Adelaide has one of the most iconic Football stadiums in Australia. the atmosphere created at Hindmarsh is quite unique and is probably the only purposely built stadium for Football.

However, our irresponsible politicians are letting it run down. They had spend $641 Million on the AO and $85 million of that was to bail SACA out. I mean I don't mind and I am a SACA member. But I wouldn't go to an AFL game if you paid me.

And you got to wonder, that $85 million they gifted to SACA could have been used to do a world class upgrade to Hindmarsh stadium and even add a roof.

My thinking is that a new re-vitalized Hindmarsh will attract many more patrons to the A League and AUFC, especially with the club's recent success and performances in the league.

I know Government's are doing it tough and there are budget deficits, but soccer deserves a leg up as much as cricket and AFL.

So what do you guys think. Should Hindmarsh be upgraded?

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/coopers-stadium-75m-upgrade-plan-includes-covered-roof-link-to-adelaide-oval-host-rugby-and-commonwealth-games/story-fni6uo1m-1226828298953

I think the stadium can be upgraded relatively cheaply just by filling in the gaps in the corners. Do you guys have any other ideas?

10,948 - Season 1
12,165 - Season 2
12,697 - Season 3
11,713 - Season 4
10,765 - Season 5
11,552 - Season 6
8,829 - Season 7
9,592 - Season 8
11,225 - Season 9
12,637 - Season 10
11,287 - Season 11

How bout you get a better crowd attendance first for a couple seasons to show the government you deserve an upgrade.

Edited by Gazzza: 10/4/2016 02:37:38 PM

Sell out every home game for a couple of seasons, like Wanderers did at Parramatta or Victory at Olympic Park and that will prove that Adelaide need a capacity upgrade.

Seating capacity is 15,000. At around 12,000 people the stadium feels very full and it's facilities start to feel the strain. I'm a rusted on that attends rain hail or shine but I can see casual supporters being turned off by attending when it gets up to those sort of figures.

Did you guys sell out your games?

I think it is unrealistic to expect a Sports Club to sell out a stadium all the time, but AUFC crowds are pretty good and climbing and if there was a world class facility, you will find that more patrons will come and Adelaide will be able to host great shows and concerts as well.

That's correct! At 80% capacity, I think the venture to expand is viable.

If you build it, people will come!

i think so but lets get parramatta nuked and then rebuilt before we worry about other upgrades

Where are these magical fans going to come from? Its a perfect size stadium for a small supporter based club, should be happy.

Edited by Gayfish: 10/4/2016 02:52:28 PM

The supporter base is not small at all.

AUFC has quite a large market, and Soccer is the most popular participation sport.

Particularly, in the outer Northern and Southern suburbs. So much so, someone could easily set up a second club there and also attract 12,000 per game but there is no backer for it.

Look at it this way, AUFC attracts 30,000 + at the AO. So I argue, build a facility everyone is proud of, and the patrons will come.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 03:03:59 PM

Should Can the Iconic Hindmarsh be upgraded?

It can. There is quite a lot of scope where it can be expanded to 25k quite easily and very cheaply.

But should we just expand it or have a visionary venue for the future with rooftop and all should be the question. A venue to be used as a multi-purpose rectangular stadium able to host shows and concerts and whatever else.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 03:07:17 PM

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 03:14:33 PM

Pissant stadium for a pissant club.

But they are Premiers, which makes your club something worse than the dog shit under our boots! :lol:

Pissants with a Premier's Plate.

they moved the two local afl clubs out of their old stadium at west lakes for less crowd averages
and gifted them adelaide oval...
nothing about capacity or filling the stadium
politics.

Plus an $85 million bail out to SACA which would have gone bankrupt otherwise.

But unfortunately, there are too many politicians who are SACA members and get warm fuzzy feelings of exclusivity from this snotty nosed boys club. I am a member and know the truth as fake as it all is. It really is fake...

And probably, tax payers money should never have been used to bail SACA out. Not when there are deficits and the money could be applied to Whyalla to save some jobs.

Also
the govt (* state alp * ) wont fund an upgrade. They are against football... Never mind the liverpool game coming here, it is all about maximising their return on Adelaide oval. That stadium is world class ( what the media tell us everyday )

Edited by nachoman: 10/4/2016 03:35:55 PM

The biggest issue Hindmarsh has is that any stadium in Australia that hasn't had a reno in 10 years is old by comparison

AAMI, Etihad, MCG, Kardinia Park, Lakeside, Parramatta (pending), SFS, Homebush, SCG, Sydney Showgrounds, Lang Park, Carrara Stadium, Manuka Oval, Blundstone Arena, Perth Oval, Adelaide Oval are all the ones I can think of that have had major upgrades (or newly built) in that time frame, and as mcjules pointed out, with brand spanking new amenities that help the match day experience, where as (in my experience) places like Central Coast and Hunter stadium feel archaic

If your state government will pay for it then yes. If not, no.

