Adelaide Oval
Encyclopedia
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide
, South Australia
, located in the parklands between the Central Business District
and North Adelaide
. It's home to the South Australian Redbacks, the Adelaide Strikers
and the South Australian Cricket Association
.
The oval has a rich history which dates back to 1871, shortly after the formation of the SACA and is considered to be one of the most picturesque Test cricket
grounds in Australia, if not the world.
The ground is mostly used for cricket
and Australian rules football
, but plays host to other sports such as Rugby League
and Soccer.
The oval is managed by the South Australian Cricket Association
(SACA). The oval currently has a seating capacity
of 36,000 spectators. The maximum crowd at a cricket game was 50,962 during the Bodyline
test in 1932 and the maximum crowd was 62,543, set at the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between the Port Adelaide
and Sturt
Football Clubs.
From March 2012, the oval will undergo a $550 million redevelopment which will bring football into the city, increase the stadiums capacity to 54,600 and become the home venue for the Adelaide and Port Adelaide
Football Clubs in the Australian Football League
.
Adelaide Oval hosts the following major sporting events:
16 sports have been played at one time or another at the oval: archery
, athletics
, baseball
, cycling
, gridion
, highland games
, hockey
, lacrosse
, lawn tennis, rugby league
, rugby union
, quoits
and soccer.
(1977 & 2004), David Bowie
(1978 & 1983), KISS
(1980), Madonna
& Paul McCartney
(1993), Michael Jackson
(1996), Billy Joel
& Elton John
(1998), P!nk
(2002), Pearl Jam
(2009) & AC/DC
& Wolfmother
(2010).
The new western stand - December 2010
During the second Ashes test
During the England vs SA match
games as well as international soccer and rugby. The state and federal Governments each pledged $25m to the project, leaving the SACA to raise at least $45m. The SACA planned for the new stand to be ready in time for the 2010–11 Ashes series.
It was announced on 27 February 2009 that the A$95 million re-development would commence on 10 March 2010. In March, the western stands were torn down.
-Chair, John Harnden, Creagh O’Connor & John Bannon
) and four with SANFL (Leigh Whicker-CEO, Rod Payze, Philip Gallagher & Jamie Coppins)
However, in early-mid 2010, prior to the election, it became clear that $450m would be inadequate. After the election (on 7 April 2010), SA Premier Mike Rann capped the State Government's commitment, saying: "It's $450 million - and not a penny more", and set a deadline for the parties to agree. In May, Treasurer Kevin Foley announced that "the Government's final offer to the SANFL and SACA for the redevelopment" was $535 million, and the deadline was extended to August 2010. Simultaneously, the SACA and the SANFL were in the process of negotiating an agreement that would enable Australian Rules Football (AFL) to use the Adelaide Oval during the AFL season as their home ground. In September 2010, an agreement between Port Adelaide, SACA, the SANFL and the AFL had still not been achieved.
The redevelopment is also planned to include a $20 million pedestrian bridge across the River Torrens
to link the Adelaide railway station
precinct with the Adelaide Oval precinct. there was debate on whether the Adelaide Crows will move from Football Park (AAMI Stadium) to Adelaide Oval, or continue to use AAMI Stadium as their home ground. If they do move to Adelaide Oval, it is expected that AAMI will withdraw their sponsorship, and the land around Football Park will be rezoned to allow the SANFL (the owners of Football Park) to profit from the rezoning. Fans of the Adelaide Crows have rallied in support of the club to stay at Football Park. It was announced 2 months prior to the SACA vote that the Adelaide Crows will move to Adelaide Oval and use it as their home ground, as does Port Adelaide. Once the upgrade on the oval has been completed, The Port Adelaide and Adelaide Football clubs will move immediately to Adelaide oval. Once the move has been completed from Football Park to Adelaide Oval, AAMI will withdraw their sponsorship of Football Park, The stands at Football Park will be demolished, but the Adelaide Football Club Administrative offices, CrowsMania (Adelaide Football Clubs merchandise store), the Oval itself and the surrounding area will stay..In Early 2011, the AFL, SANFL, SACA, the SA Government and the Australian Government reached an agreement to upgrade Adelaide Oval. The SACA and the SANFL proposed, if SACA members vote yes on the upgrade in early May, that the whole Stadium will undergo redevelopment, except for the Northern Mound, the Moreton Bay Fig trees and the scoreboard, which will stay as it is because of it being under heritage listing. The stadium's capacity is meant to exceed 50,000, and it will have 2 T.V. screens, which will both be bigger than the ones at the MCG, which, at the moment, are the biggest in the country. If SACA members do vote yes, (75% of SACA need to vote yes for the deal to go ahead) then the SANFL and AFL will have control over the stadium for 7 months of the year, and SACA will have control for 5 months of the year.
