South Australian Government withdraws from hosting Adelaide 500 in 2021

The South Australian Government has announced that it will not host the Adelaide 500 in next year’s Supercars calendar marking an end to the race’s place in the city’s major events calendar for the last 20 years.

South Australian Premier Steven Marshall told Adelaide newspaper The Advertiser today that the decision “was made with careful consideration”, acknowledging that “the Superloop Adelaide 500 has been an event icon for over 20 years.”

However, he acknowledged that “COVID-19 has presented significant challenges for the events sector, and the uncertainty and other factors became an unsurmountable hurdle in the plight to deliver a successful race.”

With declining crowds attending the event over recent years - the 2020 race drew 206,000 spectators earlier this year, down from its record crowd numbers of 291,400 in 2009 - Premier Marshall went on to say “the budget for the Supercars race has been well north of $10 million for an extended period of time.

“That cost is going up and it no longer represents the best return in terms of visitation to South Australia or jobs in South Australia.”

South Australian Tourism Commission Chief Executive Rodney Harrex said the state would “continue to invest in a range of sporting, cultural and arts events to stimulate the visitor economy”.

Harrex advised “due to the high level of uncertainty around the ability of the event to proceed in 2021, the likely impact on the event for both the consumer and commercial market, and the long-term decline in the core motorsport fan, a decision has been made that it will not be possible to hold the race next year, and to not seek a contract for future years.

“We have been in discussions with Supercars for the majority of this year, working through possible scenarios. At the end of the day, with the current set of circumstances we are not in a position to deliver a sustainable, successful future for the event for next year and beyond.”

The Supercars Championship said while it regretted the decision by the South Australian Government, it would leave to door option to bringing the event back to Adelaide in the future.

A statement from Supercars advised “if, at any time in the future, the South Australian Government decides to recommence the Adelaide 500, Supercars would be delighted to be there.”

Once described as Australia's largest domestic ticketed motorsport, past reports had suggested the race generates more than $250 million in economic activity each year.

The 2021 Adelaide 500 had been scheduled as the last race in Supercars 2021 season according to the competition’s previously published provisional race calendar.

Premier Marshall is also currently considering backing an Adelaide-bid to host the 2026 Commonwealth Games although Australasian Leisure Management understands such a bid will not proceed.

Image: Aerial view of the Adelaide 500 course.