Perth's new A$1.6B ($1.16B) sports stadium wants to "poach one of the two iconic events on the Australian cricket calendar -- Melbourne's Boxing Day Test or Sydney's New Year's Test," according to Jon Pierik of the SYDNEY MORNING HERALD. As the 60,000-seat, "technologically advanced" Optus Stadium prepares to host Australia and India in its maiden test, beginning Friday, Optus Stadium CEO Mike McKenna "revealed his intentions amid frustration from Perth cricket supporters" that they do not have a set date for a test each summer. While the Melbourne Cricket Club and the Victorian government's major events arm have "warded off threats before," McKenna's comments come as the MCC's deal with Cricket Australia expires at the end of this summer, while the Sydney Cricket Ground Trust's deal with the governing body expires in '22. McKenna said, "I know that Cricket Australia will be looking to have those conversations and I dare say they will have the first conversation with the MCC but if the opportunity comes to talk to us, we would be very keen to have those conversations." CA insisted it has "no intentions" of changing its "venue hire agreement" with the MCG and the SCG, and the tests "almost certainly will remain at their traditional venues," but it "made it clear to all venues that financial returns from Tests are paramount" (SMH, 12/12).
