State Government to spend at least $3.3 million upgrading Hindmarsh Stadium for 2023 Women’s World Cup Soccer
The State Government’s decision to change its mind about bidding for the 2023 Women’s World Cup has paid off, with at least $3.3 million to be spent upgrading Hindmarsh Stadium to make it compliant to host matches.
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The State Government will spend $3.3 million upgrading Hindmarsh Stadium in a bid to host 2023 Women’s World Cup soccer matches.
Sports Minister Corey Wingard has hailed the decision by FIFA to hold the tournament in Australia and New Zealand as a “outstanding result” for Adelaide.
Mr Wingard said FIFA delegates had inspected Hindmarsh Stadium after the State Government changed its mind about supporting the bid.
“We had a delegation here just after the game between the Matildas and Chile and they were super impressed with what they saw,” he told ABC Adelaide.
Mr Wingard said the State Government had told FIFA it would spend at least $3.3 million reconfiguring the stadium to increase its capacity to hold 22,000 fans.
The last time that amount of money was spent at Hindmarsh was before the 2000 Olympic Games, when Adelaide hosted pool matches.
“Today’s announcement is outstanding,” he said.
“We will be investing in sport infrastructure across the state and I will have more to say on that in coming days and weeks.
“We need to work through the detail but we will be spending at least $3.3 million to upgrade Hindmarsh Stadium to make it FIFA compliant.”
Mr Wingard said winning the World Cup bid was a “really exciting time for Australia and for Adelaide”.
“We are going to put on one hell of a show,” he said.
“We are talking about group stage matches being held here.
“We will be working hard to get teams based here and playing here, so South Australia can be a big part of it.”
Mr Wingard said Adelaide hosting matches would be “very exciting” for the thousands of young soccer players across the state, especially girls and young women.
“They will be able to come and see their idols,” he said.
Mr Wingard said Hindmarsh Stadium had been included in the bid — rather than Adelaide Oval — because the Women’s World Cup clashed with the AFL season.
Football Federation SA chief executive Michael Carter welcomed the announcement matches would be played in Adelaide.
“It is exactly the shot in the arm that women’s soccer needs,” he said.
“For so long the Matildas have been our flagship team and now young players will get to see them in action.”
While the draw would not be decided for some time, Mr Carter said Adelaide “will definitely” host games during the 16-round competition.
“It is just brilliant,” he said.
“The timing couldn’t be better. The women’s premier league starts again tonight at The Parks (Angle Park) with a double header between Adelaide City and Adelaide Uni and our high performance youth team and Salisbury Inter.”
Mr Carter said the upgrade to Hindmarsh Stadium would be managed by the State Government.
MORE TO COME.