Lions eye return to smaller Subiaco Oval
Subiaco have flagged a potential return to their historic home at Subiaco Oval once AFL football moves to the new Perth stadium.
The Lions have been at Medibank Stadium for the past 12 seasons but are considering returning to their traditional home — renamed Domain Stadium — after 2018, when the new billion-dollar stadium at Burswood is due to open.
Subiaco chief executive Peter Capes confirmed a return to a revamped and smaller Domain Stadium was being considered.
“The oval could remain there for sport, and we would never say never to returning,” he said.
“We’re very happy at Medibank Stadium at the present time but as time goes on, circumstances change.
“We will explore various resolutions in deciding the future for Subiaco Oval.”
Apart from regular finals appearances at football headquarters since their shift to become co-tenants with East Perth at the former Leederville Oval, Subiaco’s previous match at Domain Stadium was a regular-season game in 2008 to mark their centenary at the ground.
Domain Stadium’s future is unclear once the 60,000-seat Burswood venue opens, though cricket officials are confident a joint cricket-football facility at the WACA Ground could be funded by selling the prime Subiaco site for housing and commercial developments.
The Lions control the commercial premises at the western end of Domain Stadium while their powerful financial position, which has underwritten eight grand final appearances and five flags since moving to Leederville, is based on their lucrative access to the ground.
Capes said Subiaco intended to renegotiate their access to Domain Stadium after 2018.
“We have got rights to the facility until 2018 or when AFL football leaves but after that point in time we will be negotiating a new position in regards to the venue,” he said.
“We have been involved with consultants from the WA Football Commission to look at what Subiaco Oval will become when football is no longer played there.
“We’ve had some input into that as the original owners of the venue and were already taking active measures to make sure we can achieve the best outcome for the club and football in WA.
“Due to our current financial stability, Subiaco are in a position to have a significant impact on football in WA.”
It is understood Subiaco and East Perth both have a difficult relationship with the City of Vincent.
Issues relating to maintenance, proposed improvements and ground access have caused considerable tensions.
