[COM] Memorial Drive upgrade

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Paulns
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[COM] Memorial Drive upgrade

#1 Post by Paulns » Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:55 pm

Great news is that Memorial Drive could be up for a redevelopment!

I think the best thing they can do is bulldoze the place and start again! This is the perfect opportunity to build a boutique arena with a retractable roof in the heart of the city. Something similar to Margaret Court Arena would be perfect. Anyway we'll have to wait and see what they come up with. Hopefully this is the beginning though!
A MUCH needed upgrade of Memorial Drive tennis precinct is a step closer following a major funding coup for Tennis SA this month. Tennis SA will shortly engage a consultant to begin a masterplan for an upgrade of the rundown complex within a month, following funding from the State Government. A new masterplan is the latest development in a long-running debate on the condition of the state’s premier tennis base and opens the door for a multipurpose sports hub to be built next door to Adelaide Oval, adding further vibrancy to the Riverbank precinct. Tennis SA chief executive Steve Baldas said funding for the master plan, first mooted in 2009, was a big step forward.

While he could not confirm how much the funding was worth, Mr Baldas said developing concepts would be Tennis SA’s number one focus in 2015.
“It is a major positive the State Government has committed funding to a master plan,” Mr Baldas said. Memorial Drive is lagging far behind every other state in the country in investment, infrastructure and facilities. If SA wants to continue to have a proud tradition in tennis we need to invest in the facilities and we will work closely with the State Government on any vision.”

The news comes after top players and a planning expert reignited calls to upgrade Memorial Drive last week.

Tourism and Sports Minister Leon Bignell said the State Government would not sign-off on any plan unless it was assured the state would benefit.
“The State Government won’t consider redeveloping Memorial Drive until the plan is completed,” Mr Bignell said. The government would also need assurances that world-class tennis events would be played at an upgraded Memorial Drive before any proposals to redevelop the complex are considered.”

Planning expert Kevin O’Leary said Memorial Drive needed to form part of a greater masterplan for an upgrade of the Riverbank precinct in a column published in The Advertiser last week.

Former No. 1 Lleyton Hewitt, who burst onto the international stage after winning the Adelaide Hardcourt Championships in 1998 as a teenager, said a redeveloped stadium could attract world-class tennis, including Davis Cup ties. Hewitt was in town for the World Tennis Challenge which attracted 11,000 fans.
“I’d love to bring Davis Cup tennis back to Adelaide and redo this great centre at Memorial Drive,’’ Hewitt said.

World Tennis Challenge director Mark Woodforde said its practice areas, players areas and fan comfort were not adequate for the WTC or a bigger tournament.
http://mobile.news.com.au/national/sout ... 7191696853

moderator note: topic split from Adelaide Oval thread
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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#2 Post by Nathan » Wed Jan 21, 2015 10:58 pm

Paulns wrote:I'm not sure where to post this but I thought here was as good as anywhere for now. Great news is that Memorial Drive could be up for a redevelopment!

I think the best thing they can do is bulldoze the place and start again! This is the perfect opportunity to build a boutique arena with a retractable roof in the heart of the city. Something similar to Margaret Court Arena would be perfect. Anyway we'll have to wait and see what they come up with. Hopefully this is the beginning though!

http://mobile.news.com.au/national/sout ... 7191696853


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Agreed, except keep the vine covered brick facade along War Memorial Drive.

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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#3 Post by crawf » Thu Jan 22, 2015 12:13 am

No doubt we will see an upgraded tennis arena proposed in the next coming years, but I'd love if they built a multi-purpose arena for both tennis and major concerts. The Entertainment Centre is already average compared to other arenas interstate, and this is only going to get worse in the future.

A new tennis/concert arena would also draw more people to the riverbank, CBD and put Adelaide firmly on the international venue map. Could also be possibly a new venue for basketball, similar to the set up in Perth..... and the Commonwealth Games?

Great news though!. Memorial Drive is currently an embarrassment to the state.

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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#4 Post by Paulns » Thu Jan 22, 2015 6:51 am

Couldn't agree more Crawf. I think that would be a great idea. I'd love to see an iconic venue built here rather than just a patch up job on what's already there...


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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#5 Post by Patrick_27 » Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:12 pm

Ideally, any new venue on the site should factor in Basketball, Netball, live music and Tennis. At the moment, each have their own venue, three of which are owned by the government and hold their own overheads. Combining them into the one venue is the logical solution and much like Adelaide Oval now and before, rather than have a d-grade facility used for half of every year; why not have a venue that will see continuous use throughout each year. The location is perfect, and with any event held would see the same large crowds the government are after to go and spend into the surrounding economy.

