City stadium plan backed by waltz king Andre Rieu

In Australia for a Mother's Day promotion, the violin superstar said a city stadium would inject new life into what he described as a "warm and welcoming city".

"It's always nice to have a place (to perform) in the middle of the town - it's cosier, it's nicer for the artists and it's nicer for the people," Rieu said.

"I'm really glad they're having this debate and if they need someone for the opening concert, I'm there."

Rieu staged two extravagant concerts at AAMI Stadium in November last year, with about 35,000 turning out over the two nights.

Many people blamed AAMI Stadium for the low crowd numbers, with one Adelaidenow reader declaring: "You can turn AAMI into a Viennese palace but unfortunately it is still AAMI Stadium. A cold, tired, unattractive place that is far for most people."

Rieu, however, has nothing but fond memories of Adelaide. "The Adelaide audience was fantastic, one of the best in Australia" he said.

Opposition Leader Martin Hamilton-Smith said Rieu's endorsement of his stadium plan was "a feather in Adelaide's cap".

"No one understands the buzz that can be created by siting entertainment in the city quite like Andre Rieu," he said. "It's a feather in Adelaide's cap that the stadium debate has attracted his attention."

Rieu's concerts at the Entertainment Centre on October 26 and 27 will be much smaller affairs than his last tour. However, he promises the shows will still be spectacular.