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

(Log in to remove this ad.)

King Elvis

Hall of Famer
Joined
Aug 13, 2006
Posts
45,616
Likes
36,181
Location
SA
AFL Club
Adelaide
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!
 

Marty64

Club Legend
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Posts
1,149
Likes
197
Location
Adelaide
AFL Club
Adelaide
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.
 

Elite Crow

Premium Platinum
Joined
Mar 21, 2008
Posts
48,474
Likes
63,191
Location
adelaide
AFL Club
Adelaide
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

Premiership Player
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Posts
4,804
Likes
8,062
AFL Club
Adelaide
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.
 
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Posts
64,780
Likes
56,408
Location
Baghdad
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
West Adelaide, Baghdad Bombers
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 :rolleyes:

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
 
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Posts
64,780
Likes
56,408
Location
Baghdad
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
West Adelaide, Baghdad Bombers
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
 

(Log in to remove this ad.)

Marty64

Club Legend
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Posts
1,149
Likes
197
Location
Adelaide
AFL Club
Adelaide
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

Club Legend
Joined
Mar 2, 2011
Posts
1,149
Likes
197
Location
Adelaide
AFL Club
Adelaide
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 :rolleyes:
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

Premiership Player
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Posts
4,804
Likes
8,062
AFL Club
Adelaide
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.
 
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Posts
64,780
Likes
56,408
Location
Baghdad
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
West Adelaide, Baghdad Bombers
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.
:confused: 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

Norm Smith Medallist
Joined
Nov 15, 2011
Posts
8,384
Likes
9,812
Location
Sellicks Beach
AFL Club
Adelaide
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

Spec Moderator
Joined
Nov 7, 2002
Posts
19,254
Likes
10,288
Location
Wentworth Detention Ctr
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
Adelaide, Centrals
Moderator #2,992
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.
 

AFC3000

Premiership Player
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Posts
4,804
Likes
8,062
AFL Club
Adelaide
:confused: 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.
 

AFC3000

Premiership Player
Joined
Sep 20, 2011
Posts
4,804
Likes
8,062
AFL Club
Adelaide
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?

Collingwood was just a random one I looked up, Ports and West Coasts were similar as was Freos but I did just look and they are actually doing the merchandise add-on idea, $18 extra each gets them a 20th anniversary scarf and/or cap.
 
Joined
Nov 6, 2003
Posts
64,780
Likes
56,408
Location
Baghdad
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
West Adelaide, Baghdad Bombers
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.
IMO Football park was always easy to get in & out of .....i came from Glenelg & esplanade was easy access

Now Adelaide oval with big crowds ......just watch how difficult it's going to be getting out if you come by car
It has always been a nightmare with footy crowds & suspect nothing has changed
 

NTRabbit

Brownlow Medallist
Joined
Aug 1, 2008
Posts
17,034
Likes
10,825
Location
Adelaide
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
Arsenal, 76ers, Royals
Adelaide Oval will only be better because most people will have to park further away catch public transport, because it's the right thing to do, and there's so little parking that only morons will be driving in every fortnight and clamouring for slabs of parking space to be bulldozed in the parklands

Fixed it for you
 
Joined
Jul 25, 2010
Posts
32,675
Likes
18,248
Location
Meekatharra
AFL Club
Adelaide
Other Teams
Golden State Warriors NBA Champions
IMO Football park was always easy to get in & out of .....i came from Glenelg & esplanade was easy access

Now Adelaide oval with big crowds ......just watch how difficult it's going to be getting out if you come by car
It has always been a nightmare with footy crowds & suspect nothing has changed
No, getting out if the cricket and subsequently the city predict wasn't very difficult. Only used to take me 10 minutes to get in my car and then turn left past the W&C hospital to the main north road. In fact, it will become easier as they will have less car parks available.
 
Top Bottom