BHP Billiton "has been revealed as naming rights partner for the sporting precinct at the new Perth Stadium," according to Jai Price of WA TODAY. The mining company donated A$5M ($3.5M) to the creation of a walkway and amphitheatre. Naming rights around the stadium "have long been the subject of debate, with Premier Colin Barnett saying publicly he would not give the go-ahead for the ground itself to have a corporate name." The BHP Billiton Boardwalk "will feature indigenous drawings to highlight the importance of the culture on the site of the stadium." The new stadium, being built at a cost of more than A$1B ($700M), is expected to be finished for the '18 AFL season (WA TODAY, 9/9). NEWS.COM reported Premier Colin Barnett said that "the precinct adjacent and surrounding the stadium will be a great area of entertainment, recreation and sporting activity." Sport & Recreation Minister Mia Davies said that "there will be other commercial partnership opportunities as works progress." Barnett said, "The boardwalk, which will be more than 200 meters long, will link the amphitheatre in the south of the sports precinct to the community oval in the north." The involvement of BHP Billiton at Perth Stadium was facilitated by the Westadium consortium, "which is responsible for the design, build, finance and maintenance elements of the stadium and sports precinct" (NEWS.COM, 9/9).
