[DEF] AAMI Stadium Upgrade | $100m | 52,000

[cruel_world00]

This is a huge amount of funding. Personally I would rather something happen with a stadium in the city. If there is no major upgrade for the train system announced in this budget and instead only this sort of political 'grandstanding' I will be really annoyed. From adelaidenow:

$100m upgrade for AAMI
June 01, 2008 01:20pm

THE South Australian Government will provide $100 million for the redevelopment of AAMI Stadium, it was announced today.

It will also provide $2.5 million each for the state's two AFL clubs in this week's state Budget.

The Government's contribution to the stadium's redevelopment will help to enhance the roof to provide greater shelter and improve dining and toilet facilities.

It will also build a new convention centre and western grandstand upgrade, improve stadium entrances, build new corporate suites and expand administration offices.

Premier Mike Rann said the government was supporting the redevelopment because it was the only venue in the state that could seat more than 50,000 for a range of sporting and major events.

"This redevelopment will bring AAMI Stadium up to international standard," he said in a statement.

"It will not only enhance the experience for spectators and users of AAMI Stadium, it will put us in a stronger position to compete for major events such as World Cup soccer matches."

State treasurer Kevin Foley said it was the view of the SANFL, the AFL and both the AFL clubs that "a redevelopment of AAMI Stadium is the best result for football in South Australia".

SANFL chief executive Leigh Whicker welcomed the announcement.

"This redevelopment is indeed the logical solution for providing the South Australian community with a symbolic, world class sports and entertainment stadium," he said in the statement.

Recreation and Sport Minister Michael Wright said the state government was also supporting Port Adelaide and the Crows by matching a commonwealth commitment of $2.5 million to each club.

"AAMI Stadium draws over one million spectators every year and most of those are Port Adelaide or Crows supporters," he said in the government statement.

"It makes sense for us to support the teams who attract the majority of patrons through the gates."

Ugh, what a waste... AAMI will be the death of me.

[Ho Really]

..."This redevelopment will bring AAMI Stadium up to international standard," he said in a statement.

What does Mike Rann know about stadiums...jack...!

"It will not only enhance the experience for spectators and users of AAMI Stadium, it will put us in a stronger position to compete for major events such as World Cup soccer matches."...

You guys are dreaming!! I for one would never go to watch a soccer match at AAMI (even if it was the World Cup).

Cheers

[Will]

What a backwater decision. No vision at all.

West Lakes is and forever will be in the middle of nowhere.

[monotonehell]

"It will not only enhance the experience for spectators and users of AAMI Stadium, it will put us in a stronger position to compete for major events such as World Cup soccer matches."...

You guys are dreaming!! I for one would never go to watch a soccer match at AAMI (even if it was the World Cup).

Cheers

Judging by the noises coming from FIFA Australia will never host a World Cup, even if we had FIFA standard facilities, they're not interested because of the time zone differences and distance from any large soccer mad population base.

What a backwater decision. No vision at all.

West Lakes is and forever will be in the middle of nowhere.

But there's no economic basis for an inner city stadium as much as we want one.

[Wayno]

i should feel happy about this funding but i don't.

[Will]

"It will not only enhance the experience for spectators and users of AAMI Stadium, it will put us in a stronger position to compete for major events such as World Cup soccer matches."...

You guys are dreaming!! I for one would never go to watch a soccer match at AAMI (even if it was the World Cup).

Cheers

Judging by the noises coming from FIFA Australia will never host a World Cup, even if we had FIFA standard facilities, they're not interested because of the time zone differences and distance from any large soccer mad population base.

What a backwater decision. No vision at all.

West Lakes is and forever will be in the middle of nowhere.

But there's no economic basis for an inner city stadium as much as we want one.

This is a classic example of flogging a dead horse. AAMI stadium is outdated and in the wrong location. No amount of money can make up for this. Whilst you may be right in that there is no economic basis for a new stadium, there may very well be in the future. That is why I see absolutely no point in investing money into something that will inevitably go down the way of Waverley.

[Shuz]

Guys, guys. Relax! With all the development and future potential down at West Lakes, along with the 5-councils push for a tramline out this way - AAMI Stadium really is better off than it was a few years ago. Any cash injection will only help secure its position, and it still has a heap of potential left in it. I for one, particularly like the open concourse between the gates and the seating letting you walk around - helps when you wanna see your friends in the half-time break! Sure the facilities at moment are a bit substandard, but a little scrubdub will fix that easy. The northern grandstand added 7,000 seats if I recall and the possibility still lies open to extend that around the arena, which is what? 70k+ over two tiers. I think it has been built to accomodate a lot of people within a small size. Look at MCG for example, 100k over 3 tiers, so far away from the action. Gabba is already capacity maxed over 3 tiers and has less seats than AAMI.

[NIMBY23]

I think the plan is to raise the level of the western grandstand to the height of the northern stand. Should lift capacity
to 55k or so. Will be a good stadium once this is done.

[Norman]

I'm still hoping for a rail link...

[rogue]

[Mants]

looks pretty good, but id rather see it built in the city.

[Norman]

That looks fantastic. Now we need some sexy, fast rail transport to the stadium from the city, and I'll be a very happy man.

[monotonehell]

This is a classic example of flogging a dead horse. AAMI stadium is outdated and in the wrong location. No amount of money can make up for this. Whilst you may be right in that there is no economic basis for a new stadium, there may very well be in the future. That is why I see absolutely no point in investing money into something that will inevitably go down the way of Waverley.

I agree with what you're saying, but we're between a rock and a hard place here; AMMI is sub-par, but there's no hope of a new facility in the next decade. So what to do? Throw a poultry sum (and in the big picture Mil$70 is chicken feed) at a short term fix or leave it in the bank and wait a decade for the promise of a new stadium that doesn't have any backers yet?

Personally I'd sit on my hands for another year and see if the big players can be steered toward a long term plan for an inner city stadium, and if at the end of trying for a year we're still in the poo then I'd throw small amounts at AMMI.

[cruel_world00]

This is not vision by anyone involved...

Does anyone know why Waverly went down the crapper and how it differs to AAMI? Surely that model would have been looked at extensively right?

[Splashmo]

AAMI will never be a good stadium so long as the crowd sits so far from the action. It's bad enough for football, and you'd need a telescope to see the action if soccer was played there. I'm so disappointed we won't be getting a rebuild, let alone a new stadium.