Hindmarsh Stadium
Encyclopedia
Hindmarsh Stadium is a rectangular stadium located in Adelaide
, South Australia
. It is the home of the Australian A-League
team, Adelaide United
.
The stadium now has a capacity of 17,000, of which 16,500 is seated. Home team, Adelaide United
regularly fill this capacity, and averaged crowds of over 12,000 to its matches during the 2006/2007 Season
and 2007/2008 Season
. United used the stadium for its home matches in the 2008 AFC Asian Champions League
and the 2010 AFC Asian Champions League
.
of the SANFL from 1905 until 1921.
The Soccer Association of South Australia
owned land on a former brick pit on Torrens Road
at Brompton
named Rowley Park which was located only 5km from the city
and the original plan was for the land to be the home of Soccer in SA. However, the Soccer Association had received press regarding it failure to grow grass on the site. Rowley Park also had a tendency to flood during winter as the bottom of "The Brick Pit" was below the level of the water table which made playing soccer virtually impossible. The land was eventually leased to a group of speedway
drivers and eventually became Rowley Park Speedway
.
When it became obvious to the Soccer Association that Rowley Park would be unsuitable as a soccer venue they obtained a lease on Hindmarsh Oval from the Hindmarsh Council. The old Hindmarsh Oval was developed over the years into a rectangular stadium capable of holding 15,000 with a grandstand built during the 1960's that held approximately 2,000 while lighting for night games was installed during the mid-1970's. Other than the grandstand, the ground was all terracing surrounding the playing surface. This changed in 1996 when seats were installed on the eastern side of the ground.
Along with the Olympic Sports Field
, Hindmarsh became one of two Adelaide venues in the then new but now-defunct National Soccer League
in 1977 and the home ground of the Adelaide City Zebras
and later the home ground for West Adelaide Hellas
. Hindmarsh would eventually became the sole Adelaide NSL venue during the 1980s.
In 1986 Hindmarsh stadium hosted the first leg of the NSL Grand Final between Adelaide City and Sydney Olympic. Unfortunately for Adelaide fans Olympic won 1-0. Adelaide would go on to win the 2nd leg in Sydney 3-1 and become NSL Champions. Hindmarsh again hosted the NSL Grand Final (this time a single game) in 1994-95 when Adelaide City faced the Mark Viduka
led Melbourne Knights. In front of a packed house of over 16,000 the Knights defeated the Zebras 2-0.
As football was generally played to smaller but passionate crowds during the 1970's and 80's, Hindmarsh became a regular host of the Socceroos in some of their international matches.
Hindmarsh Stadium not only hosted football matches but also hosted Rugby Union
and Rugby League
. In 1992 the New Zealand All Blacks played an exhibition game against a South Australian 'Select'
team which included former Wallabies Lock Peter FitzSimons
. The All Blacks, including goal kicking wizard Grant Fox
, ran out easy winners while FitzSimons was sent off after numerous infringements.
In 1998 the short lived National Rugby League
team the Adelaide Rams
used Hindmarsh for their last 4 home games of the 1998 NRL season. The Rams debut at the venue was a success when they thumped the Balmain Tigers
52-0 in front of 7,351 fans. The Rams would end up 2-2 at Hindmarsh after defeating the Auckland Warriors but losing to Manly and North Sydney
. The Rams games at Himdmarsh (all night games) were their last home games ever as the team was wound up by owners News Ltd
following the season.
, an event where it hosted several soccer
group games as well as a quarter final. During the games the stadium had temporary seating installed to bring the capacity of the stadium to roughly 20,000.
Other soccer played in the stadium in the past include several international matches, including most of the games played in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup
- an event where the Socceroos began their qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
. In 2007 the venue hosted the first two rounds of the Olyroos
campaign as they qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
.
On 15 April 2006 on a Saturday night the stadium hosted its first NRL match since 1998 when the Sydney based Penrith Panthers
played that years NRL Grand Finalist the Melbourne Storm
. With 7,017 fans in attendance the Storm ran out easy 40-18 winners with emerging rugby league superstar Greg Inglis
scoring 3 tries for Melbourne.
The Stadium's Record attendance is 17,000 at the 2008 AFC Champions League
Final Second leg between Adelaide United and Gamba Osaka
of Japan
. Adelaide lost 2-0, but still became runners up.
On 3 October 2008 it was announced by the SA Government Minister for Recreation and Sport Michael Wright
and Cronulla Sharks
coach Ricky Stuart
that the Sharks will play three NRL home games at Hindmarsh over 3 years starting from 2009. The first of those was against the North Queensland Cowboys
on 19 April 2009. On a sunny autumn day the Cowboys defeated the Sharks 34-10 in front of 8,547 fans, the record crowd for a rugby league match at Hindmarsh.
Unfortunately for NRL fans in Adelaide it was announced early in the 2010 season
that Cronulla had been allowed by the SA Government to pull out of their contract. Cronulla's official reasons were wanting to concentrate on their home fans by not taking home games away from Toyota Stadium. When the NRL returned to Adelaide in 2010
the Canterbury Bulldogs
played at the Adelaide Oval
instead of Hindmarsh against the Melbourne Storm. The Bulldogs have since made the Adelaide Oval their 'other' home, returning in 2011
, again against the Storm.
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
, South Australia
South Australia
South Australia is a state of Australia in the southern central part of the country. It covers some of the most arid parts of the continent; with a total land area of , it is the fourth largest of Australia's six states and two territories.South Australia shares borders with all of the mainland...
. It is the home of the Australian A-League
A-League
The A-League is the top Australasian professional football league. Run by Australian governing body Football Federation Australia , it was founded in 2004 following the folding of the National Soccer League and staged its inaugural season in 2005–06. It is sponsored by Hyundai Motor Company...
team, Adelaide United
Adelaide United FC
Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
.
The stadium now has a capacity of 17,000, of which 16,500 is seated. Home team, Adelaide United
Adelaide United FC
Adelaide United Football Club is a professional football club based in Adelaide, South Australia, Australia. It currently participates in the A-League as the sole team from the state of South Australia. Adelaide is one of the most successful clubs in the A-League. The club's home ground is...
regularly fill this capacity, and averaged crowds of over 12,000 to its matches during the 2006/2007 Season
A-League 2006-07
The 2006–07 A-League season was the second season of the Australian football competition, the A-League. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the first season and on the interest generated by the Socceroos competing in the 2006 FIFA World Cup...
and 2007/2008 Season
A-League 2007-08
The A-League 2007-08 season was the third season of the Australian A-League football competition, won by the Newcastle Jets. Football Federation Australia hoped to build on the success of the previous two seasons and on the interest generated by and playing in the 2007 AFC Champions League, and...
. United used the stadium for its home matches in the 2008 AFC Asian Champions League
AFC Champions League 2008
The 2008 AFC Champions League was the 27th AFC Champions League, the top-level Asian club football tournament, and the 6th under the current AFC Champions League title...
and the 2010 AFC Asian Champions League
AFC Champions League 2010
The 2010 AFC Champions League was the 29th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament organized by the Asian Football Confederation , and the 8th under the current AFC Champions League title. The Final was held at the Olympic Stadium, Tokyo on November 13, 2010...
.
History
Built in 1960, the stadium stands on the site that was once Hindmarsh Oval which housed the West Torrens Football ClubWest Torrens Football Club
West Torrens Football Club was an Australian rules football club that competed in the South Australian National Football League from 1897 to 1990...
of the SANFL from 1905 until 1921.
The Soccer Association of South Australia
Football Federation of South Australia
The Football Federation of South Australia is the governing body of association football in South Australia. The FFSA are affiliated to the Football Federation Australia...
owned land on a former brick pit on Torrens Road
Torrens Road, Adelaide
Torrens Road is an arterial road in the northwestern suburbs of Adelaide, Australia. The road travels in a southeast-northwest direction and is parallel with Port Road for most of its length. Major roads that intersect Torrens Road include South Road, Churchill Road and Regency Road...
at Brompton
Brompton, South Australia
Brompton is an inner northern suburb of Adelaide, South Australia. It is located in the City of Charles Sturt.-History:Brompton was established in June 1849 and quickly grew...
named Rowley Park which was located only 5km from the city
City of Adelaide
The City of Adelaide is a local government area in the metropolitan area of Adelaide, South Australia. It covers the original Adelaide city centre settlement, , North Adelaide, and the Adelaide Park Lands which surround North Adelaide and the city centre.Established in 1840, the organisation now...
and the original plan was for the land to be the home of Soccer in SA. However, the Soccer Association had received press regarding it failure to grow grass on the site. Rowley Park also had a tendency to flood during winter as the bottom of "The Brick Pit" was below the level of the water table which made playing soccer virtually impossible. The land was eventually leased to a group of speedway
Dirt track racing
Dirt track racing is a type of auto racing performed on oval tracks. It began in the United States before World War I and became widespread during the 1920s and 30s. Two different types of racecars predominated—open wheel racers in the Northeast and West and stock cars in the South...
drivers and eventually became Rowley Park Speedway
Rowley park speedway
Rowley Park Speedway is a former Dirt track racing venue that was located on Torrens Road in Brompton, South Australia, The speedway was named after Mr Enoch Procter Rowley, an English-born Dentist who moved to Adelaide from Kalgoorlie in 1908 where he had forged a reputation as being Western...
.
