AFL @ Adelaide's Oval - That time is now.

[WaynesWorld19]

If anything is going to create havoc, it's the gaps either side of the Southern stand. They will create real wind tunnels

I said this a 6 weeks ago and due to the hype of a new stadium i was boo-hooed.

Was told gaps would be filled with big screens .......only matters on ovals western side

Am I the only one concerned with Santa Anna Couch potentially impacting knee injuries due to couch runners?

 

[Mattrox]

I said this a 6 weeks ago and due to the hype of a new stadium i was boo-hooed.

Was told gaps would be filled with big screens .......only matters on ovals western side

Am I the only one concerned with Santa Anna Couch potentially impacting knee injuries due to couch runners?

The couch will be in the under-thatch during winter as it goes quite dormant. The winter grasses will grow through. Likely after the santa ana goes brown in the cold weather they will mow it low and water like hell to get the winter grasses through.

 

[hey shorty]

Whats with the grass situation being a big deal ?? Theres a stack of other AFL grounds that have cricket played on them and there doesn't seem to be any issue.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Whats with the grass situation being a big deal ?? Theres a stack of other AFL grounds that have cricket played on them and there doesn't seem to be any issue.

I think they will seed it with Rye grass towards the end of summer. it grows quickly so there would not be a problem

 

[RonSon]

The breeze is going to create havoc at the northern end, it's going to be very interesting to compare the scoring ends

Was sitting there thinking about that today, south westerly is the usual breeze in winter? It might help kicking northerly, but towards town with the gap in the south/ western stands where the screen is... there could be a hell of a swirling breeze screaming out of there away from goal?


Edit, I really need to stop replying before reading the end of a thread, especially when I just regurgitate what was said in the very next post...

 

[Brenton Davy]

Was sitting there thinking about that today, south westerly is the usual breeze in winter? It might help kicking northerly, but towards town with the gap in the south/ western stands where the screen is... there could be a hell of a swirling breeze screaming out of there away from goal?


Edit, I really need to stop replying before reading the end of a thread, especially when I just regurgitate what was said in the very next post...

You and me both LOL

 

[Chief Crow]

I was able to pop in late today but my phone went flat not long after I got to the Oval. Took a couple of shots on the outside of the Southern stand though.

https://www.dropbox.com/sc/wksxhqquvn19go7/SToKAZoIzT

 

[Vooligan]

Did anyone see Patrick Dangerfield's present to Cornsey on FiveAA this morning?

 

[FR0GGY]

Did anyone see Patrick Dangerfield's present to Cornsey on FiveAA this morning?

Needs to bigger than that patty!

 

[King Elvis]

AO looks more exciting every day (cheers to those who have uploaded photos in this thread). The seating angle should really bring people into the game a bit more as they will be right on top of the action.

We all need to prepare for a barrage of complaints from the greater supporter base though, at least initially. People will have to change the routine that has served them well for 20+ years and there will be a lot of confusion regarding access to the ground, finding the amenities, etc.

Catering and public transport (on weekends) are the two things I really hope they get right.

Who cares; **** them!

 

[Elite Crow]

went down today, very impressive but a tad worried. My seat is on the isle behind the stairwell and there is a huge amount of railing, cant see how my view wont be impeded.

 

[Marty64]

View attachment 35558

went down today, very impressive but a tad worried. My seat is on the isle behind the stairwell and there is a huge amount of railing, cant see how my view wont be impeded.

Looks to be temp railing though.

Ny favourite spot at footy park was isle seat at the top of a stairwell and using the ledge to set up office, Marty89 would struggle to see though being verticly challanged.

 

[Brenton Davy]

Just a montage of the evolution of the old girl since I first went there in 1964

 

[Elite Crow]

Looks to be temp railing though.

Ny favourite spot at footy park was isle seat at the top of a stairwell and using the ledge to set up office, Marty89 would struggle to see though being verticly challanged.

