The WACA Ground has launched a call to arms to the Australian public in a bid to get its long-awaited redevelopment plan off the ground.
With major cricket fixtures to move to the new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium from next year, the West Australian Cricket Association wants to transform the WACA into a boutique venue with a capacity of around 15,000.
Officials at the iconic cricketing venue are aiming to raise $12 million in donations over the next five years in order to get stage one of the five-stage redevelopment underway.
WACA chief executive Christina Matthews said stage one, which will feature the development of an indoor centre and gym facilities, will cost somewhere between $50 million-$70 million.
The total redevelopment, which the WACA hopes will be completed by 2030, will cost around $200 million.
Along with the new philanthropic fund, the WACA Ground will require significant contributions from the State and Federal Governments, as well as Cricket Australia, in order to redevelop the ground.
The previous planned redevelopment failed to get off the ground, with the WACA forced to pay $3.6 million to Ascot Capital in 2014 to settle the termination of that plan.
But officials are hopeful the philanthropic fund will help kick-start their latest plans for redevelopment, and play a crucial role in securing government funding.
"Before we go to the State government, we're hoping to raise about $25 million in different areas, including our philanthropy," Matthews said.
"We've spent $20 million on the ground over the last 10 years, renovating things, putting new lifts in - things like that.
"But we need to go to another stage now."
Matthews said the planned redevelopment would feature a major community component, giving the public access to the facilities.
"We're very proud that we're looking at this as something that's open to the community, not just a closed shop to the elite of WA," Matthews said.
The board of the WA Cricket Foundation, which has been tasked with raising the $12 million in donations, features Dr Bob Every, Dr Ken Michael, Wally Edwards, David Robb, John Gillam, Kate O'Hara and George Jones.
The money raised will also go towards female pathway programs, as well as providing funds to boost grass roots cricket in the Pilbara and Kimberley regions.
The West Australian Football Commission appears likely to remain at Subiaco Oval.
But Matthews hopes the WAFC will move to the WACA in the future in a switch that could also see WAFL games played at the cricketing venue.