When it became obvious to the Soccer Association that Rowley Park would be unsuitable as a soccer venue they obtained a lease on Hindmarsh Oval from the Hindmarsh Council. The old Hindmarsh Oval was developed over the years into a rectangular stadium capable of holding 15,000 with a grandstand built during the 1960's that held approximately 2,000 while lighting for night games was installed during the mid-1970's. Other than the grandstand, the ground was all terracing surrounding the playing surface. This changed in 1996 when seats were installed on the eastern side of the ground.
Along with the Olympic Sports Field
Kensington Oval, Adelaide
The Kensington Oval is located on 344 The Parade, Kensington, South Australia. Now used primarily for cricket in South Australia, the venue was once Adelaide's premier athletics facility and known as Olympic Sports Field.-Early history:...
, Hindmarsh became one of two Adelaide venues in the then new but now-defunct National Soccer League
National Soccer League
The National Soccer League is the former national association football competition in Australasia, overseen by Soccer Australia and later the Australian Soccer Association. The NSL spanned 28 seasons from its inception in 1977, until its demise in 2004...
in 1977 and the home ground of the Adelaide City Zebras
Adelaide City
Adelaide City is a football club in Adelaide, South Australia. They are also known as The Zebras. They played in the National Soccer League for 27 Seasons but withdrew just prior to the 2003/2004 season. They now play in the South Australian Super League. City won the inaugural Super League...
and later the home ground for West Adelaide Hellas
West Adelaide SC
West Adelaide Soccer Club is an Australian football club from Adelaide, Australia. Currently it plays in the FFSA State League Competition. It participated in the National Soccer League from the 1977 season until the end of the 1998/99 season, except for the periods 1987-89 and 1990-91. It was...
. Hindmarsh would eventually became the sole Adelaide NSL venue during the 1980s.
In 1986 Hindmarsh stadium hosted the first leg of the NSL Grand Final between Adelaide City and Sydney Olympic. Unfortunately for Adelaide fans Olympic won 1-0. Adelaide would go on to win the 2nd leg in Sydney 3-1 and become NSL Champions. Hindmarsh again hosted the NSL Grand Final (this time a single game) in 1994-95 when Adelaide City faced the Mark Viduka
Mark Viduka
Mark Anthony Viduka is a former Australian soccer player who played as a centre forward. He captained the Australian national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany to the last 16.-Melbourne Croatia:...
led Melbourne Knights. In front of a packed house of over 16,000 the Knights defeated the Zebras 2-0.
As football was generally played to smaller but passionate crowds during the 1970's and 80's, Hindmarsh became a regular host of the Socceroos in some of their international matches.
Hindmarsh Stadium not only hosted football matches but also hosted Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
and Rugby League
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
. In 1992 the New Zealand All Blacks played an exhibition game against a South Australian 'Select'
South Australia Rugby Union
The South Australia Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in the State of South Australia, Australia. It is a member of the Australian Rugby Union. The SARU is a 11 team Rugby Union amateur league operating in Adelaide, South Australia.The premier grade is the largest...
team which included former Wallabies Lock Peter FitzSimons
Peter FitzSimons
Peter John FitzSimons AM is an Australian journalist and author, based in Sydney. He is a former radio presenter and national representative rugby union player.-Early life:...
. The All Blacks, including goal kicking wizard Grant Fox
Grant Fox
Grant James Fox is a former rugby union player from New Zealand. He was born in New Plymouth. He attended Auckland Grammar school....
, ran out easy winners while FitzSimons was sent off after numerous infringements.
In 1998 the short lived National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
team the Adelaide Rams
Adelaide Rams
The Adelaide Rams were an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Adelaide, South Australia. The team was formed in 1995 for the planned rebel Super League competition, which eventually ran parallel to the rival Australian Rugby League competition in 1997...
used Hindmarsh for their last 4 home games of the 1998 NRL season. The Rams debut at the venue was a success when they thumped the Balmain Tigers
Balmain Tigers
The Balmain Tigers are a rugby league football club based in the inner-western Sydney suburb of Balmain. They were a founding member of the New South Wales Rugby League and one of the most successful in the history of the premiership, with eleven titles...
52-0 in front of 7,351 fans. The Rams would end up 2-2 at Hindmarsh after defeating the Auckland Warriors but losing to Manly and North Sydney
North Sydney Bears
The North Sydney Bears are an Australian rugby league football club based in North Sydney, New South Wales. They currently compete in the New South Wales Cup, having exited the National Rugby League following the 1999 NRL season after 92 years of top-grade competition. The Bears are based on...
. The Rams games at Himdmarsh (all night games) were their last home games ever as the team was wound up by owners News Ltd
News Limited
News Limited is one of Australia's largest diversified media companies. The publicly listed company's interests span newspaper and magazine publishing, Internet, Pay TV, National Rugby League, market research, DVD and film distribution, and film and television production trading assets.News Limited...
following the season.