SACA members could choose to vote online on the 28th of April, 2011, of whether they want the upgrade to go ahead, or they could go to the Adelaide Showgrounds on the 2nd of May, 2011, to vote. At 6pm, 28th of April, 2011, It was announced that 60% of SACA members that voted online voted yes, 15% short of the Majority vote needed for the upgrade to go ahead. At 10.15pm, on the 2nd May, 2011, at the Adelaide Showgrounds, it was announced that the votes had been counted and finalized. The results were, 80.37% of total votes cast were in favour of Adelaide Oval being redeveloped, meaning that the upgrade will go ahead. Other small complications are still ahead, but should be easily passed. The upgrade will recommence in April, 2012, and is expected to be finished by late-March, 2014, if there isn't any more delays.
The whole Oval will be upgraded except for the already rebuilt Western grandstand (SACA and SANFL members only stand), the Northern Mound, the Historic Scoreboard and the Morton Bay Fig Trees. The Northern Mound, the Morton bay Fig Trees and the Scoreboard are all listed under the Heritage act and will never be demolished unless they are damaged beyond repair.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
, located in the parklands between the Central Business District
Adelaide city centre
The Adelaide city centre is the innermost locality of Greater Adelaide, known by locals simply as "The City" or "Town". The locality is split into two key geographical distinctions: the city "square mile", bordered by North, East, South and West Terraces; and that part of the Adelaide Parklands...
and North Adelaide
North Adelaide
North Adelaide is a predominantly residential precinct of the City of Adelaide in South Australia, situated north of the River Torrens and within the Adelaide Park Lands.-History:...
. It's home to the South Australian Redbacks, the Adelaide Strikers
Adelaide Strikers
The Adelaide Strikers is a cricket team based in Adelaide that plays in the Big Bash League.The Strikers will wear a predominantly blue kit, with red and yellow trimmings. They will play their home games at Adelaide Oval....
and the South Australian Cricket Association
South Australian Cricket Association
The South Australian Cricket Association is the peak body for the sport of cricket in South Australia. The association runs Adelaide Oval and the Southern Redbacks based in Adelaide, South Australia. SACA is the controlling body for the South Australian Grade Cricket League...
.
The oval has a rich history which dates back to 1871, shortly after the formation of the SACA and is considered to be one of the most picturesque Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
grounds in Australia, if not the world.
The ground is mostly used for cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
and Australian rules football
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
, but plays host to other sports such as Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
and Soccer.
The oval is managed by the South Australian Cricket Association
South Australian Cricket Association
The South Australian Cricket Association is the peak body for the sport of cricket in South Australia. The association runs Adelaide Oval and the Southern Redbacks based in Adelaide, South Australia. SACA is the controlling body for the South Australian Grade Cricket League...
(SACA). The oval currently has a seating capacity
Seating capacity
Seating capacity refers to the number of people who can be seated in a specific space, both in terms of the physical space available, and in terms of limitations set by law. Seating capacity can be used in the description of anything ranging from an automobile that seats two to a stadium that seats...
of 36,000 spectators. The maximum crowd at a cricket game was 50,962 during the Bodyline
Bodyline
Bodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman...
test in 1932 and the maximum crowd was 62,543, set at the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between the Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Magpies
The Port Adelaide Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the South Australian National Football League...
and Sturt
Sturt Football Club
Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
Football Clubs.
From March 2012, the oval will undergo a $550 million redevelopment which will bring football into the city, increase the stadiums capacity to 54,600 and become the home venue for the Adelaide and Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide Football Club
The Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
Football Clubs in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
History
- The ground was established in 1871 after the formation of SACA.
- The first Test match was played at the Oval from 12–16 December 1884. England beat Australia by eight wickets. (Scorecard)
- In 1894–95 Albert TrottAlbert TrottAlbert Trott was a Test cricketer for both Australia and England. He was named as one of Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 1899. He remains the only batsman who has struck a ball over the top of the Lord's pavilion...
collected 8/43 on debut against England, the best ever single-innings Test match figures at the ground. - The picket fencePicket fenceA picket fence is a variety of fence that has been used mostly for domestic boundaries. Until the introduction of advertising on fences in the 1980s, a Cricket field was also usually surrounded by a picket fence, giving rise to the expression rattling the pickets for a ball hit firmly into the...
was put up surrounding the Oval (then with a cycling track) in 1900. - From 5–12 August 1911 the Australian Football Council Carnival was played at the ground, won by South Australia. The competing sides were SA, VFL, VFA, Western Australia, Tasmania and New South Wales.
- The Adelaide Oval scoreboard, designed by architect Kenneth Milne, began service on 3 November 1911. The clock was added in 1912 and the windvane in the 1930s.
