Optus Stadium – all very lovely until there’s an emergency and 60,000 people dashing to get out.
Camera IconOptus Stadium – all very lovely until there’s an emergency and 60,000 people dashing to get out. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Opinion: Stadium cap unimpressive

Steven Cruden, KwinanaFremantle Gazette

The newly built Optus Stadium was built to increase the capacity of fans (60,000) for all events but the Minister Ms Saffioti (Gazette, January 16) has stated over the past few days, that for the (potential Big Bash final), the capacity for the stadium is going to be capped at 40,000 because of the afternoon rush hour traffic.

Ms Saffioti also stated that 14,300 people would use the bridge when completed, which is a distance of 1.2 km across the Swan River.

How does the Minister come up with these figures?

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If the train system was upgraded to handle 28,000 passengers an hour before and an hour after an event then why would peak traffic period affect fans from attending the ODI match or any other events at the stadium?

Also the stadium has very limited parking even for those who have an ACROD sticker and to park, they need to have a valid ticket and a special parking permit to park close to the stadium.

How many ACROD parking bays are there? Where are all those other fans who have an ACROD permit going to park?

The Minister is forgetting that many adults take their young children to matches and how do they expect young 6 to 10 old children to walk across the Swan River (1.2 km) or the walk from the train station, another long walk on a wet winter’s day or late at night?

Those coming from over east will not be impressed with our train or foot bridge to and from the stadium.

I’m well aware that this was the work of the previous government but the Minister is now responsible for the stadium. I think both governments haven’t worked out the true logistics and the placement of the new stadium because there is still so many unanswered questions about how fans are going to get to and from the stadium on any given day, night or event!

I can’t see the train service or the foot bridge a solution to getting fans to and from the stadium safely.