Hope for SA sports fans

 

Roar Rookie

By Leigh Eustace, 9 Apr 2009 Leigh Eustace is a Roar Rookie

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 Adelaide Crows, Adelaide Reds, Ben Buckley, FFA

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I wouldn’t imagine that Ben Buckley reads The Advertiser routinely, but I get the sneaking suspicion that he might have been given a copy of yesterday morning’s edition.

In it he would have found, like the rest of us that have seen the story, a potential white knight to his World Cup ambitions that he, the rest of the FFA and the Federal Government hone.

The sceptics, starting with the Labor SA Government, will label that the Liberal Opposition’s master plan to renovate the Old Goal parklands on the banks of the Torrens into an entertainment precinct highlighted by a multi-purpose stadium, is less a white knight but more a white elephant.

The much anticipated SA State election next year was always going to focus on the Royal Adelaide Hospital issue. The aforementioned parcel of land on Port Road has always been tagged for a new state-of-the-art hospital, and it seems that the upcoming vote would be the catalyst for that project to finally break ground.

However, the Liberals have outlined an alternative, an ambition to renovate the current hospital instead of starting anew, lending this new redevelopment of the northern parklands to be their trump card in next year’s election.

The details are more than sketchy at best, but from what analysts can gather, the idea is to considerably do up the current RAH, and with the money saved on not building a new hospital on the rail yards, and the sell-off of other now unused land (the relocation of the Entertainment centre for one), the funding for such an expansive project will be somewhat subsidised.

I suppose the SA Liberals have seen what their former counterpart in Jeff Kennett did for the Melbourne Docklands area all those years ago. To stamp out Waverley Park, construct a world-class stadium on the Spencer Street rail yards and go forth with developing the area into an almost extension of the CBD has not only been deemed successful, but surely paid for itself many times over.

A new inner-city stadium would work without question. If you put aside the hassle of moving from AAMI Stadium to one side, to relocate the premier outdoor sporting events of Adelaide from West Lakes to the CBD would not only attract higher attendances, but boost the economy through heightened spending in Adelaide.

The Crows’ membership and attendances would grow to even higher heights, the Power’s figures would grow at a similar rate, and the option of holding Socceroos or Wallabies fixtures in South Australia would now be a viable one.

Not only does this project contain ‘that stadium’ that Adelaide has longed for, but a Federation Square-esque piazza, as well as the relocated Entertainment Centre. Surely a project like this would attract more attention to a much maligned Australian capital.

It’s a remarkably bold idea from the Opposition. Some will argue it’s overly-ambitious and horribly irresponsible, such as the incumbent Premier Mike Rann, who was quick to get on the front foot in labelling it an “uncosted fantasy”, reaffirming the Labor belief that South Australia needs a brand-new RAH first and foremost.

But it’s certainly got the Croweater taxpayers talking. And there are many political angles to Hamilton-Smith’s vision, but if we go back to how Ben Buckley might perceive the plans, a Liberal win next March might just put that required extra little puff into the Australian World Cup bid tilt.