- In 1931–32 Donald BradmanDonald BradmanSir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
scored the highest score ever at the ground in Test Cricket, compiling 299* against South AfricaSouth African cricket teamThe South African national cricket team represent South Africa in international cricket. They are administrated by Cricket South Africa.South Africa is a full member of the International Cricket Council, also known as ICC, with Test and One Day International, or ODI, status...
. In the same game, Clarrie GrimmettClarrie GrimmettClarence Victor "Clarrie" Grimmett was a cricketer; although born in New Zealand, he played most of his cricket in Australia. He is thought by many to be one of the finest early spin bowlers, and usually credited as the developer of the flipper.Grimmett was born in Caversham a suburb of Dunedin,...
collected fourteen wickets, the most ever taken in a Test match at the ground by a bowler. - In 1932–33, the BodylineBodylineBodyline, also known as fast leg theory bowling, was a cricketing tactic devised by the English cricket team for their 1932–33 Ashes tour of Australia, specifically to combat the extraordinary batting skill of Australia's Don Bradman...
affair reached its lowest point at the ground when Bill WoodfullBill WoodfullWilliam Maldon "Bill" Woodfull OBE was an Australian cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s. He captained both Victoria and Australia, and was best known for his dignified and moral conduct during the tumultuous bodyline series in 1932–33 that almost saw the end of Anglo-Australian cricketing ties...
and Bert OldfieldBert OldfieldWilliam Albert Stanley "Bert" Oldfield was an Australian cricket player. He played for New South Wales and the Australian cricket team as wicket-keeper....
were struck, and on the third day mounted policeMounted policeMounted police are police who patrol on horseback or camelback. They continue to serve in remote areas and in metropolitan areas where their day-to-day function may be picturesque or ceremonial, but they are also employed in crowd control because of their mobile mass and height advantage and...
patrolled to keep the 50,962 spectators in order (a record crowd for cricket at the ground). The total attendance for the match was 174,351. - In 1946–47, Arthur MorrisArthur MorrisArthur Robert Morris MBE is a former Australian cricketer who played 46 Test matches between 1946 and 1955. An opener, Morris is regarded as one of Australia's greatest left-handed batsmen. He is best known for his key role in Don Bradman's Invincibles side, which made an undefeated tour of...
of Australia, and Denis ComptonDenis ComptonDenis Charles Scott Compton CBE was an English cricketer who played in 78 Test matches, and a footballer...
of England both made centuries in both innings of the Test. - In 1947–48 Australia scored 674 against IndiaIndian cricket teamThe Indian cricket team is the national cricket team of India. Governed by the Board of Control for Cricket in India , it is a full member of the International Cricket Council with Test and One Day International status....
, the highest team total at the ground in Test matches. - Considered by some to be the best Test Match ever competed at the ground, Australia played the West Indies in the fourth test of the Frank Worrell TrophyFrank Worrell TrophyThe Frank Worrell Trophy is awarded for the winner of the West Indies - Australia Test match series in cricket.The trophy is named after the former West Indies captain Sir Frank Worrell, and was first awarded at the end of the 1960-61 series...
, 1960–61. The match ended in a draw, with the West Indies unable to take the final wicket of the fourth innings, as the last batsmen Ken MackayKen MackayKenneth Donald Mackay was an Australian cricketer who played in 37 Tests from 1956 to 1963....
and Lindsay KlineLindsay KlineLindsay Francis Kline is former Australian and Victorian cricketer. He played in 13 Tests for Australia and 88 first-class matches between 1955/56 and 1961/1962...
held out for 109 minutes. West Indies bowler Lance GibbsLance GibbsLancelot Richard Gibbs is a former West Indies cricketer, one of the most successful spin bowlers in Test cricket history. He took 309 Test wickets, only the second player to pass 300, the first spinner to pass that milestone, and had an exceptional economy rate of under two runs per over...
took the only ever Test cricket hat trickHat TrickHat trick, hat-trick or hattrick may refer to:* hat-trick — in various sports, achieving three goals, wickets, etc. in a single match* Hattrick — online football management game** Hattrick Limited — producers of this game...
at the ground in Australia's first innings. (Scorecard) - Ken BarringtonKen BarringtonKenneth Frank Barrington , better known as Ken Barrington, played for the English cricket team and Surrey County Cricket Club in the 1950s and 1960s. He was a right-handed batsman and occasional leg-spin bowler, well known for his jovial good humour and long, defensive innings "batting with bulldog...
's favourate ground was the Adelaide Oval, where he scored 104, 52, 52 not out, 63, and 132 not out in 1962-63MCC tour of Australia in 1962–63The Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Australia in 1962–63 under the captaincy of Ted Dexter was its twelfth since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907–1908. The touring team played as England in the 1962–63 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games...
and 69, 51, 63, 60 and 102 in 1965-66MCC tour of Australia in 1965–66The Marylebone Cricket Club tour of Australia in 1965-66 under the captaincy of M.J.K. Smith was its thirteenth since it took official control of overseas tours in 1907-1908. The touring team played as England in the 1965-66 Ashes series against Australia, but as the MCC in all other games...
