SANFL Grounds

[brucetiki]

Given there's a WAFL ground thread, here's an SANFL ground thread. As Adelaide Oval and AAMI Stadium already has their own threads, I won't include them in this thread - this is just for the suburban grounds.

Unleash Solar Oval

Home Club: Woodville-West Torrens
Opened: ?
Capacity: 15 000

Thebarton Oval

Home Club: Woodville-West Torrens (part time)
Opened:1922
Capacity:15 000

Playford Alive Oval

Home Club: Central District
Opened: 1959
Capacity: 18 000

Coopers Stadium

Home Club: Norwood
Opened: 1901
Capacity: 22 000

Hickinbotham Oval

Home Club: South Adelaide
Opened: 1995
Capacity: 12 000

Gliderol Stadium

Home Club: Glenelg
Opened: 1920
Capacity: 15 000

Alberton Oval

Home Club: Port Adelaide
Opened: 1880
Capacity: 17 000

City Mazda Stadium

Home Club: West Adelaide
Opened: 1954
Capacity: 16 500

Prospect Oval

Home Club: North Adelaide
Opened: 1898
Capacity: 20 000

Commander Centre Oval

Home Club: Sturt
Opened: 1901
Capacity: approx. 8000

 

[Silent Alarm]

Some lovely looking grounds. If I ever go to Adelaide, I'd like to check some out.

 

[Puddy]

Unley Oval is a dump

 

[_Christoh_]

Prospect Oval used to have so many holes in the fence back in the 80's I hardley ever paid to go to any games and I went to many as I only lived 500 metres from the Oval.

One thing that a few SANFL Ovals used to have either in the grounds or very close to them were bomb shelters. Prospect and Thebarton did but Im not sure of any others that did but I cant help but think there was another one or two. North Adelaide cheer squad used to keep all their flags in the one at Prospect but shared it with a scaletrix club who used the other side.

 

[brucetiki]

Prospect Oval used to have so many holes in the fence back in the 80's I hardley ever paid to go to any games and I went to many as I only lived 500 metres from the Oval.

One thing that a few SANFL Ovals used to have either in the grounds or very close to them were bomb shelters. Prospect and Thebarton did but Im not sure of any others that did but I cant help but think there was another one or two. North Adelaide cheer squad used to keep all their flags in the one at Prospect but shared it with a scaletrix club who used the other side.

The one at Glenelg is still there, at the northern end of the ground

 

[_Christoh_]

I know you used austadiums.com for the info but there is no way you could get 22,000 in at The Parade. Prospect Oval has more space for people and off the top of my head the biggest attendance there was 19,000.

 

[Punchy Bassett]

I know you used austadiums.com for the info but there is no way you could get 22,000 in at The Parade. Prospect Oval has more space for people and off the top of my head the biggest attendance there was 19,000.

http://norwoodfc.com.au/HISTORY/ACHIEVEMENTS.aspx

Best Home Attendance: 20,280 v Port Adelaide on May 22, 1971

 

[_Christoh_]

Gee that would have been the tightest crowd shoved into any space in the history of sport. The outer side at Norwood Oval is very narrow. One of my favourite SANFL grounds for sure.

I still remember my total shock tho when I went to my first game there and saw the brick wall near the boundary. I remember thinking how can that be safe?? But I dont ever recall anyone ever being injured too badly.

 

[brucetiki]

I know you used austadiums.com for the info but there is no way you could get 22,000 in at The Parade. Prospect Oval has more space for people and off the top of my head the biggest attendance there was 19,000.

Agreed. They list Commander Centre Oval's capacity at 20 000 too

Once you get more than about 4000 people at Norwood it becomes a tight squeeze. The frustrating thing about Norwood is the western stand is near-empty for most games yet there is no public seating in the stand. I'm not saying make it all public, but I'm sure there would be a decent income stream if they sold daily tickets to 1-2 sections of that stand - would pretty much be one of the best viewing spots at any SANFL ground. Instead, the public are crammed onto tiny, crumbling terraces where the views are obstructed by light towers, netting and baseball poles. Coopers Stadium is a public liability case waiting to happen, but amazingly there no one (spectator or player) has been seriously injured at the ground.

