Hotel proposal for Adelaide Oval sparks debate

A proposal for an integrated hotel at the Adelaide Oval was announced over the weekend, with plans for a 128-room boutique hotel sparking a fierce debate over its funding model and potential impact on the neighbouring Adelaide Parklands.

SA Premier Steven Marshall maintained the $42 million project would not come at a cost to taxpayers, with the Stadium Management Authority (SMA) instead to be provided with a government-funded loan, guaranteed by taxpayer funds.

SMA chief executive Andrew Daniels said the 128-room hotel was part of a worldwide trend of integrated hotels at stadiums.

"It's a great opportunity to put a new tourism product into the market that people will be able to come stay at the Adelaide Oval hotel and have breakfast overlooking the beautiful Adelaide Oval," Daniels told the ABC.

Adelaide Oval is owned by the state government and leased to the South Australian Cricket Association and the SANFL, which then sublease it to the SMA.

Daniels said it would have been hard to attract a loan from a bank as a subtenant without the government's support.

"It's very, very difficult to get a normal banking loan so the government has stepped in to give us a loan facility," he said.

However, Shadow Treasurer Stephen Mulligan has questioned why the government should have to provide a loan at all.

"Surely any organisation charging $9.50 for a beer can raise enough money of their own without relying on taxpayers' funds," he said.

The hotel would be built on the eastern side of the stadium, raising concerns it will encroach on the city’s green space. Adelaide Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor said the parklands belonged to the public, calling for more consultation. "There's a lot more we'd like to explore," she said.

Daniels countered that the plans for the hotel do “not impinge at all outside of the Adelaide Oval core area”.

“Because it's elevated it doesn't affect the plaza areas, the walking areas for our patrons, and very importantly it does not impact at all on the Adelaide Parklands," he said.

If approved, construction could start as early as May next year with the hotel to be open for business in August 2020.

Sheridan Randall, 26^th November 2018