, a total of 748 runs (93.50). - A record attendance of 62,543 people was recorded for the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
and SturtSturt Football ClubSturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball...
. - In 1975–76 the first One-Day International match was played at the ground between Australia and West Indies (40-over match), which Australia won by 5 wickets. (Scorecard)
- In 1978, the ground hosted the first concert by David BowieDavid BowieDavid Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
in the Southern Hemisphere. It was also the first large scale outdoor concert he had ever played. - In October 1982, vs VictoriaVictorian BushrangersThe Victorian cricket team, nicknamed the Bushrangers, is an Australian cricket team based in Melbourne, that represents the state of Victoria. It is administered by Cricket Victoria and draws its players from Melbourne's Premier Cricket competition...
, David HookesDavid HookesDavid William Hookes was an Australian cricketer, broadcaster and coach of the Victorian cricket team. An aggressive left-handed batsman, Hookes usually batted in the middle order...
hit a 43 minute, 34 ball century - in some respects the fastest hundred in history. (Statistics)
- In 1989–90 Dean JonesDean Jones (cricketer)Dean Mervyn Jones AM is a retired Australian cricketer, and is presently a coach. He also worked as a media commentator.-Career:...
scored twin Test hundreds against PakistanPakistani cricket teamThe Pakistan cricket team is the national cricket team of Pakistan. Pakistan, represented by the Pakistan Cricket Board , is a full member of the International Cricket Council, and thus participates in , and cricket matches....
. - South Australia compiled the highest fourth innings winning total in Sheffield Shield history, reaching 6/506 (set 506 to win) against QueenslandQueensland BullsThe Queensland cricket team, nicknamed the Bulls, are the Brisbane-based Queensland representative cricket team in Australia's domestic cricket tournaments:*Sheffield Shield, 4-day matches with first-class status, since the 1926/27 season...
in 1991–92. - In 1992–93 the West Indies defeated Australia by one run in the fourth test of the Frank Worrell Trophy, when a bouncer by Courtney WalshCourtney WalshCourtney Andrew Walsh is a former international cricketer who represented the West Indies from 1984 to 2001, captaining the West Indies in 22 Test matches...
brushed Craig McDermottCraig McDermottCraig John McDermott is a former Australian cricketer. He is currently the bowling coach for the Australian cricket team....
's glove to end a 40-run last-wicket partnership. It was the narrowest victory ever in Test cricket. Curtly AmbroseCurtly AmbroseCurtly Elconn Lynwall Ambrose is a former West Indian cricketer. His skill was as a right-arm fast bowler, especially in partnership with Courtney Walsh...
picked up ten wickets in the game. (Scorecard) - Lights were constructed at the ground in 1997, allowing sport to be held at night. This was the subject of a lengthy dispute with the Adelaide City Council, due to environmental issues relating to the parklands area. The first towers erected were designed to retract into the ground; however one collapsed and they were replaced with permanent towers. The first cricket match under lights was a One Day International between South Africa and New Zealand on 6 December 1997. (Scorecard)
- In 1999, Sri LankanSri Lankan cricket teamThe Sri Lankan cricket team is the national cricket team of Sri Lanka. The team first played international cricket in 1926–27, and were later awarded Test status in 1981, which made Sri Lanka the eighth Test cricket playing nation...
spinner Muttiah MuralitharanMuttiah MuralitharanMuttiah Muralitharan , often referred to as Murali, is a former Sri Lankan cricketer who was rated the greatest Test match bowler ever by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack in 2002...
was called for throwingThrowing (cricket)In the sport of cricket, throwing, commonly referred to as chucking, is an illegal bowling action which occurs when a bowler straightens their arm when delivering the ball. The Laws of Cricket specify that a bowler's arm must be fully extended and rotated about the shoulder to impart velocity to...
by umpire Ross Emerson in a One Day International against England. The Sri Lankan team almost abandoned the match, but after instructions from the president of the Sri Lankan cricket board (relayed to captain Arjuna RanatungaArjuna RanatungaArjuna Ranatunga is a retired Sri Lankan cricketer and politician. He was the captain of Sri Lankan cricket team, and led them to an unbeaten title-winning campaign at the 1996 Cricket World Cup...
by mobile phone) the game resumed. - In 2003, two matches of the Rugby World CupRugby World CupThe Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
were played at Adelaide Oval, with Australia thrashing Namibia 142-0 and a thriller of an encounter between Ireland and Argentina which Ireland edged by a single point. - In December 2003 the highest day-score was compiled at the Adelaide Oval, by Australia against India, with the home side finishing at 5/400 at stumps.
