AAMI Stadium, Adelaide Oval rejected for World Cup bid
Ed: Some interesting parallels from our next door neighbours.
Article from: http://twf.com.au/images/sources/h14_theadvertiser.gif
MICHELANGELO RUCCI, CHIEF FOOTBALL WRITER
May 12, 2009 06:40pm
PREMIER Mike Rann says a new stadium may be built for the soccer World Cup - if Australia wins the right to host the football showpiece.
AdelaideNow revealed today that Football Federation Australia has rejected both AAMI Stadium and Adelaide Oval as part of Australia's bid for the 2018 or 2022 soccer World Cups.
FFA has instead asked the State Government to build a 40,000-seat arena, which will revert to 25,000 seats after the World Cup.
FFA chief Ben Buckley and his staff delivered this verdict to the SANFL, SACA and government in lengthy meetings in Adelaide yesterday.
He also rejected redeveloping soccer's 16,000-seat Hindmarsh Stadium.
Mr Buckley delivered two options for where the new rectangular stadium should be built – one on the university sports field on the northern banks of River Torrens; the other on the soccer fields behind Adelaide High School.
He estimated the cost of the World Cup arena at $250 million.
Mr Rann said said there would be ample time to build a World Cup stadium once the bid had been secured.
He said the previous State Government had built Hindmarsh Stadium to "stand the test of time" serving soccer in SA.
"You cannot promise everything to everyone who comes along," Mr Rann told parliament.
"You cannot be reckless with the public purse. You cannot tell everyone what they want to hear and believe everyone who comes through your door."
Mr Buckley told AdelaideNow in an exclusive interview: "We (FFA) have outlined our concerns with the existing proposals (at AAMI Stadium and Adelaide Oval).
"Our analysis shows those venues might not meet FIFA requirements.
"In addition, we told the Sports and Recreation Minister (Mr Wright) that we have done some work on what could meet FIFA requirements.
"We will be writing to the Minister to outline these other options."
Asked if Adelaide could miss being part of any World Cup bid, Mr Buckley said: "We are committed to working with the State Government on finding a solution so that South Australia can be part of our bid."
Mr Wright rejected Mr Buckley's submission, which will be reaffirmed in writing this week.
"We've made it clear that this government is not in the business of building a new stadium," Mr Wright told AdelaideNow today.
"The Government considers AAMI Stadium and Adelaide Oval as fine options."
Mr Buckley rejected AAMI Stadium, arguing the distance from the seats to the pitch was too great. He also took issue with the West Lakes arena not being close enough to Adelaide's CBD.
The redeveloped Adelaide Oval, which will have 36,000 seats when current works are completed next year, was considered "not big enough" for a World Cup venue.
The FFA also rejected AAMI Stadium and Adelaide Oval because the venues would not become the home of soccer in SA after the World Cup.
State Opposition leader Martin Hamilton-Smith today described the FFA verdict on Adelaide's existing stadia as "an embarrassment to SA".
"We have been saying since early last year that a new stadium is needed," Mr Hamilton-Smith said.
Mr Hamilton-Smith maintained his $900 million plan for a 50,000-seat stadium on Adelaide's western fringe would "fit the bill for FIFA requirements" for a World Cup bid.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...7-2682,00.html
