Discovering Adelaide 3 - The Adelaide Oval

  

South Australia' sporting supporters  are  justifiably proud of our latest acquisition - the new Adelaide Oval, a world class sporting stadium. It has not been universally accepted as many people believe the money could have been spent elsewhere, but no one can deny that this facility is magnificent and the Adelaide Oval is acclaimed by all who go there to watch or participate in sport.

In 1871 the South Australian Cricket Association was granted a lease of 12 acres to build a sports ground "for cricketing purposes". In 1874 a cricket match was played between an All England X1 captained by W.G. Grace and a South Australian XX11.  Seems a little uneven to me!!

In 1877 the first intercolonial football game (that's Australian Rules Football) was played between Adelaide and St Kilda.

Now, after much negotiation between SACA and the AFL, the new Adelaide Oval is shared by cricket and football and is also host to other major sporting activites and events.

One of the many function rooms

The stands, gates, bars, function rooms are each named after famous South Australian sportsmen all of whom have played a vital role in the history of the oval, the most prestigious of them being commemorated in bronze statues around the grounds.

 Indoor and outdoor bars

The famous old cricket scoreboard has been retained, with a modern electronic one installed nearby. Guided tours of the facilities include a visit to see the interior working of this old building.

History has been preserved in the form of interactive displays, and exhibitions of memorabilia. If you are a visitor to Adelaide, then a trip to the Adelaide Oval is well worth considering.

Liz Needle  -  linking with "Our World Tuesday".