- In November 2005 Brian LaraBrian LaraBrian Charles Lara, TC, OCC, AM is a former West Indian international cricket player. Lara is generally regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time...
broke Allan BorderAllan BorderAllan Robert Border AO is a former Australian cricketer. A batsman, Border was for many years the captain of the Australian team. His playing nickname was "A.B.". He played 156 Test matches in his career, a record until it was passed by fellow Australian Steve Waugh...
's world record for the most Test runs before eventually being dismissed for 226. - During the 2006/2007 Ashes series, many temporary stands were erected to cope with the demand for tickets. Stands were put between the Chappell stands and on the top of the hills. Australia beat England by 6 wickets on a remarkable last day. (Scorecard)
- In late 2010, the Western Grandstand with a seating capacity of 14,000, was completed.
Major sporting events
- International cricket — TestTest cricketTest cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
and One Day International. The Adelaide Oval hosts some of the many exciting events in the cricketing calendar — including the annual Australia Day One Day International on 26 January (replacing a traditional Australia Day test) and every 4 years, one of the 5 Ashes test matches against England. The tests are now normally held in early December and is a clash between Australia and the international touring team of that particular season. In 2011, The Adelaide Oval will hold its first Twenty20 InternationalTwenty20 InternationalA Twenty20 International is a form of cricket which is played over 20 overs per side between two national cricket teams. The game is played under the rules of Twenty20 cricket...
. The home side will take on England as a part of a two match 'KFC Twenty20 International' Series. - Domestic cricket — Adelaide Oval is the home ground of the West End Southern RedbacksSouthern RedbacksThe South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
, the South Australian state cricket team. They play in three competitions: Sheffield Shield (first-classFirst-class cricketFirst-class cricket is a class of cricket that consists of matches of three or more days' scheduled duration, that are between two sides of eleven players and are officially adjudged first-class by virtue of the standard of the competing teams...
), Ryobi One Day Cup (one-day) and KFC Twenty20 Big BashKFC Twenty20 Big BashThe KFC Twenty20 Big Bash was the domestic Twenty20 cricket competition in Australia. The competition was organised by Cricket Australia, and sponsored by fast food chicken outlet KFC. The competition was replaced by the Big Bash League as Australia's domestic Twenty20 competition after the 2010–11...
. The 2005/06 ING Cup (now known as the Ryobi One Day Cup) final was played at Adelaide Oval between SASouthern RedbacksThe South Australia cricket team, nicknamed the Southern Redbacks and known as the West End Redbacks due to their sponsorship agreement with local brewers West End, are an Australian first class cricket team based in Adelaide, South Australia, and represent the state of South Australia...
and NSWNew South Wales BluesThe New South Wales cricket team are an Australian first class cricket team based in Sydney, New South Wales...
.
- Australian rules footballAustralian rules footballAustralian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
— Adelaide Oval hosts SANFLSouth Australian National Football LeagueThe South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
matches, including many of the finals. Traditional fixtures include a "Grand FinalGrand FinalGrand Final is a predominantly Australian sport term used to describe a match that decides a league champion.It originated in Victoria and South Australia and has become specifically significant Australian culture...
rematch" between last year's Grand Finalists on the afternoon of ANZAC DayANZAC DayAnzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand, commemorated by both countries on 25 April every year to honour the members of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps who fought at Gallipoli in the Ottoman Empire during World War I. It now more broadly commemorates all...
, which is well attended due to the venue's close proximity to the Torrens Parade GroundTorrens Parade GroundTorrens Parade Ground is situated by the River Torrens in Adelaide, South Australia.It is the location of South Australia's Vietnam War Memorial.-External links:*...
, the end of the ANZAC Day Parade in Adelaide, and the Finals in the first 3 weeks of the SANFL Finals Series, with only the Grand Final being played at AAMI Stadium. Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football LeagueThe Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
matches are played at AAMI StadiumAAMI StadiumFootball Park is an Australian rules football stadium located in West Lakes, a western suburb of Adelaide, South Australia...
, although this will change in 2014 when AFL games will be shifted to a redeveloped and expanded Adelaide Oval. The first AFL game that took place at the venue was Port AdelaidePort Adelaide Football ClubThe Port Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Alberton, South Australia, which plays in the Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League...
v MelbourneMelbourne Football ClubThe Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in Round 24 of the 2011 AFL Season2011 AFL seasonThe 2011 Australian Football League season was the 115th season of the Australian rules football competition. It was the debut year for , and was scheduled to be the only season to be played with 17 teams...
, with Port Adelaide winning by 8 points. - Rugby sevensRugby sevensRugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
— Starting in 20072006-07 IRB Sevens World Series2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series was the eighth of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999-2000.New Zealand won the 2006-07 series by winning the final tournament in Edinburgh...
, Adelaide Oval has hosted the Australia Sevens event in the IRB Sevens World SeriesIRB Sevens World SeriesThe IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
.
