AusLeisure

Up to 10,000 seats - one-sixth of the capacity of the new Perth Stadium - should be put aside for general admission under a plan to attract more visitors Western Australia.

Tourism Council of Western Australia (TCWA) Chief Executive Evan Hall has suggested that attracting visiting out-of-state sports fans to AFL fixtures at the new Perth Stadium when it opens at the start of the 2018 AFL season could bring a large numbers of extra visitors to the State each year.

Hall explains that 50,000 sports spectators already visit Western Australia each year, adding more than $60 million to the Western Australian economy and that extra general admission seats could net a further $20 million.

According to a news.com report, the TCWA will commission an economic analysis to make clear the benefits of general admission seats to the new Stadium.

Seven years ago a Western Australian Government study also recommended 10,000 general admission seats not linked to sport governing bodies, clubs and members.

However, current modelling for the 60,000-seat venue apparently allows just 5,000 general admission seats.

Hall told news.com that visitors who come to Perth for sport normally spend about four days exploring the city, stating "we want to make sure there are enough seats allocated for people who want to come to the game, but are not necessarily members of the AFL clubs.

“We’d like 10,000 general admission seats available on the open market – not one controlled retailer ... (where) a number of wholesalers could buy, say, 100 tickets and say to Virgin or Qantas, ‘Let’s put together a deal and go to hotels in Perth and offer a cheap package to Perth’.”

Hall has previously stated that sporting events are a major tourism driver and that Western Australian tourism industry believes the new Perth stadium will significantly increase international and interstate tourism.

He stated "we expect the new Stadium will become a major tourism attraction and state icon.

“The Stadium will proudly show off our city when all eyes are on Perth watching major sporting events.

“We also need to build affordable quality 3½-4 star hotels to provide affordable accessible accommodation for spectators from regional WA and interstate.”

18th July 2014 - WINNING NEW PERTH STADIUM DESIGN REVEALED

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