Revamped Coopers Stadium for new A-League season
Adelaide United will play their home games at an upgraded Coopers Stadium this coming A-League season, with works on the Eastern grandstand nearing completion.
After being out of action for the entirety of last season, the new-look grandstand returns for the 2022/23 season which kicks-off this Friday.
The $53 million upgrade of the venue is being completed ahead of the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, in which Adelaide will host five matches with the venue to be known by its traditional name of Hindmarsh Stadium during the tournament.
The most noticeable improvement to the Eastern Stand is the addition of the new roof, providing better protection from the elements. The roof structure is similar in design to the existing Western Stand ensuring uniformity.
The new roof spans 2,200sqm and was constructed using over 220 tonnes of structural steel. The roof cantilever trusses overhang 16m over the existing stand to maintain the structural integrity of the design.
A new corporate area is incorporated into level four of the eastern stand. Spanning 350sqm, the area boasts floor to ceiling windows to provide magnificent views of the pitch and unobstructed views of the Adelaide Hills in the East. It features bar facilities and on the northern and southern points of the stand, there are outdoor terrace areas which provide excellent open-air viewing.
Four new light towers have been installed with 82 LED lights, enhancing the overall matchday experience for fans as well as the quality of broadcast, exceeding the FIFA World Cup standard at over 2,500 lux.
Additional speakers have also been mounted, enhancing the audio experience and sound clarity throughout the boutique stadium.
Two new big video screens are currently being installed in the north-west and south-east corners of the stadium, which each screen being over 100sqm. The existing screen on the top of the North Stand will remain as a scoreboard.
New gates and turnstiles will speed up the process for spectators entering Coopers Stadium, while also reducing congestion and wait times. Disability accessibility will improve following the upgrades with wider stairs for patrons and an elevator for those that require wheel-chair access.
All food and beverage outlets have been overhauled, while more male, female and accessible toilets have been installed as part of the redevelopment.
The project is running on-time and within budget, with the stadium to be operational for the Reds’ first A-League home game of the season in round 4 on Sunday, 30 October against Perth Glory. The new Eastern Stand corporate facility will open in mid-December. The capacity of the stadium remains unchanged at 16,500.
The 2022/23 A-League season gets underway this Friday night, with Melbourne City hosting Western United at AAMI Park. Brisbane Roar returns to Suncorp Stadium on Saturday, before Sydney hosts Melbourne Victory at the new Allianz Stadium Saturday night.
