SA Footy

(This post could be in a number of different forum boards, but I'll stick it here and if any mods want to move it elsewhere, feel free. )


SACA's $350m super (city) oval revealed (proposed for AFL, World Cup Soccer and Cricket Use)
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,25831480-5006301,00.html
RICHARD EARLE, CRICKET WRITER
July 24, 2009 09:25pm

THE South Australian Cricket Association has revealed a $350 million plan to upgrade Adelaide Oval.

The move is designed to secure AFL matches from 2014 and World Cup soccer fixtures.

The SACA, the South Australian National Football League and the Australian Football League will pursue talks next month aimed at consolidating Adelaide Oval as a mutually beneficial, multipurpose venue. SACA chief executive Mike Deare told The Advertiser a redeveloped Bradman Stand with 16,000 seats was the key to increasing capacity to the 45,000-seat figure required to host AFL and international sporting events.

"There has been a meeting of minds between the SANFL, AFL and SACA that we should jointly explore what might be in the best interests of us all by future development of Adelaide Oval," Mr Deare said.

AFL chief executive and "brilliant facilitator" Andrew Demetriou had kick-started the process 12 months ago, he said. "The preliminary estimates say that we are probably talking in the vicinity of $350 million to $400 million to take the stadium up to 45,000 capacity."

"The SACA, SANFL and AFL have the capacity, I believe, to deliver that sort of venue for the benefit of SA."

There is distinct desire emanating from influential quarters to fast-track the establishment of a world class, city-based stadium.

Mr Demetriou and Football Federation Australia counterpart Ben Buckley will be in Adelaide this week for talks with the State Government.

FFA must decide on host cities and venues by October and wants to cement "a truly national bid" for the 2018 or 2022 FIFA World Cup.

FFA spokeswoman Bonita Mersiades said: "SACA has briefed senior FFA representatives on their plans for Adelaide Oval, and we have provided preliminary feedback on the technical requirements to ensure a venue is FIFA World Cup-compliant. FFA is hoping to meet with the SA Government again next week."

Crucially needed government support would be about $700 million less than that needed to build a new, $1 billion stadium proposed by the Liberal Opposition.

Treasurer Kevin Foley has already raised the possibility of switching $100 million for a proposed refurbishment of unpopular AAMI Stadium to Adelaide Oval with Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis responsible for securing extra investment in Canberra.

Mr Deare said: "From our perspective we would like to see it (Bradman Stand redevelopment) finished by 2014. The World Cup cricket is in 2015 and if World Cup soccer is in 2018, FIFA will want to see really solid evidence of this venue being developed.

"It is no secret the State (Government) has a preference for Adelaide Oval as a major venue and the FFA said this is the venue it wants World Cup soccer played at in Adelaide."

If Adelaide Oval becomes a FIFA World Cup venue, the focus will intensify on staging Crows and Power games at the ground.

The SANFL would be able to make a lucrative full or partial sale of AAMI Stadium, with the proceeds securing its future and likely senior partner status at Adelaide Oval. On May 11, SACA president Ian McLachlan revealed in The Advertiser that SACA would cede control of Adelaide Oval and share the venue with the SANFL – a move scuttled by Sir Don Bradman 40 years ago.

Mr Deare acknowledged there were hurdles to jump before the SANFL and the SACA again cohabit, along with Crows and Power games played at Adelaide Oval.

The SANFL's public stance is to maintain football's headquarters at AAMI Stadium.

Yet the risk of no reconciliation could have dire repercussions.

"Working with two venues for a city of Adelaide's size doesn't work," said Mr Deare, whose organisation received $50 million in state and federal funding to upgrade the stadium's western grandstand. "The Commonwealth and the State have indicated they are ready to help, provided we come back to them with the right sort of business plan."

It was a model, insisted Mr Deare, where the "whole of SA wins". "The SANFL gets this monkey off its back about the problem of the venue being too far away and attendance issues," he said, glossing over Port Adelaide's desperation to jag a bonanza stadium deal in town. "The city gets a venue which could host major World Cup cricket and soccer and the Commonwealth Games."

Ultimately, SACA and SANFL constituents must approve any union at Adelaide Oval.

"We need to have a complete business plan, agreed between the SACA and SANFL – with the AFL's input and support – and then we can go to our members," Mr Deare said.

Because Adelaide Oval is situated in the parklands, it cannot attract major project status. This means any development must first be considered by Adelaide City Council.

FFS, is this pipe dream still being discussed?

Forgeting about all the sporting politics for the moment, who in their right mind would finance this?

And the deal killer is the Adelaide City Council has to approve any development because Adelaide Oval is on the parklands ... good luck with that.

correct with the council. would never happen and the north adelaide society would kick up a big stink.

I agree with you all, the budget is already is deficit and the people in the North Adelaide society didn't want them to put up light towers, which is one of those 'only in South Australia' type situations! they would never allow such a development, pipe dream stuff.

