A new indoor stadium and government incentives needed to lure Taylor Swift, Coldplay and other major acts to Adelaide

Pressure is mounting for a new multipurpose, indoor arena to be built in or around the city, which can house crowds greater than the Adelaide Entertainment Centre’s 11,300 capacity.

• Why major music acts avoid Adelaide

Adelaide urgently needs a boutique, inner-city stadium, along with more government incentives, to lure major international acts to SA, industry experts say.

Local music fans this year have forked out thousands of dollars travelling interstate to see superstars such as Taylor Swift, Coldplay and Dua Lipa, each of whom have skipped Adelaide on their Australian itinerary.

US singer Katy Perry was set to follow suit until Premier Peter Malinauskas stepped in and convinced her to perform four shows at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre next year.

But calls are growing for a new multipurpose, indoor arena to be built in or around the city, which can house crowds greater than AEC’s 11,300 capacity, and without the potential cost and scheduling issues at Adelaide Oval.

South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas with pop star Katy Perry at the AFL Grand final. Picture: Gemma Jones

Katy Perry will perform in Adelaide next year. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Music promoters and industry voices have also suggested government incentives and subsidies – not unlike those offered to producers to bring film and TV productions to SA – should be used to entice top performers to town.

Independent MP Frank Pangallo said a 15,000 to 20,000-seat indoor stadium would “put Adelaide on the international map”.

“We are languishing. We need a bigger entertainment centre to attract those big acts,” he said.

“On mainland (Australia), we are the least desirable city to bring entertainers here for big concerts. When it comes to getting a lot of bums on seats, promoters have put us at the bottom of the list.”

Leading Australian promoter Paul Dainty helped organise the meeting between Mr Malinauskas and Perry at the MCG in September.

He said a new 15,000-seat indoor stadium would be a “gamechanger” for Adelaide.

“It would make a big difference, no question,” said Mr Dainty.

Coldplay performing at Marvel Stadium. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

American rock band Green Day. Picture: Supplied.

Mr Pangallo said such a stadium could be built on the fringe of the city, in a suburb such as Hindmarsh in Adelaide’s inner west. Despite a possible $550m price tag, he said the complex would provide a huge economic benefit to the state.

“It will fill hotel rooms, and boost the economy in the long run – we’ve seen what the redevelopment of Adelaide Oval has done for the city,” he said.

“If you put it off any longer, it’s only going to cost more down the track.”

Australian promoter Christo Van Egmond, managing director at TEG Van Egmond, said a larger arena in Adelaide would “definitely” help attract the world’s biggest names.

“There is great demand (for shows) and Adelaide is a great audience but sometimes the economics of making that trip over is challenging... just to make the finances work on a budget,” said Mr Van Egmond, who has toured top acts such as: AC/DC, Michael Jackson, Andrea Bocelli and Matchbox 20.

Music SA chief executive Christine Schloithe said there was “no disputing” that SA had missed out in the past due to a lack of suitable venues.

“If we are serious about Adelaide being a vibrant, cultural, UNESCO city of music, we would definitely benefit from a larger scale venue for the much larger tours coming through,” she said.

“It would really make a difference and shift the dial around how we see and think about music, as well as being a good business decision.”

Taylor Swift performing at the MCG earlier this year. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jake Nowakowski

Mr Pangallo said the State Government had done well to secure big events such as LIV golf, Gather Round and the revived VAILO Adelaide 500, but the focus needed to shift away from sport and move towards entertainment.

“Look at the potential of superstars that are planning a concert tour of Australia, and why wouldn’t you be offering incentives or trying to attract them to come to Adelaide?” he said.

Mr Dainty said additional government assistance would help “get things over the line”.

“If you think about it, moviemakers get subsidies and breaks, so if the live entertainment business could get the same with these big shows, that would bring more of them to Adelaide,” he said. “It becomes a win-win for everybody.”

Frank Pangallo MLC. Picture NCA NewsWire / Emma Brasier

Premier Peter Malinauskas. Picture: Matt Loxton

A government spokesman said the capacity of Adelaide venues has “never been raised as an issue” in discussions with Australia’s biggest promoters.

“Katy Perry’s four sold out shows in Adelaide are a potent demonstration to promoters that Adelaide has both the demand and capacity to host big shows,” he said.

“The State Government has a well-developed strategy of attracting and retaining significant major events, where there is a demonstrated capacity for those events to bring visitors to our state to spend in the local economy.”

Originally published as A new indoor stadium and government incentives needed to lure Taylor Swift, Coldplay and other major acts to Adelaide