Very sad to see Vic Square a ghost town for Adelaide Fringe

[HeapsGood]

Hello,

A couple of friends have remarked to me, and I myself have spoken on this as I am now, although I am typing and not literally speaking as of this moment, not unless you count me thinking inside my brain of what to write....that it is very sad to see Victoria Square a ghost town for the 2017 Adelaide Fringe Festival. I quite enjoyed the the Royal Croquet Club, much to the chagrin of the local whining businesses and the Sadvertiser complaining about the thoroughly tear jerkingly sad news about the dead grass which I too, cried over. The RCC has now moved to Pinky Flat, south of the Adelaide Oval and next to the unsightly Torrens construction scene - a far inferior site to vic square.

The RCC had little choice though, with the Sadvertiser getting onto the bandwagon and moronic AdelaideNow commenters complaining even though they had not stepped a foot inside the RCC or even the damned square for that matter. The only event hosted at Vic Squate for this years Adelaide Fringe will be the Adelaide night markets for a total of 2 consecutive days ( https://www.adelaidefringe.com.au/fring ... ntanyangga ). Woopdee.

Hell even if it isn't the RCC, at least bring something else to the Square for the Fringe. A venue, a tent, a few bars, eateries, etc.

What a sad situation for Adelaide.

[monotonehell]

I suggest to have no events within a 100m radius of the square this year and see how the local traders go.

[claybro]

A pop up bar with some live music ie DJs or live bands Friday Sat nights and Sunday arvo would be great. Get in some acts with a decent following and people would be there in droves.

[Goodsy]

A pop up bar with some live music ie DJs or live bands Friday Sat nights and Sunday arvo would be great. Get in some acts with a decent following and people would be there in droves.

A stage with a Triple J hosted weekly event for local artists would be great

[rev]

There should have been minimal grass, or none at all in the Vic square redevelopment. That would have removed the problem of damage to grass obviously.
Just wait until the usual councilors start the whinge-campaign about "damage" to the grass at Pinky's flat caused by RCC.

I heard that even Tasting Australia wont be held in Victoria Square this year.
What the hell is going on in this city? Yeh, lets redevelop the main square(well half of it) to create a central focal point, but then lets chase away all the events that want to use it and bring in tens of thousands of people to the city.

In some aspects Adelaide is slowly moving forward, but just when you think we are turning that corner, out come the usual nimby dick head dinosaurs who are better off being taken to a remote outback dirt road and thrown into a ditch.

[HeapsGood]

What the hell is going on in this city? Yeh, lets redevelop the main square(well half of it) to create a central focal point, but then lets chase away all the events that want to use it and bring in tens of thousands of people to the city.

Exactly, they were supposed to bring events to Vic Square....now they are just driving major ones away.

[ghs]

I tend to think that the Hilton was one of the main businesses that complained to ACC / state government about the RCC in Vic. Square.

The Hilton hotel obviously has an agreement with the state government with the tour down under.
The cyclists and team members can just walk across the road which makes things easy.

If the Hilton pulled out of this agreement then it would make things difficult for the Tour down under.

ACC and the state government most likely moved the RCC just to protect their relationship with the Hilton hotel.

[mshagg]

I tend to think that the Hilton was one of the main businesses that complained to ACC / state government about the RCC in Vic. Square.

I'd have some sympathy if any of their offerings were up to scratch, I hope their crappy bar hemorrhages money with no one in the area.

I dont think the layout at Pink Flat looks half bad for RCC and certainly no objections to activating that part of the city during Fringe, heck I even had reservations about RCC monopolising the space in the way they did (one shouldnt have to line up and pay a cover charge to get in to the square). But to have that space deserted during festival season is shameful.

[Vee]

The minimalist use of Victoria Square during the Adelaide Fringe is a real shame and a likely game changer.

Momentum will now shift towards the Riverbank precinct with the RCC at Pinky Flat, Adelaide Oval becoming a major player with its Live at 5 Fringe offerings with multiple stages and the floating/docked Palais on the Torrens. This is set to become the main alternative drawcard to the Garden of Unearthly Delights.

