Cover Story
Issue No. 45 - Feb/March 2009
Showground builds new business
Adelaide Showground has launched the Adelaide Event & Exhibition Centre, a new business incorporating the Showground’s existing event business, which aims to capitalise on the new Goyder Pavilion and surrounding plazas to grab a bigger share of the national business events and exhibition market.
Fronting Goodwood Road in Wayville, the AEEC is the first major achievement under the $180 million Master Plan for the 26ha Showground site and General Manager, Grant Piggott says it brings a new level of exhibition flexibility to SA’s business community.
“The new AEEC incorporates event facilities in the newly completed Goyder Pavilion, Duncan Gallery and related plazas as well as the existing Ridley Centre, Jubilee and Wayville Pavilions,” Grant says.
“Adelaide Showground will continue to be developed as an important precinct with long-term plans for upgraded venues, expanded sporting use, office accommodation and improved facilities for the AdelaideShowground Farmers Market.”
AEEC amounts to 26,300 square metres of integrated air-conditioned space – the third-largest exhibition space in Australia. It boasts 16,000 square metres of landscaped outdoor event space, including a 200-person amphitheatre.
Extensive dining space with updated kitchens now can host sit-down functions for 300 to 2000 diners.
Updated meeting spaces have state-of-the-art AVequipment and wireless internet technology.
Visitor access has been improved with betteron-site parking, bus, coach and taxi drop-off next to Goodwood Road.
“AEEC has improved ability to accommodate functions required by the business sector – dinners, cocktail parties, product launches, meetings – with quality areas and guest facilities,” Grant says. “We have developed menus based on quality local produce, freshness and positive dining experience.
“The new Goyder Mezzanine is one space which accommodates up to 300 people, and the same space divid...
