Adelaide Oval Expansion

[Simmos083]

With Optus stadium all but confirmed to host the Grand Final capacity at 60K why wouldnt the Adelaide oval expand the hill into 15k-20k stand? The hill needs to go for this stadium to look complete. Optus stadium looks amazing.

[rev]

With Optus stadium all but confirmed to host the Grand Final capacity at 60K why wouldnt the Adelaide oval expand the hill into 15k-20k stand? The hill needs to go for this stadium to look complete. Optus stadium looks amazing.

Optus stadium looks amazing because it was designed in one go with a uniform design, from scratch.
We had too many compromises.
We had to keep the arches.
We had to keep the pavilion in the western stand.
We had to keep the hill.
We had to keep the Morton bays behind the hill.
We had to keep the old scoreboard.

As for why not, you're probably about to find out very soon when the responses start rolling in. Brace your self.

[omada]

As long as there is no more taxpayer dollars involved , I couldn't give a tinkers cuss what they do to to Oval, any charm it previously had is long gone.

[bits]

Perth has a population 50% bigger than Adelaide.
You would expect it's stadium to have a larger capacity.

[Goodsy]

the hill must stay, expand the eastern and western stands

[cmet]

This is such a dead/boring discussion. Really don’t understand why it pops up so often.

[Nathan]

It's the big round grassed area in the middle that's the bigger problem. All that space, for no more than 50 people. The capacity could be much higher if we filled in that gap.

[Bob]

This is such a dead/boring discussion. Really don’t understand why it pops up so often.

This has been thrashed out previously when I raised this a year or so ago and most people on this forum still didn’t get it even when the facts were laid bare, and the discussion thread become offensive and aggressive.

Quite simple really, if everyone is OK that Adelaide Oval remain a second-tier ground with a suburban feel, then fine, but don’t complain when the big opportunities get missed.

Optus Stadium will host the 2021 AFL grand final if coronavirus outbreaks and lockdowns force league heavyweights to abandon its traditional home the MCG.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said Optus Stadium would be an “amazing venue” in the event the MCG was unavailable and that its bigger capacity put it at advantage over Adelaide Oval, which can seat 53,500 patrons.

Now it is well known that a low tier northern stand with roof heights like eastern/western stands replacing the hill increases the capacity of AO to 63,000, greater than Perth Stadium.

Some of the comments from Melbourne in the last day or two

At least Perth Stadium looks like a proper stadium, Adelaide Oval looks more like a toilet seat and not a good look for the big dance.

And another…

One end of AO still resembles a large suburban ground on television.

Try listening to sports radio callback in Melbourne regarding this GF move.

AO is great but if you never finish it, it will never be up there competing with Perth (as one example) when major decisions like this one are made. And to be honest watching the AFL GF on TV from Perth Stadium will look and feel more like the event it is than doing the same from Adelaide Oval in its current format – like a nice smile with missing front teeth.

Adelaide – does the hard work to get a F1 GP then gives it away, does the hard work to build a V8 supercar premium event then gives it away, gets in the box seat to host a Commonwealth Games with all the Federal funding that would have come attached to upgrade sport facilities and infrastructure then pulls out, redevelops AO in stage 1 and gets lot of positive attention for three years but then overshadowed by Perth and since has been unable to attract any more international events outside of cricket (pre-covid), opportunity to plan stage 2 but the majority complains, well at least the PA supporters who use the hill at AO in the same manner as if they are at Alberton are happy, stuff everyone and everything else.

If we are all OK with AO as it for ever and a day then the argument goes away, but then don't embarrass ourselves by putting up a half arsed pitch to (in this instance) the AFL for the GF against Perth Stadium.

[Patrick_27]

This is such a dead/boring discussion. Really don’t understand why it pops up so often.

This has been thrashed out previously when I raised this a year or so ago and most people on this forum still didn’t get it even when the facts were laid bare, and the discussion thread become offensive and aggressive.

Quite simple really, if everyone is OK that Adelaide Oval remain a second-tier ground with a suburban feel, then fine, but don’t complain when the big opportunities get missed.