- Soccer — Adelaide United FCAdelaide United FCAdelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
have played a number of A-LeagueA-LeagueThe A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
home games against Sydney FCSydney FCSydney FC is a professional football club based in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia and competes in the country's premier football competition, the A-League...
and Melbourne Victory FC. Adelaide Oval was the site of an international friendly match between the Socceroos and on 5 June, 2011. - Rugby LeagueRugby leagueRugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
- In 1991 NSWRLNational Rugby LeagueThe National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
came to the Adelaide Oval when the St. George DragonsSt. George DragonsThe St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
played the Balmain TigersBalmain TigersThe Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
on a cold and wet Friday night under temporary lights in the first of five games that the Dragons would play at the oval over the next five years. That game set a rugby league record crowd for the ground when 28,884 people attended. In 1997 Adelaide got its own side in the much vaunted (but short lived) Super LeagueSuper League (Australia)Super League was an Australian rugby league football administrative body that conducted professional competition in Australasia for one season in 1997. Along with Super League of Europe, it was created by News Corporation during the Super League war which arose following an unsuccessful attempt to...
competition with the Adelaide RamsAdelaide RamsThe Adelaide Rams were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team was formed in 1995 for the planned rebel Super League competition, which eventually ran parallel to the rival Australian Rugby League competition in 1997...
. Their first home game attracted their record crowd when 27,435 saw the Rams beat the Hunter MarinersHunter MarinersThe Hunter Mariners were an Australian rugby league club based in the Hunter Valley region's largest city, Newcastle. Hunter was formed in mid 1995 and was later disbanded at the end of 1997. The club was formed because of the Super League war, which was the rivalry between the traditional...
10-8, however, they left the ground in 1998 and went to Hindmarsh StadiumHindmarsh StadiumHindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide, South Australia. It is the home of the Australian A-League team, Adelaide United....
. In 2010 and 2011 the Canterbury BulldogsCanterbury BulldogsThe Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
played the Melbourne StormMelbourne StormThe Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
at Adelaide Oval.
16 sports have been played at one time or another at the oval: archery
Archery
Archery is the art, practice, or skill of propelling arrows with the use of a bow, from Latin arcus. Archery has historically been used for hunting and combat; in modern times, however, its main use is that of a recreational activity...
, athletics
Athletics (track and field)
Athletics is an exclusive collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking. The most common types of athletics competitions are track and field, road running, cross country running, and race walking...
, baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
, cycling
Cycling
Cycling, also called bicycling or biking, is the use of bicycles for transport, recreation, or for sport. Persons engaged in cycling are cyclists or bicyclists...
, gridion
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
, highland games
Highland games
Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &Highland games are events held throughout the &(-è_çà in Scotland and other countries as a way of celebrating Scottish and Celtic culture and heritage, especially that of the Scottish Highlands. Certain...
, hockey
Field hockey
Field Hockey, or Hockey, is a team sport in which a team of players attempts to score goals by hitting, pushing or flicking a ball into an opposing team's goal using sticks...
, lacrosse
Lacrosse
Lacrosse is a team sport of Native American origin played using a small rubber ball and a long-handled stick called a crosse or lacrosse stick, mainly played in the United States and Canada. It is a contact sport which requires padding. The head of the lacrosse stick is strung with loose mesh...
, lawn tennis, rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
, rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
, quoits
Quoits
Quoits is a traditional game which involves the throwing of metal, rope or rubber rings over a set distance, usually to land over or near a spike . The sport of quoits encompasses several distinct variations.-The history of quoits:The history of quoits is disputed...
and soccer.
Concerts
Adelaide Oval has hosted major concerts during its time, with some of the most famous acts including Fleetwood MacFleetwood Mac
Fleetwood Mac are a British–American rock band formed in 1967 in London.The only original member present in the band is its eponymous drummer, Mick Fleetwood...
(1977 & 2004), David Bowie
David Bowie
David Bowie is an English musician, actor, record producer and arranger. A major figure for over four decades in the world of popular music, Bowie is widely regarded as an innovator, particularly for his work in the 1970s...
(1978 & 1983), KISS
KISS (band)
Kiss is an American rock band formed in New York City in January 1973. Well-known for its members' face paint and flamboyant stage outfits, the group rose to prominence in the mid to late 1970s on the basis of their elaborate live performances, which featured fire breathing, blood spitting,...
(1980), Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
& Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
(1993), Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
(1996), Billy Joel
Billy Joel
William Martin "Billy" Joel is an American musician and pianist, singer-songwriter, and classical composer. Since releasing his first hit song, "Piano Man", in 1973, Joel has become the sixth best-selling recording artist and the third best-selling solo artist in the United States, according to...
& Elton John
Elton John
Sir Elton Hercules John, CBE, Hon DMus is an English rock singer-songwriter, composer, pianist and occasional actor...
