Netball SA shoots for revamp — or better still a new replacement — for Adelaide Thunderbirds’ ‘old and tired’ Mile End stadium

As the state’s No. 1 sport for women, Netball SA’s chief executive says netball deserves a major upgrade, or a new replacement, for the Adelaide Thunderbirds’ ageing Mile End facilities.

Netball SA believes the sport and Adelaide Thunderbirds deserve a new home. Picture: Kelly Barnes/AAP

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New Netball SA chief executive Bronwyn Klei claims the sport deserves a new stadium and is to lobby the State Government for a massive upgrade of the organisation’s ageing Mile End headquarters.

Klei has put a vastly improved home for Adelaide Thunderbirds and their members and fans high on her agenda as she focuses on ensuring netball remains the peak sport for females in the state.

And a visit to the $44 million Queensland State Netball Centre in Brisbane, which was opened in March and is home to the Firebirds, has only fuelled her passion to push for more modern facilities in Adelaide.

Netball SA believes the sport and Adelaide Thunderbirds deserve a new home. Picture: Kelly Barnes/AAP

“One of the things I want to work on is getting a stadium upgrade,” said Klei, who quit her job as general manager commercial, events and Strikers with the South Australian Cricket Association this year to take on the challenging netball role.

“I’d like to see a modern stadium, our stadium is old and tired. It does not meet Super Netball specs and we have to get dispensation because we don’t have modern facilities.

“It seats only 3000 so there is no room for growth. Footy and cricket got a bid boost out of the new venue at Adelaide Oval and I think that would be the same for us at netball.

“Our stadium is the second highest attended sports facility in Adelaide after Adelaide Oval with 300,000 plus walking through these doors each year.

“We are in a central location and we deserve a modern facility.”

Klei said she had stadium envy after watching the national under-age championships in the new state-of-the-art purpose-built netball facility in Brisbane.

Kelly Altman of the Thunderbirds taken out by Tara Hinchliffe of the Firebirds at Priceline Stadium in Mile End. Picture: Mark Brake/Getty Images

The sunken show court has a seating capacity of 5000, while the stadium also houses another seven community courts.

“It is an awesome stadium and I was jealous,” Klei said.

“It is a multi-sport complex which houses modern offices as well as commercial facilities such as a gym and physio business.

“We are the No. 1 sport for women and the No. 2 venue for attendance each week and we deserve better than we have now. Priceline Stadium will always be home for netball in South Australia and we have done our sums and $22 million will get us the stadium overhaul we need.”

Netball SA presented a business plan to the government in 2016 with costings of $22 million.

The sport was given $6 million which has been used to improve the car park, fix the airconditioning and mend other issues with the stadium, which was opened in 2001.