$662m Riverbank Arena can ignite state like Adelaide Oval, says Australian Hotels Association

The state government proposed Riverbank arena can emulate Adelaide Oval and “ignite the state” despite resistance, says the boss of one of SA’s most influential bodies.

A proposed $662m multipurpose Riverbank arena can overcome initial resistance and ignite the city and state, just like the redeveloped Adelaide Oval, says the influential Australian Hotels Association.

Writing in the AHA’s September newsletter, state president David Basheer says the 15,000-seat arena’s connection to the Adelaide Convention Centre will allow Adelaide to compete for interstate and international events from which it has been locked out.

Mr Basheer concedes “mixed” public reaction to the arena but recalls significant resistance to Adelaide Oval’s $535m redevelopment, opened in 2014.

“It simply took a sold-out Showdown and a Rolling Stones concert (in 2014) to instantly give

the new (Adelaide Oval) stadium unanimous public acceptance. The proposed city arena can ignite the city and the state in a similar way,” writes Mr Basheer, whose hotel group includes North Tce’s Strathmore.

“Look how the Adelaide Oval redevelopment led to significant public and private investment in the area. The arena can further inspire more investment.”

The proposed arena on the River Torrens’ south bank, above Adelaide Oval. Picture: Supplied

Mr Basheer says the arena is the state’s best long-term opportunity to grow tourism, directly benefiting hotels and other food and beverage outlets. He also highlights the benefits to regional tourism when conference delegates extend their visits.

“The cost of doing nothing will see a further leakage of conferences and events to the new

facilities in Sydney and Melbourne, along with the proposed future expansion in Brisbane,” he says.

The centrepiece of Premier Steven Marshall’s re-election pitch, the arena, when operational from 2028, would attract 825,000 visitors annually, create more than 4500 jobs during construction and add more than $1bn to the state economy, a business case released in August forecasts.

Mr Marshall said a vibrant Riverbank precinct would “ensure we attract high-class, economy boosting conferences, concerts and other events which currently are often choosing other states due to capacity and facility constraints”.

“I am unapologetically ambitious for our state, and this arena is the next piece in the puzzle, which will transform the Riverbank precinct into a world-class destination,” he said.

The 15,000-seat arena would host concerts, conventions, basketball, netball and other court sports.

The Advertiser in March revealed Mr Marshall’s plans for a 15,000-seat, multipurpose indoor arena for sport, entertainment and conventions, built between Adelaide’s railyards and the River Torrens – with major construction not starting until 2025.

Labor in June vowed to scuttle the arena, which it has branded a “basketball stadium”, and divert at least $100m into country health.

But Treasurer Rob Lucas then pointed out that Labor would free up only $10m over the next two years by scrapping the arena.