Home of Football you say? Well it is referring to Australian rules football and being more specific the Western Australian Football League (WAFL) but for those fans who are ardently against the more popular and worldly versions of football would be rather annoyed to have others call it "home" also from time to time.
Australia participates in the Rugby Championship, which for the second year has been conducted in its expanded format. Four nations now participate in this competition these being South Africa, 2011 world Cup winners New Zealand and the newest member being Argentina.
The weather for this match was hardly an ideal welcome to our South American visitors but they showed the fans and the Australians that they are no push over. Was a tight match with Australia not capitalising on Argentina mistakes and poor unforced errors but was enough to win the match 14 to 13.
Now to what this is all about; the food, the venue and thirdly the area.
Pattersons Stadium tends to have a not so endearing reputation about it which you think is rather unfair. However these have been perfectly justifiable and would have to be one of the most poorest venues to watch ANY sporting event in Australia.
Food at Pattersons is extremely expensive, i mean for Perth prices it is a joke. Burgers are pushing beyond 12 dollars and before you read this and think; "Hey PFF! State league grounds charge on average 10 dollars for a burger?" My response would be one with agreement but in saying the food produced at state league grounds are fresh, good quality and you get what you pay for quantity wise. Food here is bland, nasty, lifeless and minimal. To add to this farce you have hot dogs at 6 and pies are 7 dollars which are just Mrs Mac's pies. Nothing essentially wrong with the brand but for such a price it is highway robbery. Gourmet sandwiches and salads are not spared either with these ranging from 6 dollars to 10 with virtually nothing to pack a punch with you would be feeling hungry after your purchase.
Drinks are also party to this with coke and other soft drink (diet coke and fanta, not much choice) being 5 dollars for 600mL and bottled water is also the same price. Perhaps an interesting aspect of Perth sporting venues, especially Aussie rules venues is the prevalence of flavoured milks. Most notably Masters is on offer, which for so-called "proud" western Australians; it is rather amusing that things like this slip by. These drinks were also not cheap at 4 dollars at 600mL.
Beers are probably the biggest rort of this venue. They are mid-strength and they are priced at 9-12 dollars a drink with ready to drink spirits also costing you in the low teens.
With that in mind i STRONGLY suggest that any visitor to Pattersons for rugby, WAFL or football please make purchases to a bare minimum and if you dont well you wont get much for 50 dollars if you go in with an empty stomach. Either do three things:
1) Eat at home before you go to the ground. Or Afterwards.
2) Eat at a restaurant or casual dining venue outside the ground. (Celtic club do good pies or Nandos or other places around the ground)
3) Smuggle food/drink into the ground. There is a Woolworths at the Subiaco train station so load up and work out how you will conceal your items.
The sooner this place is demolished the better.
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