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Adelaide needs a new sporting stadium. The stadium is needed for several reasons:
- AAMI Stadium/Football Park is too far from the city, and while the stadium has served its purpose until now, it is now time to put a stadium near the centre of town. Spending money on improving AAMI Stadium would be a waste considering general consensus that a stadium near the centre of town is needed.
- Adelaide MUST be a part of the 2018 World Cup if Australia is successful in bidding for the event. Irrespective of the success of the bid, Adelaide would have permanent infrastructure in place for any such event.
- Currently, local businesses do not benefit from AFL and other events at West Lakes due to issues of transport (getting in and out as soon as possible) and lack of a central location for pre/post event activities. Having a stadium near the centre of Adelaide would provide economic benefit for businesses in the vicinity and thus stimulate economic activity within the city and surrounding suburbs.
- Other teams and events could share the stadium (Adelaide United, major concerts).
The question I'm here to answer is 'where should we put it?'
(click image to enlarge)
Location 1: Clipsal Site
Location 2: North Adelaide Golf Course/Riverside
Location 3: Old Gaol/Railyards
Location 4: West Parklands
Location 5: South Parklands
Location 6: Victoria Park
To view a detailed analysis of each site, scroll below.
Site: Park Terrace, Bowden (click image to enlarge)
Requirements: Purchasing land/buildings from current owners and demolishing site. Clipsal already planning to vacate site.
What’s good about it:
- Close to major roads (Port Rd & Park Tce)
- Parking opposite on parklands
- Train line through site boundary
- No parklands disrupted through construction
- Creates ‘entertainment precinct’ around Adelaide Entertainment Centre
What’s not so good about it:
- Cost of purchasing land would be high given commercial value
- Demolishing existing buildings lengthy and expensive process
- Site is not close enough to businesses to result in ‘economic benefit’ or ‘entertainment facilities’ pre/post game
- Perhaps too far away from centre of Adelaide
- Site is within predominantly industrial area
What Col Light says:
Perhaps land is too expensive and not close enough to the city. Hindmarsh Stadium has shown that these sites in industrial areas with limited parking are perhaps not the best location for stadiums. The lack of benefit for businesses in the area is also a negative.
Site: War Memorial Drive, Adelaide (click image to enlarge)
Requirements: Clearing Par 3 Golf Course, reconfiguring top of North Course into new par 3 (perhaps), reconfiguring part of South Course and/or potentially building a new course in ‘horse grazing’ land between Le Fevre Tce and Robe Tce (or any other location).
What’s good about it:
- Land is open and does not require demolition of existing structures
- Stadium would be adjacent to both city and North Adelaide thus providing opportunities for surrounding businesses to profit from AFL and major events
- Transport (trains) next to stadium
- New road infrastructure could be built adjacent to stadium to improve traffic flow and provide traffic flow around North Adelaide
- Western end of Torrens River would become rejuvenated
- Golf courses are not lost if redesigned. North Course is in poor condition currently and argument could be made for removal. In the alternative, new ‘state of the art’ course could be introduced. This would revive previous plans to redesign one of the North Adelaide courses and provide a much needed ‘quality’ course near the city.
- Houses in North Adelaide would not lose parkland/course view as it would be at the base of Montefiore Hill
What’s not so good about it:
- It will encounter opposition from those who seek to ‘protect the parklands’
- If a new course were built on the ‘horse grazing’ land then residents near Le Fevre/Robe Tce may be opposed
What Col Light says:
I think this is a great idea because it uses highly under-utilised areas of parklands and opens up an area of the city which is currently a backwater. The plan would provide the greatest atmosphere around the city and require upgrades to public transport which would benefit commuters on a daily basis, not just during major events.
Note: the ‘new’ golf course plan on the other side of North Adelaide is only a suggestion and not required for this plan to succeed.
Site: West Terrace/North Terrace/Port Road (click to enlarge)
Requirements: Clearing land and old buildings.
What’s good about it:
- Easy access
- Transport
- Close to city
- Benefits city businesses
- Rejuvenates West End
- Close to accommodation
What’s not so good about it:
- Is a ‘pokey’ area surrounded by train lines
- May not be ‘close’ enough to the city
- Creation of extra parking given land size
- Was proposed site for a new hospital
What Col Light says:
A good site close to transport but perhaps not close enough to the main ‘cultural’ side of town. Probably a better site for a hospital. Although ‘environmental’ impact here would be lowest.
Site: West Terrace (click image to enlarge)
Requirements: Could start building tomorrow
What’s good about it:
- The land is already cleared
- It is a highly under-utilised part of the city
- There is lots of land there thus carparking not a major issue
- Opportunity to create a new ‘precinct’ and open the ‘West End’ of town
What’s not so good about it:
- Transport to this side of town is poor - West Tce especially
- There’s nothing else there so economic benefit would be minimal to surrounding areas
- May require moving of community sporting ovals
What Col Light says:
Large open parcel of land, but probably still not close enough to the ‘busy’ areas of town. It would, however, create a new buzz around this side of town.
Site: Greenhill Road (click image to enlarge)
Requirements: Could start building tomorrow
What’s good about it:
- HUGE parcel of land
- Could provide ‘MCG’ feel to the park
- Surrounded by major road (Greenhill Rd)
- Nobody ever sets foot in most parts of the park and the Council at present is not watering a large parcel of it
- It is an opportunity to open this end of town to more activities
- Tram running adjacent
What’s not so good about it:
- Site is remote and at an end of town without major pre/post event opportunities
- May be better developed as a park and not a ‘stadium park’
What Col Light says:
An ‘optimal’ site in terms of it being converted to better use than is presently being experienced. Perhaps not an ‘optimal’ site in terms of a stadium seeking to stimulate economic activity pre/post event.
Site: East Terrace/Kensington Road/Greenhill Road (click image to enlarge)
Requirements: Could start building tomorrow
What’s good about it:
- HUGE under-utilised parcel of land close to the city
- Lots of space and surrounded by roads
- Close to pre/post venues in Hutt Street
- Would encourage use of the Park to the whole of Adelaide, not just the fortunate few who live near
- Lots of car parking space
- Finds a use for a contentious parcel of land
What’s not so good about it:
- Difficulty of building a stand for a car race created division, building a stadium would create even more controversy
- May impact horse racing activities
- Residents may be opposed to losing a large parcel of open space
What Col Light says:
A brilliant site. A courageous group of people could take this on. Good luck…!
Adelaide needs a new sporting stadium. The stadium is needed for several reasons:
