Adelaide Oval facts for kids
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The renovated Adelaide Oval in 2015
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| Full name | Adelaide Oval |
|---|---|
| Location | War Memorial Drive North Adelaide, South Australia Australia |
| Coordinates | 34°54′56″S 138°35′46″E / 34.91556°S 138.59611°E |
| Public transit |  Adelaide  Festival Plaza |
| Owner | South Australian Government |
| Operator | Adelaide Oval SMA Ltd |
| Capacity | 53,500 |
| Record attendance | 70,000 (Adele – 2017) |
| Field size | 167 m × 123 m (548 ft × 404 ft) |
| Surface | Grass |
| Opened | 1871 |
| Tenants | |
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Australia (1884–present) Adelaide (2014–present) Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs (2010–2011) Sydney Roosters (2017–2019) |
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| Ground information | |
| End names | |
| River End Cathedral End |
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| International information | |
| First Test | 12–16 December 1884: Australia v  England |
| Last Test | 6–8 December 2024: Australia v  India |
| First ODI | 20 December 1975: Australia v  West Indies |
| Last ODI | 8 November 2024: Australia v  Pakistan |
| First T20I | 12 January 2011: Australia v England |
| Last T20I | 11 February 2024: Australia v West Indies |
| First women's Test | 15–18 January 1949: Australia v England |
| Last women's Test | 18–20 February 2006: Australia v India |
| First WODI | 3 February 1996: Australia v  New Zealand |
| Last WODI | 3 February 2024: Australia v  South Africa |
| First WT20I | 12 January 2011: Australia v England |
| Last WT20I | 25 January 2025: Australia v England |
| As of 11 February 2024 Source: ESPN Cricinfo |
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The Adelaide Oval is a famous stadium in Adelaide, South Australia. It sits in the beautiful parklands. This amazing place is mostly used for cricket and Australian rules football. But it also hosts rugby league, rugby union, soccer, and tennis. Many big concerts happen here too.
The Oval started in 1871. It had a huge makeover between 2012 and 2014. Now it has three main stands: Riverbank, Eastern, and Western. A special old scoreboard stands next to a new digital one. Australia's first stadium hotel, the Oval Hotel, opened in 2020.
The South Australian Cricket Association has been based here since 1871. The SANFL joined in 2014. The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority manages the stadium.
Adelaide Oval has hosted the AFLW Grand Final three times since 2019. The biggest crowd for cricket was 55,317 for an Ashes Test in 2017. For Australian rules football, 62,543 people watched the 1965 SANFL Grand Final. In 2017, a concert by Adele brought in a record 70,000 fans.
Contents
- History of Adelaide Oval
- What Makes Adelaide Oval Special
- Cricket at Adelaide Oval
- Australian Rules Football at Adelaide Oval
- Soccer at Adelaide Oval
- Cycling at Adelaide Oval
- Rugby League at Adelaide Oval
- Rugby Union at Adelaide Oval
- Baseball at Adelaide Oval
- American Football at Adelaide Oval
- Tennis at Adelaide Oval
- Field Hockey at Adelaide Oval
- Other Fun Events
- Record Crowds
- Statues at Adelaide Oval
- Getting to Adelaide Oval
- See also
History of Adelaide Oval
Second: Adelaide Oval grandstands in 1889
Third: View of the Oval in 2006
Bottom: The Oval in 2016
How Adelaide Oval Started
The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) formed in 1871. They needed a central place for cricket. In 1872, they leased land in the Adelaide Park Lands. This land was between North Adelaide and the River Torrens.
In 1882, the first grandstand opened. It was later called the George Giffen Stand. The first Test match was played here in 1884. For this match, "The Hill" was built. Also, Moreton Bay fig trees were planted.
In 1885, a special event called the "Grand Corroboree" took place. About 100 Aboriginal men and women performed. Around 20,000 people watched this amazing show.
A rollercoaster was built next to the Oval in 1888. In 1889, the main grandstand got bigger. It added a dining room and ladies' rooms. A new stand was also built nearby.
Growing Through the Years
In 1900, the SACA made big changes for a cycling event. They built a cycling track around the oval. Thousands of loads of earth were used to create the track's slope.
The famous Adelaide Oval scoreboard started working in 1911. Architect F. Kenneth Milne designed it.
Between 1923 and 1929, more big changes happened. The John Creswell Stand was built in 1923. New entrance gates were added. The western stands were joined under one roof.
In 1990, the Sir Donald Bradman Stand opened. It replaced the John Creswell Stand.
In 1997, tall lights were put up. This allowed sports to be played at night.
Modern Makeover
In 2003, the Chappell Stands were finished. They were named after the famous cricketing brothers Ian Chappell, Greg Chappell, and Trevor Chappell.
Temporary stands were added for the 2006 Ashes Series. This helped fit more fans. In 2008, SACA planned to make the ground bigger. They wanted to fit 40,000 people. This would allow Australian Football League games and other sports.
New Western Stand in 2010
The old western stands were taken down in 2009. A new, single Western Stand was built. It was ready for the 2010–11 Ashes series.
This new stand had 14,000 seats. It offered better shade and facilities for SACA members.
Big Redevelopment from 2012 to 2014
In 2010, the government decided to fund a huge upgrade. They committed $535 million to rebuild the entire Adelaide Oval. This plan also included a new pedestrian bridge over the River Torrens. The bridge connects the Adelaide railway station to the Oval. It was finished in 2014.
In 2011, SACA members voted on the upgrade. Over 80% voted yes, so the project went ahead.
The upgrade started in April 2012. The Chappell Stands and Sir Donald Bradman Stand were demolished. The Riverbank Stand was ready for the Ashes test in late 2013. The new Eastern Stand was fully finished for the 2014 AFL season. It holds 19,000 people. The stadium's total seating capacity became 50,083.
The rebuilt Western Grandstand also got updates. The Northern Mound got more seating. The historic scoreboard and the old Moreton Bay fig trees stayed untouched. The central part of the Western stand was renamed the Sir Donald Bradman Pavilion.
Recent Upgrades
In November 2017, the lights under the grandstand roofs were changed to LEDs. The light towers were also replaced in December 2023. This cost $5 million.
The Oval Hotel, Australia's first stadium hotel, opened in September 2020. It has 138 rooms.
What Makes Adelaide Oval Special
Adelaide Oval is mainly used for cricket and Australian rules football. But it also hosts rugby league, rugby union, soccer, and tennis. Many concerts happen here too.
Experts have called Adelaide Oval one of the most beautiful cricket grounds. After its big makeover in 2014, it was described as a "perfect piece of modern architecture." It combines new features with its old charm.
You can take guided walking tours of the grounds. These tours are 90 minutes long and are great for visitors, including kids.
The Oval and Pitch
The oval is 190 meters long and 125 meters wide. This is quite long and narrow for a sports ground in Australia. The pitch runs north–south.
Historically, the pitch was great for batting. It didn't help bowlers much until the last day of a match. Since the 2013 redevelopment, a drop-in pitch has been used.
The Famous Scoreboard
The old scoreboard is a special part of the Oval. It was designed by architect F. Kenneth Milne and first used in 1911. It's located on "The Hill."
Today, it has a manual display next to a huge digital one. The manual scoreboard is the only one still used at major cricket venues in Australia and New Zealand. It was listed as a heritage site in 1986.
The Hill
"The Hill" is also known as the "Northern Mound." It's under the scoreboard and shaded by old Moreton Bay fig trees. It was created around 1900 using earth from the River Torrens. This spot was once known for its noisy and passionate fans.
Now, part of The Hill has seating. About 3,500 people can sit on the grass in front of the scoreboard. The Hill also has a hospitality area called the Northern Mound Terrace.
Bradshaw Bell
Since 2021, the Bradshaw Bell is rung at the start of each day of a Test match. It weighs 64 kilograms. The bell was named after former SACA CEO Keith Bradshaw.
Members' Stands
The members' stands were the first part of the 2014 redevelopment to be finished. They kept many parts of the original stands, like brick archways.
Adelaide Oval has three main grandstands: Riverbank Stand, Eastern Stand, and Western Stand.
The Riverbank Stand is the southern stand. It's named after the River Torrens behind it. It can hold 14,000 spectators.
The Eastern Stand holds 19,000 spectators. Its five sections are named after famous South Australian football players.
Victor Richardson Gates
The Victor Richardson Gates are at the south-eastern entrance. They were built in 1967 to honor cricketer and footballer Victor Richardson. The gates have bronze pictures made by sculptor John Dowie. These pictures show football players and cricketers.
The gates were moved a few times during the stadium's redevelopments. They were last repositioned in March 2014.
Other Features
There are also many statues at the Oval. Most of them honor famous sportspeople.
Cricket at Adelaide Oval
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Adelaide Oval hosts many important cricket events. This includes the annual Australia Day One Day International. Every four years, it hosts an Ashes Test match against England. These Tests are usually in early December.
Adelaide Oval hosted the first ever day/night Test match on November 27, 2015. Australia played New Zealand.
In 2011, the Oval held its first Twenty20 International match. Australia played England. The ground was also a venue for the 2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup. It hosted one of the semi-finals.
Local Cricket
Adelaide Oval is the home ground for South Australia's state cricket team, the West End Southern Redbacks. It's also home to the Twenty20 team, the Adelaide Strikers. The Strikers play in the Big Bash League. The Redbacks play in the Sheffield Shield and JLT One Day Cup.
Cricket Highlights
- 1873: The first cricket game was played.
- 1874: England played South Australia in the first international match.
- 1884: The first Test match was played. England beat Australia.
- 1931: Donald Bradman scored 299 not out, the highest Test score at the ground.
- 1932: The famous Bodyline series saw a record crowd of 50,962.
- 1949: The first women's Test match was held. Australia beat England.
- 1975: The first One-Day International match was played. Australia won.
- 1992: The West Indies beat Australia by just one run. This was the narrowest Test victory ever.
- 1997: The first night cricket match was played under lights.
- 2015: Adelaide Oval hosted the first day/night Test match.
- 2017: The first day/night Ashes Test had a record cricket crowd of 55,317.
- 2019: David Warner scored 335 not out, the most runs in a single Test innings at the Oval.
- 2020: India was all out for 36 runs, their lowest ever Test score.
Australian Rules Football at Adelaide Oval
From 1877 to 1973, Adelaide Oval was the main ground for South Australian National Football League (SANFL) matches. After a break, Australian rules football returned permanently in 2014.
The Oval hosted the 1889 SAFA Grand Final, the first grand final in any Australian rules football competition. The record crowd for an Australian rules football match was 62,543. This was for the 1965 SANFL Grand Final between Sturt and Port Adelaide.
Since 2014, all SANFL Finals Series matches, including the Grand Final, are played here. Regular Australian Football League (AFL) matches also started in 2014.
Australian Rules Football Highlights
- 1877: The first SANFL match was played.
- 1885: The first football game under electric lights happened at night.
- 1889: The first Grand Final in a major Australian rules competition was played.
- 1911: The Australian Football Council Carnival was held here for the first time.
- 1914: Port Adelaide won its fourth Championship of Australia title.
- 1929: A women's Australian rules football match drew 41,000 spectators.
- 1965: The 1965 SANFL Grand Final set a record attendance of 62,543.
- 1972: North Adelaide won the Championship of Australia.
- 2011: The first Australian Football League match was played. Port Adelaide won.
- 2014: The first Showdown between Port Adelaide and Adelaide was played.
- 2017: The largest crowd for an AFL match at the Oval was 53,817.
- 2019: The first AFLW Grand Final was held here.
- 2023: The first AFL Gather Round hosted six matches.
