FFA says Adelaide needs World Cup stadium

[Cruise]

http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/stor ... 01,00.html

THE State Government has 10 months to commit to a world-class city stadium, or Adelaide will be excluded from Australia's bid to host soccer's World Cup.

Football Federation Australia chief executive Ben Buckley said yesterday time was running out for the Government to either build a new stadium or substantially upgrade Adelaide Oval to provide an inner-city venue capable of hosting matches during the world's biggest sporting event.

He said AAMI Stadium could not be brought up to standard and the planned Adelaide Oval upgrade did not go far enough.

"The clock is ticking, we have to have the submission done by the end of the year," Mr Buckley said. "If a decision is not made soon, Adelaide is in danger of missing out. We don't want a city with a proud history like Adelaide to miss out."

But the State Government has once again rejected the new stadium call, and Sports Minister Michael Wright says Adelaide already has adequate venues.

"We've already got world-class stadiums in Adelaide," he said on ABC radio this morning.

Mr Wright said the Government's priority was to build a new hospital and that it would not be swayed by the FFA.

Mr Buckley said the FFA would prefer to submit a bid to the world governing body, FIFA, that did not include Adelaide rather than weaken the entire 2018 proposal by including a sub-standard venue. This is the most direct ultimatum yet issued by the FFA and the first with a deadline.

FIFA demands exacting standards for World Cup venues with regulations on every aspect of the venue including player, spectator, media and corporate facilities and transport.

In Australia, venues that are seen as up to standard include Melbourne's MCG and Etihad Stadium, Sydney's ANZ Stadium and SFS and Brisbane's Suncorp. Australia is likely to need about 10 venues identified as suitable standard when it submits its technical bid to FIFA early next year.

Mr Buckley said he could not see anyway AAMI Stadium could ever be brought up to required standard, but said Adelaide Oval was a chance if further work was undertaken.

"We have not seen anything at AAMI that would give us confidence that we would have a stadium that would be seen as compliant with FIFA requirements," he said.

The State Government recently put on hold a $100 million funding commitment to AAMI Stadium as it cuts spending in response to declining budget revenues caused, in part, by the global financial crisis. The government's decision has made it even tougher for the SANFL to finance a much-needed upgrade of the ageing venue.

When he originally announced the AAMI funding, Premier Mike Rann said the money was to "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 the World Cup soccer matches".

Mr Buckley said while the Adelaide Oval's current $90 million upgrade - which will increase the venue's capacity to 36,000 and improve facilities for some spectators and players - was not enough in itself to reach FIFA World Cup needs, it was a step in the right direction.

The State Government has remained defiantly opposed to building a stadium in the city, saying it could not afford to build a new venue in the current economic environment.

The Opposition has already committed itself to building a new venue on the railyards on North Tce where the State Government has promised to build a new hospital.

Both parties have vowed to make the concept of a new stadium a major issue in next year's State election.

A State Government spokeswoman said it had not received notification of the deadline.

[Shuz]

Mike Rann would very well know he'd lose the state election if he doesn't make a commitment - especially with that kind of ultimatum from FFA. He would not dare deny Adelaide the chance to feature in the World Cup, and we are the favourites to host 2022. England are the frontrunners for 2018. FIFA's intention to announce both host nations in the same bidding process is what has also made this process interesting; as it requires us to commit now, and not in three years time - an option which Rann would have preffered, but does not have.

[Cruise]

Mike Rann would very well know he'd lose the state election if he doesn't make a commitment - especially with that kind of ultimatum from FFA. He would not dare deny Adelaide the chance to feature in the World Cup, and we are the favourites to host 2022. England are the frontrunners for 2018. FIFA's intention to announce both host nations in the same bidding process is what has also made this process interesting; as it requires us to commit now, and not in three years time - an option which Rann would have preffered, but does not have.

totally agree, although it seems like the FFA are blackmailing the govenment into building a new stadium.

But thats what you can do when you hold all the aces

[Will]

Although I understand we have a very small chance of winning the rights to hold the world cup in 2018, just the fact that an Australian bid would be submitted without Adelaide will do enourmous damage to our reputation. It is embarrasing decisions which give us our 'backwater' reputation. This is one example.

