Readers react to Steven Marshall’s city arena plan to replace Adelaide Entertainment Centre

The Adelaide 36ers and City Council have welcomed the idea of a new city arena, but others have criticised it – while a poll shows it’s supported by 56 per cent of readers.

The Adelaide 36ers and City Council are among those excited about Premier Steven Marshall’s pledge to build a new city arena to replace the Entertainment Centre.

But SA Best and the Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association have condemned the plan, with Frank Pangallo labelling it “an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money”.

And a poll of almost 3000 The Advertiser readers showed that at 12.30pm, 56 per cent were in favour of the new arena in the Adelaide CBD.

A further 68 per cent said that the location, between the railyards and the River Torrens, was ideal for it.

The stadium, a centrepiece of Mr Marshall’s re-election bid revealed by The Advertiser this morning, would be used for concerts, conventions, basketball and other court sports – but it is understood it would not include a soccer pitch. Full details were released this afternoon, inlcuding concept drawings and video of the plans.

The proposal has been developed by the Adelaide Venue Management Corporation, which operates the Entertainment and Convention centres.

TELL US BELOW: What questions do you have about the new arena? We will put the top reader questions to the government.

An artist impression of the proposed new stadium. Picture: Supplied

Adelaide City Council Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said she looked forward to the Adelaide City Council being fully briefed on the proposal, including more details about the location, costings and plans.

“Having a new concert, sport and major events facility in the city would obviously generate great economic, social and cultural outcomes for the city,” she said.

“A bigger entertainment centre would also enable Adelaide to attract larger events and headline acts which would have positive impacts for our local businesses, particularly our hospitality and tourism industry.”

Adelaide 36ers owner Grant Kelley said the arena would be “absolutely fantastic news” for the club and basketball in SA.

“It will be as transformational as the move to the oval was for the Crows and Power,” Mr Kelley said.

“We have, I think, demonstrated that we can get 10,000 to 12,000 to games and we expect to be able to take that to another level when we’re at the new indoor arena.”

He believed it would be a major drawcard to the city’s west end and benefit nearby bars and restaurants.

An artist impression of the interior of the proposed arena. Picture: Supplied

SA-Best’s Connie Bonaros and Frank Pangallo accused the government of pork-barrelling and claimed the project was “an absolute waste of taxpayers’ money”.

The upper house duo argued funds should be directed to desperately needed areas including hospital waiting lists and addressing a public housing shortage.

“This sort of pork-barrelling just goes to show how out of touch it is with the community and how desperate it is to shore up voters in the Adelaide CBD for (Liberal Adelaide MP) Rachel Sanderson,” Mr Pangallo said.

“When you are on the nose you roll out the bread and circuses – it’s a disgrace.”

Adelaide Convention Bureau chairman and Adelaide Venue Management board director Jim Kouts said the increased capacity of the Convention Centre as a result of the development would boost an “often underestimated” section of the SA economy.

He hoped it would cement Adelaide’s reputation as a business function destination.

“We do punch above our weight in business events,” Mr Kouts said.

“As a sector, it also brings in a different part of the visitor economy. You’ve got business delegates who will spend a lot more than tourists and you’ve got people who make decisions and allocate capital who visit your city to do business.”

He also believed its construction would be an economic boon for the state in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

The new arena would be built on the bank of the Torrens River, just west of Morphett St and the Convention Centre and north of the biomedical precinct. Picture: Adelaide Airborne Photography

Master Builders SA CEO Will Frogley said the organisation had “long advocated for new major sporting and concert infrastructure in the city”.

“If South Australia is going to be a place where young people want to live and work we can’t be a ‘cemetery with traffic lights’,” he said.

“After the past year many South Australians are crying out for positivity and confidence. This commitment sends a strong signal that exciting times are ahead.”

The new arena would be built on the bank of the Torrens River, just west of Morphett Street and the Convention Centre and north of the biomedical precinct in Helen Mayo Park.

Adelaide Parklands Preservation Association president Shane Sody said he didn’t “see any reason for the government to be taking away” part of the parklands for a new arena.

“It is in the world unique, national heritage listed parklands,” Mr Sody said.

“Parklands are public, open and green. They do not need a stadium on top of them to improve them.

“We have no problem with a stadium being constructed on 99.8 per cent of the Adelaide metro area. There is 0.2 per cent that is national heritage listed parklands.”

The Adelaide Entertainment Centre would be replaced under Premier Steven Marshall’s plan. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

READERS REACT TO MARSHALL’S PLAN

Does Adelaide need a new arena? Early results suggest the majority of The Advertiser readers – 56 per cent – say yes.

But many readers raised concerns about the cost of the development, expected to be hundreds of millions of dollars, questioning if it would be better to put that money into the health system.

Others asked if it was necessary to replace the Adelaide Entertainment Centre yet.

Reader Mark wrote: “Get your priorities right Marshall. We have a health system in tatters, constant ramping of ambulances, and Marshall wants to build something, that’s nice, but not really needed while we have so many other problems to look at.”

Another reader, CB, said it would be a “stupid waste of money”.

“What’s wrong with the Entertainment Centre? They spent all that money extending the tram line there and now they are cancelling the venue?”

Bel said she would rather see the $200m Aboriginal Art and Cultures Centre, planned for Lot Fourteen, built first.

“If that project blows out cost-wise at least you haven’t compounded the issue with another expensive entertainment building proposal in the wings,” she wrote.

And reader Blind Fred asked why Adelaide was constantly copying Melbourne.

“We look like becoming a Melbourne mini me, we have the oval, the tennis arena, and now we will get a mini Etihad Stadium,” he wrote.

“The mini Yarra still looks like a dirty creek. Why copy Melbourne?”

Mr Marshall will announce the full details of the proposal later today. Mike Burton

But reader Jason welcomed the idea.

“The Entertainment Centre has past its use-by date so a replacement is overdue,” he wrote.

“This is looking like the Adelaide Oval redevelopment proposal where many opposed it but once completed was welcomed with open arms.

“Yes there is the fiscal side of this, however as they say ‘build it and they will come’, so that we do attract the top musical acts and secure other important events.”

Hilary agreed: “An investment in culture is an investment well spent.”

Bruce13 said the idea was great.

“It needs to be a super high quality facility that will service the needs of the state for at least 20 years! Do it once and do it right!” he wrote.

Originally published as Readers react to Steven Marshall’s city arena plan to replace Adelaide Entertainment Centre