Studio Nine Architects awarded design tender for huge sports development in Adelaide’s south

A top Adelaide architecture firm has been handed the reins to design the biggest sports development in this council’s history.

A top Adelaide architecture firm has landed the coveted tender for a historic sports development in Adelaide’s south.

Marion Council has consulted with Studio Nine Architects to design plans for a proposed five-court basketball stadium, which would soon house the South Adelaide Basketball Club.

Marion mayor Kris Hanna said the new Marion Basketball Stadium at Norfolk Rd would be the biggest sporting project council has embarked on.

“This is another significant milestone in the Marion Basketball Stadium project,” Mr Hanna said.

“We are excited to see the concept designs from Studio Nine Architects early next year.

“This project would not have been possible without funding from the Australian Government and we thank them for fulfilling their election promise.”

The SABC has been lobbying for a new facility to meet the needs of its 2259 membership base. Forecast growth projections outline the potential for the club to increase its membership numbers to over 6000 players in 10 years’ time, a council spokesman said.

Members of the South Adelaide Basketball Club in 2022. Picture Dean Martin

However, the design footprint of the new stadium will overtake the site currently leased by the 90-year-old Marion Tennis Club – causing outrage within the local community.

Club president Kym Morgan recently said that in a bid to keep the club alive, membership had nearly doubled.

“We’ve seen an amazing response from the community and our social and junior programs have exploded. Overall, we now have 112 members – this has more than doubled since the news about our future being uncertain broke,” Mr Morgan said in April.

“The club is buzzing at the moment. I’m really confident that with the friendly, welcoming and inclusive atmosphere we have created, we can retain the vast majority of our new members and continue to grow.”

A council spokesman said the existing Marion Basketball Stadium was more than 50 years old and no longer met “the functional requirements of the sport”.

Designs are anticipated to be completed and ready for community consultation in early 2025, with construction earmarked to commence in 2026.