I was lucky enough to visit the beautiful Adelaide Oval during a one-day cricket international in 2012, before the latest multi-million dollar reconstruction.
The ground was a picture of beauty: full of character, with the Bradman Stand, where the media centre was located, probably in need of an upgrade.
It obviously received one as part of the new refurbishment to increase the size of the ground to cater for 55,000 people so AFL footy could be played there.
The Adelaide Oval now looks amazing and although there were critics worried that what makes this ground so special and unique may be taken away by progress, it still maintains that uniqueness.
The historical scoreboard, the trees and the grassy area at the northern end have all been retained, because they are heritage listed. It was tremendous seeing that famous grassy backdrop when either Adelaide or Port were kicking goals at that end.
For many years, local cricket and footy officials were at each other’s throats about which sport was more important to the ground, with the late Sir Donald Bradman seen as a major stumbling block to making the ground friendlier to Australian Rules.
This is why the South Australian National Football League decided to find their own venue, Football Park at Westlakes in the suburbs, which for many years was more than suitable as a home of elite footy in Adelaide. But in recent seasons, you could tell it was getting tired and run down.
Refurbishment won’t happen now, as the AFL has got their wish of holding matches at their new jewel in the crown, the Adelaide Oval. It’s the best outcome possible, with leading football and cricket administrators in South Australia all driving the same agenda, which would have been seen as impossible just five years ago.
Port Adelaide had been in favour for many years of hosting matches at Adelaide Oval, and in the Showdown on the weekend, played like they had been calling it home for years.
They wanted to put on a good show against the cross-town rivals and that’s exactly what happened.
They got off to the customary Ken Hinkley good start, got headed by Adelaide in the middle quarters and then ran all over them in the last term to show they mean business again in 2014 and that winning a final last year, after rising from 14th in 2012, wasn’t a flash in the pan.
Granted, there’s still a long way to go in this season, but Port is looking the goods, with virtually a full list to choose from, a luxury that Adelaide most certainly doesn’t have.
It seems now that Port has the number one ranking of the two AFL teams purely on performance. Go back 18 months and they were a poor, distant relation of the Crows and basically irrelevant.
Less than a decade ago, the Adelaide Oval was in the same boat when it came to having a presence in the AFL. Now it would have to rank second only to the MCG in AFL venues.
pauloz
Guest
You'll be blown away - the facilities are magnificent and the heritage listed northern mound and scoreboard just set it off beautifully. Now there is no need to be jealous of what is offered over the border. As the publicity states, this is now a world class stadium, although it's not technically a stadium because of the open northern end, but I for one am eternally grateful. And I hope your Swans get up too.
Cat
Roar Guru
Did you pay for that advertising space? Bloody spammers.
TW
Guest
JC, In reference to the Casino side of things Packer definitely got a leg up with this deal, without contributing anything except some land swaps I think. However historically the WA Inc days are still seared into the memories of most people who were around at the time when the State Govt (Not Liberal) at the time did some dodgy deals with the private sector and millions went down the drain. Premier Barnett always refers to that era when asked why no deal with Packer, and Packer is now adding a Five Star hotel to his land next to the Casino. IMHO most footy fans agree with the Burswood decision. Subiaco had a lot of constraints to that site. The Premier Colin Barnett is very vocal about any topic that involves the Eastern States - He uses it to play the political card. "Us versus Them" theme. Do not know how effective it is.
tonysalerno
Roar Guru
Port Adelaide is proving it will be challenging for the title again. The revamped stadium is just another cue for the club who his striking the opposition with its youth and hunger to win the ball. There are calls for the Showdown to kick-off the season annually. The Power will be looking to keep their undefeated start to season in tact when they take on the North Melbourne Kangaroos. The other side of Adelaide will be desperate for a win when they face the Sydney Swans who are also looking to open their account. Download the ScoreCube app. for live scores and statistics across all sports at one glance: bit.ly/1j2iTeX
Jorji Costava
Guest
Has anyone in Perth spoken up about this being done as a big leg up to Packer's casino empire, on the good old WA tax payer? They should have stuck to the original plan at Subiaco and you would be halfway there by now, plus a big, big saving to the tax payer. Just hope WA does not keep on bleating about 'lost GST' revenue to the eastern states when all they do is give it straight over to the local oligarch.
