Adelaide Oval Information
Last week, the SACA, SANFL and South Australian government reached an agreement on how Adelaide Oval will be used, managed and operated under the proposed deal, which would see AFL games played at the venue by 2014.
The future of the project now hinges on a vote by 20,000 SACA members in May, with 75 per cent of those voters required to vote in favour of the proposal for the constitution to be changed and the project to go ahead.
Demetriou, who was credited with initiating talks between the SANFL and the SACA two years ago, has been a strong advocate of moving AFL games to an inner-city venue.
On Tuesday, Demetriou said the MCG was a perfect example of how football and cricket could cohabitate.
"It's not an unusual or unique thing for football and cricket to come together. It works well at the MCG and has done so for 150 years," Demetriou said.
"We had 3 million people go through the gate [at the MCG] last year, which was probably the highest-attended football stadium in the world and at the same time cricket had its supporters going through and it worked beautifully. We also play cricket at the SGC and the Gabba.
"For all those skeptics that somehow think this is going to be detrimental there are huge advantages for both football and cricket followers and even bigger advantages for the South Australian public [in this project]."
SACA president Ian McLachlan said a 'no' vote from his members would be a 'serious drawback', but wouldn't necessarily spell the end of the redevelopment.
Demetriou maintained there was no 'plan b' if the Adelaide Oval redevelopment was vetoed, saying the AFL wouldn't put any more money into a 'tired' AAMI Stadium.
"I'm a bull on Adelaide Oval. I don't see any other option and I've never deviated from that view," Demetriou said in Adelaide.
"I don't live in the world of ifs and buts and what might happen. I'm not involved in cricket and I don't understand the machinations of how the SACA members vote and who gets voting rights.
"I'll leave that to Ian McLachlan and his board to deal with. I can assure you they will put their best foot forward to their members, be absolutely transparent and we should allow that vote to go ahead because that's the democratic process that they've got."
The AFL has already committed to contributing to the cost of the redevelopment.
Demetriou declined to talk figures, but used Carrara Stadium - which the AFL contributed between $10-13million - as an example of the League's commitment to infrastructure across the competition.
Demetriou was in Adelaide for scheduled meetings with SANFL boss Leigh Whicker and the two SA-based AFL clubs.
Another issue of concern in the City of Churches is the dwindling number of people attending Crows and Power home games.
Last week, the AFL, SANFL and both clubs launched a joint marketing campaign called 'See For Yourself' aimed at attracting people back to AAMI Stadium.
Adelaide and Port Adelaide both recorded financial losses last year and Demetriou said it was important fans continued to support their clubs.
"In the time it takes to move to Adelaide Oval it's terribly important that we continue to support this stadium and support the clubs," he said.
"They rely on the income from crowds, corporate hospitality and cooperate support. We're working on some strategies to attract more people to the games here."
Adelaide Oval information
