Apollo Stadium

Last updated

Apollo Entertainment Centre
Apollo Stadium
Former namesApollo Stadium (1969-84)
Location41 Kingston Avenue, Richmond, South Australia
Coordinates 34°56′21″S138°33′54″E / 34.93917°S 138.56500°E / -34.93917; 138.56500
Capacity 1969-84: 4,000
1985-92: 3,500
Basketball / Netball: 3,000
Construction
Broke ground1968
Opened1969
Closed1991 (sports & entertainment)
Demolished1997
Tenants
Adelaide 36ers (NBL) (1982–1991)
West Adelaide Bearcats (NBL) (1979–1984)
Glenelg Tigers (NBL) (1979)
West Torrens / Forestville Eagles (NBL) (1980–1981)

Apollo Stadium (officially called the Apollo Entertainment Centre) was a multi-purpose indoor arena located at 41 Kingston Avenue, Richmond, South Australia, just 5 minutes from the Adelaide city centre. The stadium had an original seating capacity of 4,000 until the early 1980s when the bench seats were replaced by individual plastic seats giving a reduced seating capacity of 3,000 and an overall capacity of just 3,500.

Contents

Opened in 1969, the stadium was named for the Apollo Moon landing of the same year.

During the mid-late 1980s, an increasing number of international music acts began to bypass Adelaide as Apollo was seen as too small. This led to the building of the new 12,000 capacity Adelaide Entertainment Centre which opened in 1991, and in 1992 the venue was superseded as the home of basketball and netball by the new 8,000 seat Clipsal Powerhouse. The building then became a church for a few years but was eventually sold and demolished, with the site subsequently being redeveloped for housing.

Sports arena

Apollo Stadium was Adelaide's major basketball arena from 1969 until 1991, being the home court of National Basketball League teams the West Adelaide Bearcats (1979–84), Glenelg Tigers (1979), West Torrens / Forestville Eagles (1980–81) and Adelaide 36ers, who were the Adelaide City Eagles in their first year (1982–91).

The first ever NBL game was played at a half full Apollo Stadium on 24 February 1979 when the Glenelg Tigers defeated the City of Sydney Astronauts 68-65. Top scorer for the league's inaugural game was Sydney's David Leslie who went for 25 points on 11/22 shooting. For the Tigers, Rick Hodges led the way with 16 points on 7/14 shooting.

The Bearcats and 36ers were almost unbeatable at the venue, with the Bearcats winning the 1982 NBL championship during their time in the league (the Grand Final win over the Geelong Supercats was played in Newcastle). During the 1986 regular season, the 36ers were undefeated at home going 13-0. The only game they lost at Apollo all season was Game 2 of the Grand Final series when they suffered a shock 104-83 loss to the Brisbane Bullets. The 36ers won their first NBL Championship at Apollo two days after their Game 2 loss when they accounted for the Bullets 113-91 in Game 3 in what was coach Ken Cole's last game in charge of the club.

As of the 2016-17 NBL season, no team has equalled Adelaide's 1986 NBL record of being undefeated at home during the regular season.

The stadium hosted the 1981 NBL Grand Final when the Launceston Casino City defeated the Nunawading Spectres [1] as well as the 1982 NBL All-Star Game with the East team defeating the West 153-148 in a high scoring game. [2]

Despite its low spectator capacity Apollo Stadium was known as one of the loudest venues in the NBL during its use from 1979 until 1991. With a capacity crowd of 3,000 sitting very close to the action it was an intimidating task for opposition teams with 36ers players often referring to Apollo as the teams "6th Man". Award winning Adelaide based basketball journalist Boti Nagy, who also often doubled as a sideline television commentator during 36ers games, often described the seating at Apollo as being so close to the action that you could literally get hit with sweat from the players as they ran past.

The final NBL game at Apollo was the first game of the 1991 Semi-final series between the 36ers and the defending champion Perth Wildcats. In front of yet another sellout crowd, the Wildcats defeated Adelaide 102-99. [3] Playing for the 36ers in that game were Mark Davis, Darryl Pearce, Mark Bradtke, Butch Hays, Brett Wheeler and Mike McKay. For the Wildcats there was James Crawford, Kendall "Tiny" Pinder, Mike Ellis, Ricky Grace and Andrew Vlahov.

During the 1970s and 1980s, Apollo also hosted numerous international basketball games with touring teams such as Croatia and the powerful Soviet Union playing local sides as well as the Australian Boomers, as well as hosting games by various college basketball teams that toured Australia. The stadium also hosted a number of games featuring the Australian Opals.

Apollo Stadium was the home of the State League Netball grand final (usually televised locally by Channel 9) as well as being host to international and national state netball games until the Powerhouse opened in 1992.

