#VIS: Inner-City Stadium/Riverbank Precinct

[monotonehell]

I know a few of the managers of the "upper priced" pubs around Rundle Street and Hutt Street and they all hate the Clipsal, for them any profit made in the small increase in patronage is offset by the vandalism and increased cost of security needed to refuse to serve drunk patrons (as is required under the act).

I've outed myself as a total snob now haven't I?

LOL!!!! and all you people think having a football stadium in the city will attract a "higher class" of pub patron, than those that attend the Clipsal 500?

I'm yet to be convinced that the average patrons of AFL matches will flow into the CBD an make use of the clubs, pubs and restaurants. More likely they'd crown in and crowd out again at the end of their event. But perhaps AFL wouldn't be the only use of an inner city stadium?

[Edgar]

I know a few of the managers of the "upper priced" pubs around Rundle Street and Hutt Street and they all hate the Clipsal, for them any profit made in the small increase in patronage is offset by the vandalism and increased cost of security needed to refuse to serve drunk patrons (as is required under the act).

I've outed myself as a total snob now haven't I?

LOL!!!! and all you people think having a football stadium in the city will attract a "higher class" of pub patron, than those that attend the Clipsal 500?

I'm yet to be convinced that the average patrons of AFL matches will flow into the CBD an make use of the clubs, pubs and restaurants. More likely they'd crown in and crowd out again at the end of their event. But perhaps AFL wouldn't be the only use of an inner city stadium?

and perhaps this might change the whole attitude and encourage more businesses to open at night or till late night? Which will bring city life to a better standard that it currently is for Adelaide.

[adam73837]

There is plenty of space within the CBD to build a stadium, however the problem is that we have to conisder the following things

• That it doesn't interfere with the planning made by the Parklands Preservation comittee and the conservative minorites who are now both pushing for more power since the minorities brought the State Government to its knees with Vic Park issue

• That it doesn't interfere with schorched and hardly-ever-used parklands

• That it doesn't wreck our iconic railway yards

• That it doesn't cost too much despite the fact that a multiple-use stadium will bring money into the state

As a suggestion, one way to have a multiple use stadium able to host football and soccer matches is to build it in the shape of a soccer stadium with movable seating (stands) close to the pitch that can convert the ground from retangular to oval shaped.

[monotonehell]

There is plenty of space within the CBD to build a stadium, however the problem is that we have to conisder the following things

• That it doesn't interfere with the planning made by the Parklands Preservation comittee and the conservative minorites who are now both pushing for more power since the minorities brought the State Government to its knees with Vic Park issue

• That it doesn't interfere with schorched and hardly-ever-used parklands

• That it doesn't wreck our iconic railway yards

• That it doesn't cost too much despite the fact that a multiple-use stadium will bring money into the state

As a suggestion, one way to have a multiple use stadium able to host football and soccer matches is to build it in the shape of a soccer stadium with movable seating (stands) close to the pitch that can convert the ground from retangular to oval shaped.

Yes we had a similar suggestion a number of days ago, someone pointed out that Adelaide is the centre of the universe with regard to temporary seating structures (apparently!) when I pointed out that they do regularly move seating onto the field of Toronto's Roger's Centre for smaller field games.

Now there's an engineering challenge for you, design a stadium whose seating can go from oval to square at the push of a button.

[Shuz]

Well, its not that hard really...

Basically, the stadium would have to be built to a rectangular pitch. The seating is divided into several sections for example, AAMI Stadium has like section A, section B etc..... anyways all of these sections are actually disjointed, hence not fixed together. Anyways, the side sections would all have the capability to 'roll' back on a railing to a designated distance away from the field, where it begins to form a ovular shape for AFL standards or cricket standards. There would be additional seating fixed inside the sections, which would quite simply 'roll' outwards, again on a series of railings, until they 'clicked' with the other sections, thus creating a perfectly ovular formation of seating. This entire procedure would only be suitable for ground-level seating, and the multi-tier sections (levels 2&3) would be a permanent ovular shape, which is already the case anyway to more modern-day stadiums - aka Wembley.

To make more sense of the concept, the permanent seating would be built on the outer, where you would have a large walkway beneath the tiers that provide the room for the ground-level seats to roll back and forth. The gorund level seating is not attached in anyway to the multi-tier seating above it, allowing for the flexibility of the rolling movement to take place. If anyone needs me to explain it with a few diagrams let me know.

[Tyler_Durden]

I'm yet to be convinced that the average patrons of AFL matches will flow into the CBD an make use of the clubs, pubs and restaurants. More likely they'd crown in and crowd out again at the end of their event. But perhaps AFL wouldn't be the only use of an inner city stadium?

Football fans make use of West Lakes Mall and the eateries there in huge numbers before and after games so I think it's fair to say there will be a large number that would flow to and from the city. Obviously it would only be a percentage but even only 5,000 - 10,000 out of 40,000 would make some impact on the city. And many would spend the whole day.

[Brando]

From the Tiser. More momentum..

Advertiser Editorial: City needs world-class stadium

THERE can be no argument. Adelaide – and broader South Australia – needs a flexible, world-class sporting stadium in the heart of the city.

It needs to be covered, seat at least 80,000 people and have the adaptability to provide world-standard spectator facilities for such diverse sports as Australian Rules football, soccer, the two rugby codes and track and field.
A new stadium could also be used for major concerts, conventions and displays, and incorporate facilities for basketball and even indoor tennis.

It will be too late, in 15 or 20 years, to lament that in an era of burgeoning international sporting competitions driven by funding from global television rights, Adelaide is constantly overlooked because of inadequate facilities.

Already, early planning for the Federal Government-backed bid for the 2018 World Soccer Cup has exposed the shortcomings of SA's sporting infrastructure.

