Everyone might as well give up hope of a new stadium under the current SANFL regime

[Matt_bartoon]

Now this is a great idea and one that has been around for a while. I would have thought near the Keswick train station would be an ideal place.

Unfortunately, there are many people, Organisations and governments that have invested plenty of time and, more significantly, more money in Football Park. A whole new mindshift and strategy would be required, something that I feel the current administration of the stadium are incapable of.

Then you have the obstructionists Parkland Authority who as soon as it is whispered, their laywers would be out...

end of my rant.

Matt

 

[GlaCial]

You can't get more central than the city. The obvious site is the railyards. It's serviced by rail and now light rail, taking pressure off the road network.

A common share car park with Adelaide Oval would consolidate infrastructure and benefit both stadiums.

A modern 50,000 seat stadium with a roof would be outstanding for this state.

 

[roger explosion]

i'd go 60,000, surely that could be filled for Showdowns?

 

[James23]

somehow get another 10,000 seats into adelaide oval without destroying its unique heritage look.. id take that over aami

 

[macca23]

There never will be any other stadium in Adelaide for AFL footy other than AAMI Stadium IMO.

I heard discussion on the radio on this topic recently, and they were saying that to build a new Stadium closer to the City from scratch would cost a BILLION dollars.

Where the hell is a billion dollars going to come from??

it is never going to happen. Never!!

As has been suggested by others, better transport to the ground is the key, plus a major refurb, with plans for the upgrade already on the drawing board.

A train service to Footy Park from the city is a must and would solve the majority of problems with accessibility and parking etc.

The SA govt had no hesitation in putting in an extension to the tram service in the city that was costly, uncalled for and unwarranted.

Pressure should be put on them to provide the necessary train service to Footy Park which would also serve local residents on a daily basis and ease traffic congestion.

 

[Macca19]

Its never going to happen. Not in the near future. Maybe 20 years down the track it may be looked at but I don’t think we’ll see a new stadium built for a very long time. They would rather spent the money to upgrade the current stadium than to start a new one from scratch. The major issue being that if they continue to add another 5-10k seats every 10 years or so then parking will just get worse and worse.

Sadly, we will be stuck with an outdated stadium for most of our lifetimes I would say.

 

[PrideOf]

Fastest growing area? Who's he kidding? The only way West Lakes is the fastest growing anything is in the number of defaults on mortgages for McMansions.

 

[brucetiki]

The SA govt had no hesitation in putting in an extension to the tram service in the city that was costly, uncalled for and unwarranted.

This is the mentality that holds Adelaide back. In the late 90's, people harped on for a tram extension, yet when it happens, everyone complains over petty issues like 'we can't turn right on King William St' (I found an easy solution to this problem - use Morphett St, it's actually quicker). The tram line IMO has brought a refreshing look to King William St and North Tce, and IMO will reduce congestion - especially with the removal of the 99B buses.

Instead of a rail link to AAMI, why not extend the tram up Port Rd, then replace the current West Lakes Boulevard Footy Express lane with a tram line that leaves you outside the stadium. This could then see maybe trams to Port Adelaide and Grange as a result of this line.

 

[Blue Red and Gold]

why does the hospital need such a prime location?

The railyards there were be unreal, get into the city early, have a meal or a few beers and then wander down to the game. After the game kick on in the city...great night out!

Better than getting in the car 2 hours before the game sitting in traffic for an hour and a half, watch the game all cramper up, only to then get back in the car. Sit in the carpark for 20 minutes to then finally move to get smashed in more traffic.

I know what I would prefer. I love this state and city but the mentality here really gives me the shits, Victoria Park and the trams is a prime example.

Harden the **** up!

 

[brucetiki]

I know what I would prefer. I love this state and city but the mentality here really gives me the shits, Victoria Park and the trams is a prime example.

Harden the **** up!

My thoughts exactly. When I was in Melbourne for the EF, I was chatting with the rellies about how much has been done in Melbourne in the past 10 years (eg the Southbank precint, Federation Sq etc), and we raised the issue of how Adelaide could benefit with vision like this. I then replied by commenting that someone could try and do this, but the people would complain about it too much.