Apollo Stadium also hosted other indoor sports such as volleyball and badminton and the venue was generally seen as the indoor home of South Australian teams in national competitions or tournaments.

Music venue

Apollo Stadium was a significant music venue in South Australia. Among the rock bands and musicians who performed at the stadium were:

Artist(s)Date(s)Notes
Louis Armstrong
The Kinks 4 Jun 1971 [4]
Jerry Lee Lewis Oct 1971 [5]
Creedence Clearwater Revival 18 Feb 1972 [4]
Jethro Tull 8 Jul 1972 [4]
Black Sabbath 19 Jan 1973 [6]
The Jackson 5 30 Jun 1973 [4]
Santana 28 July 1973
Santana 29 July 1973
Status Quo 4 Sep 1973 [7] In total, Status Quo played at Apollo 6 times. [8]
Status Quo 14 Nov 1974 [7]
Status Quo 15 Oct 1975 [9]
Status Quo 6 Aug 1978 to 8th [7]
Little Richard 16 Jan 1974
Paul McCartney & Wings 4 Nov 1975- 5 Nov 1975 [10]
Queen 14 Apr 1976-15 Apr 1976with Cold Chisel and The Ray Burton Band [11] [12] [13]
AC/DC 4 Dec 1976 [14]
AC/DC 12 Feb 1977 [15]
10CC 20 Sep 1977-21 Sep 1977 [16]
Elvis Costello and The Attractions 12 Dec 1978 [17]
Talking Heads 13 June 1979
Bob Marley and the Wailers 20 Apr 1979-21 Apr 1979
Thin Lizzy 16 Oct 1980 [18]
Cold Chisel 27 Feb 1981 [19]
Cold Chisel 20 Oct 1983-23 Oct 1983 [19]
U2 20 Sep 1984-21 Sept 1984 [20]
The Easybeats 1986
Midnight Oil 6 Oct 1987-8 Oct 1987 [21] [22]
Joe Cocker
Bob Dylan
The Police 17 Mar 1980
Ike and Tina Turner
B.B. King
Yes 21 Mar 1973 [23]
Deep Purple 8 May 1971with Free and Manfred Mann
Supertramp
Cat Stevens 8 Sep 1972 and 9th [24] [25]
Adam and the Ants
The Jackson 5 30 Jun 1973 [26]
Bob Marley and the Wailers 20 Apr 1979-21 Apr 1979 [27]
INXS 29 Sep 1986 and 30th [28] [29]
The Stranglers 15 May 1985 [30]
Boomtown Rats 6 Jun 1980 and 7th [31] [32]
Blondie 30 Nov 1977 [33]
Lou Reed 5 Nov 1977 [34]
Frank Zappa 4 Jul 1973 [35]
Frank Zappa 24 Jan 1976 and 25th [36] [37]
T. Rex 6 Nov 1973 [38]
The Beach Boys 25 Apr 1970 [39]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Basketball League (Australia)</span> The pre-eminent professional mens basketball competition in Australasia

The National Basketball League (NBL) is a men's professional basketball league in Australasia, currently composed of ten teams: nine in Australia and one in New Zealand. It is the premier professional men's basketball league in Australia and New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brisbane Bullets</span> Basketball team in Brisbane, Queensland

The Brisbane Bullets are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL) based in Brisbane, Queensland. They competed from 1979 to 2008, and returned to the league in 2016. Brisbane were one of ten NBL foundation teams and have won three NBL championships, being successful in the 1985 and 1987 seasons, and again in 2007. They have also competed in the 1984, 1986 and 1990 grand finals and have reached the playoffs 22 times.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide 36ers</span> Australian professional basketball team

The Adelaide 36ers are an Australian professional men's basketball team in the National Basketball League (NBL). The 36ers are the only team in the league representing the state of South Australia and are based in the state's capital of Adelaide. The club was originally called the Adelaide City Eagles when they joined the NBL in 1982, but changed their name to the 36ers the following year. The 36ers nickname comes from the fact that the Colony of South Australia was officially proclaimed on 28 December 1836. Since 2019, the 36ers play their home games at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mark Davis (basketball, born 1960)</span> American-Australian basketball player

Mark Davis is an American-Australian former professional basketball player. He most notably played in the National Basketball League for the Adelaide 36ers between 1985 and 2001, gaining the nickname of "The Chairman of the Boards" for his record-breaking rebounding achievements.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Entertainment Centre</span> Indoor arena in Adelaide, South Australia

The Adelaide Entertainment Centre (AEC) is an indoor arena located in the South Australian capital of Adelaide. It is used for sporting and entertainment events. It is the principal venue for concerts, events and attractions for audiences between 1,000 and 11,300.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Adelaide Arena</span> Sports venue in Adelaide, Australia

Adelaide Arena is a multipurpose indoor sports stadium located in Findon, an inner western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia.

