Could a new Adelaide amphitheatre steer more music events outdoors?

With live music fans and promoters preferring to see acts in outdoor spaces, Adelaide City Council is looking at the possibility of building an amphitheatre for live outdoor events.

It will be based on structures including Stage One at WOMADelaide or the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in Melbourne, with an expansive grassed area that can hold up to 10,000 people and a further 2,000 people undercover.

Lord mayor Sandy Verschoor said locations at Elder Park, Rymill Park and Botanic Park are currently under review as potential sites for the amphitheatre.

“Now is the time, when we are grappling with how we continue to host events safely, to create the infrastructure that enables us to spill outdoors and will bring people to our city to enjoy these shared experiences,” Verschoor said.

“Coming together to enjoy sports, music, arts and cultural performances and multicultural celebrations is integral to our city’s reputation.”

The council has been working hard to maintain Adelaide’s status as a UNESCO City of Music.

It also wants to create Adelaide streets that can turn to live entertainment, dining, markets and retail spaces “at any time of the day or night, week or month”.

Talks have also been held with the state government to consider strategic investment in legacy infrastructure that “would set our city so it was ‘event ready’, no matter what”.

Meantime, the government has provided a further $1 million to the council for its $1.34 million Adelaide Unleashed initiatives to bring people into the city, drink and eating vouchers, free public transport and parking, and for F&B businesses to expand onto the sidewalks and laneways.

Among these is doubling Friday Night Live incentive scheme to $180,000.

It provides money (up to $4,000 in the first round last year) for musicians to partner with venues for regular programs, and establishments to introduce live gigs indoors or outside on streets.