Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman says new club headquarters can revive North Adelaide
“If we want Adelaide to be the vibrant city it deserves to be, you need us out at North Adelaide,” says Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman.
Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman is declaring a North Adelaide club base can re-energise the area by injecting legions of supporters into struggling O’Connell and Melbourne streets.
Lamenting low occupancy rates and business closures in the flagship main streets, Chapman said a city base was critical for the Crows’ future and Adelaide’s vibrancy.
“I think the big thing for me is if we’re going to come in and be part of the city, we have a responsibility to the city,” he told The Advertiser.
“And what’s that responsibility? Well, let’s re-energise North Adelaide. Melbourne St, over 30 per cent vacancy rate. O’Connell St, there’s iconic pubs closing.
“We would like to try and help those businesses capitalise on game-day opportunities, as well as weekdays, by virtue of people coming to our football club for the experience.
“I don’t want to sound trite – the point I want to make is we will want to work with business, we definitely won’t be competing with them.”
Adelaide City Council in June gave the Crows permission to start designing concept plans for a $65 million training and administration complex at the council-owned Adelaide Aquatic Centre.
Chapman said the transfer from West Lakes, the club’s base since 1990, was a long-term, important venture.
“I think it’s very important to have our own base. I genuinely believe the Adelaide Football Club belongs in the City of Adelaide,” he said.
“ … Gee whiz, if we want Adelaide to be the vibrant city it deserves to be, you need us out at North Adelaide.”
Asked about the importance for the proposed Crows headquarters of a State Government plan for a North Adelaide tram extension – a 2018 Liberal election policy – he said: “It’s not necessary but, gee, it’d be nice. Imagine parking up there, jumping on the tram down to Adelaide Oval.”
He said the new base would enhance the surroundings for other users.
“You know, God gave us two ears and one mouth. We use them, in proportion, and we’ve taken on board their (the City Council’s) thoughts and opinions and we’ve gone through a process,” he said.
“In my experience the more you engage people, the better decisions you make. There will be issues along the way that we need to address but everywhere I go this is building momentum. Most fan forums that you read and everyone that I run into wants us in the city.
“Let’s face it, circa 800,000 people in this state barrack for us and they’re all constituents of the (State) Government and constituents of the (Adelaide) City Council – and, by and large, they’re wanting this to occur. But there is a process and (we) need to alleviate any perceived concerns.
“If we’re able to do that, and we’re confident we can do that, we will build a magnificent $65 million state-of-the-art city base that will give our players every chance of success because they’ll have every resource to ply their craft.”
Live stream the 2019 Toyota AFL Premiership Season on KAYO SPORTS. Every match of every round. Live and any time on your TV or favourite device. Get your 14-day free trial >