We don't have the political power (if any) to push for an upgrade. We'd have to get 16k EVERY game for a season before its even possibly considered

An upgrade of Hindmarsh Stadium will probably never happen, for political reasons.

Also, "filling in the corners" would be a difficult engineering feat to achieve without obstructing the surrounding streets. And Hindmarsh Stadium is in an awkward location as far as traffic and parking conditions go.

"You never get capacity crowds" is a stupid argument. How many clubs around the world do? If Hindmarsh was enlarged, the average attendances would be bigger. Doesn't matter if they are capacity or not.

As another poster said, Hindmarsh currently looks full with 12-13k there. That is an ok attendance for Hindmarsh- boosted by a few 25k plus crowds at AO for some big matches and everyone is happy.

I will vote Libs just for this reason alone.

Can never support a Government with that attitude against Soccer.

No they wouldn't, what is stopping those people coming to the game now?

Edited by Gazzza: 10/4/2016 03:59:51 PM

I had a thorough walk around the stadium once just to check this out. My conclusion was that 3 of the 4 corners could be filled in easily, as well as a second tier on both sides of the Grand Stand on the west side. I believe the Manton Street corner where the SA soccer federation is the one that would pose the greatest difficulty but it is still possible considering the advances in building of recent years.

Not many clubs get full houses every game apart from 1 or 2 countries, and even there it is only the top clubs which do.

Look at it this way. The GAYFL Crowes and Power crowds have been boosted by the AO development. But how long will it last? After just one bad season, you will see average crowds plummet to 25k or less in a 55K stadium.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 04:00:33 PM

They can't fill the current one

Maybe a build a new 25k near adelaide oval ? would a central location be a good or bad thing ?

The size of Hindmarsh. Like I said, if Hindmarsh was bigger, the average attendances would be bigger.

The 442 obsession with "capacity crowds" is really weird. This is Australia ffs, and soccer is not the major football code:lol:

No not a bad thing but it would be expensive. So considering the fact that they are not wanting to develop Hindmarsh which is easily the most cost effective, I think it is safe to say we would have Buckley's chance of getting a new stadium.

You don't have to fill a stadium to warrant a development. The Crowes and Power are not filling the AO.

I agree with that. How many countries in Europe where Soccer is the main sport have capacity crowds week in week out? not many.

Some stadiums are nearly empty.

There is room for 3k more people at the moment even if you say there average is 12k which it rarely is, only in 3 seasons has the average been on 12k or more. Why do you think your crowd will increase because you expand it?

And yes for at least 3 rounds, Hindmarsh would have been at capacity which is more than can be said of the Crowes and Power. The reason why they are starting to shift games to the AO, which I refuse to attend on principle regardless of the fact I have a season pass.

I know many hard core fans who will not watch a soccer match at AO. It's actually a bit of an insult.

You will see what I mean when the Grand Final is staged at the AO. Completely inappropriate.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 04:10:03 PM

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 04:10:43 PM

The casuals that go watch at Adelaide Oval don't go to Hindmarsh though,

Exactly! Give them a facility and the Bandwagoners will come as well as the real fans who won't go to AO.

Not just the stadium that's the issue - if we are to renovate we need car parking ( underground Carpark) might be the way to go) and more public transport

Anyone living North/north East/west have their closest tram stop being the Entertainment Cente so that's useless, I live near Arndale shopping centre and the car is my only option...wonder how many are in the same boat!

Edited by UnitedGal: 10/4/2016 04:23:18 PM

Yea that's what I thought was the main reason why the causals don't go to Hindmarsh, harder to get to compared to the Adelaide Oval.

This is the scenario that I think occurs at Hindmarsh now... a lot of people leave it to the last minute before deciding whether to attend. But then they say "its a big game, its late, the parking will be difficult, stadium might even be a sellout... lets not go."

2 or 3k people do that and you get a 12-13k crowd at Hindmarsh. If the capacity was expanded to 20k more people will be saying "there's more room, let's go"- so you might get a crowd of 15-16k; which is an improvement. Just my theory, anyway.

No the tram is not useless. The tram is very useful.

I mean really! it's only an 800m walk. :lol:

As for carparking, the Entertainment centre could expand for another 3000 to 4000 cars.

Or people can actually use this car parking space. it only costs $4

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 04:28:57 PM

Well people tell me to catch the tram to Hindmarsh when my closest stop IS next to Hindmarsh - so he do I get there, there are no busses near where I live to there so I have to car it

So yes it is useless

Tried the bus or train to the city? Then catch the tram from King William Street?

