The McGowan Labor Government has concluded negotiations with football to secure Perth Stadium as the home ground for the West Coast Eagles and Fremantle Dockers from the start of the 2018 AFL season.
Premier Mark McGowan made the announcement following approval of key outstanding commercial terms by the State Government and execution of two major agreements.
Under the agreement between the State Government, the Australian Football League (AFL) and the Western Australian Football Commission (WAFC), $10.3 million per annum of football generated income at the stadium will be provided to the WAFC over an initial 10-year period, ensuring Western Australian grassroots football continues to prosper.
The funding is derived from revenue earnt from the Fremantle Dockers, West Coast Eagles and AFL Finals matches, ensuring that football effectively funds football development in WA.
For subsequent 10-year terms the WAFC will continue to benefit from the income generated by football at the stadium, capped at $10.3 million a year adjusted by CPI.
Future funding for the WAFC for subsequent 10-year terms will be subject to a detailed review, commencing in year seven of each 10-year term of the 50-year agreement.
The second agreement made, between the State Government, Stadium operator VenuesLive, the AFL, the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers covers all AFL home and away games and AFL Finals for 50 years from 2018.
As part of the user agreement:
- 50,000 seats will be available for Fremantle Dockers and West Coast Eagles members for their AFL Premiership season home games;
- At least 6,000 tickets will be available to non-AFL club members for every AFL Premiership season game; and
- A total of 1,385 Perth Stadium memberships, for fans who wish to enjoy every event at the stadium, will be sold by VenuesLive.
Under the arrangement, the State Government has secured 1,000 tickets for tourism packages to help boost the tourism economy in WA.
The two clubs will now move quickly to transition existing members and accommodate new members at Perth Stadium in time for the start of the season.
Construction of Perth Stadium is more than 97 per cent complete and scheduled to open for the free Community Open Day on January 21, 2018.