Dylan Stringer
Guest
Port v Carlton is a Friday night game at AO late in the season, Jorji. Should be a cracker, hopefully it has as much ladder meaning as last season!
Dylan Stringer
Guest
I was there on the weekend and thoroughly enjoyed. Great atmosphere, great facilities, great outcome. The "Never Tear Us Apart" intro for the Port home game was spine tingling. Can't wait to get back there. Only thing I disagree with in your article "They got off to the customary Ken Hinkley good start". I wish that was customary!
margar
Guest
Did not miss much. Football Park (AAMI stadium) is a windswept concrete bunker with 1970's facilities which have seen little more than a coat of paint in 40 years. They only recently (5+years or so) installed seats as opposed to concrete benches on the terraces. Also situated on the western side, difficult to get to and next to a suburban shopping centre. Only public transport available was buses and traffic was unbelievable!
Shane
Guest
It's just going to be the Crows headquarters. It's going to be downsized and just be their equivalent of Alberton Oval, Punt Road or Princes Park, then I think they're just selling off the land around it for development.
Paul Morris
Roar Rookie
You wouldn't want to be at the old Adelaide Oval when there was a 60,000+ crowd. It was horrendous getting to the toilet - sometimes it took a whole quarter to get there and back. Many discreetly urinated on the spot - that's how bad it was. No, it's chalk and cheese to what we see today. And slane, there's one thing worse than being surrounded by 50,000 Port supporters and that's being surrounded by 50,000 Crows supporters. Much worse.
LX
Guest
Any word on what the future is for Football Park? One of my big AFL regrets is never having watched a match played there - looked like a wonderful venue for footy, like a smaller Waverley. If there are plans for demolition or downsizing, I would like to pay it a visit before this happens.
AR
Guest
No it's like comparing stadiums.
Jorji Costava
Guest
Will pick a weekend later in the season when the mighty Carlton comes over to clean house to attend the legendary Oval. It's looked a beauty through the pirate stream I watched the match on.
Jorji Costava
Guest
What do you call test match cricket if not international?
Jason Cave
Guest
Can you imagine what the atmosphere would be like when State of Origin comes back and South Australia is playing the Vics at the Adelaide Oval? The Adelaide Oval crowd would be 'SA's 19th man.'
Tad
Roar Rookie
cringe whinge
Titus
Guest
It's like comparing tennis courts and golf courses, AR.
TW
Guest
Off topic but related to the new Perth Stadium. “Following the WA Barnett Government's announcement to move the site of the proposed stadium to Burswood, it stated that the stadium would cost around $700 million, with an extra $300 million allocated to public transport works. However, in December 2011 Premier Barnett stated that it was too early to say what the final cost would be, explaining that "No one can put a price on it until it's designed, until it goes out to tender". The current situation is that the initial site works have been completed and that tenders are out for the design. Apparently the cost has risen but no figures around. Here is link to the Stadium which is on a great location near the Swan River. http://www.perthstadium.com.au/
Franko
Guest
We export around $4.7bn to Indonesia. They buy our crude petroleum and raw minerals. We are the 8th highest importer to Indonesia (the 4th largest country by population in the world). The less abject poverty, the more of our products they can afford to buy. That is the economic argument, the humanitarian one is another issue entirely.
Spruce Moose
Guest
regarding the SCG: the traditional members and ladies stands are atrocious places to watch AFL from. Ditto cricket. Adelaide Oval looked like that each spot had great views and sightlines of the action. Thanks to the (necessary) pillaging of the Adelaide Oval, Bellerive Oval is now Australia's prettiest. Etihad is still the best to watch footy though. You are right on top of the action there.