Adelaide Oval rebirth for soccer World Cup bid
TIM HILFERTY
June 13, 2009 11:30pm
SOUTH Australia is joining Australia's bid to host soccer's World Cup.
A redeveloped Adelaide Oval where demolition this week brought down the old western and members' stands is now favoured to host World Cup games, if Australia wins the bid.
South Australia is determined to join other states in hosting matches in the 2018 or 2022 World Cup tournaments.
Either the picturesque Adelaide Oval would be further upgraded to seat an extra 10,000 or more spectators believed to be the State Government's preferred option or the city could get a new 45,000-seat purpose-built rectangular venue.
Both options would receive some level of Federal Government funding. Football Federation Australia would prefer a rectangular stadium that would leave a legacy for the sport after the cup, but it would accept an expanded Adelaide Oval as an alternative.
Federation chief executive Ben Buckley said: ``We've got a very open dialogue with the State Government and I'm sure we'll get the best solution in the long run.
``South Australia's got a proud sports history and a proud soccer history and we will work very closely with the State Government to ensure they are part of the bid.''
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd today launches Australia's bid with a television commercial that features Adelaide.
Premier Mike Rann has been invited to the VIP launch in Canberra, but a spokeswoman said yesterday he would not attend.
"We wish Australia every success in its World Cup soccer bid," Mr Rann said. "All of Australia's political leaders will give this bid their enthusiastic support.
"If FIFA announces that Australia has been given the right to stage a future World Cup, then it will give everyone plenty of time to ensure we have the appropriate facilities across the nation."
Despite the gloomy economic times, the FFA estimates the Cup will be an economic bonanza for the nation, generating $3.9 billion in ticket sales, accommodation and meals alone.
The FFA said it expected the 60-plus game tournament would draw up to 4.7 million spectators.
The tournament and infrastructure projects would create the equivalent of 74,000 fulltime jobs, and lead to an overall increase in GDP of $5.3 billion.
Mr Buckley said although the FFA's "bid book" had to be lodged by May 2010, venues would have to be finalised by state governments by the end of this year.
Mr Buckley would not be drawn on how the new and upgraded facilities would be funded.
"That is being worked through at the moment," he said.
"Clearly, building and refurbishing stadia is expensive. First and foremost we need to lock in what our venue plan is and then identify what the costs are."
The sticking point for SA is still the venue.
Soccer world governing body FIFA stipulates a minimum capacity of 40,000 for World Cup venues but AAMI Stadium has been ruled out because of its shallow "seat pitch" and transport issues.
The FFA has commissioned plans for a series of boutique 25,000 seat stadiums that, with temporary seating for the Cup, lifts capacity to 45,000.
Stadiums - costing about $250 million each - would be built around the country off the same plan.
The temporary seating would be dismantled after the Cup tournament and given to schools and community sporting organisations.
The cost-saving plan is a cornerstone of Australia's bid.
Mr Buckley yesterday confirmed the FFA's preferred option is for Australia to have 12 World Cup venues, with no more than two venues in each city.
At present only the MCG and Etihad Stadium in Melbourne, ANZ Stadium and the Sydney Football Stadium and Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, are up to standard.
Perth already has plans to build a multi-purpose city stadium that will have a capacity of 60,000 when it opens in 2014.
The key selling points for Australia's bid are:
PROXIMITY to Asia, as well as our membership of the Asian confederation. More soccer fans live in Asia than any other region.
AUSTRALIA'S track record of hosting major events, including the Olympics and World Youth Day.
BIPARTISAN support across all state and federal governments.
PERCEPTION of Australia internationally as a safe and welcoming destination.
The fact that Australia, as an island, can control who comes to watch the tournament and limit the "hooligan" element - as opposed to continental Europe - is also seen as a plus.
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/s...006301,00.html