Despite there being a widespread cover of small, micro and larger venues in the city and beyond, the Garden of Unearthly Delights, Gluttony and the RCC will attract the main city Fringe goers and fuel the shuttle between them.

Rundle St is a hive of activity, buskers, diners etc during the Fringe. Adelaide Oval is now set to activate and benefit from Fringe offerings, complementing the RCC and Palais.

Several Theatres in the vicinity of Vic Sq do well at Fringe time but the absence of the lively, high visibility RCC robs this area of vital Fringe buzz and foot traffic. It's a pity that Gouger and Grote Sts and Victoria Sq could suffer more than benefit from the ACC decision to boot out the RCC from the city centre.

[crawf]

I guess after decades of the Riverbank Precinct being ignored and empty, the Riverbank is now becoming our main drawcard. Already, in the last two weeks Elder Park has been a hive activity with the construction of the 'Riverbank Palais' which will attract thousands of people during the Adelaide Festival once complete. While across the river, the RCC will be bigger than previous years and the Adelaide Oval venue will no doubt be very popular again. Once those events are over and packed up, the AFL season begins which will again bring tens of thousands of people to the precinct each weekend. While years later, Festival Plaza/Casino will be complete and will be a major attraction in itself.

Compare this to 5 years ago, the Riverbank was completely lifeless and boring with just the odd person walking around. During Feb/March, you wouldn't even know it was the Festival Season compared to hive of activity around the West and East Ends.

On the downside, it's a shame to see Victoria Square not being utilised this year. The main point of the redevelopment was for the square to become a 'events space' and is perfectly located for city workers. However due to constant complaining by a select number of businesses, this whole area will most likely be dead and will impact those businesses in the area. In some ways it will be karma for them, and might make them wake up and realise that it's their business model that actually sucks. Not naming any names...

I heard that even Tasting Australia wont be held in Victoria Square this year.

The jury is still out on RCC in Pinky Flat, though that would be a disgrace if this true about Tasting Australia. I'm surprised there hasn't been a push to move the TDU Village aswell, which again is becoming bigger and better each year.

[Nathan]

Compare this to 5 years ago, the Riverbank was completely lifeless and boring with just the odd person walking around. During Feb/March, you wouldn't even know it was the Festival Season compared to hive of activity around the West and East Ends.

I'm going to disagree with this one. The various incarnations of the Festival Club (Persian Garden, Barrio, Lola's Pergola, Blinc* etc.) have all been very popular. I remember the lines for the first Barrio in 2012 extending down KWS and around the corner on to North Tce.

* Blinc wasn't technically the festival club — more of an outdoor gallery with a small licensed area — but still a major drawcard.

[crawf]

Compare this to 5 years ago, the Riverbank was completely lifeless and boring with just the odd person walking around. During Feb/March, you wouldn't even know it was the Festival Season compared to hive of activity around the West and East Ends.

I'm going to disagree with this one. The various incarnations of the Festival Club (Persian Garden, Barrio, Lola's Pergola, Blinc* etc.) have all been very popular. I remember the lines for the first Barrio in 2012 extending down KWS and around the corner on to North Tce.

* Blinc wasn't technically the festival club — more of an outdoor gallery with a small licensed area — but still a major drawcard.

Ah yes ofcourse, my apologies. I guess my comment relates more outside the Festival Season.

The Riverbank still has a long way to go, though it's definitely heading in the right direction.

[Norman]

For what it's worth, Tuxedo Cat will be setting up at the vacant part of the GPO site.

[monotonehell]

For what it's worth, Tuxedo Cat will be setting up at the vacant part of the GPO site.

I was wondering where they were going this year, as the Raj seems to have become a hub for Feast.

[The Scooter Guy]

I really liked last year's RCC, especially that 'Boombox Stage' which I've mistaken a sound check for the Real McCoy!

It's the 2010s for Jay's Sake!