Optus Stadium will host the 2021 AFL grand final if coronavirus outbreaks and lockdowns force league heavyweights to abandon its traditional home the MCG.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said Optus Stadium would be an “amazing venue” in the event the MCG was unavailable and that its bigger capacity put it at advantage over Adelaide Oval, which can seat 53,500 patrons.

Now it is well known that a low tier northern stand with roof heights like eastern/western stands replacing the hill increases the capacity of AO to 63,000, greater than Perth Stadium.

Some of the comments from Melbourne in the last day or two

At least Perth Stadium looks like a proper stadium, Adelaide Oval looks more like a toilet seat and not a good look for the big dance.

And another…

One end of AO still resembles a large suburban ground on television.

Try listening to sports radio callback in Melbourne regarding this GF move.

AO is great but if you never finish it, it will never be up there competing with Perth (as one example) when major decisions like this one are made. And to be honest watching the AFL GF on TV from Perth Stadium will look and feel more like the event it is than doing the same from Adelaide Oval in its current format – like a nice smile with missing front teeth.

Adelaide – does the hard work to get a F1 GP then gives it away, does the hard work to build a V8 supercar premium event then gives it away, gets in the box seat to host a Commonwealth Games with all the Federal funding that would have come attached to upgrade sport facilities and infrastructure then pulls out, redevelops AO in stage 1 and gets lot of positive attention for three years but then overshadowed by Perth and since has been unable to attract any more international events outside of cricket (pre-covid), opportunity to plan stage 2 but the majority complains, well at least the PA supporters who use the hill at AO in the same manner as if they are at Alberton are happy, stuff everyone and everything else.

If we are all OK with AO as it for ever and a day then the argument goes away, but then don't embarrass ourselves by putting up a half arsed pitch to (in this instance) the AFL for the GF against Perth Stadium.

The reason the conversation got heated the last time we had this discussion is the same reason that this new discussion might go the same way, your comment is incredibly fate accompli and without any real factual evidence. The best cricket grounds in the world (note, best, not necessarily the largest i.e the MCG) are of the same character as Adelaide Oval (mostly located in the UK). Adelaide not securing the GF has nothing to do with any perceived quality of the ground, but rather politics and SA's capacity restrictions. Now perhaps there is also an attitude adjustment required in Adelaide when it comes to our keenest to hold high-profile events, we don't seem to jump at opportunities that present themselves. You talk about the incompleteness of Adelaide Oval holding our state back from hosting these events but let's not forget that the Gold Coast held the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a stadium of the same layout to Adelaide Oval and with less capacity.

[Bob]

This is such a dead/boring discussion. Really don’t understand why it pops up so often.

This has been thrashed out previously when I raised this a year or so ago and most people on this forum still didn’t get it even when the facts were laid bare, and the discussion thread become offensive and aggressive.

Quite simple really, if everyone is OK that Adelaide Oval remain a second-tier ground with a suburban feel, then fine, but don’t complain when the big opportunities get missed.

Optus Stadium will host the 2021 AFL grand final if coronavirus outbreaks and lockdowns force league heavyweights to abandon its traditional home the MCG.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said Optus Stadium would be an “amazing venue” in the event the MCG was unavailable and that its bigger capacity put it at advantage over Adelaide Oval, which can seat 53,500 patrons.

Now it is well known that a low tier northern stand with roof heights like eastern/western stands replacing the hill increases the capacity of AO to 63,000, greater than Perth Stadium.

Some of the comments from Melbourne in the last day or two

At least Perth Stadium looks like a proper stadium, Adelaide Oval looks more like a toilet seat and not a good look for the big dance.

And another…

One end of AO still resembles a large suburban ground on television.

Try listening to sports radio callback in Melbourne regarding this GF move.

AO is great but if you never finish it, it will never be up there competing with Perth (as one example) when major decisions like this one are made. And to be honest watching the AFL GF on TV from Perth Stadium will look and feel more like the event it is than doing the same from Adelaide Oval in its current format – like a nice smile with missing front teeth.

