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| Former names | Clipsal Powerhouse (1992–2002) Distinctive Homes Dome (2003–2009) Adelaide Dome (2009–2010) Adelaide Arena (2010–2015) |
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| Location | 44A Crittenden Road,Findon,Adelaide,South Australia,Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°54′1″S138°32′46″E / 34.90028°S 138.54611°E /-34.90028; 138.54611 |
| Owner | Beverley Leisure Park[1] |
| Operator | BLP |
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Record attendance | 8,127 (2014NBL Grand Final Game 2,Adelaide 36ers vs.Perth Wildcats)[3] |
| Surface | Canadian Maple |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | 1991 |
| Opened | 4 April 1992 |
| Construction cost | AU$16 million ($29.35 million in 2016 dollars)[2] |
| Tenants | |
| Adelaide 36ers (NBL) (1992–2019) Adelaide Lightning (WNBL) (1993–2005, 2008–present) Adelaide Thunderbirds (CBT) (1997–2000), (ANZ/NNL) (2016–2017) Adelaide Ravens (CBT) (1997–2000) | |
Adelaide Arena (known commercially asAdelaide 36ers Arena) is a multipurpose indoor sports stadium located inFindon, an inner western suburb ofAdelaide,South Australia.
It is the former home arena for theAdelaide 36ers of theNBL and the current home arena of theAdelaide Lightning of theWomen's National Basketball League (WNBL). In the past, it has served as an alternate venue for Adelaide'sSuncorp Super Netball team, theAdelaide Thunderbirds.[1]
Adelaide Arena has been the Adelaide 36ers' home venue since 1992 and theAdelaide Lightning's home for most years since 1993. The arena was built to replace the 36ers former and now-demolished home,Apollo Stadium, which only seated 3,000 people in cramped conditions.
Despite the arena's ability to host more than just sporting events such as basketball and netball, theGovernment of South Australia placed restrictions on the venue's use when it opened in 1992.[4] Due to the government owning the Adelaide Entertainment Centre, the arena could not be used for such events as concerts, with most major international musical acts performing at the centre or Adelaide's outdoor venues such as the now-demolishedFootball Park,Memorial Drive or theAdelaide Oval.[citation needed]
The arena was purchased by businessmenEddy Groves and Mal Hemmerling in 2006 for A$3.95 million.[5] However, in 2012, theCommonwealth Bank took possession of the arena after Eddy Groves had defaulted on the loan.[6] On 3 April 2013, it was announced thatScouts SA and SA Church Basketball had become joint owners of the arena.[1]
The event restrictions were lifted in December 2014 allowing the arena to host non-sporting events, including music concerts.[4] The set-up for concerts at the arena involves retracting the northern bowl seats to allow for a stage with general floor seating covering the Brett Maher Court. With this setup in place, capacity at the arena stays at 8,000 for concerts.[4]
The arena's attendance record of 8,127 was set on 11 April 2014 to see Game 2 of the2013–14 Grand Final series when the 36ers defeated thePerth Wildcats 89–84.
In 2015, the arena underwent close to $1 million in upgrades, with new lighting, a new score-cube, and a new public address system. The original score-cube, lighting and PA were in the venue since it opened in 1992.[7]
Since its opening Adelaide Arena has played host to 7NBL Grand Final games in1994 (1 game),1998 (1 game),1999 (games 2 and 3),2002 (games 2 and 3) and2014 (1 game), with the 36ers winning all games except the opening game of the 1994 series against theNorth Melbourne Giants and Game 2 of the 1999 series against theVictoria Titans.
The Adelaide Arena has also played host toBoomers andOpals games against various visiting nations and other touring teams, including the opening game of a five-game series between the Boomers andMagic Johnson's All-Stars, who included formerNBA players such as captain/coach Johnson and three-timeNBA All-StarMark Aguirre who top scored with 32 points, on 7 March 1995. In front of almost 8,000 fans, the All-Stars defeated the Boomers (who included 36ers players Mark Davis, Brett Maher,Mike McKay, Chris Blakemore andBrett Wheeler) 113–98.[8]
TheHarlem Globetrotters have also played at the arena, the most recent occasion being on 1 November 2013.[citation needed]
TheNBL returned to the Arena when theNew Zealand Breakers hosted a game against theAdelaide 36ers at the Venue on 12 March 2022.
The arena was the home of majornetball games played in South Australia, with thestate league grand final being played there until 2000. TheAustralian Netball Diamonds have used the arena fortest matches, and from 1997 until 2001 it was the home of theAdelaide Thunderbirds andAdelaide Ravens who played theCommonwealth Bank Trophy.