Nah it's not, had a look at the virtual tour and the railing above the stairwell is there

 

[AFC3000]

Just a montage of the evolution of the old girl since I first went there in 1964

I genuinely think it looks a lot better, haven't been so just based on the photos. While the members stand was old, I never found it to be particularly special. I read someone say the Bradman Stand made Adelaide Oval for them, I really just thought it was a pretty ugly over sized building with limited seats on the front and the Chappell stands always felt very temporary, with all their facilities around the back like at AAMI.

I think most of what people really like it for is the convenience, the city atmosphere, and yes the view and hill, although I could do without them. I think when people who don't agree with it realise a lot of those things still exist, plus the upgraded viewing angles, facilities etc they will change their minds. Maybe theres a lot of people having not experienced better stadiums, or not thinking we need or deserve what other cities have. In a few years time we will all be wondering why we put up with AAMI and even the old AO for as long as we did.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

In a few years time we will all be wondering why we put up with AAMI and even the old AO for as long as we did.

Simple ......you had no choice & had to

I get angry with those that criticize Football Park .....was it bad for for forty years, or did people rave & get as excited about the new stadium as people are now about Adelaide Oval

Here's something ......in 25 years time people will criticize Adelaide Oval as Football Park is now ......people just tire of things and want NEW

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I genuinely think it looks a lot better, haven't been so just based on the photos. While the members stand was old, I never found it to be particularly special. I read someone say the Bradman Stand made Adelaide Oval for them, I really just thought it was a pretty ugly over sized building with limited seats on the front and the Chappell stands always felt very temporary, with all their facilities around the back like at AAMI.

I think most of what people really like it for is the convenience, the city atmosphere, and yes the view and hill, although I could do without them. I think when people who don't agree with it realise a lot of those things still exist, plus the upgraded viewing angles, facilities etc they will change their minds. Maybe theres a lot of people having not experienced better stadiums, or not thinking we need or deserve what other cities have. In a few years time we will all be wondering why we put up with AAMI and even the old AO for as long as we did.

Nah ....Adelaide Oval has ALWAYS been about the unique atmosphere of a football game compared to Football Park
It always seemed a cauldron and the sound locked in , whereas at Football Park the sound tended to dissapate

Think you'll be surprised at the crowd, sound atmosphere at Adelaide Oval ......it'll be electric

 

[Marty64]

View of the hills and cathederal was a big deal for cricket people as there is so little action in a test match.

Having gone to the rugby and sitting in the old members stand with the bench seats and the columns blocking your view it was a relic from the past.

Not sure the Bradman stand make the cricket for me, sure you could watch from the captains bar and get a drink during SANFL finals it lacked something as an experiance.

 

[Marty64]

I get angry with those that criticize Football Park .....was it bad for for forty years, or did people rave & get as excited about the new stadium as people are now about Adelaide Oval

I think from memory it was fine as a SANFL ground when it opened as long as you didn't mind the trafic.

AFL crowds did show up the poor location for traffic and it has not aged gracefully.

 

[AFC3000]

Nah ....Adelaide Oval has ALWAYS been about the unique atmosphere of a football game compared to Football Park
It always seemed a cauldron and the sound locked in , whereas at Football Park the sound tended to dissapate

Think you'll be surprised at the crowd, sound atmosphere at Adelaide Oval ......it'll be electric

Didn't realise AO already had that sound as I haven't been to many full events there, cricket maybe but that's not really the same thing. Agree that especially now with the almost wall like stands packed with people it will sound incredible.

Also agree that obviously Footy Park was probably great for a while, good for a lot longer but then people noticed it fell behind. I just think it never really changed. By the early 2000s when Melbourne was getting Docklands we were only just getting bucket seats, it was too late. The viewing angles were never going to get any better, slow entry to the ground because of the limited gates and slow security checks before you got in instead of after, you still had to walk out and around to get to the food/drink/toilets, they added the Northern stand but that wasn't built to be the latest most up to date stand with good angles and on top of the action, your so far back you can barely see the other end of the ground and it only added to the stadium, it didn't improve experience for everyone else.

I don't remember the exact time line for the AO announcement but people were getting pretty tired of AAMI by the mid to late 00's and I remember thinking when they announced that AAMI stadium redevelopment it was just all too much work for that location and no one really seemed too excited about what it would offer everyone.