 

[lincsPJ]

Agreed. They list Commander Centre Oval's capacity at 20 000 too

Once you get more than about 4000 people at Norwood it becomes a tight squeeze. The frustrating thing about Norwood is the western stand is near-empty for most games yet there is no public seating in the stand. I'm not saying make it all public, but I'm sure there would be a decent income stream if they sold daily tickets to 1-2 sections of that stand - would pretty much be one of the best viewing spots at any SANFL ground. Instead, the public are crammed onto tiny, crumbling terraces where the views are obstructed by light towers, netting and baseball poles. Coopers Stadium is a public liability case waiting to happen, but amazingly there no one (spectator or player) has been seriously injured at the ground.

maybe 8000.. there's plenty of room with 4000 at the parade, unless it's mandatory for you to stand on coopers hill... the crowd density at the northern end is the barometer for a decent crowd.

as for the western stand (which you're right, is the best viewing spot in the league, but the 1930s benches arent much good for the back), $5 will get you up there for those with no season stand ticket. they sell daily tickets inside the venue.

 

[Papa G]

Unley used to be a great ground until they turned it into a park.

Best grounds for atmosphere:
The Parade
Unley (pre parkization, if that is a word)
Alberton (Mainly Port supporter though, most opposition supporter were too afraid to turn up)
Glenelg
Prospect
Thebarton
Woodville
Richmond (Although when Kerely had his phone booth on top of the dug out it made it more interesting)
Elizabeth (Too big, too far away, too feral)

Never been to Norlunga but it looks fairly crap.

 

[zest88]

my fav in order
Woodville
Richmond
Glenelg
Elizabeth
Norlunga
Prospect
Alberton
Norwood
Thebarton
Unley

 

[Interceptor]

http://norwoodfc.com.au/HISTORY/ACHIEVEMENTS.aspx

Best Home Attendance: 20,280 v Port Adelaide on May 22, 1971

That would have been crazy.
In the Norwood v Port game in 1997, the gates were closed and I'm pretty sure the crowd was given as approx. 16k.

 

[brucetiki]

Unley Oval before it's conversion

[YOUTUBE]JZnhiv-YL60[/YOUTUBE]

 

[Lets Roar like '44]

Never been to Norlunga but it looks fairly crap.

Correct. In the middle of nowhere, cold, windy and just a very boring ground.

 

[MelbourneCrow]

That would have been crazy.
In the Norwood v Port game in 1997, the gates were closed and I'm pretty sure the crowd was given as approx. 16k.

That is pretty well spot on, except I think that was in 1996. I am fairly sure it was the last 'real' Norwood-Port game there before the Power joined the AFL (1997).

I arrived after the gates were shut and watched the game from on top of a shed to the East of the ground. And there were several other sheds nearby similarly populated.

 

[brucetiki]

Correct. In the middle of nowhere, cold, windy and just a very boring ground.

South Adelaide have made some improvements to the ground in recent years, such as the undercover shelter, the upgraded entrance and lights, and while it lacks the charm some of the older grounds have, it's not as dreary as it used to be.

 

[Lets Roar like '44]

South Adelaide have made some improvements to the ground in recent years, such as the undercover shelter, the upgraded entrance and lights, and while it lacks the charm some of the older grounds have, it's not as dreary as it used to be.

Yeh its been about 5-6 years since I was there. I just remember thinking who on earth would want to play out here. And if anyones wondering, I went out there just to have a look and a kick just to see the ground...fair to say conditions werent helping my accuracy out.

 

[brucetiki]

The wind is quite a unique 'feature' of Noarlunga - wasn't the smartest idea putting a football oval on the top of a hill.

The key to success at Hickinbotham Oval is what you can do against the breeze.

Having only one entry gate doesn't help generate much atmosphere, but the installation of car parking around the outer boundary has helped make use of what was previously a barren wasteland.

 

[Dirty Bird]

If I had to rank them I'd go.

