Members Equity Stadium

infobox stadium
nickname = MES


location = Lord Street, Perth
broke_ground = 1904
opened = 1904
owner = Town of Vincent
operator = Allia Holdings
surface = Grass
construction_cost = Unknown
architect =
ends =
former_names = Perth Oval, Loton Park
tenants =infobox stadium/tenantlist
tenant_clubs =
East Perth (WAFL)

Perth Glory (A-League)

WA Reds (Jim Beam Cup)

tenant_years = 1910 - 2002
1996 - present
2008 - present

capacity = 17,288 (sport)
25,000 (concerts) [http://www.membersequitystadium.com.au/stadium_hire.html]

Members Equity Stadium is a sports stadium in Perth, Australia. It has been the home of the Australian A-League club Perth Glory since 1996 and has been the home of the Western Australia Rugby League since 2003. It has previously been known as Perth Oval and Loton Park (this name still refers to adjacent tennis courts and a small area of open space next to the stadium). The stadium is named after its main sponsor, Members Equity Bank.

Current Use

The stadium in its current configuration can hold a capacity crowd of up to 17,288 and is now used mainly for soccer, concerts, rugby league and rugby union have been staged there because of its rectangular shape. A-League football (soccer) club Perth Glory FC and Australian Rugby Championship team Perth Spirit use the stadium as a home ground. Western Force, the local Super 14 team, have indicated a preference to moving to the ground from Subiaco Oval if the ground is redeveloped to increase its capacity to more than 28,000.

The stadium is unusual among modern Australian stadiums for having a standing terrace the at the north end of the ground. At this end is the covered terrace area known as The Shed, the home of the vocal supporters of Perth Glory FC.

From 2008 the stadium will host WA Reds home matches in the Jim Beam Cup.

In 2009 the South Sydney Rabbitohs have confirmed that they will play one home game against the Melbourne Storm at Perth's Members Equity Stadium for the 2009 NRL season. [cite web | url = http://www.membersequitystadium.com.au/SouthSydneyRabbitohs.htm | title = South Sydney Rabbitohs to play Melbourne Storm in Perth in 2009]

History

The land on which the stadium is built was known as Loton's Paddock after a previous owner William Loton, Lord Mayor of Perth.

In 1956 the F.D. Book Stand was built as part of East Perth Football Club's golden jubilee celebrations. It was named after administrator Fred Book, who was instrumental in ensuring Perth Oval stayed as a sporting ground during World War II.

Prior to the major redevelopment in 2003 and 2004 Perth Oval was home to Australian rules football club East Perth who play in the WAFL. East Perth played at the ground between 1910 and 1999. After the redevelopment part of the ground reverted to public open space and was co-named Loton Park and Yoordgoorading after the previous names of the area.

Prior to the redevelopment, Members Equity was oval-shaped, and when Perth Glory FC entered the NSL in 1996, temporary stands were moved onto the pitch to get supporters closer to the action. After playing in these conditions for four years, it became apparent that the Glory would need their own rectangular stadium and after Glory's proposed redevelopment of Leederville Oval was rejected the Town of Vincent completely overhauled the ground into a rectangular stadium.

The record crowd for the ground was 26,760 for the May 31 1969 derby match between East Perth and West Perth. The record soccer crowd for a match at the ground, is 18,067 in the 1998-99 NSL season against South Melbourne FC.

As a music venue

Members Equity Stadium has been the venue of major music concerts, these including:
2005
* Tom Jones & John Farnham - 15 February 2005
* "Moonlight Music and Wine Festival" - 19 February 2005
Blondie
David Byrne
The Doors
* Luciano Pavarotti - 29 October 2005
2006
-
2007
* Roger Waters - 9 February 2007
* Eric Clapton - 11 February 2007
2008
* The Police - 1 & 2 February 2008
* Rod Stewart - 5 March 2008
* Jack Johnson - 29 March 2008
* Celine Dion - 8 April 2008
* Elton John - 10 May 2008
* Def Leppard - 31 October 2008 [cite web | url = http://www.membersequitystadium.com.au/EventFAQs.htm | title = Def Leppard FAQ]
* Eros Ramazzotti - 1 November 2008 [cite web | url = http://www.membersequitystadium.com.au/EventFAQs.htm | title = Eros Ramazzotti FAQ]
* Billy Joel - 23 November 2008 [cite web | url = http://www.membersequitystadium.com.au/EventFAQs2.htm | title = Billy Joel FAQ]
2009
-

References

External links

* [http://www.membersequitystadium.com.au/ Official website]
*Austadiums|92