Funding it would be costly (anywhere between $300-500m) depending on the size and features. But some of this cost could be recovered with the sale of prime retail/residential land at Mile End where the Netball Centre is and the Entertainment Centre (could be incorporated into the Bowden project). Personally, if ether the the AEC or ETSA Park land were made available; I'd love to see a new state of the art 25,000 seat Soccer venue built to replace the worsening Hindmarsh Stadium. If such a venue were built on ETSA Park; it'd put two key sporting facilities next to each-other, significantly improve the parking issues at Hindmarsh and would be ideally located for train travelers and eventual tram travelers (when the airport line is built).

Just my two cents on the matter.

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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#6 Post by Patrick_27 » Thu Jan 22, 2015 5:15 pm

Patrick_27 wrote:Ideally, any new venue on the site should factor in Basketball, Netball, live music and Tennis. At the moment, each have their own venue, three of which are owned by the government and hold their own overheads. Combining them into the one venue is the logical solution and much like Adelaide Oval now and before, rather than have a d-grade facility used for half of every year; why not have a venue that will see continuous use throughout each year. The location is perfect, and with any event held would see the same large crowds the government are after to go and spend into the surrounding economy.

Funding it would be costly (anywhere between $300-500m) depending on the size and features. But some of this cost could be recovered with the sale of prime retail/residential land at Mile End where the Netball Centre is and the Entertainment Centre (could be incorporated into the Bowden project). Personally, if ether the the AEC or ETSA Park land were made available; I'd love to see a new state of the art 25,000 seat Soccer venue built to replace the worsening Hindmarsh Stadium. If such a venue were built on ETSA Park; it'd put two key sporting facilities next to each-other, significantly improve the parking issues at Hindmarsh and would be ideally located for train travelers and eventual tram travelers (when the airport line is built).

Just my two cents on the matter.
Further note; any new arena built in the place of Memorial Drive will no doubt need the land that Next Gen occupies.

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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#7 Post by Brucetiki » Thu Jan 22, 2015 7:10 pm

Given the work that's only recently been done to the Entertainment Centre, I can't see them moving any time in the near future.

Memorial Drive would be great to convert to a multi-purpose indoor sports stadium though (if they need a retractable roof for the tennis, then make the roof retractable). That way we might be able to get the Mens ATP250 tournament back from Brisbane, plus the basketball and netball.

If it looks half as good as MCA, then it would be outstanding.

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[COM] Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment

#8 Post by Nathan » Thu Jan 22, 2015 9:40 pm

Patrick_27 wrote:Funding it would be costly (anywhere between $300-500m) depending on the size and features. But some of this cost could be recovered with the sale of prime retail/residential land at Mile End where the Netball Centre is and the Entertainment Centre (could be incorporated into the Bowden project). Personally, if ether the the AEC or ETSA Park land were made available; I'd love to see a new state of the art 25,000 seat Soccer venue built to replace the worsening Hindmarsh Stadium. If such a venue were built on ETSA Park; it'd put two key sporting facilities next to each-other, significantly improve the parking issues at Hindmarsh and would be ideally located for train travelers and eventual tram travelers (when the airport line is built).

Just my two cents on the matter.
I don't think Hindmarsh is a bad location for football or the Entertainment Centre. It's already well connected to transport (tram + Outer Harbour line + doable walk from Gawler line + lots of bus routes), and there's growing density plus plenty of established businesses to cater for the crowds. Certainly better than where ETSA park is - which is sandwiched between an unused bit of parkland (which is also inaccessible due to the train lines) and a bulky goods homemaker centre.

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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#9 Post by Ho Really » Fri Jan 23, 2015 5:03 pm

If the Memorial Drive tennis stadium is upgraded it should be from the ground up. No patch up jobs! No half measures like the Adelaide Oval where the stadium was built in halves or worse still like Football Park!

The northern stand I think is heritage listed, however if you want a world-class stadium it must come down. No sentimentalities! Same with the vines or ivy on the southern stand. That can always grow back if you really want it.

So if the government is serious, no half measures. However before any money is spent we want assurance that we can get an ATP or WTA (or both) tournament(s) here. That would mean extra government and sponsor money. Not easy in today's climate.

Next Gen may have to be altered (assimilated) or demolished.

