Menu
Clayton Wehner
Clayton Wehner

Retractable Floodlight Towers

Posted on September 3, 2015June 16, 2020 by Clayton Wehner
retractable lights adelaide oval

I have been revelling in frequent trips to the fantastic new Adelaide Oval to watch the cricket, AFL and soccer, much to the chagrin of my wife who bemoans having to stay home with the ‘clowns’ (our two children aged 4 and 6). The stadium is truly world-class and it has given the city of Adelaide a much-needed boost in terms of trade and tourism.

At a recent Crows game, my Victorian offsider felt it necessary to put a dampener on proceedings. When the ground announcer advised that the stadium lights would be extinguished for the post-match light show, he turned to me with a grin and said: ‘When the entertainment starts, are they going to retract the lights into the ground? They’re retractable, right?’.

Smart arse…with a long memory.

Retractable Lights??

Yes, back in 1997 the intention was to have fully retractable light towers at Adelaide Oval. This fanciful plan was hatched to appease the traditionalists who were concerned that permanent lights would detract from the amenity of this very picturesque precinct.

After a lengthy bun-fight, a compromise position was struck – the light towers would rise from the ground to facilitate night-time sport, and then retract into the ground, out of sight, when not needed.

Nice plan, but it was an unadulterated failure. The lights were scheduled for completion in October 1995, but were first turned on in December 1997, two years late and more than $4 million over budget. Not three months later, one of the towers collapsed, injuring two workers. And that was the end of that.

Today, the light towers at Adelaide Oval are fixed and permanent. For most, the retractable floodlight towers saga has been confined to history, never to be mentioned again.  Except by jealous out-of-towners.

  • adelaide oval
  • Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    About

    Clayton Wehner

    Digital leader, proud Adelaidean, avid reader, Crows fan, craft beer drinker, border collie walker, closet crooner, lover of all foods, family guy

    Linkedin | Twitter | Facebook

    Categories

    • Accessibility
    • Adelaide
    • Analytics
    • Articles
    • Business
    • Content
    • CX/UX
    • Digital Strategy
    • Ecommerce
    • Gaming
    • Heritage
    • Language
    • Leadership
    • Libraries & Books
    • Management
    • Marketing
    • Military
    • Presentations
    • Smart Cities
    • Social Media
    • Stories
    • Technology
    • Video
    • Websites
    • Wellbeing

    Archives

    • January 2021
    • December 2020
    • November 2020
    • October 2020
    • September 2020
    • August 2020
    • July 2020
    • June 2020
    • May 2020
    • April 2020
    • March 2020
    • February 2020
    • January 2020
    • November 2019
    • August 2019
    • July 2019
    • June 2019
    • November 2018
    • October 2017
    • September 2017
    • August 2017
    • July 2017
    • May 2017
    • January 2017
    • December 2016
    • November 2016
    • October 2016
    • September 2016
    • August 2016
    • July 2016
    • June 2016
    • May 2016
    • April 2016
    • March 2016
    • February 2016
    • January 2016
    • December 2015
    • November 2015
    • October 2015
    • September 2015
    • August 2015
    • July 2015
    ©2021 Clayton Wehner | Powered by WordPress & Superb Themes