THE LONG-RUNNING debate about whether footy or cricket will get to open the new Perth Stadium could be about to fall in the AFL's favour.

While cricket officials remain hopeful of hosting an Ashes Test match at the venue in late 2017, West Australian sports minister Mia Davies has conceded it's unlikely the stadium will be ready.

"At the moment the December date for the 2017 Ashes Test is before the expected date the stadium will be ready," Davies told AFL.com.au.  

"If there is an opportunity to get an event such as the Ashes to open the stadium we would welcome it, but not at the expense of design and construction quality or operational planning and efficiency," she said.  

It also rules out the possibility of any 2017 AFL finals being staged at the Burswood site.

The new facility's operator VenuesLive is yet to secure a stadium agreement with West Coast and Fremantle.

VenuesLive beat the Western Australian Football Commission to the rights to run the stadium.

The Dockers and Eagles have been stuck in protracted negotiations with the company, which also runs Sydney's ANZ Stadium.

Earlier this month Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett even forecast the possibility of playing 2018 games at Subiaco, leaving the new $1.5 billion complex dormant.

Leadership changes at VenuesLive, including the arrival of new chief executive Mike McKenna, may help pave the way for more productive negotiations.

At that point debate would almost certainly turn to which team gets first hosting rights, or whether a Western Derby is played to open the stadium.

"The first AFL event held at Perth Stadium is yet to be determined. The State and Stadium Operator, VenuesLive will work closely with the AFL to finalise match schedules," minister Davies said.

"Construction of the stadium is currently over 65 per cent complete and remains on track to allow the venue to open, as scheduled, in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season."