- 2025: A new AFL attendance record of 54,283 was set.
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Ken Farmer
(North Adelaide) Most goals (347) and equal most goals in a single match (15). -
Port Adelaide
Port Adelaide won 20 Grand Finals and four Championship of Australia titles at the Oval. -
South Adelaide
The SAFC used Adelaide Oval as its home ground for many years. -
Alfred Waldron
Captain of Norwood for the first Grand Final.
Soccer at Adelaide Oval
Association football, or soccer, has been played at the Oval since the early 1900s.
Adelaide United FC has played many A-League home games here. Adelaide Oval also hosted an international friendly match between the Socceroos and New Zealand in 2011. In 2014, Adelaide United played Spanish team Málaga CF in front of 23,254 fans.
Soccer Highlights
- 1904: The South Australian British Football Association won a match 9–0.
- 1920: A soccer match was played during a visit by the Prince of Wales.
- 1951: England beat Australia 13–1.
- 2007: Adelaide United played its first A-League match at the ground.
- 2011: Australia beat New Zealand 3–0.
- 2015: Premier League team Liverpool beat Adelaide United 2–0.
- 2016: The first A-League Grand Final at the ground saw Adelaide United win.
- 2024: Australia drew with China in front of 52,912 fans.
Cycling at Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval regularly hosted cycling races. These races attracted tens of thousands of spectators. The first race was in 1882. Cycling races stopped around 1911 after a fence was built.
Cycling Highlights
- 1882: The first bicycle race took place.
- 1885: The Intercolonial Bicycle Championship was held here.
- 1900: SACA made big changes to create a cycling track.
- 1903: American cyclist Major Taylor won the Walne Stakes. He won 11 out of 14 races.
Rugby League at Adelaide Oval
In 1991, the NSWRL came to Adelaide Oval. The St. George Dragons played the Balmain Tigers. This game set a rugby league record crowd of 28,884.
In 1997, Adelaide got its own team, the Adelaide Rams. Their first home game drew 27,435 fans. The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs played home games here in 2010 and 2011.
In 2017, the Sydney Roosters played the Melbourne Storm. The Roosters won in extra time in front of 21,492 fans.
Adelaide Oval hosted a State of Origin match in 2020. It also hosted the first game of the 2023 State of Origin series in May 2023.
Rugby League Highlights
- 1991: The St. George Dragons played the Balmain Tigers in front of 28,884 fans.
- 1997: The Adelaide Rams won their first home game.
- 2010: The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs played the Melbourne Storm.
- 2020: A NRL State of Origin match was held. Queensland won.
Rugby Union at Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval hosted two games of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. In 2003, Australia beat Namibia 142–0. The next day, Ireland beat Argentina 16–15.
In 2004, Australia hosted the Pacific Islanders. Australia won 29–14.
Adelaide Oval hosted another rugby union match in 2022. Australia defeated South Africa 25–17.
Rugby Sevens
From 2007 to 2010, Adelaide Oval hosted the Australia Sevens event. This was part of the IRB Sevens World Series.
Rugby Union Highlights
- 1888: England defeated South Australia.
- 2003: Australia played Namibia in the Rugby World Cup.
- 2022: Australia beat South Africa in a test match.
- 2025: The British & Irish Lions played an Invitational AU & NZ XV.
Baseball at Adelaide Oval
In 1888, American Baseball leader Albert Spalding brought two teams to Australia. They played three exhibition matches at Adelaide Oval. The Chicago team won two out of three games.
Baseball Highlights
- 1888: American baseball teams played exhibition matches.
- 1934: The final game of the first 1934 Claxton Shield series was played.
- 1947: Adelaide Oval was used for some matches of the 1947 Claxton Shield.
American Football at Adelaide Oval
During World War II, American soldiers played an American football match here. It was on Independence Day in 1942. About 25,000 people watched the game.
American Football Highlights
- 1938: A long-distance kicking contest used American footballs.
- 1942: An exhibition match was held by American soldiers.
