View source for Adelaide Oval

{{Short description|Stadium in Adelaide, South Australia}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2018}}
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2012}}
{{Infobox venue
| name = 
| image = [[File:Adelaide city centre view crop.jpg|300px]]
| caption = The renovated Adelaide Oval in 2015
| fullname = Adelaide Oval
| nickname = 
| location = War Memorial Drive<br />[[North Adelaide]], South Australia<br />Australia
| coordinates = {{Coord|34|54|56|S|138|35|46|E|display=it}}
| public_transit       = [[File:Adelaide train logo.svg|frameless|20px]] [[Adelaide railway station|Adelaide]] <br> [[File:Adelaide bus logo.svg|frameless|20px]][[File:Adelaide tram logo.svg|frameless|20px]] [[Tramways in Adelaide|Festival Plaza]]
| opened = 1871
| owner = [[South Australian Government]]
| operator = [[Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority|Adelaide Oval SMA Ltd]]
| capacity = 53,500<ref>{{cite web |title=Adelaide Oval |url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/adelaide-oval |website=Austadiums |access-date=6 June 2022 |archive-date=23 June 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220623091601/https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/adelaide-oval |url-status=live }}</ref>
| record_attendance = 62,543 [[1965 SANFL Grand Final]]
| dimensions = {{cvt|167 x 123|m}}<ref>{{cite news |last1=Atkinson |first1=Cody |last2=Lawson |first2=Sean |title=From the SCG to Kardinia Park — do ground sizes contribute to the end result in AFL games? |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-06-16/cody-and-sean-afl-analysis-how-much-do-ground-sizes-matter/101154950 |website=ABC News |date=15 June 2022 |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=19 February 2024}}</ref>
| surface = Grass<ref>[https://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/groundbreaking-moment-new-grass-laid-at-adelaide-oval/news-story/587cd09484e1d4b1b711d797cd7dbf48 Groundbreaking Moment New Grass Laid At Adelaide Oval] ''The Advertiser'' {{dead link|date=April 2023}}</ref>
| website = 
| tenants =; [[Cricket]]
[[Australia national cricket team|Australia]] (1884–present)<br />[[South Australian cricket team|South Australia]] (1874–present)<br />[[Adelaide Strikers]] (2011–present)
; [[Australian rules football]]
[[Adelaide Football Club|Adelaide]] (2014–present)<br />[[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] (1975–1976, 2011, 2014–present)<br />[[South Adelaide Football Club|South Adelaide]] (1882–1903, 1905–1994)
; [[Rugby league]]
[[Adelaide Rams]] (1997–1998)<br />[[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] (2010–2011)<br />[[Sydney Roosters]] (2017–2019)<br />[[St. George Dragons]] (1991-1992, 1994-1995)<br />[[Canberra Raiders]] (1993)
| embedded = {{Infobox cricket ground|embed=yes
|       ground_name = 
|          nickname = 
|             image = 
|           caption = 
|           country = Australia
|          location = 
|       coordinates = 
|     establishment = 
|  capacity = 
|             owner = 
|           curator = 
|           tenants = 
|              end1 = River End
|              end2 = Cathedral End
|     international = yes
|     firsttestdate = 12–16 December
|     firsttestyear = 1884
|     firsttesthome = Australia
|     firsttestaway = England
|      lasttestdate = 17–21 December
|      lasttestyear = 2025
|      lasttesthome = Australia
|      lasttestaway = England
|      firstodidate = 20 December
|      firstodiyear = 1975
|      firstodihome = Australia
|      firstodiaway = West Indies
|       lastodidate = 8 November
|       lastodiyear = 2024
|       lastodihome = Australia
|       lastodiaway = Pakistan
|     firstt20idate = 12 January
|     firstt20iyear = 2011
|     firstt20ihome = Australia
|     firstt20iaway = England
|      lastt20idate = 11 February 
|      lastt20iyear = 2024
|      lastt20ihome = Australia 
|      lastt20iaway = West Indies 
|    firstwtestdate = 15–18 January
|    firstwtestyear = 1949
|    firstwtesthome = Australia
|    firstwtestaway = England
|     lastwtestdate = 18–20 February
|     lastwtestyear = 2006
|     lastwtesthome = Australia
|     lastwtestaway = India
|     firstwodidate = 3 February
|     firstwodiyear = 1996
|     firstwodihome = Australia
|     firstwodiaway = New Zealand
|      lastwodidate = 3 February 
|      lastwodiyear = 2024
|      lastwodihome = Australia
|      lastwodiaway = South Africa 
|    firstwt20idate = 12 January
|    firstwt20iyear = 2011
|    firstwt20ihome = Australia
|    firstwt20iaway = England
|     lastwt20idate = 25 January 
|     lastwt20iyear = 2025
|     lastwt20ihome = Australia
|     lastwt20iaway = England
|             year1 = 
|             club1 = 
|             year2 = 
|             club2 = 
|              date = 11 February 2024
|            source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/ground/56293.html ESPN Cricinfo
}}
| logo_image = Adelaide Oval Logo.svg
}}

The '''Adelaide Oval''' is a stadium in [[Adelaide]] in the state of [[South Australia]]. It is located in the [[Adelaide Parklands|parklands]]. The venue is predominantly used for [[cricket]] and [[Australian rules football]], but has also played host to [[rugby league]], [[rugby union]], [[soccer]], and [[tennis]], as well as regularly being used to hold [[concert]]s.

Established in 1871, the structures and grounds underwent significant redevelopment between 2012 and 2014. It has three [[grandstand]]s: Riverbank Stand, Eastern Stand, and Western Stand, and is known for its heritage-listed [[scoreboard]], which stands alongside a new digital scoreboard. Australia's first stadium hotel, named the Oval Hotel, opened in 2024.

Adelaide Oval has been headquarters to the [[South Australian Cricket Association]] since 1871 and [[South Australian National Football League|South Australian National Football League (SANFL)]] since 2014, and is managed by the [[Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority]].

Adelaide Oval has hosted the [[AFL Women's Grand Final|AFLW Grand Final]] three times since 2019. Its record crowd for cricket is 56,298 for the Third [[The Ashes|Ashes]] Test on 17 December 2025 and its record crowd for an [[Australian rules football]] match is 62,543 at the [[1965 SANFL Grand Final]] between {{AFL PA}} and [[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]].<!---check if these records still hold, or remove from the lead---><br />
{{toc limit|3}}

== History ==
{{multiple image
| align = right
| direction = vertical
| width = 
| image1 = 1883,_The_Australasian_sketcher,_Adelaide_Oval,_11_April_1883.jpg
| width1 = 250
| alt1 = 
| caption1 = 
| image2 = Adelaide Oval 1889.jpg
| width2 = 250
| alt2 = 
| caption2 = 
| image3 = Adelaide Oval 2006.jpg
| width3 = 250
| alt3 = 
| caption3 = 
|image4 = Adelaide Oval - 31136544123.jpg
|width4 = 250
|alt4 = 
|caption4 = 
| footer = '''Top:''' First grandstand, built 1882, later renamed George Giffen Stand<br />'''Second:''' Adelaide Oval grandstands in 1889<br />'''Third:''' View of the Oval in 2006, prior to the 2012-2014 major redevelopment<br />'''Bottom:''' The Oval in 2016
}}

===19th century===
After the formation of the [[South Australian Cricket Association]] (SACA) on 31 May 1871, a later meeting recommended a central location for the cricket ground.<ref name=heritage1996/> After an [[act of parliament]] allowed a section of the [[Adelaide Park Lands]] between [[North Adelaide]] and the [[River Torrens]]<ref>''Adelaide Corporation Act'' (No 2 of 35 Vic, 1871)</ref> to be leased by the association, the present grounds were leased in 1872 to the first trustees, [[Justice Gwynne]], the [[Henry Ayers]], and [[Edwin Thomas Smith]].<ref name=heritage1996>{{cite web | title=The Adelaide Oval| series= Heritage of the City of Adelaide|author=[[City of Adelaide]] | url=https://d31atr86jnqrq2.cloudfront.net/heritage-places/heritage-place-information-sheet-adelaide-oval.pdf | access-date=3 August 2024| quote=The text in this Information Sheet was copied from the ''Heritage of the City of Adelaide: An Illustrated Guide'' (1996).|date= 1996}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article45699432|title=Out Among the People|date=16 January 1951|newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]]|access-date=13 June 2013|via=National Library of Australia|location=Adelaide|page=4|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014331/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/45699432|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>[http://www.austadiums.com/news/news.php?id=527 "The End of Football Park"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140330101914/http://www.austadiums.com/news/news.php?id=527 |date=30 March 2014}} Austadiums.com, 11 October 2013. Retrieved 19 May 2014</ref>