[Legga]

i remember watching 'The world game' on SBS a few months ago, and they spoke to Rann and bought up the stadium debate, and on that show is said "Adelaide will not miss out on the world cup bid." he went on to say he would do everything in his power to ensure it.

i think it will be very interesting to see what he does.

[joshzxzx]

Well I am sure Media Mike is well aware that the majority of the population is Adelaide is wanting a new stadium or a complete redevelopment of Adelaide oval.

My bet is that come close to the state election he will make an anouncment that will prob help him in getting some votes!

[Wayno]

so by when would a stadium need to be constructed to guarantee games in Adelaide? surely not before 2017-2019...

[Paulns]

I love this debate! For those of you that follow, you'd know that I'm always commenting on this idea, why because this is one subject that I'm really passionate about for Adelaide!! I've seen the benefits of having world class stadiums close/near the CBD in both Sydney and Melbourne and believe the people of Adelaide are crying out for the opportunities it could present.

You can name and rename the forum 100 different ways but at the end of the day it all comes back to building a new Multi Purpose Stadium in the CBD on the old rail yards site.. Come on, you know it makes sense! Build a new stadium! I can't wait until we have a governement that has the balls to get this one up.

Regardless of your feelings or opinions on sports, be it Footy, Soccer, Rugby, Cricket, etc, I strongly believe all South Australians will benefit from a new stadium in the city, either, INDIRECTLY (Through the possibility of hosting world class events like the Commonwealth Games and World Cup Soccer, flow on effects to pubs, clubs, restaurants, hotels, etc) or DIRECTLY through easier access to games (CBD location) and a new updated world class covered stadium. I like to think of the bigger picture, apart from the Olympics, there is NO bigger event than the World Cup, Soccer... You can't buy that sort of exposure, regardless of what 2 countries are playing. I'd hate to imagine the thought of Adelaide missing out on this once in a lifetime chance....

[Brando]

so by when would a stadium need to be constructed to guarantee games in Adelaide? surely not before 2017-2019...

You wouldn't think it would be required before then. A good couple years of events to address the initial teething problems.

I'm glad this 'ultimatum' has come about and frankly i'm suprised by Mr Wright's reply..! I mean what would the FFA know about standards required to host such an event.

As we have said before, we don't ask for the new stadium tomorrow, just a long term vision and direction for longevity of this city.

[Cruise]

frankly i'm suprised by Mr Wright's reply..! I mean what would the FFA know about standards required to host such an event.

I would suggest Wright is towing the party line

[Norman]

I'm interested in what Perth is going to do about it, they don't have a FIFA-approved stadium now, do they? And did they have this story plastered all over PerthNow? No.

[Legga]

I'm interested in what Perth is going to do about it, they don't have a FIFA-approved stadium now, do they? And did they have this story plastered all over PerthNow? No.

maybe because they have a new stadium ready to be built (just need some money), we dont have anything.

[rev]

Didn't the government recently come out with a "rebuilding" option cost wise for the RAH on the existing site?

Like I've been saying, they wont build a hospital over the rail yards, we will be getting a new stadium, or at least the commitment to build one. And it will be this government that will make that commitment.

They will get them selves out of building the hospital there without losing face(Liberals will try their best to mock them), in its place a stadium. Expect spin.

[Prince George]

... although it seems like the FFA are blackmailing the govenment into building a new stadium. But thats what you can do when you hold all the aces

I don't believe that they do hold all the aces - if they did, there would be no public doomsday predictions and everything would be decided behind closed doors; the first we would hear would be the press conference announcing that we've just bought the FFA a new stadium. The host nation needs to provide a lot of stadia, at least 10 - that's how many South Africa will have, Germany '06 had 12, Japan/Korea '02 had 20 - plus all the training facilities for 32 nations (unless they expand again). Frank Lowy says that they're looking to have 16 grounds in the bid. If that's the plan, he can hardly ignore Adelaide.

[crawf]

Without Adelaide and Perth, there will be no Australian FIFA World Cup