As I read in a post earlier in the week the best thing that could happen to Adelaide Oval is for it to demolished and levelled and then start again.

The alternative is turn the Adelaide Oval site back into parklands, and use West lakes for all that sporting stuff where it won't disturb as many people.

I can obviously understand all the financial and logistical problems this sort of project is going to have, but this city really does need it's major sporting events to be held in the city, whether it's a redevloped Adelaide Oval or a whole new stadium. For those of you who have watched footy in Melbourne at the MCG or Docklands, you would understand the easiness of being walking distance to pubs, trains etc after games. It really does make going to the footy a night out, and will pump a lot more money back into the public transport and hospitality industries than AAMI currently does.

AAMI is lifeless, and will die a slow death because of it's location, like Waverley.

Pag wrote:I can obviously understand all the financial and logistical problems this sort of project is going to have, but this city really does need it's major sporting events to be held in the city, whether it's a redevloped Adelaide Oval or a whole new stadium. For those of you who have watched footy in Melbourne at the MCG or Docklands, you would understand the easiness of being walking distance to pubs, trains etc after games. It really does make going to the footy a night out, and will pump a lot more money back into the public transport and hospitality industries than AAMI currently does.

AAMI is lifeless, and will die a slow death because of it's location, like Waverley.

With you on that - get rid of AAMI - I hate the place.

Jimmy_041 wrote:

Pag wrote:I can obviously understand all the financial and logistical problems this sort of project is going to have, but this city really does need it's major sporting events to be held in the city, whether it's a redevloped Adelaide Oval or a whole new stadium. For those of you who have watched footy in Melbourne at the MCG or Docklands, you would understand the easiness of being walking distance to pubs, trains etc after games. It really does make going to the footy a night out, and will pump a lot more money back into the public transport and hospitality industries than AAMI currently does.

AAMI is lifeless, and will die a slow death because of it's location, like Waverley.

With you on that - get rid of AAMI - I hate the place.

I agree wholeheartedly.

I was thinking of investing in the North Adelaide area, - so I want all the unpleasantness kept out, and down in the western suburbs where it belongs...

It seems like this is the alternative to tap into the clamour for an inner city sports stadium (which Adelaide Oval is) since the Liberal party have backed away from a brand new stadium. Since the change in leadership the Libs are now saying that the CBD Stadium was never official party policy and was no more than an idea. Basically, they are dismissing as Martin Hamilton-Smith's pipe dream. We know the Labour party didn't want a bar of it and it was always going to be a risky project especially when we already had a CBD Stadium and have had it for 100 years.

A sensible move forward finally.

more chance of Aldinga's SHARK PARK being done up for $6bn, and the sydney madi gras to be held in Mildura.

Seems like everything is going well ... the SANFL is estatic that the SACA has decided to go public with details of confidential discussions.

Zed's dead Baby, Zed's dead.

As I've mentioned in previous posts... The SACA is run by a bunch of Muppets...

People will look back in years to come and shake their heads.

How these clowns have held their positions for so long is beyond me...

AFL not happy Jan!

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/81473/default.aspx

Cambridge Clarrie wrote:As I've mentioned in previous posts... The SACA is run by a bunch of Muppets...
People will look back in years to come and shake their heads.
How these clowns have held their positions for so long is beyond me...

It's a private club guys, they can run it anyway they like as they only have to please their own members.
My name was put down on the long membership application list when I was 17, and I was finally offered membership when I was 24, but by then I'd lost interest and turned it down..
However, I am a Life Member of the RA&HS of SA, so all go to the Royal Show instead, and help that organisation along.

That's one of the reasons its a pipe dream. The SACA are indeed muppets ... they have a poor bargaining position as the only 'asset' they have is a lease, which is on parklands FFS. They cannot generate revenue like the SANFL and are beholden to government handouts to perform any major upgrade of Adelaide Oval.

The SANFL own Football Park freehold (asset of $200+M), are able to generate significant revenue and have been able to upgrade their major asset over the years with minimal government funds.

Now by trying to push this into the public arena to force the issue, it may have blown up in their face.

Supid f***ers.

Just give Adelaide Oval AFL for crying out loud. It would be friggen awesome.

As a SACA member I am furious at the CEO's comments. FFS him and the entire board should be sacked and resign SAJC style. What a joke they are and I would be interested in how many votes each board member receives and the % of voters v membership.

I knew something was up a few months ago when I received a survey via email. The magical figure of $700 was dreamt up by some marketing tinpot for how much current members would be willing to pay if there was AFL football at the venue. Also Trigg and others have it a bit wrong too the $700 figure is for a all year round every event type of membership and is scales down from there if you only want the summer and crows only option for example.

NFC wrote:Just give Adelaide Oval AFL for crying out loud. It would be friggen awesome.

Sorry, not going to happen in this lifetime ...