andynguyen wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2019 2:06 am
NTRabbit wrote: ↑Sat Aug 24, 2019 1:00 am
Why would we split up the potential CBD sports precinct by moving the Tennis out to what is effectively the middle of nowhere as far as public transport and hospitality/retail is concerned instead of moving the Netball to Memorial Drive?
As far as I'm concerned, there is a lack of room to expand the tennis centre at its current site.
There's plenty of room. Both grandstands (not sure if one is heritage listed) should be knocked down and replaced with a rectangular stadium similar to Rod Laver Arena with a capacity of approxiumately 10,000 seats. Good enough for tennis, basketball, international netball, volleyball and other court sports. So in fact a multi-purpose stadium.
Furthermore, the current netball centre is also a large site, which includes 26 outdoor courts, so the space at Memorial Drive is not large enough for netball.
In another thread I mentioned Priceline would be great for a new rectangular soccer stadium with Hindmarsh (Coopers) Stadium sold off for housing. However since SA Netball have their offices there including many outdoor courts it would be very difficult for them to move. Yes, it would be perfect for soccer in a prime location but I think there are still options if this route isn’t taken. Perhaps if any land becomes available south of this current location, somehwere near The Advertiser printshop or better still at the police barracks on Port Road if they should ever move. Keswick Army Barracks also could be a prime location if it becomes a TOD.
Memorial Drive could also be one of the sites for an indoor arena, which, together with the space needed to move spectators around, can result in a potential loss of tennis courts.
No need to remove any outside tennis courts. Tennis will remain the number one sport at this location outside the main arena.
However, an indoor arena is the best fit for Memorial Drive in my opinion. This is because areas that are easily accessible to public transport such as Memorial Drive need to be developed in a way that attract and benefit more people year round. Not everyone plays tennis or netball, and thus those facilities may only benefit those who play those sports, whilst an indoor arena at Memorial Drive will benefit more people, given more sports and concerts can be hosted at the indoor arena, and is an appropriate site to host large numbers of people. Utilisation of space and accessibility to public transport goes hand in hand.
Yes, Memorial Drive is in the best spot. Close to all types of public transport that can be expanded. Concerts will still be held at Adelaide Oval and the Entertainment Centre with the option of Memorial Drive.
The new tennis centre in Mile End has great potential as it will be close to a future train station at Keswick, which could be built as part of an Adelaide underground rail project.
No need for a new tennis centre at Mile End or Keswick. Tennis is not the biggest drawcard. Remember there will only be one or two major tournaments played before the Australian Open in Melbourne. Basketball, netball and concerts will draw more people year round. The SA Government (Liberal/Labour) and DPTI should pull their fingers out and seriously get their act together to plan not one rail line through the CBD but at least two, perhaps three over the next 20 years. A single line as already envisaged (many here call it loop which it isn’t) won’t do much. Remember, sporting venues are not the only places where good public transport access is required.
Any future redevelopment of the netball arena at its current site to increase capacity could be designed in a way to accommodate tennis, therefore increasing the arena's utilisation. And the site bordering Sir John Bradman Dr, Railway Tce, Richmond Rd and the railway line, which contains the tennis and netball centre, could be developed into a major international sports hub for Adelaide with a number of other sports, including swimming, diving, basketball, volleyball, badminton, table tennis, gymnastics, hockey, rugby and soccer to be located there as well. Once urban renewal at surrounding sites start to kick in, there's the potential for this site to be close to future hospitality and retail precincts as well.
Of course you are looking at this from the perspective of an Olympic Games bid. All good and I admire that. Adelaide should look at aiming big, but we also need to be realistic and practical. I’m not a fan of the Commonwealth Games. I think they’ll be a waste of time. They won’t attract enough world interest to take us to the next level, however I cannot go against the grain as most in SA will back this. If we do go ahead with a Commonwealth Games we need to start planning now and get the infrastructure down as soon as possible.
Minor indoor sports with one-off events (badminton, volleyball, korfball, table tennis, etc.) can all be catered for at Memorial Drive, a revamped Priceline, Titanium or even the Entertainment Centre. Out door sports like rugby and soccer need a rectangular stadium. Gymnastics are already catered for at the Entertainment Centre, like indoor motocross and those types of events. Field hockey already have their own centre at Pooraka. Swimming and aquatic sports are at Marion and you won’t move them from there.
I agree the area around Mile End and Keswick have a lot of potential. I’ve already mentioned this years ago and in one of your other posts. Sport is not the only thing that can drive renewal.
Cheers
