Subi Oval Naming Saga

Agamedes sees a means of maintaining the familiar name, with benefits all round.

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We are about to lose Subiaco Oval.

Not the place, not yet. Just the name.

After many, many years of knowing that Subi Oval is the home of football in WA, corporate greed is about to win the day. So says The West Australian reporter Mark Duffield, on 15 May 2010 (Subi Oval name rights deal close).

Well, Duffield says that the naming rights deal is close to being finalised. He does not mention corporate greed.

Back in 2003, Subiaco City Council blocked the move to rename the oval. The council occasionally objects to the crowds which flood Subi when the oval is in use. Even more, they objected to the thought of crowds descending on "Crazy Johns Oval"... all the crowd problems with none of the city name recognition.

Now, however, it seems likely that football will happen at "Patersons Stadium", which will still be located in Subiaco. There's no room for history, nor for sentimentality -- not when WAFC (WA Football Commission) sees the chance for a quick quid. (Or a quick buck, for younger readers.)

History be damned, says WAFC, We can get $800,000 a year for selling out that history.

Subiaco city need not be beaten

What is it that WAFC want? They want more money. $800,000 a year, reportedly.

What position can City of Subiaco play? Well... they own the ground. And rent it to WAFC. So here's the simple answer:

City of Subiaco raise the rent on the ground which contains the football Oval. Raise the rent by, say, $800,000 per year.

We can't afford that! sob the WAFC.

Oh dear, says the council. But wait, perhaps we can help...

And the City of Subiaco will offer to buy the naming rights for the sports field which will, now, be named "Subiaco Oval". Named for a major ($800K per year) sponsor.

Subiaco Oval retains its name. City of Subiaco continues to gain recognition for the sports ground within that city. Subiaco shopkeepers continue to benefit from a well-publicised city name, plus those regular hordes of big-spending football fans. Parking and traffic problems are no worse than they were.

Better yet, WAFC gets a major sponsor. They even avoid the cost of changing signage, letterheads, all references to the name of the oval.

Sure, WAFC have to pay increased rent for the land. But... well... that could happen anyway.

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