South Australia’s only professional baseball club’s decade-long ‘free ride’ at West Beach could come to an abrupt end after sports administrators warned the Adelaide Giants they will be barred from playing at their home ground during the upcoming season unless they pay their way.
The club is facing the prospect of being without a home ground for the 2026/27 season, which begins in November, amid claims it has not paid usage fees for 11 of the past 12 years.
It comes as serious allegations of unprofessional conduct also emerge, including that one player, while in uniform, was found having sex with a member of the public on the floor of the indoor training facility last year.
However, Adelaide Giants’ owner, the Pelligra Group – which is understood to be in negotiations to sell the club – says both the lease negotiations and the conduct concerns are being addressed in ongoing talks with venue lessee Diamond Sports SA, which manages the West Beach Parks Sporting Precinct.
The Giants host 20 home matches at the precinct’s stadium during the Australian Baseball League season from November to January.
Playing teams from Sydney, Brisbane, and Perth, the club charges admission, offers memberships from $120, and sells corporate entertainment packages.
However, Diamond Sports SA Director Pete Williams said the Giants had not entered into any facility-use agreement with DSSA for 11 of the past 12 seasons.
“That is costing our sports communities,” he said.
“And therefore we don’t want them at the facility any longer unless they’re going to start paying for their use.”
Mr Williams said the club had now been put on notice that it would not be permitted to use the grounds during the 2026/27 ABL season “unless we come to an agreement”.
Mr Williams said similar professional clubs using similar facilities paid facility-use fees of between $60,000 and $90,000 per season.
DSSA’s position is supported by Softball SA, which has three representatives on DSSA’s six-member board, is based at the West Beach grounds, and pays a usage fee to use the facilities for its grassroots competitions.
“Our community will not be funding their usage of this facility any further,” Softball SA executive officer James Harris said.
However, Baseball SA, which fills the other three DSSA board positions, is pushing back, arguing Baseball SA has not historically treated the Giants use of the grounds as a revenue-generating activity; the club paid fees via a pass-through agreement in 2024/25; and it is unfair to single out the baseball club when softball clubs are not charged.
The Advertiser understands the Giants also face allegations that club-members regularly leave the clubrooms and change rooms in disarray, fail to repair damage, use equipment paid for by other clubs, and changed the locks on the changerooms without authorisation.
When contacted for comment on the specific financial and conduct allegations, Pelligra Group executive general manager Steve Wren did not address the individual claims.
But he said the issues raised were currently part of active talks between the Giants and DSSA.
“We are aware of the discussions with Diamond Sports SA and these are currently continuing and I am sure these can be resolved prior to the coming season,” he said.
“We are looking forward to ABL season 26/27 and the continued success of the Adelaide Giants.”