Readers divided over proposed Adelaide Oval hotel as Premier Steven Marshall says profits would be reinvested into infrastructure

Readers are divided over plans for a boutique hotel at Adelaide Oval, with just over half of voters in an Advertiser poll supporting the 128-room facility. SEE THE FULL FLYOVER | VOTE IN POLL

• Spreading its wing: New Adelaide Oval hotel plan

Readers are divided over plans for a boutique hotel at Adelaide Oval, with just over half of voters in an Advertiser poll supporting the 128-room facility.

By 9.30am, 2165 people had voted in the poll, with 1221 — or 57 per cent — backing the building of an oval hotel and 944 — or 43 per cent — against the idea.

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Advertiser reader Bruce posted: “I think it’s a good idea, but it is disappointing to see all the negativity. It isn’t being built on the parklands and will be well situated for guests to dine in the city or North Adelaide. It provides jobs in construction & ongoing when it opens.”

Raylene agreed: “Fabulous idea. If it’s not going to affect any of its surroundings and will enhance, I am all for it. As a South Australian and regular traveller to Adelaide for business, footy and other events, it will be very convenient. This is setting SA apart yet again.”

Inside the proposed Adelaide Oval hotel.

However, John wrote: “We’ve got a beautiful oval, why spoil it? When you drive past, instead of seeing the world class oval you’ll be looking at a hotel. There should be lots of other places to build a hotel without encroaching on the parklands.”

And Kerryn was also against the idea: “How to take an iconic venue and make it look boring and reduce public access even further! Why waste all of the original design money? At least we can call it Holiday Inn Stadium! Dumb idea!”

While David like the idea, but not the design: “Great concept and it would be a functional and practical addition to the oval. However, the facade has no link to the colour, style and symmetry of the existing structure and, as many others have commented, resembles the tacky brown boxes favoured by motel designers of the 70s. At least it doesn’t have the horrendous, random, wonky windows that appear to be in vogue.”

Premier Steven Marshall and Stadium Management Authority chair Kevin Scarce on Sunday began the big sell for plans which follow the Oval’s massive redevelopment five years ago.

The Sunday Mail exclusively revealed designs for the five-level hotel, which has backing from Cabinet but still requires sign off from the State Commission Assessment Panel.

It is expected to start construction in May of next year, before being complete in June of 2020.

The SMA has access to a loan of up to $42 million through the SA Government Financing Authority.

An external impression of the proposal.

Adelaide City Council has been briefed on the project, but its permission is not required.

Mr Scarce, a former SA governor who also oversaw the Nuclear Fuel Cycle Royal Commission, said it was critical the SMA have new funds to spend on future upgrades.

“All of our analysis has been done on very conservatives lines,” Mr Scarce said.

“The actual return itself, I think we’ll need a little more time, but it will be significant.

“The purpose for this is to develop diverse revenue streams.

“Those revenue streams allow us to invest back in the Oval to keep it nationally and globally competitive, so that’s what we’re seeking to do in a number of areas.

“Elements will go to footy, elements will go to cricket and elements will come back to the stadium management authority which will enable us to reinvest back into the Oval.”

Mr Scarce said the average sports fan would experience those benefits.

The hotel would be run by the SMA, using existing kitchens and restaurants.

It is being built within the existing Oval footprint, not on new parklands. The design elevates the rooms from the Oval’s eastern entrance, away from patron foot traffic.

About 100 jobs are expected to be created by the project.

Mr Marshall said he expected the plan to divide opinion.

“There will be some people who are for it (and) some people who have reservations, exactly the same as what occurred when the redevelopment of the Adelaide Oval was first envisaged,” he said.

“I think we can all see what we have here now is a great facility for our state.”

An artist impression of the proposed Adelaide Oval hotel, which would be integrated into the stadium itself.

He said a financially strong SMA could keep prices lower and require less public subsidy.

“We think it’s a great proposal, and we’re looking to support it,” Mr Marshall said.

“They tell us that this will actually enhance their financial viability going into the future.

“We’ve got a huge ambition, this new Government, to grow the size of our visitor economy in SA.

“We think this will enhance the accommodation offers which are here in SA at the moment.

“We want this to remain the very best stadium in Australia, it’s as simple as that.”

This morning he said criticism of commercial activity in the parklands ignored the very essence of Adelaide Oval’s function.

“The project is about growing the economy. There is no change to the boundaries of Adelaide Oval, there is lots of fear being put out there by people who oppose the development and let us be clear a lot of people opposed the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval,” said Mr Marshall.

Providing a new revenue stream for the SMA – comprised of SACA and SANFL officials – was essential to the viability of Adelaide Oval insisted Mr Marshall.

“The Adelaide Oval is a massive commercial activity in the parklands so all we are doing with this is reduce the risk of Adelaide Oval going forward, create an additional income, stream so we can continue to reinvent this fantastic facility so that it remains world class into the future,” Mr Marshall told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“This is a way to tap in and better utilise the asset.”

An artist impression of the proposed Adelaide Oval hotel.

Port Adelaide president David Koch said further investment in Adelaide Oval was a logical progression to safeguard the viability — and pay for maintenance — of the venue.

“I can understand why they are doing it and think it is a good idea. Football clubs want to build an income stream into your organisation that isn’t subject to on-field performance. That is the reason for our China strategy,” Koch told FIVEaa.

“Adelaide Oval is empty a lot of the time so they want to bring in different income streams to make it more viable.”

Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the council had some concerns about building in the parklands and effect of the development on other commercial operations.

“I’m also concerned about the consultation put in place beforehand,” she said.

“They kept a very close lid on what was going on, and I think more consultation needs to be made.”

Ms Verschoor also raised concerns the hotel was on Crown land and would not pay rates.

Adelaide City councillor Anne Moran believed the proposed development was an unnecessary encroachment on parklands space.

“I think it a bad idea,” Ms Moran told Triple M.

“We need to develop out city and it will rob Peter to pay Paul.”

Opposition treasury spokesman Stephen Mullighan said the project was “hard to justify” in the wake of State Budget cuts, including reductions to bus routes and Service SA centres closures.

Opposition leader Peter Malinauskas this morning denied Labor was being hypocritical in opposing the Adelaide Oval project when taxpayers were liable for $300 million it provided as a guarantee for the Nyrstar development at Port Pirie.

“Our reservations are less about the hotel than it is the taxpayer is going to have to take on this debt in order to fund the hotel,” said Mr Malinauskas told ABC Radio Adelaide.

“The State Government is borrowing money to hand it over to the SMA to build a hotel that will compete against other hotels that are already being built. Other hotels can’t get access to those arrangements.”

Mr Marshall countered: “Providing a guarantee means we are left with risk but not return. It is a good deal.”