First stage of $53 million upgrade to Coopers Stadium now complete

The first stage of the $53 million upgrade to Adelaide’s Coopers Stadium is now complete with works to the stadium’s western stand including the construction of new female changerooms allowing for a series of A-League double-headers to take place at the venue this season. Other works completed as part of Stage One included upgrades to the stadium’s game day amenities, function space and retail outlets.

The new changerooms – which now sees the venue equipped with two sets of unisex facilities – have enabled the stadium to host A-League women’s games followed immediately by A-League men’s clashes. The first double-header at Hindmarsh Stadium was held on New Year’s Day, with another scheduled this weekend (Saturday, 15th January) with Adelaide United’s A-League women and men’s teams taking on Melbourne City FC in back-to-back games. A third double-header match is scheduled for Saturday, 26th February.

South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard said the new changerooms will also be put to good use when the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup comes to Adelaide.

Minister Wingard notes “a major overhaul of this stadium was long overdue and our upgrade plans played a critical role in our winning bid to bring the Women’s World Cup to South Australia.

“The World Cup will see the world’s best female soccer players take to the pitch in front of a global television audience of more than one billion people – that’s a lot of eyes on our great state.”

Stage Two works, which will be completed after Season 2021 and during Season 2022, will focus on upgrades to the eastern grandstand, including the installation of a roof and new function space.

Extensive upgrades will also be carried out on the venue’s media facilities, entry gates, food & beverage outlets, toilet facilities, disability access and event operations centre. Full construction on the project is on track to be completed by December 2022.

Coopers Stadium General Manager Phil King said the works were progressing well and are ahead of schedule adding “the new changerooms in particular are a very exciting addition and will certainly enhance the player experience, enabling us to provide equal opportunity across both A-League men and women’s matches, as well as showcase the best of both on the same day.

“While works are progressing with some further exciting upgrades to come, it’s been great to welcome fans back to the stadium for the 2021/22 A-League season.”

Adelaide United Chief Executive, Nathan Kosmina, echoed these comments “with the completion of Stage One, we are now provided with the opportunity to unify our men’s and women’s programs with matches played together at Coopers Stadium.

"We were pleased to see the first double-header take place on New Year’s Day when our women’s side played Perth Glory and our men played Wellington Phoenix — a wonderful occasion.

"With Stage Two and Three upgrades currently underway and due for completion later next year, South Australian football is already benefiting from the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 legacy.”

As part of the $53million upgrade, Adelaide Venue Management Corporation will fund $8million in technology enhancements, including two giant video replay screens, pitch LED signage and a new stadium speaker system.

Image: South Australian Minister for Infrastructure and Transport Corey Wingard, with Adelaide United senior player, Emily Hodgson (left) and captain Isabel Hodgson (right)