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The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority is to undertake a major upgrade that will see Adelaide Oval providing the latest light and sound capabilities to compete with other stadia in the world.
The upgrades will include LED sports lighting at the leading edge of the stadium’s roofline, feature LED colour lighting with the ability to pulse on/off with the audio, the latest high definition ribbon boards and new audio/visual production equipment.
A concept video was released today by the Adelaide Oval SMA to showcase what the stadium will deliver when the work is complete.
The upgrade is being funded by the Adelaide Oval SMA through a $9 million loan with the Commonwealth Bank to be paid back over an eight-year period. Work is expected to commence within a matter of weeks with the aim of completion in time for the Day/Night Ashes Test match in December.
“As the operators and managers of Adelaide Oval and, therefore, the custodians of this facility on behalf of the people of South Australia, we see it as our responsibility to continue to invest in the infrastructure needed to create the best experience possible for every event,” said Adelaide Oval SMA Chairman John Olsen.
“We benchmark ourselves against the leading stadia around the world and this upgrade will ensure we remain on the pace of innovation demanded by international event promoters.
“It will also enable us to give crowds at Adelaide Oval the kind of light and sound spectacular that you see at Juventus Stadium or Stamford Bridge.
“This announcement represents a significant borrowing by the SMA, but one we believe is integral to our responsibilities as stadium manager and underpins our ability to continue to attract the big events that have made Adelaide Oval South Australia’s premier event venue.”
The SMA is a joint venture company between SACA and SANFL which bears all the risk on annual operations and repayment of loans.
The 220 LED ‘leading edge’ sports lights will augment the ‘long throw’ incandescent lighting provided by the Oval’s four light towers, which remain vital for game days. The feature lighting through the stadium roofline will deliver a step-change in the Oval’s ability to reflect the colours of the nation or teams on the field through the stadium’s architecture.
The high definition LED ribbon boards will – unlike the current versions in use – run 360-degrees around the stadium at ground level and on levels three and four of the Riverbank and Eastern stands. The high definition panels will enable a vastly enhanced experience for advertisers and fans alike.
CEO Andrew Daniels said the project had the unanimous support of Cricket Australia, SACA, SANFL, the AFL and the Adelaide and Port Adelaide Football Clubs.
“We have worked very closely with our major partners to develop an upgrade that will enable cricket, football and other event promoters to continue to enhance the fan experience at Adelaide Oval – an experience that is already recognised as arguably the best in Australia,” he said.
“This is the biggest upgrade since the opening of the redeveloped Adelaide Oval and, when combined with initiatives such as the Commonwealth Bank RoofClimb, our LIVE on 5 Fringe venue and concerts such as Adele, it demonstrates our commitment to keeping Adelaide Oval at the forefront of global stadia.” (Stadiaworld, 20.03.2017)
