Day-night cricket Test expected to boost Adelaide hotels, restaurants
BARS and restaurants in the heart of Adelaide are hopeful they’ll benefit from the world’s first day-night cricket Test, tweaking menus and hours of trade ahead of the event.
The Australian Hotels Association SA branch general manager Ian Horne said he expects hotels to be sold out for the upcoming Australia v New Zealand Test at Adelaide Oval.
However, he said the inaugural match had many unknowns as the new game time was a first for the code.
The match will run from 2pm-10pm, instead of the traditional 10am-5pm timeslot.
“How it pans out is a bit of a mystery,” he said.
“If the Adelaide Oval has 30, 40, 50,000 people there at night, it is an absolute unknown what will happen up until it finishes.
“We think the big winners will be accommodation providers, lunchtime trade and bars after 9.30pm.
“We know these spectacular events have the potential for significant economic benefit.”
Limited general admission tickets are available on Ticketek for the first two days of the Test.
Although Cricket Australia would not provide an expected crowd figure, it said ticket sales were strong with 65 per cent from interstate or overseas fans.
Sean’s Kitchen, at the Adelaide Casino, hopes to be one of the city’s restaurants to benefit from the cricket trade.
Adelaide Casino assistant general manager Matthew Hardman said the casino would have its Backyard Bar area open before and after the cricket and was launching a 24-hour menu at one of its cafes.
“We have seen significant increases in foot-traffic in the precinct from recent festivals and sporting events and with the worldwide interest in the day-night Test we look forward to seeing many new visitors come through our doors,” he said. “Our signature restaurants, Sean’s Kitchen and Madame Hanoi, are ready for the influx of cricket fans and we are launching a 24-hour menu at Barossa Cafe, providing the perfect place for food, drink and entertainment before or after the game.”
A Transport Department spokesman said additional buses, trains and trams would run to cater for extra demand across the November 27 to December 1 Test.
Source: Adelaide Now, Amielia Broadstock, 11th November 2015
Originally published as: Day-night cricket Test expected to boost Adelaide hotels, restaurants
