Adelaide Oval $9 million upgrade to sound and light equipment for sporting events and concerts
SEE THE VIDEO: It’s already the pride of SA — now Adelaide Oval is about to have another multimillion-dollar upgrade to bring it in line with some of the world’s best stadiums. Find out what’s planned.
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ADELAIDE Oval patrons will enjoy world-class light and sound shows as part of a $9 million upgrade also designed to slash the stadium’s electricity bill.
Hundreds of energy-efficient LED lights will be installed throughout the Oval’s grandstands, with some 248 devices enabling multicoloured displays synchronised with music.
Oval Stadium Management Authority chairman John Olsen said the upgrade, being funded by a $9 million loan over eight years, would ensure the stadium kept innovating to meet international event promoters’ demands.
“It will also enable us to give crowds at Adelaide Oval the kind of light and sound spectacular that you see at (Italy’s) Juventus Stadium or (London’s) Stamford Bridge,” he said.
Turin’s Juventus last August launched a stadium upgrade featuring 396 LED devices, enabling a pre-match spectacular which, according to the club website, has “the entire arena awash with flashing lights” and music for more than 30 seconds.
Adelaide Oval management is touting a similar experience for patrons, with the ground lighting up with club colours and music.
Another 220 LED lights will replace existing power-hungry incandescent globes on the leading edge of the Eastern, Riverbank and Western stands. Mr Olsen said this would cut the Oval’s electricity bill, which last year tripled, going up by $800,000.
Mr Olsen said the work would be completed before the day/night Ashes Test, starting on December 2.
He also confirmed the SMA’s board had abandoned plans to generate base load electricity to supply the stadium because they were considered uneconomic, as revealed by The Advertiser last month.
The diesel and gas cogeneration options would have cost between $11 million and $12 million.
SMA chief executive officer Andrew Daniels said the project had the unanimous support of Cricket Australia, SACA, SANFL, the AFL and the Adelaide and Port Adelaide football clubs.
“We have worked very closely with our major partners to develop an upgrade that will enable cricket, football and other event promoters to continue to enhance the fan experience at Adelaide Oval – an experience that is already recognised as arguably the best in Australia,” he said.
“This is the biggest upgrade since the opening of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and, when combined with initiatives such as the Commonwealth Bank RoofClimb, our LIVE on 5 Fringe venue and concerts such as Adele, it demonstrates our commitment to keeping Adelaide Oval at the forefront of global stadia.”
