Adelaide the new Sporting Capital

By SAM FLEMING

Adelaide has an opportunity to become the top Australian sporting city, with a number of big events set to draw big crowds.

Although considered a second-tier sporting capital behind the likes of Melbourne and Sydney, Adelaide became the national focus for sport in April.

History was made at the Morphettville Racecourse on April 29, with undefeated champion mare Black Caviar taking her place at the Sportingbet Classic.

With a winning streak that has never been seen in Horse Racing in Australia, Black Caviar reached her 20^th consecutive win from as many starts.

Black Caviar was backed as the obvious favourite with odds at $1.04, a bare minimum return.

It may have been the final race the horse has on Australian soil, before moving overseas to take on the best in the world.

The historic Showdown 32 took place between rivals Adelaide and Port Adelaide at AAMI Stadium on Sunday 29 April, with both clubs having vastly improved on previous year’s results.

With both up and coming clubs showing glimpses of finals contention, the match was set to expect between 30,000 and 40,000 fans pushing through the turnstiles.

Both of these events generated not only significant revenue for Adelaide sport, but Sport SA’s Jan Sutherland said that these events may promote more attention to the city than ever before.

“In South Australia you always want more and more involvement in sporting clubs and associations around the state,” she said.

“The more frequently Adelaide is able to draw attention from these big events, the more people around the State and Australia are going to stand up and take notice of the sporting calibre we have in this city.”