You are right though, if Adelaide Oval goes virtually untouched for another 25 years people will complain, and probably have good reason to.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

I think from memory it was fine as a SANFL ground when it opened as long as you didn't mind the trafic.

AFL crowds did show up the poor location for traffic and it has not aged gracefully.

They've had bigger crowds at SANFL games than AFL

Traffic has never been an issue ......only in peoples minds

Agree though it did not age gracefully, primarily because regular enhancements weren't undertaken to make the viewing more comfortable

But was it as bad as Adelaide Supporters said (only in last 5 years BTW ) .......of course not, but benchmarked against MCG & Etihad most stadiums look inferior

Should try and go to Geelong ......then try & complain about Football Park

 

[Vooligan]

Agree a cushion is probably the last thing I would think of taking to the footy. Silver is only a pin, magnet and sticker this year. I'm all for them switching it up every year because who needs the same thing over and over again but yeah its not the most interesting package. If you were a Collingwood equivalent to Gold you would only get a notepad, pen and a bumper sticker so I don't think its an issue with just our club. Seems pretty standard.

As I said in another thread I think it would be good of them to offer people who want it, just a checkbox on the membership form, something decent at about cost price. Make it something different each year, and they can have Member 2014 or something printed on it. Weather that's a guernsey, actual Puma shirt/hoody/jacket or football. Pretty much anything people aren't embarrassed to wear because of its low quality, or that's not just junk you shove in a draw and forget about. If that particular year you don't like the product, just don't add it to your membership.

The shirt/hoody/jackets is an idea I like. Would be happy to pay a fee for it to come with the membership.

I guess Collingwood's equivalent is bad because the amount of members?

 

[brucetiki]

There was a time in the early history of the AFC where Football Park was arguably one of the best stadiums in the competition in terms of facilities (this was back in the day many of the Victorian clubs were still playing in suburbia, and the MCG had the decrepit old stands and the Great Southern Stand was being built). The irony was the AFL still demanded Football Park upgrade some facilities, like the coaches boxes, claiming they weren't AFL standard (even though inferior facilities at grounds like Windy Hill, Moorabin et al were deemed acceptable).

However, the problem is that the SANFL effectively rested on their laurels of the early praises of the ground and as the ground rationing occurred in Victoria, the MCG was upgraded, Etihad came along, plus significant upgrades to just about every other ground in the competition, the ground was simply left behind and fell down the ranks.

 

[*PAF]

Just a montage of the evolution of the old girl since I first went there in 1964

Now they were good days.
This photo is probably a tad before my time but the next one was after.
Set up camp on the southern hill but spend most of the time in the northern one.

 

[AFC3000]

They've had bigger crowds at SANFL games than AFL

Traffic has never been an issue ......only in peoples minds

Agree though it did not age gracefully, primarily because regular enhancements weren't undertaken to make the viewing more comfortable

Driving to AAMI is ok as long as you know what your doing and have a plan. The pretty much one road in is a problem if you get caught. When I lived in the North Eastern area of Adelaide it bad because I was also a student who had to get the Footy Express bus in, which went through the city, then usually got stuck in traffic once you get nearer the stadium.

Adelaide Oval will only be better because most people will have to park further away therefore spreading out amount of entry and exit points and amount of cars trying to use them at one time. For people planning to literally park at Adelaide Oval and those who desperately want to and hate the idea of parking anywhere in the city and making there way to the stadium or parking at a train/bus/tram station and getting public transport in it will be worse.

Without even knowing or checking how many car parks are in the area but is there somewhere like the Show Grounds or some site close to the city and with a train stop that could be used with extra services to and from before and after matches. I'm sure this has all been worked out, but it will be interesting to see what the plans are.

But was it as bad as Adelaide Supporters said (only in last 5 years BTW ) .......of course not, but benchmarked against MCG & Etihad most stadiums look inferior

Should try and go to Geelong ......then try & complain about Football Park

I think your onto something here but this is because for a majority of people the only other professional sports stadiums they have regularly been to in the last decade is going to be one of those Victorian stadiums.