 

[jackster83]

There never will be any other stadium in Adelaide for AFL footy other than AAMI Stadium IMO.

I heard discussion on the radio on this topic recently, and they were saying that to build a new Stadium closer to the City from scratch would cost a BILLION dollars.

Where the hell is a billion dollars going to come from??

it is never going to happen. Never!!

As has been suggested by others, better transport to the ground is the key, plus a major refurb, with plans for the upgrade already on the drawing board.

A train service to Footy Park from the city is a must and would solve the majority of problems with accessibility and parking etc.

The SA govt had no hesitation in putting in an extension to the tram service in the city that was costly, uncalled for and unwarranted.

Pressure should be put on them to provide the necessary train service to Footy Park which would also serve local residents on a daily basis and ease traffic congestion.

Macca23 makes a good point here: most of us find AAMI Stadium bland and sterile as well as a nightmare for parking (don't even get me started on the beer situation ) but in reality, building a new stadium from scratch is a waste of money especially when we would then have AAMI Stadium and Adelaide Oval sitting empty. We have a small population compared to Melbourne and Sydney so we simply wouldn't use 3 grounds capable of fitting 35000+ people in them.
Also it would cost a fortune. A rail link to West Lakes (keep the bus lanes though) would ease the congestion on match days (less drink driving too ) and people could commute to work on it during the week. Get the AFL and SANFL to chip in a bit of cash for it as well as Westfield and then the cost is reduced as well. The new railway line wouldn't even need to be that long as the Grange line I think it is, is close by anyway.

 

[PendlesIsAStar]

Using the 'ruler' function on Google Earth (gee I love Google Earth ) the MCG is precisely 0.75 km from Flinders Street while the Clipsal site is 1.75 km's from the West Terrace/North Terrace intersection (in a straight line).

I don't mind walking 2kms but as Orange pointed out earlier many would mind.

Most people don't walk from Flinders Street, they catch the next train to either Jolimont or Richmond stations which are only a 5 minute walk from The "G".

The bus service to AAMI Stadium is a real turn off - it took me the best part of an hour and a half to get home (Nailsworth) from the U2 concert and also the few games of footy I've been to. It seems, quite rightly they get the express buses full to the outer suburbs first then look after the short distance travellers second. This is great for those out of town, but the last thing I want to do after a game is queue up for an hour. Unless of course they start selling beers outside the ground after a game!

The transport from the G and Docklands is first class, you'll look around and see 10,000 people standing around you, then 15 minutes later you're the last bloke standing. Public transport is the key, but West Lakes isn't the long term answer. I would certainly go to the footy more often if it was located in the city - that's where all buses end up!

 

[roger explosion]

Piss off the new hospital, builda 60k Telstra Dome-esque stadium there, knock down AAMI and put land developments there

problem solvered

 

[IddyBiddy]

Most people don't walk from Flinders Street, they catch the next train to either Jolimont or Richmond stations which are only a 5 minute walk from The "G".

Not entirely true, the walk from Young and Jackson's + Flinders Street Station along Birrarung Marr has become something of pre-game ritual for a good deal of supporters in Melbourne, espcially those not using train lines to get into the city (many park in the city and surrounding burbs to avoid the parking crush at the end of the game).

While i agree public transport is the key, a ground in the city allows for a a day of activities around the football, lunch before the game, dinner after, a few drinks at your choice of pub etc etc. Unfortunately at West Lakes, most people want to get down to the ground and away from it at the same time, putting enormous pressure on all infrastructure.

I would be surprised if a new stadium was expected to cost in excess of a billion big ones , much more likely half that amount. The price of land in West Lakes that Footy Park sits on would be worth as much to developers, or at least very close to.

 

[relapse]

This is the mentality that holds Adelaide back. In the late 90's, people harped on for a tram extension, yet when it happens, everyone complains over petty issues like 'we can't turn right on King William St' (I found an easy solution to this problem - use Morphett St, it's actually quicker). The tram line IMO has brought a refreshing look to King William St and North Tce, and IMO will reduce congestion - especially with the removal of the 99B buses.