The same problem will severely inhibit any Adelaide bid for future Commonwealth Games.

Other cities in Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region are building stadiums and other sporting and entertainment facilities which dwarf anything Adelaide can offer.

The immediate response, both from governments and sporting organisations, is that SA doesn't have the money to invest in major sporting infrastructure.

That is both defeatist and untrue. It was only a week ago that Treasurer Kevin Foley branded South Australians as a "bunch of bloody whingers".

What is lacking is not money but determination, commitment and lateral thinking.

There is ample space in the inner-west of Adelaide, on railway yards and under-utilised parklands, to build a stadium, surrounded by civic and commercial space. The available open space is the envy of most cities.

A new stadium, controlled by the SA National Football League, would cost something like $1.2 billion.

The sale of AAMI Stadium at West Lakes would generate about $350 million reducing the debt to $850 million. This would cost perhaps $100 million a year to service.

A special levy could be applied to poker machine operators in SA, which could bring in as much as $100 million a year – more than enough to finance the sports stadium project.

Profit from poker machines in this financial year is expected to top $500 million, with an additional $314 million claimed in taxes by the Government.

Hotels and clubs have pumped millions of dollars into upgrading facilities. They employ thousands of people and make a genuine contribution to the lifestyle of most South Australians.

But a collective profit of $500 million for 600 outlets is surely excessive.

A tax or levy on poker-machine operators, together with government and private industry contributions, sponsorship and gate and useage charges would make it possible to build a new stadium.

All that is needed is to stop whingeing and do it.

[Brando]

I'm yet to be convinced that the average patrons of AFL matches will flow into the CBD an make use of the clubs, pubs and restaurants. More likely they'd crown in and crowd out again at the end of their event. But perhaps AFL wouldn't be the only use of an inner city stadium?

Your joking right?
Clearly you have no idea what your talking about. So you honestly think that everyone will stroll into town, watch the game and disappear?

[Tyler_Durden]

Advertiser Editorial: City needs world-class stadium

It needs to be covered, seat at least 80,000 people.....

I think 80,000 is going overboard. It only needs to be 50,000 - 60,000. 80k would never get filled.

[Brando]

Advertiser Editorial: City needs world-class stadium

It needs to be covered, seat at least 80,000 people.....

I think 80,000 is going overboard. It only needs to be 50,000 - 60,000. 80k would never get filled.

I agree, i think 80k is excessive. Even a showdown would struggle to fill the stadium.

[rev]

A new stadium, inner city location, should be built with the World Cup in mind, not AFL.
If it has to be another oval shaped pitch, then I hope they design it so seating can be added in to make the pitch rectangular. Of course it would then need to have a roof as all seating for WC stadiums need to be under cover.
I wonder what FIFA says about stadiums with closed roofs?

[teflon fox]

I'm yet to be convinced that the average patrons of AFL matches will flow into the CBD an make use of the clubs, pubs and restaurants. More likely they'd crown in and crowd out again at the end of their event. But perhaps AFL wouldn't be the only use of an inner city stadium?

Your joking right?
Clearly you have no idea what your talking about. So you honestly think that everyone will stroll into town, watch the game and disappear?

If you have ever been to the Telstra dome or M.C.G. to a football match you would see that
a good proportion of the crowd goes into the city afterwards - not just to get trams straight
home - they spend money in the pubs/clubs and restaurants. Obviously everyone wont but
even if 10-15% do it will make a huge difference to the vibrancy of the C.B.D. as well as being
a financial boon for the businesses.

[The Carabinieri]

A new stadium, inner city location, should be built with the World Cup in mind, not AFL.
If it has to be another oval shaped pitch, then I hope they design it so seating can be added in to make the pitch rectangular. Of course it would then need to have a roof as all seating for WC stadiums need to be under cover.
I wonder what FIFA says about stadiums with closed roofs?

I dont think FIFA would allow closed roof ... as it would then become indoor. However, if you look at stadiums in europe, they are all open, however, they have all seats undercover.

[The Carabinieri]

I'm yet to be convinced that the average patrons of AFL matches will flow into the CBD an make use of the clubs, pubs and restaurants. More likely they'd crown in and crowd out again at the end of their event. But perhaps AFL wouldn't be the only use of an inner city stadium?

Your joking right?
Clearly you have no idea what your talking about. So you honestly think that everyone will stroll into town, watch the game and disappear?

If you have ever been to the Telstra dome or M.C.G. to a football match you would see that
a good proportion of the crowd goes into the city afterwards - not just to get trams straight
home - they spend money in the pubs/clubs and restaurants. Obviously everyone wont but
even if 10-15% do it will make a huge difference to the vibrancy of the C.B.D. as well as being
a financial boon for the businesses.

Not just that ... you would also build bars/clubs, cafes, restaurants, and even accomidation near the city ... WHich then makes it more than just a sporting event, as you have things to do afterwards.

Just look at some of the new stadiums they built in germany .... withing the stadium, they have a hotel rooms, clubs and restaurants .... A very smart thing to do

[Matt]

The point that it's debatable that people would stay in the city and bars, cafes, etc, is a joke.

Anyone that's been to the footy in Melbourne or Sydney would have seen the amount of vibrancy it gives to the place on match days.
Melbourne is brilliant on weekends - it's awash with people in their scarves and guernseys.
Sydney, which is a one team town, is the same. The bars and restaurants that neighbour the SCG are always packed full of Swans supporters before and after games.

Look at West Lakes Mall. It's adjacent to AAMI Stadium and a heap of people go there to shop or eat beforehand.
Of course the same would happen in town, not to mention after games.

I think it would do wonders for the city.
God knows we need something to pump some life into the city and city streets. Adelaide is nothing short of DEAD on weekends.