In 1882, a grandstand, possibly designed by [[Edmund Wright (architect)|Wright & Reed Architects]], and later renamed the George Giffen Stand, was opened to the public. In 1884, the first Test match was played at the grounds, for which [[#The Hill|the mound]] was built and [[Moreton Bay fig]] trees were planted.<ref name=heritage1996/>

In 1885, the "[[#Other uses|Grand Corroboree]]", a [[corroboree]] performed by around 100 [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] men and women from [[Point MacLeay mission]] and [[Yorke Peninsula]], was attended by around 20,000 spectators (around a sixth of Adelaide's population).<ref name=parsons1997/><ref name=casey2011/>

During 1888, a [[Switchback Railway|switchback rollercoaster]] was constructed and was adjacent to Adelaide Oval, where the present Riverbank Stand resides.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article199855336|title=A New Sensation.|date=2 January 1889|newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)|Evening Journal]]|access-date=5 February 2018|issue=5724|location=Adelaide|volume=XXI|page=3|edition=SECOND|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014331/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/199855336|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 1889 the original grandstand was expanded to include a dining saloon and "ladies retiring
rooms", and a new stand, designed by [[English and Soward]], was built adjacent to it.<ref name=heritage1996/>

===20th century===
Ahead of a cycling event held on 24 March 1900, SACA undertook some major renovation of the grounds in order to accommodate a [[cycling track]] around the oval. Thousands of loads of earth were carted from the Torrens to create the necessary slope to the track, and a [[picket fence]] was built around the Oval's playing surface. A newspaper commenter wrote at the time: "The removal of the soil and the sloping of the banks of the lake [the Torrens] have greatly improved both its width and its appearance, while the banking up of the oval has rendered it impossible for anyone to see in from outside, for the mound is continued beyond the inner fence so as to form a natural grandstand for the spectators".<ref name=cycle1900>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article148078205 |title=Metropolitan memoranda. |newspaper=[[The Mount Barker Courier and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser]] |volume=20 |issue=1017 |location=South Australia |date=30 March 1900 |access-date=3 August 2024 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1911 the Adelaide Oval scoreboard, designed by architect [[F. Kenneth Milne]], began service.<ref name=milne>{{cite book|chapter-url=https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/milne-frank-kenneth-11133|chapter=Frank Kenneth Milne (1885–1980)|title=[[Australian Dictionary of Biography]]|publisher=National Centre of Biography, Australian National University |access-date=20 January 2024}}</ref>

Between 1923 and 1929 substantial modifications and additions were built at the grounds, to designs by SACA architect Charles Walter Rutt.<ref name=heritage1996/> These included the John Creswell Stand (built 1923) and the entrance gates, and the western stands were integrated under one roof.<ref>{{cite web | website=Architects of South Australia | title=Architect Details: Charles Walter Rutt| publisher=[[University of South Australia]] | url=https://architectsdatabase.unisa.edu.au/arch_full.asp?Arch_ID=50 |first= Julie|last=Collins|date=2008| access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> At this time, the other stands were named Sir Edwin Smith Stand (built 1889), George Giffen Stand (built 1882) and Mostyn Evan Stand (built 1919-26).<ref name=heritage1996/>