Instead of a rail link to AAMI, why not extend the tram up Port Rd, then replace the current West Lakes Boulevard Footy Express lane with a tram line that leaves you outside the stadium. This could then see maybe trams to Port Adelaide and Grange as a result of this line.

The trams are actually compatible with rail lines so the tram can actually join the train line at North Terrace and then travel down the grange train route to Albert Park. From that stop there can have have a tram extention down West Lake Bvd where the bus lanes already are and the tram can terminate outside the stadium.

It would be extremely easy to do and there are rumours that this is already on the cards to happen. It will be a lot faster way of getting there than the buses going by road.

 

[relapse]

Piss off the new hospital, builda 60k Telstra Dome-esque stadium there, knock down AAMI and put land developments there

problem solvered

This should happen and then should build it with a proper retractable roof so that when the roof is actually open it is like an outdoor stadium unlike Telstra dome that the roof is actually a design flaw that wasnt discovered until the stadium was built. If they built something like that it would also possibly replace the entertainment centre they could use the powerhouse for the small gigs and the new multi purpose stadium for the larger events with the roof closed just like how they use Rod Laver Arena in melbourne.

Helps give more money to the sixers and help pay for the stadium.

Melbourne dont have an entertainment centre and use indoor sporting venues we could definately follow this path.

I would be surprised if a new stadium was expected to cost in excess of a billion big ones , much more likely half that amount. The price of land in West Lakes that Footy Park sits on would be worth as much to developers, or at least very close to.

Supposedly the Telstra Dome cost $250 million and it was finished in 2000, you would think that the SANFL would get the land cheaper from the government and I could see it costing $700 million at the most. The football park land would be worth $300-$400 million + the $100 million that the SANFL was going to spend on football park and you are just about there with the money.

I think that Whicker has no intention at all under any circumstances to get rid of football park, it is their legacy so while they (the SANFL) are marveling at their past glory the rest of Australia moves on to bigger and better stadiums while SA remains left behind.

This is the reason I created the thread because Whicker said that even if money was no object they wouldnt build a new larger stadium in the CBD. This is the problem when you have an army of dinosaurs running the SANFL that have all been there far too long. They still are acting it is the 1980s and all their decisions are about the SANFL and when the bottom begins to drop out of their AFL clubs they will suddenly begin to worry about how to rectify things. People are already not regularly going to games the no show rates are high and many of those have to do wtih poor transport infrastructure, the poor location and the quality of the stadium.

 

[Angry Dragon]

Upgrade Adelaide Oval into a MCG style world class facility.

 

[IddyBiddy]

Upgrade Adelaide Oval into a MCG style world class facility.

As much as i am all for a modern approach, i'm not sure we benenfit from robocopping the most beautiful criket ground in the world.

 

[Mong]

Upgrade Adelaide Oval into a MCG style world class facility.

You're obviously not familiar with how things work in Adelaide. Why build a world class stadium when you can put the most hideous looking stand the world has ever seen on the eastern side?

Adelaide Oval is destined to remain irrelevant for 51 weeks of the year (or 52 for those of us who don't like cricket).

 

[rufus_afc]

I can actually imagine the SANFL commission board room ala a scene from Star Wars.

One of the commissioners bring up their AFL teams

"These teams are the ultimate sporting teams in the universe"

to which Whicker replies

"Don't be too proud of these AFL licenses we control, the ability of these teams to win AFL premerships is insignificant next to the power of the SANFL"

 

[brucetiki]

Upgrade Adelaide Oval into a MCG style world class facility.

I'd love to see this. replace the northern hill with single-tier seating (keep the old scoreboard though), extend the Clem Hill Stand to the walkway and put an extra tier on that, then merge the Chappel stands and whack an extra tier on there as well - there's your 55-60k stadium in the City.

Once the extra tier on the western stands are complete, the only real 'historical' thing left at the ground would be the old scoreboard anyway, so why not?