Go-ahead for Adelaide Oval redevelopment
AFL will move to Adelaide Oval following an 80% vote in favour of the major redevelopment at a members meeting Monday evening.
It's expected the $535m redevelopment will be complete in time for the 2014 AFL season, signalling the end of an era for South Australian football with both the Adelaide Crows and Port Adelaide moving their home games from AAMI Stadium (Football Park) to the inner-city venue.
More than 12,000 SACA members voted at the special general meeting with 80.37% voting in favour of changing the constitution to allow control of the ground to be split between cricket and AFL.
The redeveloped will see the ground's capacity increase from 36,000 to 50,000, while the agreement will also see the cricket body's $85m debt wiped.
Monday night at Wayville Showgrounds was the location of the SACA meeting and vote, with over 2000 members attending on the night.
SACA President Ian McLachlan addressed the meeting before presentations from Oval architect Jonathon Gardiner and John Harden, SACA Chief Executive.
A 90 minute question and answer session then followed before the official voting took place.
At approximately 9:45pm, Ian McLachlan gave the vote result, an announcement that was greeted with huge applause.
Along with a redeveloped Oval, the whole riverside precinct will be revitalised and a footbridge from the railway station across the Torrens to the Adelaide Oval will be built.
