SACA ups ante in funding battle

The South Australian Cricket Association is horrified by the prospect of a diminished relevance as outdated Adelaide Oval becomes an international cricket backwater.

South Australia's cricket establishment, with nothing to lose, is gearing up for war with what it considers a hostile state government.

State governments, coast to coast, are pouring in capital to increase capacity at myriad upgraded venues from Subiaco to the Gabba.

The SA Government has never provided any assistance to SACA.

SACA has made continual submissions to the state government for a $40 million, two-tier development of the western stands. This upgrade would propel capacity from 28,000 to 40,000.

The association has offered to pay back any government funding, but all overtures have been ignored.

Tomorrow's sell-out VB Series clash between Australia and Sri Lanka highlights the traditional patronage by South Australians of quality events at Adelaide Oval.

However, the SA public will soon be ignored by profit-focused event promoters and, possibly, Cricket Australia.

Adelaide will host a VB Series final, on February 10, for the first time due to Melbourne's Commonwealth Games commitments, but SACA knows it will lose bidding battles for future limited-overs finals - with the Gabba now boasting a 40,000 capacity.
Adelaide forfeited a rugby international between Australia and Ireland this year to Subiaco - also due to capacity.

Moreover, SACA believes Adelaide will also miss international football fixtures unless it can guarantee a 35,000 crowd.

SACA chief executive Mike Deare says the state government must now drop its bias against Adelaide Oval and find the gumption to support a worthy upgrade project.

"We will need some money for the development," Deare said. "The simple fact of the matter is we invested $25 million, all the cash we had, in the (eastern) development of Chappell and Clem Hill stands and television replay screens.

"The government has enjoyed the spin-offs of international cricket, rugby, and concerts at Adelaide Oval.

"They have a had a free ride, they have not put a cent in. What we need is a partnership with the state government so we can compete equally with major venues like the MCG, SCG, Telstra Dome, Telstra Stadium, the Gabba and Subiaco. Otherwise Adelaide loses out."

Adelaide Oval will experience its first Test sell-out since Bodyline when England visits Adelaide in December. SACA will increase its seating to 32,000 but knows that around 45,000 fans want to cram the ground on any given day.

"The Adelaide Ashes Test will be a sell-out. We could have fitted many more in," Deare said.

"We will attract 7000 British tourists to Adelaide - this is real economic impact not like the major events spin the Premier's office puts on things talking about the impact of staging car races."

"Try to get a hotel room in December for the Ashes - you won't get one."

"This is real, foreign tourist money coming to Adelaide - real export income. There is never a more right time other than immediately to get into this project."