[COM] Memorial Drive upgrade

[SRJ]

Have to say the venue/set up looks pretty average on the TV coverage

It's the sort of upgrade that would happen to a third or fourth court, not the main court.

I doubt it. Not many venues that aren’t grand slams venues have that bigger capacity for a number 4 court.

[rev]

Never said anything about grand slams, or capacity.
I'm talking about the overall upgrade. It's mediocre, at best.

There was a proposal, or vision perhaps, for a new stadium built in it's place. Instead our government of the time wanted to build a white elephant across the river so gave us a patch up band aid job for Memorial Drive instead.

Another missed opportunity along the Riverbank.

[SRJ]

I don’t think it is mediocre. You are entitled to your opinion. The new stands look great. Unfortunately the old stand couldn’t be knocked down because it is attached to the gym and offices etc, otherwise it would have been the same as the new ones. The thing about Adelaide is that we can never please anyone. If people on this forum are so against everything they should join the government themselves and voice themselves that way. The government today can’t even fix ramping like they said they would.

[JCK98]

Never said anything about grand slams, or capacity.
I'm talking about the overall upgrade. It's mediocre, at best.

There was a proposal, or vision perhaps, for a new stadium built in it's place. Instead our government of the time wanted to build a white elephant across the river so gave us a patch up band aid job for Memorial Drive instead.

Another missed opportunity along the Riverbank.

The 6,000 seat "multi-purpose" arena idea would make sense if Tennis SA's fantasy that it would fit basketball and netball was true. But the 36ers have only had 1 crowd under 6,000 this season.

Not sure it would get any better or more tennis tournaments either.

[gnrc_louis]

I don’t think it is mediocre. You are entitled to your opinion. The new stands look great. Unfortunately the old stand couldn’t be knocked down because it is attached to the gym and offices etc, otherwise it would have been the same as the new ones. The thing about Adelaide is that we can never please anyone. If people on this forum are so against everything they should join the government themselves and voice themselves that way. The government today can’t even fix ramping like they said they would.

People on here aren't "against everything," they just have views on things and voice when they don't think a development has been done well. This is largely the point of a forum - to discuss a topic and share views, no?

[abc]

I don’t think it is mediocre. You are entitled to your opinion. The new stands look great. Unfortunately the old stand couldn’t be knocked down because it is attached to the gym and offices etc, otherwise it would have been the same as the new ones. The thing about Adelaide is that we can never please anyone. If people on this forum are so against everything they should join the government themselves and voice themselves that way. The government today can’t even fix ramping like they said they would.

is it a heritage listed gym and offices?

surely there is scope for a phase 2 that replaces the southern stand with something more appropriate for the viewing angles as well as a western stand...however a business case for such a development may be hard to justify

when the likes of Novak Djokovic are in town though it does generate enormous local interest in the event

[cmet]

Have to say the venue/set up looks pretty average on the TV coverage

You sound like a true lefty. Sorry but we are always winging about something and how labor could do it better. Well they have been in power long enough and haven’t touched memorial drive. I don’t mean to sounds mean but I think the redevelopment is fine. The reason why we don’t have a proper stand on the west side is because the venue is going to be used for concerts. The stage will go up against the wall and the crowd will stand where the hospitality stand is currently. We are never going to get a rod lover arena set up here so let’s just enjoy what we got and stop winging. Not surprised the rest of the country looks at us as a backwater and no bands come here.

What are you talking about you just know when someone starts an argument by calling someone a ‘true lefty’ that the rest of what they have to say isn’t worth listening to

[Mpol02]

Have to say the venue/set up looks pretty average on the TV coverage

You sound like a true lefty. Sorry but we are always winging about something and how labor could do it better. Well they have been in power long enough and haven’t touched memorial drive. I don’t mean to sounds mean but I think the redevelopment is fine. The reason why we don’t have a proper stand on the west side is because the venue is going to be used for concerts. The stage will go up against the wall and the crowd will stand where the hospitality stand is currently. We are never going to get a rod lover arena set up here so let’s just enjoy what we got and stop winging. Not surprised the rest of the country looks at us as a backwater and no bands come here.

What are you talking about you just know when someone starts an argument by calling someone a ‘true lefty’ that the rest of what they have to say isn’t worth listening to

Can’t like this enough!