Tennis at Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval has a long history of hosting tennis tournaments.
Tennis Highlights
- 1889: The first South Australian Tennis Championships were held.
- 1910: The Australasian Tennis Championships were held here for the first time.
- 1959: The Ampol world professional championship tournament was held.
Field Hockey at Adelaide Oval
Hockey was first played at Adelaide Oval in the early 1900s.
Field Hockey Highlights
- 1904: The premiers of the South Australian Hockey Association played a composite team.
- 1905: The first women's hockey match was held.
- 1926: The Indian army hockey team defeated South Australia 14–0.
Other Fun Events
Other Sports
Besides the main sports, other activities have taken place at the Oval. These include Highland games, lacrosse, quoits, and motorcycle racing.
Miscellaneous Events
The "Grand Corroboree" in 1885 was a huge event. About 20,000 people watched Aboriginal men and women perform. This was a big part of the Queen's Birthday celebrations.
In 1927, the Duke and Duchess of York had a motorcade through Adelaide Oval. Many people came to see them.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Adelaide Christmas Pageant was held at Adelaide Oval in 2020 and 2021. It had a limited audience. The 2022 pageant returned to the streets.
Concerts
Adelaide Oval often hosts big outdoor concerts. The first major international act was Fleetwood Mac in 1977. Many famous artists have performed here since then. These include David Bowie, Madonna, Michael Jackson, Paul McCartney and Wings, Elton John, AC/DC, and Adele.
Record Crowds
A concert by Adele in March 2017 had 70,000 people. This was the largest crowd ever for a concert in South Australia.
Other big record-setting events at Adelaide Oval include:
- The "Grand Corroboree" in 1885, with 20,000 spectators.
- The motorcade for the 1927 Royal Tour, with 60,000 to 70,000 spectators.
- An American football match in 1942, with 25,000 locals.
- The 1965 SANFL Grand Final, with 62,543 spectators.
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Aboriginal corroboree (1885)
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Motorcade, 1927 Royal Tour
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American football (1942)
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1965 SANFL Grand Final
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2017 Adele concert
Statues at Adelaide Oval
| Subject | Unveiling | Notability | Sculptor | Donator | Location |
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| Hercules | 1892 | Roman god | WA Horn | Pennington Gardens | |
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1892 | Aviator | Frederick Brook Hitch | Creswell Gardens | |
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2002 | Cricketer | Robert Hannaford | East Gate | |
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2010 | Cricketer | Ken Martin | Basil Sellers | SACA members reserve |
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2012 | Cricketer | Ken Martin | Basil Sellers | SACA members reserve |
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2014 | Australian rules footballer | Basil Sellers | South Gate | |
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2014 | Cricketer | Judith Rolevink | Basil Sellers | |
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2015 | Australian rules footballer | Basil Sellers | East Gate | |
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2016 | Australian rules footballer | Basil Sellers | South East concourse | |
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2017 | Australian rules footballer | Basil Sellers | North West gate | |
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2018 | Cricketer | Silvio Appunyi | Basil Sellers | South Gate |
Getting to Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Metro offers free 'Footy Express' services on AFL game days.
| Service | Station/stop | Line/route | Walking distance |
|---|---|---|---|
Adelaide Metro Buses  |
King William Rd Montefiore Rd North Terrace Victoria Dr |
Several routes | 300 m 400 m 650 m 400 m |
| Adelaide Metro Footy Express Buses |
King William Rd Sir Edwin Smith Ave Victoria Dr |
20 routes 6 routes 4 routes |
300 m 300 m 550 m |
Adelaide Metro Trains  |
Adelaide | 7 lines | 550 m |
Adelaide Metro Trams  |
Adelaide, North Terrace Festival Plaza, King William Rd |
Glenelg, Botanic Gardens Festival |
650 m |
See also
In Spanish: Adelaide Oval para niños
- List of Australian Football League grounds
- List of Test cricket grounds
- List of Australian rules football statues