Alberton Oval
Glenelg Oval
Woodville Oval
Elizabeth Oval
Norwood Oval
Prospect Oval
Hickenbotham Oval
Richmond Oval
Theberton Oval
Unley Oval

The top 3 + Prospect are good ovals. (Too bad the atmosphere at Prospect is terrible and pushes it down)
The bottom 3 + Norwood are dumps (But luckily the atmospher is amazing and redeems that)

Hickenbotham and Elizabeth are average

 

[lincsPJ]

If I had to rank them I'd go.

Alberton Oval
Glenelg Oval
Woodville Oval
Elizabeth Oval
Norwood Oval
Prospect Oval
Hickenbotham Oval
Richmond Oval
Theberton Oval
Unley Oval

The top 3 + Prospect are good ovals. (Too bad the atmosphere at Prospect is terrible and pushes it down)
The bottom 3 + Norwood are dumps (But luckily the atmospher is amazing and redeems that)

Hickenbotham and Elizabeth are average

im still trying to get my head around the logic of this post.. maybe im tired.

as ovals to watch footy, my mine they are:
Norwood Oval.. close to the action, not a big ground, good atmopshere, improved lights make night footy better for viewing now.
Glenelg Oval.. nice family friendly area, good stands and good members/indoor facilties.

Woodville Oval.. good for viewing and easy parking as they dont have any supporters.
Alberton Oval.. southern end is dead.. stands seem too far from the action, and i dont know why but that oval just doesnt seem to line up... but at least there's a good footy vibe for nwd port games.
Richmond Oval.. ok for viewing, decent member facilities..

Elizabeth Oval... too big for watching if youre not in the leaning tower if pisa stand on the wing... shithouse lights and in a shithouse part of town.
Prospect Oval... i dunno.. ive just never seen a decent game of footy there.. always a pretty lacklustre atmosphere.

Hickenbotham Oval.. haha. been there once... it's just not worth the 4 hr round trip to me.
Unley Oval.. the best part about this oval was that i used to live a 10min walk away, but not anymore. so it's just a crappy swamp.
Theberton Oval** havent been there since i was about 3yo.. so cant really judge it...

 

[Dirty Bird]

Alberton - Great facilities on Members side and Outer side. Great intimate atmosphere.

Glenelg - Ditto

Woodville - As above, but atmosphere is a little lackluster.

Elizabeth - Open, makes it alot more relaxing, not cramped, but with the mound around it, the noise can get trapped in making a 1.5k crowd sound like a 3k crowd.

Norwood - Pathetic run down facilities, extremely cramping. Shit viewing in the southern stand, light towers in peoples views. Unsafe playing environment, and the field and surface come June is the worst in the league. The only 2 good things about the place is the Norwood fans who actually make a good atmosphere (which is what has driven it from bottom 4 to here alone), and the view from the Member stand.

Prospect - Is actually like Woodville, but our fans struggle to make noise. The atmosphere at ground level is pathetic at best.

Hickenbotham - Just a real ccountry charm to it.

Richmond - These bottom 3 were so hard to split, electronic scoreboard pushes it up to here)

Thebarton - Run down and old, but there is actually standing room on the outer wing unlike Unley.

Unley - Sure, it's ok on the Western side, sure, the facilities on the Northern end if ok too. But the Eastern side and Southern End are horrendous. Short oval, cramped space. Anyone having it above 10 is a moron (well, unless it's 9 and they're not including Thebby)

 

[Cuzz09]

When I was younger I always thought it would be awesome to live in those houses outside Norwood Oval - Like their back fence is the outer Eastern Wing of norwood oval - you could sit on your roof and watch the games haha

Good old SANFL. Love it

 

[hoddy]

Lucky enough to have seen games at Adelaide oval, and Glenelg. Really enjoyed the Bay, however its fair to say the most excited I got was at Alberton - loved it! Real footy, real fans... just a shame about the Allan Scott Power Headquarters.

 

[Yorkes_87]

Only been to Norwood so far. Have a few mates that play for WWT (mostly U18's), heard Unley Oval isn't very good.