[COM] Memorial Drive upgrade

[Mpol02]

For anyone who forgot what that looked like, see below.
It was actually quite the stunner. Such a shame we only get this...

Don't get too excited, now - they are only committed to funding 5% of the estimated $200m cost. Also, I don't know about anyone else, but I feel like we deserve something more substantial than the venue envisaged below.

A RETURNED Turnbull federal government would commit $10 million for a crucial first-stage Memorial Drive upgrade Tennis SA believes would kickstart the final stages of the Adelaide Oval precinct redevelopment.

The Advertiser can reveal that plans are underway for a new $200 million multi-purpose stadium, to be completed within five years.

It is envisaged it would have national netball and basketball sides as co-tenants, while squash would also be accommodated.

The venue would also stage major events and concerts.

The initial $9.786 million Memorial Drive “anchor project” would allow Adelaide to bid for key tournaments, including Davis Cups and Federation Cups.

An outdoor showcourt and two match courts will feature in a 24-court revamp of grass, hard and clay courts. A “walk of champions” will also be built, profiling the historical position of the site and great South Australian players.

“Not only will it bring more tennis to this great state, but it will also serve as an entertainment hub for the city,” said Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Chris Pyne.

The Federal Government challenged its state counterparts to back the Tennis SA “vision” for an enclosed, “gender inclusive” multipurpose stadium at Memorial Drive.

The SA Government spent $535 million to upgrade Adelaide Oval for football and cricket.

“There is a feasibility study and business case that needs to be done but the $10 million is what the Commonwealth Government is putting on the table and we are getting the project under way,” said Mr Pyne.

“Once it gets under way it will be an unstoppable project.”

Tennis SA chief Steve Baldas said it would be “great” to give women’s sports like tennis and netball a presence in the Adelaide Oval precinct, with a vision similar to Melbourne’s popular Margaret Court Arena.

“The vision for centre court creates a multisport arena that would also be perfect for bring tennis events back to South Australia as well as Davis and Fed Cups,” said Mr Baldas.

Source: http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/ten ... 991839ddb6

[rev]

Disappointing. Adelaide has this fixation about heritage where it is not needed. Adelaide Oval and now Memorial Drive. They could've easily developed this into a nice arena if they had lowered the centre court and encircled it with tiered stands under an enclosed roof. The ancient Romans knew how to build stadia where everyone had a good view. But why can't we?

Matt, you are right. What was envisioned several years ago would've been perfect.

Cheers

Because they see "heritage" everytime their eyelids flap open and closed. They're idiots, mentally fragile because in the past buildings worth actually preserving were demolished. Now they think everything older then 10 years should be put on a UNESCO list.

Imagine the average South Australian faced with what the ancients were faced with, temples for exmaple destroyed multiple times and rebuilt. These clowns wouldn't have lasted a day, they'd have packed it in before the last ember went out.

[Ho Really]

[...]

Imagine the average South Australian faced with what the ancients were faced with, temples for exmaple destroyed multiple times and rebuilt. These clowns wouldn't have lasted a day, they'd have packed it in before the last ember went out.

🏛

[cmet]

Works underway

[AndyWelsh]

Works underway

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[rev]

Would it be odd to hope that they accidentally knock down the roof as well, and by some luck we get a proper indoor arena instead?

[Patrick_27]

Would it be odd to hope that they accidentally knock down the roof as well, and by some luck we get a proper indoor arena instead?

Not odd at all, this is a typical example of Liberal government expenditure. Spending money on a project that will have short-term gains, but long term will leave a lot to be desired. I get it, it allows them to manage spending and spread what money they do have more widespread so that different infrastructure and interest groups don't miss out. The alternative is Labor who spend money we don't have on projects that aforementioned interest groups haven't actually championed for (and the investment is usually misdirected and doesn't focus on what is actually needed - Festival Theatre the most recent case of this), but generally they deliver a final product that everyone is satisfied with and pays off in the long term. I'm happy to see something finally happening with Memorial Drive (something Labor continually failed to move forward) but IMO the business case stacks up firmly against this one; semi-rebuilding a sporting venue to have a slightly larger capacity but not large enough to replace ailing venues like the Entertainment Centre for live music and entertainment meanwhile there being no specific plans to house other sports codes (basketball and netball), is completely shortsighted and by result we will have this and at-least two other venues operating when they could easily co-exist as one venue on this site. No doubt, if we do by some chance secure a commonwealth games here in the next decade, I can see one of two things happening with this site, the first is it's bulldozed and they replace it with a 12-15,000 capacity arena (and keep the Entertainment Centre and Priceline Stadium as venues for the duration of the games but bulldoze afterwards), the other is a new multi-purpose arena is built elsewhere nearby and Memorial Drive is repurposed into say a swimming centre or something of that nature. Just my three cents on the topic, like so many of you, I think this is wasted potential.

[aceman]

is this upgrade proceeding as scheduled even though the libs want to build a new stadium just down the railway line?

[Brucetiki]

is this upgrade proceeding as scheduled even though the libs want to build a new stadium just down the railway line?

Considering the stands are currently being torn down, yes.

[Algernon]

Does the state government have ADHD

[AndyWelsh]

From today:










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[omada]

They are clearly morons, or incompetent.

I wonder if they knew at the time they built the new roof, that little over 12 months after, they would be demolishing the stands? Surely, the project would have a better result with a complete re-design? The mind boggles.

Between our State Government and the ACC, no wonder this state has a hard time of it..

[d3v310per]

They are clearly morons, or incompetent.

I wonder if they knew at the time they built the new roof, that little over 12 months after, they would be demolishing the stands? Surely, the project would have a better result with a complete re-design? The mind boggles.

Between our State Government and the ACC, no wonder this state has a hard time of it..

'Do it once, do it properly' isn't something either side of politics understands. It's a shame Memorial Drive will continue to be a suburban-grade complex. Highly likely another upgrade will be around the corner after the current upgrade is completed. So much money wasted taking little bites unfortunately.

[rev]

They are clearly morons, or incompetent.

I wonder if they knew at the time they built the new roof, that little over 12 months after, they would be demolishing the stands? Surely, the project would have a better result with a complete re-design? The mind boggles.

Between our State Government and the ACC, no wonder this state has a hard time of it..

I'm convinced they just make it up as they go along. All sides of politics at all levels.

At least they're all consistently shit.

[ChillyPhilly]

Just Marshall/Lucas trying to build an egotistical legacy.