Adelaide Morning Briefing: Super Bowl Fever and the Skyline Shift

Good Morning, Adelaide

It is Monday, 9 February 2026. As the city shakes off the residual dust from a record-breaking February heatwave that saw temperatures soar into the mid-40s last week, Adelaideans are waking up to a Monday with a distinctly international flavor and a serious conversation about the future of our city’s horizon.

The Mood: Sports-Mad Monday

The city's mood this morning is electric, though perhaps a little bleary-eyed. While it is the start of the work week, many locals are heading to pubs and sports bars across the suburbs—from the Woodville Hotel to the Sailmaster Tavern—to catch the live broadcast of Super Bowl LX. With the game kicking off in the United States on Sunday evening, the Monday morning viewing tradition has taken over local taprooms. The atmosphere is a blend of high-energy sports fandom and a collective sigh of relief as the extreme heat from earlier in the month begins to moderate, allowing for a more comfortable morning out.

Key Talking Point: The Great Vertical Shift

The main topic of conversation at the water cooler today is the transformative plan to "unlock" Adelaide’s skyline. The state government’s historic partnership with Adelaide Airport is the talk of the town, as new reforms aim to dismantle long-standing height restrictions in the CBD. For decades, our city has been defined by its low-rise restraint, but today citizens are debating the merits of a new era where building heights could soar.

• Skyline Ambition: New proposals could see 20-storey towers approved on West Terrace, a massive jump from previous limits.
• Housing Targets: The Premier has doubled down on urban density, promising a $500 million pre-sale guarantee for CBD apartment projects to tackle the housing crisis.
• The Debate: While many welcome the infusion of life and housing into the city center, heritage advocates are expressing concern over whether the city's unique "old-world" charm can survive such a vertical expansion.

Feel-Good Story: Weathering Life's Seasons

In a lovely local highlight, popular Nine News weather presenter Jessica Braithwaite is making headlines for a reason beyond the forecast. She has released a new children’s book that uses the weather as a metaphor for navigating complex emotions. After a decade of keeping a sunny disposition on our screens—even while filming live crosses during her own challenging pregnancy—Braithwaite’s book encourages Adelaide’s youngest residents to embrace "stormy" feelings as a natural part of life. It’s a timely message of resilience for a city that has just endured a grueling stretch of extreme summer weather.

Quick Reminders for Today

• Music History: The SA Music Hall of Fame Exhibition is open today for those looking for a cultural lunch break.
• Fringe Prep: With the Adelaide Fringe only eleven days away, expect to see more festival infrastructure appearing in the East End as the city prepares for its biggest month of the year.
• Hydration: Even as the record heat dips, health officials remind everyone to stay hydrated as we move through the remainder of the summer season.