The tennis centre could host many indoor sports, but I would think concerts and any extreme sport should stay at the Entertainment Centre. Too much money already invested there.

Hindmarsh Stadium is not up to scratch. It was sufficient for Adelaide City and West Adelaide in the old NSL and for the FIFA World Youth Cup in 1993, but it's a sub-standard stadium for international level matches. See Asian Cup!

Adelaide requires two excellent venues, a brand new Memorial Drive to host tennis, basketball, volleyball, netball, korfball, gymnastics, fencing and any other Olympic indoor sports! And a FIFA-sanctioned rectangular football (soccer) stadium fully covered of something around 40-50,000 seats!

Now take your pick where you'll build the football stadium (at ETSA Park, etc), redistribute and sell land, (ETSA Park, Hindmarsh or whatever)! Give them good public transport, if not already available and presto. Bob's your uncle. Image

Cheers

PS.
Patrick_27 wrote:[...] I'd love to see a new state of the art 25,000 seat Soccer venue built to replace the worsening Hindmarsh Stadium. If such a venue were built on ETSA Park; it'd put two key sporting facilities next to each-other, significantly improve the parking issues at Hindmarsh and would be ideally located for train travelers and eventual tram travelers (when the airport line is built).
Light rail or tram, whatever. If quality public transport is not available put it in. Win-win.
Nathan wrote:[...] Certainly better than where ETSA park is - which is sandwiched between an unused bit of parkland (which is also inaccessible due to the train lines) and a bulky goods homemaker centre.
It will have plenty of access. Especially after they move all interstate trains back to Adelaide Station, but even if they don't they can squeeze it in.
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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#10 Post by crawf » Fri Jan 23, 2015 11:43 pm

I agree definitely no patch up job. Build from scratch.
The tennis centre could host many indoor sports, but I would think concerts and any extreme sport should stay at the Entertainment Centre. Too much money already invested there.
The theatre and dome could always be incorporated into a new commercial or mixed development. The arena itself is really just one big shed.

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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#11 Post by rev » Sat Jan 24, 2015 6:00 am

Ho Really wrote:If the Memorial Drive tennis stadium is upgraded it should be from the ground up. No patch up jobs! No half measures like the Adelaide Oval where the stadium was built in halves or worse still like Football Park!

The northern stand I think is heritage listed, however if you want a world-class stadium it must come down. No sentimentalities! Same with the vines or ivy on the southern stand. That can always grow back if you really want it.

So if the government is serious, no half measures. However before any money is spent we want assurance that we can get an ATP or WTA (or both) tournament(s) here. That would mean extra government and sponsor money. Not easy in today's climate.

Next Gen may have to be altered (assimilated) or demolished.

The tennis centre could host many indoor sports, but I would think concerts and any extreme sport should stay at the Entertainment Centre. Too much money already invested there.

Hindmarsh Stadium is not up to scratch. It was sufficient for Adelaide City and West Adelaide in the old NSL and for the FIFA World Youth Cup in 1993, but it's a sub-standard stadium for international level matches. See Asian Cup!

Adelaide requires two excellent venues, a brand new Memorial Drive to host tennis, basketball, volleyball, netball, korfball, gymnastics, fencing and any other Olympic indoor sports! And a FIFA-sanctioned rectangular football (soccer) stadium fully covered of something around 40-50,000 seats!

Now take your pick where you'll build the football stadium (at ETSA Park, etc), redistribute and sell land, (ETSA Park, Hindmarsh or whatever)! Give them good public transport, if not already available and presto. Bob's your uncle. Image

Cheers

PS.
Patrick_27 wrote:[...] I'd love to see a new state of the art 25,000 seat Soccer venue built to replace the worsening Hindmarsh Stadium. If such a venue were built on ETSA Park; it'd put two key sporting facilities next to each-other, significantly improve the parking issues at Hindmarsh and would be ideally located for train travelers and eventual tram travelers (when the airport line is built).
Light rail or tram, whatever. If quality public transport is not available put it in. Win-win.
Nathan wrote:[...] Certainly better than where ETSA park is - which is sandwiched between an unused bit of parkland (which is also inaccessible due to the train lines) and a bulky goods homemaker centre.
It will have plenty of access. Especially after they move all interstate trains back to Adelaide Station, but even if they don't they can squeeze it in.
We really do need political leadership to just get things done with no half measures and no compromises.