Redevelopment
The Stadium underwent a major upgrade in time for the 2000 Summer Olympics2000 Summer Olympics
The Sydney 2000 Summer Olympic Games or the Millennium Games/Games of the New Millennium, officially known as the Games of the XXVII Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event which was celebrated between 15 September and 1 October 2000 in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia...
, an event where it hosted several soccer
Football at the 2000 Summer Olympics
The football tournament at the 2000 Summer Olympics was the 20th official Olympic football tournament. A women's tournament was held for the second time.-Medal winners:-Venues:*Olympic Stadium, Sydney*Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney*Bruce Stadium, Canberra...
group games as well as a quarter final. During the games the stadium had temporary seating installed to bring the capacity of the stadium to roughly 20,000.
Other soccer played in the stadium in the past include several international matches, including most of the games played in the 2004 OFC Nations Cup
2004 OFC Nations Cup
The 2004 OFC Nations Cup doubled as the qualification tournament to the 2006 FIFA World Cup, except the two-legged final ....
- an event where the Socceroos began their qualifying campaign for the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
. In 2007 the venue hosted the first two rounds of the Olyroos
Australia national under-23 football team
The Australia Olympic football team, more commonly known as the Olyroos, is controlled by Football Federation Australia and represents Australia at association football in the Olympic Games...
campaign as they qualified for the 2008 Summer Olympics
2008 Summer Olympics
The 2008 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XXIX Olympiad, was a major international multi-sport event that took place in Beijing, China, from August 8 to August 24, 2008. A total of 11,028 athletes from 204 National Olympic Committees competed in 28 sports and 302 events...
.
On 15 April 2006 on a Saturday night the stadium hosted its first NRL match since 1998 when the Sydney based Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
played that years NRL Grand Finalist the Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
. With 7,017 fans in attendance the Storm ran out easy 40-18 winners with emerging rugby league superstar Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis
Greg Inglis is an Australian professional rugby league player for the South Sydney Rabbitohs. A Queensland State of Origin and Australian international representative outside back, Inglis joined the Rabbitohs in 2011 after much controversy.Inglis is a versatile back, having played in several...
scoring 3 tries for Melbourne.
The Stadium's Record attendance is 17,000 at the 2008 AFC Champions League
AFC Champions League 2008
The 2008 AFC Champions League was the 27th AFC Champions League, the top-level Asian club football tournament, and the 6th under the current AFC Champions League title...
Final Second leg between Adelaide United and Gamba Osaka
Gamba Osaka
is a Japanese professional association football club, currently playing in the J. League Division 1. The team's name comes from the Italian word "gamba" meaning "leg" and the Japanese , meaning "to do your best" or "to stand firm". Located in Suita, Osaka, the team's home stadium is Osaka Expo '70...
of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Adelaide lost 2-0, but still became runners up.
On 3 October 2008 it was announced by the SA Government Minister for Recreation and Sport Michael Wright
Michael Wright (Australian politician)
Michael John Wright is an Australian politician. He has been an Australian Labor Party member of the South Australian House of Assembly seat of Lee since 1997....
and Cronulla Sharks
Cronulla Sharks
The Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks are Australian professional Rugby league team based in Cronulla, in the Sutherland Shire, Southern Sydney, New South Wales...
coach Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
that the Sharks will play three NRL home games at Hindmarsh over 3 years starting from 2009. The first of those was against the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
on 19 April 2009. On a sunny autumn day the Cowboys defeated the Sharks 34-10 in front of 8,547 fans, the record crowd for a rugby league match at Hindmarsh.
Unfortunately for NRL fans in Adelaide it was announced early in the 2010 season
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
that Cronulla had been allowed by the SA Government to pull out of their contract. Cronulla's official reasons were wanting to concentrate on their home fans by not taking home games away from Toyota Stadium. When the NRL returned to Adelaide in 2010
2010 NRL season
The 2010 NRL season was the 103rd season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the thirteenth run by the National Rugby League. The season commenced on 12 March and ended with the Grand Final, played on 3 October at ANZ Stadium...
the Canterbury Bulldogs
Canterbury Bulldogs
The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Belmore, a suburb in the Canterbury-Bankstown region of Sydney. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, as well as New South Wales Rugby League junior competitions...
played at the Adelaide Oval
Adelaide Oval
The Adelaide Oval is a sports ground in Adelaide, South Australia, located in the parklands between the Central Business District and North Adelaide...
instead of Hindmarsh against the Melbourne Storm. The Bulldogs have since made the Adelaide Oval their 'other' home, returning in 2011
2011 NRL season
The 2011 NRL season was the 105th season of professional rugby league football club competition in Australia, and the fourteenth run by the National Rugby League. The NRL's main championship, called the 2011 Telstra Premiership due to sponsorship from Telstra, was contested by sixteen teams for the...
, again against the Storm.
External links
- Hindmarsh Stadium - Office for Recreation & Sport South Australia