Adelaide – does the hard work to get a F1 GP then gives it away, does the hard work to build a V8 supercar premium event then gives it away, gets in the box seat to host a Commonwealth Games with all the Federal funding that would have come attached to upgrade sport facilities and infrastructure then pulls out, redevelops AO in stage 1 and gets lot of positive attention for three years but then overshadowed by Perth and since has been unable to attract any more international events outside of cricket (pre-covid), opportunity to plan stage 2 but the majority complains, well at least the PA supporters who use the hill at AO in the same manner as if they are at Alberton are happy, stuff everyone and everything else.

If we are all OK with AO as it for ever and a day then the argument goes away, but then don't embarrass ourselves by putting up a half arsed pitch to (in this instance) the AFL for the GF against Perth Stadium.

The reason the conversation got heated the last time we had this discussion is the same reason that this new discussion might go the same way, your comment is incredibly fate accompli and without any real factual evidence. The best cricket grounds in the world (note, best, not necessarily the largest i.e the MCG) are of the same character as Adelaide Oval (mostly located in the UK). Adelaide not securing the GF has nothing to do with any perceived quality of the ground, but rather politics and SA's capacity restrictions. Now perhaps there is also an attitude adjustment required in Adelaide when it comes to our keenest to hold high-profile events, we don't seem to jump at opportunities that present themselves. You talk about the incompleteness of Adelaide Oval holding our state back from hosting these events but let's not forget that the Gold Coast held the 2018 Commonwealth Games with a stadium of the same layout to Adelaide Oval and with less capacity.

Now back to the land of commercial reality, even if AO allowed a full crowd...


Optus Stadium will host the 2021 AFL grand final if coronavirus outbreaks and lockdowns force league heavyweights to abandon its traditional home the MCG.
AFL boss Gillon McLachlan said Optus Stadium would be an “amazing venue” in the event the MCG was unavailable and that its bigger capacity put it at advantage over Adelaide Oval, which can seat 53,500 patrons.

[Llessur2002]

As Patrick alluded - the maximum ground capacity is completely irrelevant in this decision as in SA the crowd is currently limited to 20,000.

The Grand Final went to WA because they do not have the same capacity restrictions as SA - this is a product of the COVID situation and current health directives in each state and is the context under which Gillon McLachlan's comments were made.

[Bob]

As Patrick alluded - the maximum ground capacity is completely irrelevant in this decision as in SA the crowd is currently limited to 20,000.

The Grand Final went to WA because they do not have the same capacity restrictions as SA - this is a product of the COVID situation and current health directives in each state and is the context under which Gillon McLachlan's comments were made.

Incorrect.

[Llessur2002]

As Patrick alluded - the maximum ground capacity is completely irrelevant in this decision as in SA the crowd is currently limited to 20,000.

The Grand Final went to WA because they do not have the same capacity restrictions as SA - this is a product of the COVID situation and current health directives in each state and is the context under which Gillon McLachlan's comments were made.

Incorrect.

Which part?

The capacity for the Port game at the Oval tonight is 20,000. When this decision was made it was 15,000. Optus currently has no capacity restrictions.

The AFL had to decide whether to host a grand final at a 15,000 (at the time) capacity stadium or a 60,000 capacity stadium. Had the Oval been able to operate at full capacity the decision would have been between capacities of 53,500 and 60,000 which I suspect would have levelled the playing field considerably.

[Nort]

And as has been pointed out before, we're still a smaller city. Build a bigger stadium than Perth that gets events instead of them and guess what...Perth will just make their stadium bigger. Which then leaves us back in the same situation, except with a stadium that has lost positive qualities.

[PeFe]

From what I have read about the AFL Grand Final negotiations the South Australian government were only prepared to have 30,000 people at the game.

Perth is a bigger city than Adelaide by 700,000 people with more people who have moved from interstate so I have no doubt that a Melbourne Brisbane grand final (for example) would generate more interest, and more importantly, money, for the AFL.

Grand final ticket prices will be their usual $200-$400.