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Adelaide Oval is a stadium in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the city centre and North Adelaide.
The stadium is mostly used for cricket and football, but also plays host to rugby league, rugby union, soccer, and concerts. Its record crowd for cricket was 52,633 during the 2014–15 Big Bash League season semi final between the Adelaide Strikers and Sydney Sixers, and its overall record attendance was 62,543 at the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between the Port Adelaide and Sturt.
The Oval has been headquarters to the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) since 1871 and South Australian National Football League (SANFL) since 2014.[3] The stadium is managed by the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority (AOSMA). Redevelopments between 2008 and 2014, costing $575 million, increased the stadium's seating capacity from 34,000[4] to 53,583 (including standing room).[1][5] The Adelaide and Port Adelaide Football Clubs also returned to the stadium, leaving Football Park.[6]
In 2010, Austadiums.com called the Adelaide Oval "one of the most picturesque Test cricket grounds in Australia, if not the world".[7] In December 2009 South Australian Premier Mike Rann announced a $450 million government commitment to redevelop Adelaide Oval to enable AFL Football to be played there.[8] In May 2011 Treasurer Kevin Foley announced an increase in government funding to $535 million.[9] After the redevelopment, sports journalist Gerard Whateley described it as "the most perfect piece of modern architecture because it's a thoroughly contemporary stadium with all the character that it's had in the past".[10]
The oval dimensions were originally 190m x 125m,[27] both unusually long and unusually narrow for an Australian cricket/football ground. The arrangement was highly favourable for batsmen who played square of the wicket, and heavily penalised bowlers who delivered the ball short or wide so that the batsman could play cut, hook or pull shots. 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 four or even occasionally a five.[28]
Historically, the Adelaide Oval's integral pitch was generally very good for batting, and offering little assistance to bowlers until the last day of a match. Since the redevelopment in 2013, a drop-in pitch has been used at the venue.[29]
In August 2008 the South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) 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 League 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.[30] The Western grandstands were torn down in June 2009[31] and a single Western stand was developed in its place ahead of the 2010-11 Ashes series.[32] The new Western stand incorporates 14,000 individual seats and features improved shading conditions and amenities for SACA members.[33]
In the lead up to the 2010 South Australian state election, the opposition Liberal Party announced that, if elected, it would build with a new stadium with a roof, located at Riverside West at the site of the state government's new hospital location.[34][35] The incumbent Labor Party subsequently announced it would fund a $450 million upgrade and redevelopment of the whole of Adelaide Oval, rather than just the Western Grand Stand.[36] Labor narrowly won re-election at the 2010 state election, resulting in its Adelaide Oval upgrade policy going ahead though eventually for a steeper $535 million, of which this deal included the State Government clearing the SACA's (South Australian Cricket Association) $85 million debt..
The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority (AOSMA), a joint venture of SACA and the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), was registered as a company on 23 December 2009 following the re-announcement of the plan.[37] The AOSMA has eight directors, four associated with SACA (Ian McLachlan-Chair, John Harnden, Creagh O’Connor & John Bannon) and four with SANFL (Leigh Whicker-CEO, Rod Payze, Philip Gallagher & Jamie Coppins).[38]
However, in early-mid-2010, prior to the election, it became clear that $450m would be inadequate. Following the 2010 state election, 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.[39] 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.[40] Simultaneously, the SACA and the SANFL were in the process of negotiating an agreement that would enable Australian Rules Football (AFL) to use Adelaide Oval during the AFL season as their home ground.[41][42][43][44] In August 2010, SANFL and SACA representatives signed letters of intent committing to the project, including the capped $535 million offer from the state government.[45]
The redevelopment included a $40 million pedestrian bridge across the River Torrens to link the Adelaide railway station precinct with the Adelaide Oval precinct, which was partially completed for the Ashes cricket series in December 2013 and fully completed ahead of the 2014 AFL season.[46][47]
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. A two-thirds majority of SACA members were required to vote in favour of the proposed upgrade for it to ahead, with a successful vote resulting in the SANFL and AFL having control over the stadium for 7 months of the year and SACA having control for 5 months of the year.
