FALCONS OFFER PRIME VIEWING OF NAB CHALLENGE DERBY

WEST Perth supporters and members have the chance to watch next Tuesday's AFL NAB Challenge Western Derby in comfort at Arena Joondalup as the ground's condition continues to remarkably improve after the recent Big Day Out.

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Concerns were raised over the Arena Joondalup surface being fit for the first ever AFL fixture at the venue on Tuesday February 18 between West Coast and Fremantle when the Big Day Out music festival was scheduled for February 2.

However, the playing surface at Arena Joondalup is now looking terrific and perhaps even better than before according to West Perth Football Club chief executive David Crute.

"The oval is looking fantastic. To be honest, it's actually looking better than it was prior to the Big Day Out weirdly enough," Crute said.

"VenuesWest have gone above and beyond to get specialists over from the eastern states who looked after turf following festivals over there, and I think they have replaced around 200 square metres of turf both where the cranes were driving and the goal squares.

"You can't tell there was a festival on the oval so that has been amazing. There certainly won't be any issues with the ground for the NAB Cup ground."

While general tickets for the game at Arena Joondalup are available, the West Perth Football Club is offering a chance to purchase a seat in the upstairs section of the Whinnen-Dempsey grandstand with all moneys raised from that directly helping the Falcons, and not the AFL.

West Perth is able to offer both general seats in the grandstand but also spots at the luncheon held before the match and also there are limited corporate boxes still available.

Tickets for the grandstand seating are $60 and that will include food and beverages, and will provide you with the best seats in the house for the first ever AFL clash at Arena Joondalup, and also the first competitive hit out for both West Coast and Fremantle against real opposition for 2014.

"Tickets are selling well now that the game has been 100 per cent confirmed at Arena, but there are still tickets available for the game," Crute said.

"All that money goes to the AFL but VenuesWest and the AFL have agreed to give us the rights to sell tickets to the upstairs grandstand seating area as well as those corporate boxes and a function room. We have three options available and for $60 you get a burger, a drink and a comfortable seat in the upstairs grandstand area.

"If you want to sit in comfort there in the grandstand, then give the club a call. We've also got a luncheon on beforehand with Basil Zempilas as our special guest feature. That is selling well but we also have a few seats left for that, and one or two corporate boxes left as well.

"If anyone is interested, then please call the club or check out the website. Every single dollar through those tickets, goes back to West Perth which is very timely for us at the moment."

While the scheduling of the Big Day Out festival, the NAB Challenge game and the March 2 Future Music festival has somewhat interrupted the Falcons' pre-season schedule, Crute couldn’t be happier with the help provided to the West Perth Football Club by VenuesWest and the City of Joondalup.

"We had a little bit of an interrupted pre-season having to move off Arena Joondalup but all the boys are training down at Chichester Park at the moment down in Woodvale," Crute said.

"I need to thank the City of Joondalup for helping us out there. They have put up goals for us and had the ground marked, and hopefully we can get back onto Arena Joondalup after Future Music is finished in time for the season."

BY CHRIS PIKE