(1998), P!nk
Pink (singer)
Alecia Beth Moore , better known by her stage name Pink , is an American singer-songwriter, musician and actress....
(2002), Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam
Pearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington, in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
(2009) & AC/DC
AC/DC
AC/DC are an Australian rock band, formed in 1973 by brothers Malcolm and Angus Young. Commonly classified as hard rock, they are considered pioneers of heavy metal, though they themselves have always classified their music as simply "rock and roll"...
& Wolfmother
Wolfmother
Wolfmother is an Australian rock band from Erskineville, Sydney. Formed in 2000, the group was originally a trio composed of vocalist and guitarist Andrew Stockdale, bassist and keyboardist Chris Ross and drummer Myles Heskett. Wolfmother released their self-titled debut album in October 2005,...
(2010).
Oval layout
The oval dimensions are 190m x 125m, which is both unusually long and unusually narrow for an Australian cricket ground. The arrangement is highly favourable for batsmen who play square of the wicket, and heavily penalises bowlers who deliver the ball wide so that the batsman can exploit the short boundaries square of the wicket. Before the far ends in front of and behind the wicket were roped off, making the playing area shorter, it was not uncommon for batsmen to hit an all-run five. The pitch itself is generally very good for batting, and offers little assistance to bowlers until the last day of a match.- The playing area is surrounded by a white picket fence and advertising billboards.
- The Hill was created in 1898 with earth from the banks of the River TorrensRiver TorrensThe River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
. - The scoreboard was first used in 1911 and still shows its original Edwardian architecture.
- There were three western stands from around the start of the 20th century, all of which were demolished in 2009:
- George GiffenGeorge GiffenGeorge Giffen was a cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. An all-rounder who batted in the middle order and often opened the bowling with medium-paced off-spin, Giffen captained Australia during the 1894–95 Ashes series and was the first Australian to score 10,000 runs and...
stand (1882) - Sir Edwin SmithEdwin Thomas SmithSir Edwin Thomas Smith KCMG was an English-born South Australian brewer, businessman, councillor, mayor, politician and benefactor.-Early years:...
stand (1922) - Mostyn Evan stand (1920s)
- George Giffen
- Two grandstands, named the Chappell Stands, after the South Australian cricketing brothers Ian ChappellIan ChappellIan Michael Chappell is a former cricketer who played for South Australia and Australia. He captained Australia between 1971 and 1975 before taking a central role in the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation...
, Greg ChappellGreg ChappellGregory Stephen Chappell MBE is a former cricketer who captained Australia between 1975 and 1977 and then joined the breakaway World Series Cricket organisation, before returning to the Australian captaincy in 1979, a position he held until his retirement 1983...
and Trevor ChappellTrevor ChappellTrevor Martin Chappell is a former Australian cricketer, a member of the South Australian Chappell family which excelled at cricket...
were completed in 2003. They are due to be demolished as part of a major redevelopment (see below). - The Sir Donald BradmanDonald BradmanSir Donald George Bradman, AC , often referred to as "The Don", was an Australian cricketer, widely acknowledged as the greatest batsman of all time...
stand was built in 1990 to replace the John Creswell stand and now provides up to date facilities for spectators. - The scoreboard and the George Giffen Stand are listed on the City of Adelaide Heritage Register, helping to maintain the charm of the ground. The George Giffen Stand has since been demolished to make way for new western grandstands.
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The new western stand - December 2010
During the second Ashes test
During the England vs SA match
Western stand redevelopment
In August 2008 the South Australian Cricket Association announced that it had approved plans to redevelop the ground, involving expanding its capacity to 40,000. Development plans showed a reconfiguration of the playing surface and a remodelled western stand. The redevelopment would make the ground a viable option for hosting Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
games as well as international soccer and rugby. The state and federal Governments each pledged $25m to the project, leaving the SACA to raise at least $45m. The SACA planned for the new stand to be ready in time for the 2010–11 Ashes series.
It was announced on 27 February 2009 that the A$95 million re-development would commence on 10 March 2010. In March, the western stands were torn down.
2010 state election proposals
In the lead up to the 2010 South Australian state election, the opposition Liberal Party announced that, if elected, it would provide Adelaide with a new stadium with a roof capable of closing. The incumbent Labor party subsequently announced it would fund an upgrade and redevelopment of the whole of the Adelaide Oval, rather than just the Western Grand Stand. The redeveloped stadium, (which will not have a closing roof), is intended to seat 50,000 people, with 77% of them under cover. The redevelopment is proposed to be completed some time in 2014 or 2015. In an arrangement negotiated between the incumbent Labor Party and the SACA on 2 December 2009, it was originally planned to cost $450 million.Joint redevelopment by SACA and SANFL
The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority (AOSMA), a joint venture of SACA and SANFL, was registered as a company on 23 Dec 2009 following the re-announcement of the plan. The AOSMA has eight directors, four associated with SACA (Ian McLachlanIan McLachlan
Ian Murray McLachlan AO is an Australian landowner, former first-class cricketer, and former member of the Australian House of Representatives.-Early life:...