On 25 August 1973, during an SANFL game between [[Norwood Football Club|Norwood]] and [[North Adelaide Football Club|North Adelaide]], two young children, Joanne Ratcliffe (born 1962)<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.missingpersons.gov.au/who-missing/sa/ratcliffe-joanne|title=RATCLIFFE Joanne|date=16 May 2016|work=National Missing Persons Coordination Centre|access-date=21 March 2017|language=en|archive-date=30 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430220553/https://www.missingpersons.gov.au/who-missing/sa/ratcliffe-joanne|url-status=dead}}</ref> and Kirste Gordon (born 1968), went missing, presumably abducted,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.missingpersons.gov.au/who-missing/sa/gordon-kirste|title=GORDON Kirste|date=16 May 2016|work=National Missing Persons Coordination Centre|access-date=2017-03-21|language=en|archive-date=21 March 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170321152852/https://www.missingpersons.gov.au/who-missing/sa/gordon-kirste|url-status=dead}}</ref> in a crime sometimes referred to as the [[Adelaide Oval abductions]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OdsQAAAAIBAJ&sjid=jZIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6218%2C3543190|title=Inquest on Adelaide Oval girls|date=10 July 1979|newspaper=[[The Age]]|accessdate=12 August 2009|pages=6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/on-the-40th-anniversary-of-the-disappearance-of-joanne-ratcliffe-and-kirste-gordon-family-reveal-new-connections-to-murderer-bevan-spencer-von-einem/news-story/c5449152bfe324dd65b4bead5fcc7fc1 |title=On the 40th anniversary of the disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon, family reveal new connections to murderer Bevan Spencer von Einem |first=Bryan |last=Littleley |newspaper=Sunday Mail (SA) |date=24 August 2013 |accessdate=24 January 2018}}</ref>

On 20 January 1990 the [[Donald Bradman|Sir Donald Bradman]] Stand was opened,<ref name=heritage1996/> after being built to replace the John Creswell stand.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article120873799 |title=Sir Don makes one more grand stand |newspaper=[[The Canberra Times]] |volume=64 |issue=20,007 |location=Australian Capital Territory, Australia |date=21 January 1990 |accessdate=20 January 2024 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1997 lights were constructed at the ground allowing sport to be held at night. This was the subject of a lengthy dispute with the [[Adelaide City Council]] relating to the parklands area. The first towers erected were designed to retract into the ground; however one collapsed and they were replaced with permanent towers.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Barmy Army born on the hill at Adelaide Oval in 1994; the Oval's retractable lights bid dims into 1990s farce |url=https://adelaideaz.com/articles/barmy-army-born-at-adelaide-oval-and-retractable-lights-bid-dims-into-1990s-farce |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Adelaide AZ |language=English}}</ref>

===21st century===
In 2003 two grandstands, named the Chappell Stands, after the South Australian cricketing brothers [[Ian Chappell]], [[Greg Chappell]], and [[Trevor Chappell]], were completed.<ref name=sah/>

Temporary stands were constructed for the [[2006 Ashes|2006 Ashes Series]] to cope with demand. In August 2008 SACA announced that it had approved plans to redevelop the ground, involving expanding its capacity to 40,000. Development plans showed a reconfiguration of the playing surface and a remodelled Western stand. The redevelopment would make the ground a viable option for hosting [[Australian Football League]] games as well as international soccer and rugby. The state and federal Governments each pledged $25m to the project, leaving the SACA to raise at least $45m. The SACA planned for the new stand to be ready in time for the 2010–11 Ashes series.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24114103-2722,00.html New-look Adelaide Oval to chase AFL] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080928063514/http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,24114103-2722,00.html |date=28 September 2008}}, ''The Australian'', 2 August 2008</ref> The South Australian government announced it would commit funding to redevelop Adelaide Oval into a multi-purpose sports facility that would bring AFL football to central Adelaide.<ref>The Australian, 3 December 2009</ref> Announcing an agreement negotiated with SACA, SANFL and the AFL, the [[Rann government|Rann Labor government]] committed $450&nbsp;million to the project.<ref name="ReferenceA">Michael Owen, ''The Australian'', 3 December 2009</ref>

