WEST Coast's threat to play home games at Domain Stadium in 2018 instead of moving to the new Perth Stadium is real and the club won't back down until the right financial deal is reached with the WA state government, Eagles chairman Alan Cransberg says.
Both West Coast and Fremantle are due to move home games from Domain Stadium in Subiaco to the new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium in Burswood for the start of the 2018 AFL season.
The new stadium is past 50 per cent complete and is due to be ready for round one of 2018.
There is a football working group that includes representatives from the two AFL clubs, the AFL itself, the state government and the Western Australian Football Commission that has been in constant dialogue over the past few years regarding football's move to the new venue.
Negotiations between the state government and the two clubs are ongoing but both sides appear a long way from resolving a financial deal. The Eagles have been vocal about their threat to continue to play home games at Domain Stadium in 2018 and Cransberg said the threat is legitimate.
"Absolutely that's an option," Cransberg said.
"It's not our preference, but if that happens, it happens.
"We want to go to the new stadium, but we will not do that at any cost. If we go to the stadium under the current deal proposed, we'd have to jack up membership fees, we'd have to jack up corporate fees, and we don't think that's the right thing to do by our members and supporters.
An artist's impression of the finished stadium. 
"I'm sure that over time we'll get to a deal. But we won't sign off on any deal that doesn't give us the long-term viability and the financial stability we've had for both ourselves and our members."
Cransberg cited examples of other clubs in the AFL having financial problems on the back of poor stadium deals. Both South Australian clubs had issues with the move to Adelaide Oval. The AFL is currently considering buying Etihad Stadium to help the tenant clubs.
"If you look at the AFL, there are a number of clubs that have poor stadium deals, and they're much the poorer for it," Cransberg said.
"We're a proud, independent WA club. We want to make sure we stay independent.
"We don't want to be at the beck and call of the AFL or someone else funding us.
"I want to make sure we're financially stable and I also want to make sure our members get value for money."
WA's minister for sport and recreation Mia Davies said last week that the negotiations are continuing and had been robust, as expected. But the minister was certain a deal would be struck.
"I can't see a future where the Eagles and the Dockers won't be playing at the new Perth Stadium," Ms Davies said.
"I'm sure all of their members and fans are looking forward to that occurring."
The Eagles held a sod-turning ceremony at Lathlain Park on Tuesday to signal the start of construction of their new training and administration facility, due to be completed by October 2018.
Pre-construction work is already underway and the facility will feature two training ovals, one the size of the MCG and the other the size of the new Perth Stadium.
