Apollo Stadium

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.

Apollo Entertainment Centre
Former namesApollo Stadium (1969-84)
Location41 Kingston Avenue, Richmond, South Australia
Coordinates34°56′21″S 138°33′54″E
Capacity1969-84: 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)

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the building of the new 12,000 capacity Adelaide Entertainment Centre which opened in 1991, and in 1992 the venue was superseded as the home of basketball and netball by the new 8,000 seat Clipsal Powerhouse.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 the likes of 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 Kinks4 Jun 1971[4]
Jerry Lee LewisOct 1971[5]
Creedence Clearwater Revival18 Feb 1972[4]
Jethro Tull8 Jul 1972[4]
Black Sabbath19 Jan 1973[6]
The Jackson 530 Jun 1973[4]
Santana28 July 1973
Santana29 July 1973
Status Quo4 Sep 1973[7] In total, Status Quo played at Apollo 6 times.[8]
Status Quo14 Nov 1974[7]
Status Quo15 Oct 1975[9]
Status Quo6 Aug 1978 to 8th[7]
Paul McCartney & Wings4 Nov 1975- 5 Nov 1975[10]
Queen14 Apr 1976-15 Apr 1976with Cold Chisel and The Ray Burton Band [11][12][13]
AC/DC4 Dec 1976[14]
AC/DC12 Feb 1977[15]
10CC20 Sep 1977-21 Sep 1977[16]
Elvis Costello and The Attractions12 Dec 1978[17]
Talking Heads13 June 1979
Bob Marley and the Wailers20 Apr 1979-21 Apr 1979
Thin Lizzy16 Oct 1980[18]
Cold Chisel27 Feb 1981[19]
Cold Chisel20 Oct 1983-23 Oct 1983[19]
U220 Sep 1984-21 Sept 1984[20]
The Easybeats1986
Midnight Oil6 Oct 1987-8 Oct 1987[21][22]
Joe Cocker
Bob Dylan
The Police
Ike and Tina Turner
B.B. King
Yes21 Mar 1973[23]
Deep Purple8 May 1971with Free and Manfred Mann
Supertramp
Cat Stevens8 Sep 1972 and 9th[24][25]
Adam and the Ants
The Jackson 530 Jun 1973[26]
Bob Marley and the Wailers20 Apr 1979-21 Apr 1979[27]
INXS29 Sep 1986 and 30th[28][29]
The Stranglers15 May 1985[30]
Boomtown Rats6 Jun 1980 and 7th[31][32]
Blondie30 Nov 1977[33]
Lou Reed5 Nov 1977[34]
Frank Zappa4 Jul 1973[35]
Frank Zappa24 Jan 1976 and 25th[36][37]
T. Rex6 Nov 1973[38]
The Beach Boys25 Apr 1970[39]
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References
  1. 1981 NBL Grand Final highlights
  2. 1982 NBL All-Star Game highlights
  3. 36ers vs Wildcats NBL Semi-final 1991
  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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 August 2008. Retrieved 2009-03-19.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  8. "Apollo Stadium Adelaide, Tickets for Concerts & Music Events 2015 – Songkick". Songkick.com. 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.
  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. http://www.luckygoon.com/HTML/Concerts/69_79.html
  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. Archived 1 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  20. http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,20737054-2682,00.html
  21. "LIVE SHOW REGISTER - 1987". Oilbase.deadheart.org.uk. Retrieved 3 December 2015.
  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. 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.
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