War Memorial drive as in the road should be removed in front of the oval and tennis center.
The tennis center should be demolished along with the gym and replaced further out a little with a new modern tennis facility. We don't need 50 courts like Melbourne just one indoor stadium and and a few out door courts. Indoor stadium could be used as you said by other sports like basketball. Even If we can't secure an ATP or WTA event immediately if basketball and netball move in as well its future will be secured and the investment will be worth it.

I've said It before we need multipurpose stadiums in this state. It will make our sporting codes more financially viable and stable. We aren't an economic powerhouse, this state is bordering on economic basketcase. Consolidate our stadia and facilities into multi use venues so everyone is better off because there is limited money available. When's the last time an SA team won something in one of the major sporting codes? Last I remember is 2004. But I'll check when I get home.

Montefiore road should be realigned to the west. And a rectangular stadium built out that side of the oval.
Or elevate a stadium over the road partly.

This is the year 2015 no reason why engineers in this state can't achieve these things.

In other words build a stadium precinct out there and restructure the SMA to be fully Independent of any sporting code organizations.

I think what we will find soon enough is that the location of the new RAH has been a big mistake as far as "activating" the riverbank precinct. There's a nightclub that will be closing in the not too distant future because the hospital will be opening in 2016. Good luck creating nightlife beyond the casino. Missed opportunity and I fear the upgrade of our tennis stadium will also be another missed opportunity.

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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#12 Post by ghs » Sat Jan 24, 2015 7:46 am

I don't want to be negative but can someone please explain.......... why do we need a brand new world class tennis
stadium with a retractable roof when the only tournament which is played at Memorial drive is the World tennis
challenge which is not overly popular ???

The state government is spending plenty of money on other projects at the moment. I agree that Memorial drive
is run down but the money has to come from somewhere.

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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#13 Post by Nathan » Sat Jan 24, 2015 8:56 am

rev wrote: I think what we will find soon enough is that the location of the new RAH has been a big mistake as far as "activating" the riverbank precinct. There's a nightclub that will be closing in the not too distant future because the hospital will be opening in 2016. Good luck creating nightlife beyond the casino. Missed opportunity and I fear the upgrade of our tennis stadium will also be another missed opportunity.
The owners are selling HQ because with the RAH, they'll make a pile of money. Not because a nightclub will no longer work.

As for the last time an SA team won something — Adelaide United winning the FFA Cup just last month.

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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#14 Post by rev » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:22 am

ghs wrote:I don't want to be negative but can someone please explain.......... why do we need a brand new world class tennis
stadium with a retractable roof when the only tournament which is played at Memorial drive is the World tennis
challenge which is not overly popular ???

The state government is spending plenty of money on other projects at the moment. I agree that Memorial drive
is run down but the money has to come from somewhere.
Because it's more sustainable and economically viable to have multipurpose stadiums in a central location, rather then have shitty substandard stadiums for individual codes in the suburbs.
A new indoor stadium could be used by tennis, basketball, netball, and a variety of other sports I'd imagine. But that's three major tenants right there already.
One stadium with the costs shared between multiple tenants. Makes more sense then having individual stadiums that are outdated.
One stadium with the right money invested, no half measures no compromises on it. They want to keep bandying about the world class tag, well give us something truly worthy of that for a change.
Nathan wrote:
rev wrote: I think what we will find soon enough is that the location of the new RAH has been a big mistake as far as "activating" the riverbank precinct. There's a nightclub that will be closing in the not too distant future because the hospital will be opening in 2016. Good luck creating nightlife beyond the casino. Missed opportunity and I fear the upgrade of our tennis stadium will also be another missed opportunity.
The owners are selling HQ because with the RAH, they'll make a pile of money. Not because a nightclub will no longer work.

As for the last time an SA team won something — Adelaide United winning the FFA Cup just last month.
Of course they are selling it because they see $$$$ in front of their eyes right now. It's prime real estate.
But HQ would not survive for long even if they didn't want to sell within a few years time, so selling now when they can make a small killing is smart.
At the very least the do gooder morons in this state would ensure HQ has restricted trading hours, which would end up seeing the place shut down over time.
But anyway I used HQ as an example of nightlife and a hospital not being ideal neighbors.

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[COM] Re: Memorial Drive upgrade

#15 Post by Nathan » Sat Jan 24, 2015 9:58 am

The existing RAH and nightlife have been able to co-exist — you have the Botanic Hotel immediately across the road (with restaurants as well), plus PJ O'Briens & The Elephant less than half a block away, and then of course Rundle St. Obviously the Newmarket portion of the site will stay (it's heritage listed), and I guarantee you that it will remain very very popular.

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