SACA members had the choice of voting online on 28 April 2011 or attending in person an Extraordinary Meeting at the Adelaide Showgrounds on 2 May 2011. At 6pm, 28 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 2 May 2011, at the Adelaide Showgrounds, the final result was announced. 80.37% of total votes cast were in favour of Adelaide Oval being redeveloped, resulting in the upgrade and stadium reconfiguration being approved.[48] The upgrade commenced in April 2012, and was finished in time for the 2014 AFL season.[1]
All stands of the Oval were redeveloped and upgraded except for the already rebuilt Western grandstand (SACA and SANFL members only stand), the Northern Mound, the Historic Scoreboard and the Moreton Bay fig trees. The Northern Mound, the Moreton Bay fig trees and the Scoreboard are all heritage listed and will likely never be demolished unless damaged beyond repair.[49]
† Note that a 75% threshold was required in order for approval to be granted
Adelaide Oval hosts the following major sporting events:
Aside from the main sports of cricket and Australian rules football, 14 sports have been played at one time or another at the oval: archery, athletics, baseball, cycling, American football, highland games, hockey, lacrosse, lawn tennis, rugby league, rugby union, quoits, soccer and Motorcycle racing.
Adelaide Oval has hosted major concerts during its time, with some of the most famous acts including Fleetwood Mac (1977 & 2004), David Bowie (1978 & 1983), KISS (1980), Madonna and Paul McCartney (1993), Michael Jackson (1996), Billy Joel and Elton John (1998),[51] P!nk (2002), Pearl Jam (2009), AC/DC and Wolfmother (2010) and Foo Fighters (2011).[52]
The Rolling Stones were due to play a concert at the Adelaide Oval on 22 March 2014.[53] This would have been the first major event at the fully redeveloped venue, but it was postponed due to the death of lead singer Mick Jagger's girlfriend L'Wren Scott in New York on 17 March. The rescheduled concert took place on 25 October 2014.[54]
The Adelaide Oval was the 6th venue in the world to host a test match in 12 December 1884. Since then the venue has hosted test match cricket every summer.
Sir Donald Bradman (Australia) His 299* in 1932 remains the ground record.
Michael Clarke (Australia) Most test centuries (7) at Adelaide Oval.
Shane Warne (Australia) Most Test wickets (56) at Adelaide Oval.
Ricky Ponting (Australia) Highest run scorer at Adelaide Oval with 1743 from 31 innings.
The records below cover the South Australian league football (known as the South Australian Football Association and South Australian Football League and the South Australian National Football League) from 1877 when the first premiership matches were held at the ground till the end of the 1990 SANFL season, the last year that the competition was the highest level of Australian rules football in South Australia. In 1991 the newly created Adelaide Crows entered the Australian Football League subsequently playing the highest level of football in the state. Port Adelaide would join the Australian Football League in 1997.
Ken Farmer (North Adelaide) Most goals outright (347) and equal most goals in a single match (15).
Neil Hawke (Port Adelaide) Equal most goals in a single match (15). Also bowled 139/6 against South Africa in 1964.
Port Adelaide The Port Adelaide Football Club won 20 Grand Finals and four Championship of Australia titles at Adelaide Oval.
South Adelaide The South Adelaide Football Club used Adelaide Oval as its home ground for over 100 years between 1882-1903 and 1905-1994.
Australian rules football: View from helicopter of the 1965 SANFL Grand Final with a record 62,543 crowd witnessing Port Adelaide 12.8 (80) def Sturt 12.5 (77).
Concert: A crowd of 54,115 attended The Rolling Stones 2014 concert at Adelaide Oval.
Test match cricket: 1933 Ashes test match at Adelaide Oval attracted 50,962 for the second day. In the picture is Bert Oldfield being struck on the head by a fast ball from Harold Larwood.
American football: 28,000 locals attended a match at Adelaide Oval as part of American Independence Day celebrations in 1942.
Indigenous Corroboree: The 1885 Indigenous Corroboree was witnessed by 20,000 spectators.
Attendance Records by Event
Top 5 non-Australian Rules Football or Cricket Sports Attendance Records
Top 5 Musical Acts/Events Attendance Records
The "Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority" was registered as a company on 23 Dec 2009 following the re-announcement of the plan (now $450 million) by Mike Rann, in time for the March 2010 election.
Fos Williams, John Cahill (footballer), Bob McLean (Australian footballer), Australian Football League, Russell Ebert
United Kingdom, New Zealand, New South Wales, Canada, Queensland
Association football, Port Adelaide Football Club, Gaelic football, Australian rules football in New Zealand, Basketball
West Coast Eagles, Port Adelaide Football Club, Hawthorn Football Club, St Kilda Football Club, Sydney Swans
United Kingdom, Angles, Cornwall, Isle of Man, English language
Sydney Swans, Hawthorn Football Club, Port Adelaide Football Club, Essendon Football Club, Brisbane Lions
Adelaide Oval, Essendon Football Club, Brisbane Lions, Sydney Swans, West Coast Eagles
Adelaide University Football Club, Port District Football Club, Alberton Oval, Adelaide Oval, Thebarton Oval
Port Adelaide Football Club, Norwood Football Club, Adelaide Football Club (SAFA), Barossa Light & Gawler Football Association, Adelaide Oval