Brett Steven Maher is an Australian retired professional basketball player. He played his entire seventeen-year career for his hometown Adelaide 36ers in the National Basketball League (NBL) from 1992 to 2009. Maher also represented Australia at the 1996, 2000 and 2004 Summer Olympic Games, as well as at the 1998 FIBA World Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brett Wheeler</span> Australian basketball player

Brett Wheeler is a former professional basketball player in the National Basketball League. A 6'10" (208 cm) tall Centre or Power forward, Wheeler played for the Adelaide 36ers, South East Melbourne Magic, Victoria Titans, Perth Wildcats and the Sydney Kings during his 17 year career, appearing in a record 8 NBL Grand Finals and won the 2003–04 and 2004–05 NBL championship with the Kings. He also represented Australia at international level during his career.

Calvin Thomas Bruton, is an American-born Australian former professional basketball player and coach. He has been an integral part of the National Basketball League (NBL) since its inception. Bruton won an NBL championship with the Brisbane Bullets in 1985, was a two-time member of the All-NBL First Team while playing for the Geelong Supercats and was named NBL Coach of the Year while he was a player-coach for the Supercats in 1982. He also won a second NBL championship while coaching the Perth Wildcats in 1990. As a result, Bruton became one of the first inductees into the NBL Hall of Fame when it opened in 1998.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Perth Arena</span> Sports and entertainment venue in Perth, Western Australia

Perth Arena is an entertainment and sporting arena in the city centre of Perth, Western Australia, used mostly for basketball matches. It is located on Wellington Street near the site of the former Perth Entertainment Centre, and was officially opened on 10 November 2012. Perth Arena is the first stage of the Perth City Link, a 13.5-hectare (33-acre) major urban renewal and redevelopment project which involves the sinking of the Fremantle railway line to link the Perth central business district directly with Northbridge.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jeff Dowdell</span> Australian basketball player

Jeffrey Dowdell is a former Australian professional basketball player. He played a total of 196 NBL games with four teams from 2005 to 2012. He also had a successful SEABL/NBL1 career playing for a number of clubs from 2004 to 2013.

Leroy Loggins is an Australian-American former professional basketball player who played in the National Basketball League (NBL) from 1981 until 2001.

Al Green is an American-Australian former professional basketball player. He played college basketball for three different colleges and was drafted by the Phoenix Suns in 1979. He arrived in Australia in 1981 and had a successful career in the National Basketball League (NBL) until his retirement in 1993. He won two NBL championships in 1982 and 1986, and was the NBL Most Valuable Player in 1982.

The 2012–13 NBL season is the 31st season for the Adelaide 36ers in the NBL. In 2011–12, the 36ers missed out on the playoffs for the 5th time in the past 6 seasons, finishing the season with the club's second ever wooden spoon with a worst ever 8-20 record. The 36ers, have won the NBL Championship four times, earning Adelaide the nickname of "Title Town", and with some astute off-season recruiting, will be looking to get back to a position of power in the league.

Michael George McKay is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played most of his career with the Adelaide 36ers of the National Basketball League (NBL), winning the 1986 championship with the team. McKay also played in the NBL for the West Adelaide Bearcats, Brisbane Bullets, Canberra Cannons and the Wollongong Hawks. He was a frequent member of the Australia men's national basketball team during the late 1980s and early 1990s, including being part of the national team at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona.

Darryl "The Iceman" Pearce is an Australian former professional basketball player. He played in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) for the Adelaide 36ers from 1982 to 1991 before playing four seasons (1992–1995) with the North Melbourne Giants. A 6'3" (191 cm) Shooting guard, Pearce is regarded as one of the best ever Three-point field goal shooters in NBL history having shot at 41.9% from beyond the arc during his 374-game career.

John Dorge is a former basketball player from Australia. Dorge played in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) from 1985 to 1998, playing for the Brisbane Bullets, Geelong Supercats and the South East Melbourne Magic, winning four NBL championships as well as representing Australia in international competition.

William Lawrence Jones is an American former professional basketball player. He played the majority of his professional career in Australia's National Basketball League (NBL) from 1985 until 1992.

The 1986 NBL season was the 5th season for the Adelaide 36ers in the Australian-based National Basketball League. The club won its first NBL Championship after defeating the Brisbane Bullets 2–1 in the NBL's first ever multiple game Grand Final series. In 1985, the 36ers just missed out on their first NBL championship when they had gone down 121–95 to the Brian Kerle coached, Leroy Loggins inspired Brisbane Bullets in the Grand Final that had been played on the Bullets home court, the Sleeman Sports Centre.

