AusLeisure

Almost 15,000 seats from Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium have been donated to community sporting clubs in South Australia.

More than 20 venues and clubs have claimed the seats, which are being removed and predominantly replaced with Adelaide United-coloured red seats as part of a $4 million upgrade of the venue. White and black seats will also be used spell out the letters AUFC, for Adelaide United Football Club, and the former Hindmarsh Stadium’s naming rights sponsor.

The refurbishment, being paid for by the Adelaide Entertainment Corporation, has seen the seats offered to clubs through the Football Federation of South Australia and South Australian Department of Recreation and Sport

Adelaide Entertainment Corporation Chief Executive Anthony Kirchner told local media “to get an outcome whereby nearly 15,000 seats are being reused within the local community is tremendous.”

Kirchner also introduced other work being undertaken at the venue, stating “projects currently underway include new seating throughout the stadium, new food and beverage outlets in the Eastern Entry plaza and an additional lift (elevator) to service the top level of the western grandstand.

“Other projects to be undertaken are a $400,000 upgrade to the player change room facilities and further upgrades to existing food and beverage outlets throughout the stadium.”

The Corporation, which also runs the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, took over management of the then Hindmarsh Stadium from the South Australian State Government in July last year.

Kirchner added that up to $800,000 per year has been saved by the South Australian Government since the company took on the management of the venue, highlighting “Coopers Stadium is a significant public asset that belongs to the people of South Australia, not a privately owned football club.

“We’ve been charged with the responsibility of improving the stadium’s financial performance and upgrading the stadium’s facilities (and) we’re doing both of these things.”

Adelaide United has been charged about $481,000 for 13 A-League games this season which is still the lowest rental among the eight other Australian-based clubs.

Kircher added “it’s the best venue hiring deal in the A-League, with comparable franchises paying an average of $66,500 - excluding GST - per event day.”

The Adelaide Entertainment Corporation is also backing an ambitious $75 million plan to roof the venue as part of a bid for Adelaide to host a future Commonwealth Games.

The plan is to enclose the Stadium with a lightweight roof and develop the venue in a similar form to Dunedin’s Forsyth Barr Stadium – with an increased undercover capacity of 25,000 spectators.

The updgraded Stadim would then also host both rugby codes and would be the cornerstone, along with the new Adelaide Oval, of a Commonwealth Games bid.

Kirchner recently explained that the proposal is at an early stage, with no firm costings or no plan yet put to the South Australian Government.

Kircher stated “we are looking at a whole range of concepts but this is very much in its infancy ... but at some point there is going to be the need for a more significant investment to make sure the Stadium remains relevant and marketable.”

10th October 2013 - ADELAIDE’S COOPERS STADIUM GETS $1 MILLION REFIT FOR A-LEAGUE SEASON 

8th November 2010 - NEW OWNERS FOR ADELAIDE UNITED

21st December 2009 - ADELAIDE ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE UPGRADE ON TARGET FOR FEBRUARY OPENING

8th May 2009 - ADELAIDE UNITED LICENCE RETURNED TO FFA

3rd February 2009 - AUSTRALIA ENTERS RACE FOR FIFA WORLD CUP

20th February 2008 - NEW STADIUM FOR ADELAIDE?

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