Adelaide Oval Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
Adeliade Oval

Location	War Memorial Drive Adelaide, South Australia Australia
Coordinates	34°54′56″S 138°35′46″E / 34.91556°S 138.59611°E / -34.91556; 138.59611
Owner	South Australian Government
Operator	Adelaide Oval SMA Ltd
Capacity	55,317
Field size	167 x 124 metres
Opened	1871

Adelaide Oval is a very famous sports stadium in Adelaide, South Australia. It's located in the beautiful parklands, right between the city center and North Adelaide.

Many different sports are played here. The main ones are cricket and Australian rules football. But it has also hosted rugby league, rugby union, soccer, and tennis. The Oval is also a popular place for big concerts!

People often say Adelaide Oval is one of the most beautiful cricket grounds in Australia, and even the world. After it was updated in 2014, a sports journalist called it "the most perfect piece of modern architecture." This means it's a new stadium but still has all its old charm.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) has been based at Adelaide Oval since 1871. The South Australian National Football League (SANFL) also moved its headquarters here in 2014. The stadium is managed by the Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority (AOSMA).

Adelaide Oval has seen some huge crowds! The most people ever at a cricket match was 55,317. This happened during an Ashes Test match on December 2, 2017. For Australian rules football, the record crowd was 62,543. This was at the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between Port Adelaide and Sturt.

Images for kids

Adelaide Oval's western grandstand was updated in 2010. It kept parts of older stands from the 1800s and 1900s.
Adelaide Oval in 2014 after its big update.
The famous Adelaide Oval scoreboard during an Ashes Test.
In 1874, an England team led by W.G. Grace played against South Australia. This was the first international cricket match here.
Adelaide Oval during a Test match between Australia and India in 2008. Sachin Tendulkar is seen fielding.
Adelaide Oval during a day-night match for the 2015 Cricket World Cup.
Ricky Ponting has scored the most runs in cricket at Adelaide Oval.
Brian Lara scored 610 runs in 8 games, a record for non-Australian players.
Michael Clarke scored seven centuries (over 100 runs) in 17 games.
Shane Warne has taken the most wickets (56) at the ground, tied with Nathan Lyon.
Kapil Dev took 19 wickets in ten games, the most for any non-Australian player.
In 1948, Australia scored 674 runs. Don Bradman scored 201 runs and Lindsay Hassett scored 198 runs.
An Australian rules football match at Adelaide Oval in 1887. Notice there were no behind posts yet!
Harold Oliver taking an amazing mark during a football game in 1914.
1929 Women's Australian rules football match Adelaide Oval.jpg

In 1929, 41,000 people watched a women's Australian rules football match. A small plane even dropped the game ball!
Ian McKay Spectacular Mark.jpg

Ian McKay taking a spectacular mark during the 1952 SANFL Grand Final.
North Adelaide playing against Hawthorn for the 1971 Championship of Australia.
A view of Adelaide Oval from above during an AFL match.
Adelaide United playing against Spanish team Málaga CF in 2014.
Albert Spalding's baseball teams in 1888. They played three games at Adelaide Oval.
During World War II, an American football game was held here in 1942. 25,000 locals watched it as part of Independence Day celebrations.
In 1926, the Indian Army Hockey team beat the South Australian team. The Indian team is pictured being greeted by the South Australian Governor.

Adelaide Oval facts for kids

Images for kids

See also