Victory stance grounds for war
By Ellen Whinnett
February 09, 2007
THE Victoria Government has threatened to seek a rival A-League team for Melbourne if Melbourne Victory snubs a planned new rectangular stadium and signs with Telstra Dome.
Major projects minister Theo Theophanous said last night the state government would approach Football Federation Australia to bring a second team to Melbourne if Victory refused to commit to the $190 million rectangular stadium the government plans to build at Edwin Flack Field.
The threat comes after talks between Victory and the government failed to resolve the deadlock over the proposed stadium, which would house the NRL's Melbourne Storm, the AFL's Melbourne and, the government hopes, the A-League's Victory.
Theophanous confirmed last night that Victory chairman Geoff Lord had suggested to him this week that the government abandon the planned stadium and instead spend $50 million modifying Telstra Dome to better showcase sports that use rectangular playing fields.
The government rejected the proposal and Theophanous reaffirmed its commitment to building the new stadium, at an increased size of at least 27,500 seats.
"I made it clear to him that we would be building the stadium," Theophanous said.
He said he would not let Victory's "sweetheart arrangement" with Telstra Dome stop the government building the stadium, which is already months behind schedule.
"If Melbourne Victory does not want to go in, we would approach the FFA and if, soccer continued to be popular, ask them to consider a second team," Theophanous said.
"We would approach the FFA and see if there is a potential for a second team for Melbourne."
Theophanous said the FFA had to sign off on any deal done by the Victory, and his understanding was the FFA supported building a specialised stadium for sports that required a rectangular pitch.
The privately owned Melbourne Victory was founded by Lord two seasons ago.
After winning this season's A-League minor premiership, Victory will host the grand final on Sunday week in a game which is expected to see more than 50,000 fans packed into Telstra Dome.
Victory, which this season moved from the 16,000-capacity Olympic Park to Telstra Dome because of increased crowds, initially supported a new 20,000-seat stadium.
But it now says a much bigger stadium is needed, as it averages 30,000 fans a game.
The government promises to expand the venue to hold 27,500 fans have so far failed to break the negotiations deadlock.
Lord refused to detail his preferred choice of stadium.
But he said he had suggested to the Government it keep the $150 million it had promised for the rectangular stadium, and instead spend it on health, water or education services.
"It was an idea, one of several discussed," Lord said.
"It was only one option but the point was made the money could be redeployed on water, health and education.
"The government was non-committal."
Lord said the government could instead spend $50 million reconfiguring Telstra Dome, where Victory plans to play its next two seasons.
He said with the AFL due to take over Telstra Dome in 2025, the government would need to seek permanent access arrangements at the Dome, and sub-lease to clubs such as Victory.
"We asked for a 40,000-seat stadium," he said. "I think the government is probably of the view to build a smaller one.
"Some people say, 'If you're going to have a smaller stadium, you can just put the prices up'. But our members and supporters come first for us."
Under an A-League agreement, no second team can be brought into Melbourne until after 2010.
But this is unlikely to worry the government as the planned stadium would not be completed until at least 2009.
A clause that requires compensation to be paid to Telstra Dome if a large stadium is built in Melbourne expires in 2010.
Victory attracted an A-League record 50,033 fans to the round 16 match against Sydney FC at the Dome in December.
Last Sunday 47,400 watched the club clinch its place in the grand final with a 2-1 triumph against Adelaide United.