That is an option.

You know, it starts getting ridiculous when people expect transport from door to door. Even in major cities, you sometimes need to catch other connections.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 04:48:40 PM

People complained about Football park being hard to get to...it was 1000 times easier that Coopers

Why? How?

Its, just out of the city and less grid-lock.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 04:49:42 PM

Yeah..where I live the City is geographically after Coopers/Entertainment Centre

You could car it and park at the Entertainment Center if that makes it easier.

Sometimes it takes a while to get out but it is an easy option for $4

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 05:00:41 PM

Difference with the stadium at west lakes ... there was multiple shuttle buses being operated for the afl games....
dont see any shuttle buses for hindmarsh ....

adelaide oval is right in the city , easy to get to , all forms of public transport lead there and its a quick walk to the ground.

hindmarsh is ok , but with traffic, its mostly car traffic and pedestrian ...

Alas, Gazza, hindmarsh would have to be bursting at the seems before an upgrade or new stadium is considered, even then the argument will be, just switch to adelaide oval... hindsight is a beautiful thing ( except in politics )

Hindmarsh needs an upgrade, but not for capacity. It needs shelter on the stands to keep the sun off and the noise in.

The club is also crying out for some corporate facilities that are basically a closed revenue stream for the club. But I don't think it can really be done because there's no room.

For now the stadium is fine because it basically is the cheapest stadium to rent in the a-league. So I wouldn't spend up big on the place if it ruins that.

How long ago did they upgrade the seats? Was that government funded, I can't remember.

yes it needs some shelter
again , they asked for the old adelaide oval eastern stand roof and refused it( which was demolished instead during the refurb)

Yeh, I don't see the Government offering free buses from the city to Hindmarsh etc.

They do for GAYFL.

No Government funding at all.

The owners (Entertainment center) paid $4 million for that upgrade. They do what they can, with no help whatsoever.

What a joke! ](*,)

Cheers, The Government down there do sure sound like pricks.

Yep! The only State that has had the same useless Government for 16 years.

We are bordering a dictatorship and might as well be a tinpot!

The government paid for the redevelopment about 20 years ago so the ground could host matches in the Olympic football tournament. Back then without a big tenant the ground was dumped on by all and sundry as a white elephant, and the government seems to like holding on to that excuse as justification not to spend further. This hasn't been a reality now for 10 years, but the government seems content to ride that excuse for eternity. Even at the cost of being shut out of big events like the Asian Cup while shitholes like Canberra reaped the benefits.

It's a testament to the ground that it has held up so well without having anything spent on it since.

This thread and unpopular thread :)

Adelaide City would have to come into the league. :)

It would be much easier to sell the idea if the stadium was used for 33 matches (given 12 teams) than the 13 or 14 now or the 16 or 17 games once the league hits 12 teams

Correct
Liberal party approved the funding for the stadium ( project was mis-managed... initially was going to be 22k capacity and costs varied significantly, 20 million to 40 million )
The white elephant terminology was created by the state ALP... ( just dont mention to them the national wine centre, that too is white elephant )

Edited by nachoman: 10/4/2016 05:28:46 PM

Edited by nachoman: 10/4/2016 05:29:00 PM

If City came in I'd like to see them upgrade their ground at Oakden. There's not much there by way of infrastructure, but they do have a decent social club which is at least one advantage to them. It'd also be far closer to their traditional catchment. I'm not sure who backs the club now that Bob has passed away, so it's probably all a pipe dream now.

I think a cleverly and strategically based second team could be viable in Adelaide. But this club would need a backer and there are none in Adelaide with deep enough pockets and wanting to throw some money around for what is essentially a bit of fun.

So probably a pipe dream at the moment.

It would be great though to have an Adelaide Derby. The City and West Adelaide glory days were something else.

Edited by Aikhme: 10/4/2016 05:34:12 PM

The entertainment centre next door was also labelled a white elephant. Adelaide loves the shit.

I think the redevelopment cost for Hindmarsh came in at 27 million eventually. It also did hit a 20k capacity with the use of temporary seats (which I think is the same seats they roll out for the grandprix/clipsal). This in itself proves there is room to fit additional capacity at the ground, but the kicker is it can only be built in specific areas which may not match the market in terms of what type of tickets are in demand.

Original plans for Hindmarsh had the Eastern Stand being built right up but following the shape of the lot. It basically made the stadium shaped like a paper aeroplane.

I grew up on those derbies as a kid. If I get lung cancer later in my days I know who to blame.

That's what I do - now that I've moved closer to home for work makes it easier to get their on time

The way Hindmarsh was upgraded was a disgrace, now we are stuck with it 😡

Great fun though. :lol:

No one ever dumps on the AFL or cricket in Adelaide. Everything else they do.

it's like adelaideans hate progress.

wtf? The redevelopment was great. The stadium has served us very well.