Scott Ninnis is an Australian professional basketball coach and former player. He won three National Basketball League (NBL) championships during his career: 1986 and 1998 with the Adelaide 36ers and 1992 with the South East Melbourne Magic. He coached the 36ers for two years and was an assistant coach with the club when they won the 1998–99 and 2001–02 NBL championships. He returned to the 36ers' coaching staff in 2023 as an assistant and was appointed as interim head coach midway through the 2023–24 season. Despite re-signing with the 36ers to be head coach, he was sacked in August 2024.

References

  1. ↑ 1981 NBL Grand Final highlights
  2. ↑ 1982 NBL All-Star Game highlights
  3. ↑ 36ers vs Wildcats NBL Semi-final 1991
  4. 1 2 3 4 "Tours By Overseas Artists 1964-75". Milesago. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  5. ↑ "Bon Scott Fans". www.bonscott.com.au. Archived from the original on 24 January 2016. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  6. ↑ "Performance - Tours by Overseas Acts - Black Sabbath". Milesago. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  7. 1 2 3 "1970 Tour". Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
  8. ↑ "Apollo Stadium Adelaide, Tickets for Concerts & Music Events 2015 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 8 October 1987. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Status Quo Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 15 Oct 1975 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 15 October 1975. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  10. ↑ "Norwegian Wood Concerts - The Solo Years 1973 - 1978". Norwegianwood.org. Archived from the original on 7 March 2009. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  11. ↑ Archived 4 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine
  12. ↑ Mr.Scully (14 April 1976). "14.04.1976 - Queen live at the Apollo Stadium, Adelaide, Australia". Queen Concerts. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  13. ↑ Mr.Scully (15 April 1976). "15.04.1976 - Queen live at the Apollo Stadium, Adelaide, Australia". Queen Concerts. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  14. ↑ "AC/DC Concert information for Apollo Stadium, Adelaide, Australia on Saturday, December 4, 1976". Acdc-bootlegs.com. Retrieved 3 December 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  15. ↑ "AC/DC Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 12 Feb 1977 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 12 February 1977. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  16. ↑ "10ccLIVE 77-80". Tencc.fan-site.net. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  17. ↑ "Elvis Costello Concerts '69-'79". www.luckygoon.com. Archived from the original on 14 January 2002.
  18. ↑ peter nielsen (info@thinlizzyguide.com) (16 October 1980). "Thin Lizzy, Concert, Apollo Stadium, Richmond, Australia, 16th October 1980, Ticket, Thin Lizzy Guide made by Peter Nielsen". Thinlizzyguide.com. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  19. 1 2 Archived 1 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  20. ↑ "The Advertiser | Latest Adelaide and South Australia News | the Advertiser".[ permanent dead link ]
  21. ↑ "LIVE SHOW REGISTER - 1987". Oilbase.deadheart.org.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2015.[ permanent dead link ]
  22. ↑ "Midnight Oil ~ Concerts". Midnight-oil.info. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  23. ↑ "Yes Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 21 Mar 1973 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 21 March 1973. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  24. ↑ "Cat Stevens Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 08 Sep 1972 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 8 September 1972. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  25. ↑ "Cat Stevens Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 09 Sep 1972 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 9 September 1972. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  26. ↑ "Jackson 5 Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 30 Jun 1973 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 30 June 1973. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  27. ↑ "Apollo Stadium Adelaide Gigography, Concert History, Past Events – Songkick". Songkick.com. 8 October 1987. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  28. ↑ "INXS Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 29 Sep 1986 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 29 September 1986. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  29. ↑ "INXS Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 30 Sep 1986 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 30 September 1986. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  30. ↑ "The Stranglers Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 16 May 1985 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 16 May 1985. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  31. ↑ "The Boomtown Rats Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 06 Jun 1980 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 6 June 1980. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  32. ↑ "The Boomtown Rats Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 07 Jun 1980 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 7 June 1980. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  33. ↑ "Blondie Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 30 Nov 1977 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 30 November 1977. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  34. ↑ "Lou Reed Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 05 Nov 1977 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 5 November 1977. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  35. ↑ "Frank Zappa Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 04 Jul 1973 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 4 July 1973. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  36. ↑ "Frank Zappa Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 24 Jan 1976 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 24 January 1976. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  37. ↑ "Frank Zappa Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 25 Jan 1976 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 25 January 1976. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  38. ↑ "T. Rex Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 06 Nov 1973 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 6 November 1973. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  39. ↑ "The Beach Boys Adelaide, Apollo Stadium, 25 Apr 1970 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 25 April 1970. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.