Plans for second stage of Memorial Drive upgrade revealed

Concept photos have been released for the $44 million second stage of Adelaide’s Memorial Drive Tennis Centre redevelopment.

The project includes two new grandstands to the east and north of centre court with new seating with improved sightlines, as well as food and beverage facilities and enhanced amenity.

The northern facility will include a media and sports technology centre, with broadcast facilities, media lounge and space for high performance sports research and development, while the eastern facility will be integrated with the Adelaide Oval Southern Plaza, incorporating high performance training facilities, premium multipurpose event and function spaces.

Stage two, funded during the State Budget in November last year, will begin in March and is expected to be event-ready by the 2022 Adelaide International in January next year, while the entire project is due for completion in mid-2022.

The first stage of the venue’s redevelopment was a new canopy roof, built at a cost of $10 million during 2019, allowing play to continue in all weather conditions.

The venue’s historic south grandstand will be retained and integrated into the redeveloped arena. Once complete, the venue will have a capacity of 6,500.

South Australia’s Sport Minister Corey Wingard said the upgrade would create a “world-class venue that can accommodate a range of sporting and entertainment events”.

Memorial Drive hosted ‘A Day at the Drive’ last month, with a sold-out crowd of 8,000 spectators in attendance across two sessions – the first full crowd at a tennis event in about 12 months.

Following the Australian Open, it’ll host the Adelaide International between February 22-27, which will be run as a WTA 500 event, with the tournament to feature world-class players such as two-time Australian Open champion Victoria Azarenka.

Tickets are now on sale through Ticketmaster.