-Chair, John Harnden, Creagh O’Connor & John Bannon
John Bannon
John Charles Bannon AO is a former Australian politician. He was the 39th Premier of South Australia, leading the Labor Party to government at the 1982 election. The Bannon Labor government was re-elected at the 1985 election and the 1989 election...
) and four with SANFL (Leigh Whicker-CEO, Rod Payze, Philip Gallagher & Jamie Coppins)
However, in early-mid 2010, prior to the election, it became clear that $450m would be inadequate. After the election (on 7 April 2010), SA Premier Mike Rann capped the State Government's commitment, saying: "It's $450 million - and not a penny more", and set a deadline for the parties to agree. In May, Treasurer Kevin Foley announced that "the Government's final offer to the SANFL and SACA for the redevelopment" was $535 million, and the deadline was extended to August 2010. Simultaneously, the SACA and the SANFL were in the process of negotiating an agreement that would enable Australian Rules Football (AFL) to use the Adelaide Oval during the AFL season as their home ground. In September 2010, an agreement between Port Adelaide, SACA, the SANFL and the AFL had still not been achieved.
The redevelopment is also planned to include a $20 million pedestrian bridge across the River Torrens
River Torrens
The River Torrens is the most significant river of the Adelaide Plains and was one of the reasons for the siting of the city of Adelaide, capital of South Australia. It flows from its source in the Adelaide Hills near Mount Pleasant, across the Adelaide Plains, past the city centre and empties...
to link the Adelaide railway station
Adelaide Railway Station
Adelaide Railway Station is the central terminus of the Adelaide Metro railway system. It is at on the north side of North Terrace, west of Parliament House. The Adelaide Casino is in part of the building that is no longer required for the station....
precinct with the Adelaide Oval precinct. there was debate on whether the Adelaide Crows will move from Football Park (AAMI Stadium) to Adelaide Oval, or continue to use AAMI Stadium as their home ground. If they do move to Adelaide Oval, it is expected that AAMI will withdraw their sponsorship, and the land around Football Park will be rezoned to allow the SANFL (the owners of Football Park) to profit from the rezoning. Fans of the Adelaide Crows have rallied in support of the club to stay at Football Park. It was announced 2 months prior to the SACA vote that the Adelaide Crows will move to Adelaide Oval and use it as their home ground, as does Port Adelaide. Once the upgrade on the oval has been completed, The Port Adelaide and Adelaide Football clubs will move immediately to Adelaide oval. Once the move has been completed from Football Park to Adelaide Oval, AAMI will withdraw their sponsorship of Football Park, The stands at Football Park will be demolished, but the Adelaide Football Club Administrative offices, CrowsMania (Adelaide Football Clubs merchandise store), the Oval itself and the surrounding area will stay..In Early 2011, the AFL, SANFL, SACA, the SA Government and the Australian Government reached an agreement to upgrade Adelaide Oval. The SACA and the SANFL proposed, if SACA members vote yes on the upgrade in early May, that the whole Stadium will undergo redevelopment, except for the Northern Mound, the Moreton Bay Fig trees and the scoreboard, which will stay as it is because of it being under heritage listing. The stadium's capacity is meant to exceed 50,000, and it will have 2 T.V. screens, which will both be bigger than the ones at the MCG, which, at the moment, are the biggest in the country. If SACA members do vote yes, (75% of SACA need to vote yes for the deal to go ahead) then the SANFL and AFL will have control over the stadium for 7 months of the year, and SACA will have control for 5 months of the year.
SACA members could choose to vote online on the 28th of April, 2011, of whether they want the upgrade to go ahead, or they could go to the Adelaide Showgrounds on the 2nd of May, 2011, to vote. At 6pm, 28th of April, 2011, It was announced that 60% of SACA members that voted online voted yes, 15% short of the Majority vote needed for the upgrade to go ahead. At 10.15pm, on the 2nd May, 2011, at the Adelaide Showgrounds, it was announced that the votes had been counted and finalized. The results were, 80.37% of total votes cast were in favour of Adelaide Oval being redeveloped, meaning that the upgrade will go ahead. Other small complications are still ahead, but should be easily passed. The upgrade will recommence in April, 2012, and is expected to be finished by late-March, 2014, if there isn't any more delays.
The whole Oval will be upgraded except for the already rebuilt Western grandstand (SACA and SANFL members only stand), the Northern Mound, the Historic Scoreboard and the Morton Bay Fig Trees. The Northern Mound, the Morton bay Fig Trees and the Scoreboard are all listed under the Heritage act and will never be demolished unless they are damaged beyond repair.