
Ms M.J. DAVIES : Can I finish answering
the question?
The
SPEAKER : Carry on, minister.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : What that will be when the stadium opens will be up to and
subject to the negotiations that have to be completed by the stadium operator
with the user groups. I would anticipate that, yes, there may be an increase in
prices but, member, they are getting an increase in experience and a far better
outcome from attending a game or a function —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : I am talking to you now, member for Albany! I have been pretty
lenient on you. Let the minister finish the answer.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : Really and truly, members opposite are the only people in the
state who are not excited about this stadium. Everywhere I go in this state,
they cannot wait. When the stadium operator has finalised the negotiations, the
operator —
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Premier, member for Collie–Preston, member for Albany: I do
not want to hear you.
Several members interjected.
The
SPEAKER : Just now, somebody is going to be asked to have a rest. Do not be
upset.
Ms
M.J. DAVIES : I am absolutely positive that the member opposite will be
there on the day the stadium opens, with all his constituents who are
exceptionally excited about this new stadium. We have stated categorically that
this new stadium will be a fans-first experience. We have given the two AFL
clubs that will be the users at the stadium the most amazing opportunity to
grow their memberships and to continue to contribute to grassroots football
right throughout the state. I am very confident that once that operator agreement
is signed and the operator can negotiate with the users, there will be clarity
for the clubs and their members—of which I am one—about what
the membership prices will be, but I expect and continue to expect that that
stadium will offer an experience for everyone—mums, dads and kids—and
we have made that very clear from day one.
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