Once we start getting 90-95% capacity crowds more often than not, then we can start talking about upgrades.

Pretty sure several people have said it's literally impossible as there's simply not enough space.

Well they're fucking outright wrong then, the ground was 20k capacity in the Olympics.

Were the Crows and Power getting 90% at West Lakes?

There is plenty of space at Hindmarsh and there were even drawings for a 25k stadium one time which proves it to be possible. Even the original upgrade which was mishandled with temporary stands had a 22k capacity.

They could have done better though.

Instead of the temporary stands, they could have filled some of the corners and had more cover.

Seems to be the logic behind upgrading parramatta. Adelaide fill there ground more often than the Wanderers ever have.

As long as any upgrade doesn't compromise it's suitability for football by shifting the stands behind the goals to accommodate the odd rugby game.

>rugby
>in South Australia

I thought when I was there, that the lack of roofs made for a lack of atmosphere !!

Roofs have done fuck all for Sydney FC's atmosphere :)

Wow some interesting posts in here. Not hard to see people's agendas :lol:

I don't think it'll happen for a while partially because there isn't enough noise being made about it yet and mainly because the government are still trying to capitalise on Adelaide Oval. Any case to be made will almost certainly incorporate making the ground suitable for Union, we're a million miles from getting a super rugby or NRL franchise though so it would only be for the odd game.

I think there was an opportunity lost with the Torrens to Torrens upgrade. If they could have diverted Grange rd traffic onto Port Rd for people heading to the city they could turned Manton St into a 1 lane each way street and free up some extra space for an upgrade. Not only that there is a lot of medium to high density housing being built in the area (like Bowden) and with the entertainment centre just up the road the area has potential to be a proper entertainment district with cafes,restaurants and bars.

None of that will happen of course :lol:

No agenda mcjules
just the facts o:)

Some streets were blocked off for that though.

Biggest issue is the obvious place to expand is the southern end as there are no roads but all the buildings around the south, south/east are heritage listed.

That's why I don't think it's possible. Could fill in the corners but apart from that, there's nothing we can do.

The entertainment centre is owned and run by a state department so yeah the the gov did fund the upgrade.

I see your point. But Adelaide did used to host the Australian leg of the World Series 7s.

No it's not. The Entertainment is privately owned.

The stadium could be upgraded in it's current spot, it depends on what the desired outcome is. Some shelter over the current stands would be easy enough and cheap to get a modest bounce in crowd average's as it would encourage people to come despite the weather forecast.
Also more upgrades to facilities and a coat of paint to continue on the theme started last year would also make it a nicer/easier place to visit and maybe get a small increase.

Any capacity increase is going to need some major capital works to create the space and a whole lot of talking. Any upgrades to the North, West are going to need changes to roads, and the South the destruction or moving of heritage listed buildings. The East will need both of those problems overcome, there would be a massive amount of bullshit to go through to get approval to do it.
Then one has to consider is it worth expanding in it's current location, or build something from new elsewhere.
Then the club would be faced with a substantial hike in the their costs so it would have to guarantee a substantial crowd increase to make it worthwhile financially.

It could possibly be expanded to a small degree in the South West corner, and bit in the North end if the aim was to get it around the 18-20k wether it would have much impact is debatable.

Really, who owns it then?
I thought it was owned by the State Goverment and run by the Adelaide Venue Management Corporation Board, a state government board as stated here..
http://dpc.sa.gov.au/current-listing-sa-government-boards-and-committees

Edited by redsfan: 10/4/2016 09:36:37 PM

Hindmarsh has been used for rugby in the past you know...:d

I'm all for heritage. I live in a city that is essentially a big medieval city perfectly preserved. Heritage is important.

Absolutely positively fuck those buildings off around Hindmarsh. Dead set. I grew up in neighbouring Flinders Park. Fuck me, if that shit is heritage then nuke the whole fucking state.

Just nuke everything West of Strathfield and the world will be at peace.

No! Certainly not run by Government.

That link is only an Arts board, which might just use the venue.

I've heard a few people suggest (Rob Gerrard included) that Santos Stadium could be a future site of a fancy new stadium though once again for the AFL teams to use...

:lol:

lol, scroll down the list till you find the board i mentioned then read.

Does anyone know what these heritage listed buildings are?

Both Crows and Port have their own facilities for training (Well I know at least Port does - Alberton). What could they use Santos for?

The Cows own the Westpac Centre at Football Park.

there is an old church at the south end, it's used by the stadium as a storage room now. Can't remember what the one at the south east corner is anymore.

Hindmarsh needs a roof badly, not for the rain but that bloody hot sun!!