[rev]

Never said anything about grand slams, or capacity.
I'm talking about the overall upgrade. It's mediocre, at best.

There was a proposal, or vision perhaps, for a new stadium built in it's place. Instead our government of the time wanted to build a white elephant across the river so gave us a patch up band aid job for Memorial Drive instead.

Another missed opportunity along the Riverbank.

The 6,000 seat "multi-purpose" arena idea would make sense if Tennis SA's fantasy that it would fit basketball and netball was true. But the 36ers have only had 1 crowd under 6,000 this season.

Not sure it would get any better or more tennis tournaments either.

It was still a better starting point then what has been delivered at present.
It might have been Tennis SA's fantasy, but if a competent state government had stepped in and said right this is what we're doing, capacity will be slightly larger to accommodate the likes of the NBL, then it would have happened. A venue with configurable seating options would have worked very well on the riverbank.

Instead over $60 million of tax payers money has been spent, and what's the outcome? Some new seats, a giant veranda essentially, and some media facilities.

The Adelaide International has become a significant lead in event for the Australian Open. Almost half of the top 20 from the womens tour are here, and several of the big names in the mens tour are here as well including 4 of the current top 10 ranked men.

The only other tournament going on right now with big name players is the United Cup, which is offering way more prize money at $15 million. But that's a team based event. They need to up the prize money significantly for the Adelaide International to keep attracting big name players in the lead up to the Aus Open.

Then maybe the typical boring overly conservative naysayer South Australian will realize what a mistake it is to not fully redevelop Memorial Drive..that, or they'll complain about traffic and too many people or some shit.

Over a dozen of the best tennis players in the world have come to Adelaide. Imagine if we put in half the effort we do for the Tour Down Under, for bike riders that most people have never heard of, how good our tennis tournament and venue would be.

[Mpol02]

You don’t understand tennis luv. 250 events don’t pay more than 500 events. Adelaide is a 250. we can aim for 500 I think it would fit given how popular the event has become but it won’t start dishing out more mooonie until it becomes becomes a 500.

[Mpol02]

Also the tournament is already heaps good.

[rev]

You don’t understand tennis luv. 250 events don’t pay more than 500 events. Adelaide is a 250. we can aim for 500 I think it would fit given how popular the event has become but it won’t start dishing out more mooonie until it becomes becomes a 500.

"Luv", did I say it should pay more then another event? or....

they need to up the prize money significantly for the Adelaide International to keep attracting big name players in the lead up to the Aus Open.

[Mpol02]

That’s not how prize money in tennis works, luv.

Breakdown for a typical ATP 250 event:
Quarterfinals: $21,390
Semifinals: $37,590
Runner-Up: $66,770
Winner: $120,635

The total prize money on offer for the men’s tour at the Adelaide 1 ATP 250 event is $642,735, an increase of 54.21% compared to 2022. It would seem Adelaide is batting

As well as some ideal preparation ahead of the Australian Open, the winner will receive $94,560, 126.2% more than Gael Monfils received when he won the title last year.

On the women’s side, Adelaide 1 is a WTA 500 event, and the total prize money on offer is $826,837, an increase of 17.52% vs 2022. The winner takes home $120,150, which is up 11.3% compared to twelve months ago.

For Adelaide 2, which starts the day after the final of Adelaide 1, the total prize money on the ATP side is identical at $642,735. However, the breakdown is slightly different, with the champion receiving $97,760.

The total prize money on the women’s side is $780,637.

You can see a full breakdown of the 2023 Adelaide International (Adelaide 1 and Adelaide 2) prize money for the ATP and WTA in the tables below.

Full breakdown can be found here:

https://www.perfect-tennis.com/prize-money/adelaide/

It does seem that compared to other 250 events the other can improve, and it is, based on the below list:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_ATP_Tour

Hope that helps, luv. The tournament is already drawing major players. The event is most like the conditions in Melbourne. Our best bet would be to try and get it to be an ATP 500, then you can look at more prize money, better venue etc.

[rev]

That’s not how prize money in tennis works, luv.

Yeh um, never stated or asked how it works.
But you enjoy your self.

[Mpol02]

Just correcting ignorance luv. Have fun.