Elizabeth Oval
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Oval, is an Australian rules football
stadium located in Elizabeth
, a northern suburb of Adelaide
, South Australia
.
Since 1959 Elizabeth Oval has been the home ground of the Central District Football Club who play in the South Australian National Football League
. The Bulldogs (also known as the Centrals) played their first SANFL league match at the ground in 1964 after playing in the SANFL B-grade (reserves) since the club's inception in 1959.
The ground has a capacity of 18,000 people, with a single grandstand that seats 1,500. The oval, the longest goal to goal venue in the SANFL at 178m (3m longer than Woodville Oval
), is surrounded by concrete terracing on the grandstand side of the ground, plus a 5 row ring of concrete around the rest of the ground, with grass banks around the entire outer. The ground record crowd of 16,029 was set in 1984 for an SANFL match between the Central District Bulldogs and the Port Adelaide Magpies
.
After negotiations between Central District and the City of Playford
, light towers were installed in March 2006 allowing the Bulldogs to play night SANFL games. The first official night game was held at the oval in April 2006 when 7,329 fans turned out to see the defending SANFL premiers (Centrals) defeat Sturt
. The ground was not used for any SANFL night games in 2011 with Centrals citing operating costs as the reason.
The ground was known as Elizabeth Oval from the time it opened until 2001. In 2002 the council signed a naming rights deal with NAP Finance and the oval's name changed to NAP Oval. This expired after 2005 and NAP was replaced by northern Adelaide home builder Hamra Homes who held the naming rights until the end of 2010. From 2011 the oval has been known as Playford Alive Oval.
Playford Alive Oval is easily accessible by either car or public transport with Adelaide's northern suburban commuter railway line, the Gawler Central railway line passing by the western side of the oval and the main bus and train interchange (Elizabeth) located within five minutes walking distance of the oval.
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...
stadium located in Elizabeth
Elizabeth, South Australia
Elizabeth is a northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Playford.-History:Elizabeth was established in 1955 as part of a planned satellite town by the South Australian Housing Trust on rural land between the older towns of Salisbury and...
, a northern suburb of Adelaide
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...
.
Since 1959 Elizabeth Oval has been the home ground of the Central District Football Club who play in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The 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....
. The Bulldogs (also known as the Centrals) played their first SANFL league match at the ground in 1964 after playing in the SANFL B-grade (reserves) since the club's inception in 1959.
The ground has a capacity of 18,000 people, with a single grandstand that seats 1,500. The oval, the longest goal to goal venue in the SANFL at 178m (3m longer than Woodville Oval
Woodville Oval
Woodville Oval is primarily an Australian rules football oval found on Oval Avenue in Woodville, South Australia...
), is surrounded by concrete terracing on the grandstand side of the ground, plus a 5 row ring of concrete around the rest of the ground, with grass banks around the entire outer. The ground record crowd of 16,029 was set in 1984 for an SANFL match between the Central District Bulldogs and the Port Adelaide Magpies
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...
.
After negotiations between Central District and the City of Playford
City of Playford
The City of Playford is a Local Government Area of South Australia, located in Adelaide's northern suburbs. The name 'Playford' comes from the recognition of Sir Thomas Playford, who played a part in the development of the area, and was South Australia's premier from 1938-1965...
, light towers were installed in March 2006 allowing the Bulldogs to play night SANFL games. The first official night game was held at the oval in April 2006 when 7,329 fans turned out to see the defending SANFL premiers (Centrals) defeat 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...
. The ground was not used for any SANFL night games in 2011 with Centrals citing operating costs as the reason.
The ground was known as Elizabeth Oval from the time it opened until 2001. In 2002 the council signed a naming rights deal with NAP Finance and the oval's name changed to NAP Oval. This expired after 2005 and NAP was replaced by northern Adelaide home builder Hamra Homes who held the naming rights until the end of 2010. From 2011 the oval has been known as Playford Alive Oval.
Playford Alive Oval is easily accessible by either car or public transport with Adelaide's northern suburban commuter railway line, the Gawler Central railway line passing by the western side of the oval and the main bus and train interchange (Elizabeth) located within five minutes walking distance of the oval.