====2010: new Western Stand====
[[File:Adelaide_Oval_Western_Grandstand,_2019.jpg|thumb|250px|Adelaide Oval's Western Stand was redeveloped in 2010, retaining significant portions of the [[George Giffen|George Giffen stand (1882)]], [[Edwin Thomas Smith|Sir Edwin Smith stand (1922)]] and Mostyn Evan stand (1920s) structural facades.]]
The three original western stands were demolished ([[George Giffen]] stand (1882), [[Edwin Thomas Smith|Sir Edwin Smith]] stand (1922), Mostyn Evan stand (1920s)) were torn down in June 2009<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-oval-history-lies-in-ruins/story-e6frea83-1225734480017 |title=Adelaide Oval history lies in ruins (Sunday Mail) |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-date=21 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120321222739/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/adelaide-oval-history-lies-in-ruins/story-e6frea83-1225734480017 |url-status=live}}</ref> and a single Western Stand was developed in its place ahead of the [[2010–11 Ashes series]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/12/06/3085412.htm |title=New Western stand mostly grand |website=[[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]] |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-date=6 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306131837/http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2010/12/06/3085412.htm |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority (AOSMA), a joint venture of SACA and the [[South Australian National Football League]] (SANFL), was registered as a company on 23 December 2009 following the re-announcement of the plan.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3335#p77481|title=Re: Adelaide Oval Redevelopment inc. $450 million 'extension|work=Sensational Adelaide|access-date=27 May 2011|quote=The "Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority" was registered as a company on 23 Dec 2009 following the re-announcement of the plan (now $450&nbsp;million) by Mike Rann, in time for the March 2010 election.|archive-date=22 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722001400/http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3335#p77481|url-status=live}}</ref>  In 2010 AOSMA had eight directors, four associated with SACA ([[Ian McLachlan]], chair; John Harnden; Creagh O'Connor; and [[John Bannon]]), and four with SANFL (Leigh Whicker-CEO, Rod Payze, Philip Gallagher & Jamie Coppins).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sanfl.com.au/sma/org%20chart2010-06-17%20-%20revision%20A.pdf|title=Adelaide Oval Stadium Management Authority Organisation Chart|author=Adelaide Oval |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110302112129/http://sanfl.com.au/sma/org%20chart2010-06-17%20-%20revision%20A.pdf|archive-date=2 March 2011|url-status=dead|access-date=27 May 2011|df=dmy}}</ref>

In 2010 the new Western Stand was completed, incorporating 14,000 individual seats and featuring improved shading conditions and amenities for SACA members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.saca.com.au/content.aspx?p=901|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140309132839/http://www.saca.com.au/content.aspx?p=901|url-status=dead|title=Western grandstand (SACA.com.au)|archivedate=9 March 2014|accessdate=5 April 2023}}</ref>

====2012–2014 redevelopment====
In the lead-up to the [[2010 South Australian state election|2010 state election]], the opposition [[Liberal Party of Australia (South Australian Division)|SA Liberals]] announced that, if elected, it would build a new stadium with a roof, located at Riverside West at the site of the state government's new hospital location.<ref>[http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/politics/mike-rann-rejected-sanfls-liberal-stadium-proposal/story-e6frgczf-1225822284017 Mike Rann rejected SANFL's 'Liberal' stadium proposal] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326144926/http://www.theaustralian.com.au/archive/politics/mike-rann-rejected-sanfls-liberal-stadium-proposal/story-e6frgczf-1225822284017 |date=26 March 2015}} ''The Australian'' – January 2010</ref><ref>[http://www.martinhamilton-smith.com.au/portals/0/docs/Stadium-Policy-(final).pdf The SA Liberals' Plan for a New Stadium at Riverside West] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140315181945/http://martinhamilton-smith.com.au/portals/0/docs/Stadium-Policy-(final).pdf |date=15 March 2014}} (Official Party Policy Document: PDF – April 2009)</ref> The incumbent [[Australian Labor Party (South Australian Branch)|SA Labor]] government subsequently announced it would fund a $450&nbsp;million upgrade and redevelopment of the whole of Adelaide Oval, rather than just the Western Grand Stand.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.glamadelaide.com.au/main/labor-proposes-450-million-oval-upgrade/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228123539/http://www.glamadelaide.com.au/main/labor-proposes-450-million-oval-upgrade/|url-status=dead|title=Labor proposes $450 million Oval upgrade (December 2009)|archivedate=28 February 2014|accessdate=5 April 2023}}</ref>

However, in early-mid-2010, prior to the election, it became clear that $450m would be inadequate. Following the election, won by Labor, the [[Rann government]] capped the State Government's commitment at $450 million, and set a deadline for the parties to agree.<ref>[http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3046 Rann caps State Government's commitment] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101201040353/http://www.sensational-adelaide.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=3046|date=1 December 2010}}, Advertiser, 7 April 2010: SA Premier Mike Rann has capped the State Government's commitment to any redevelopment of Adelaide Oval for AFL football at $450&nbsp;million. "It's $450&nbsp;million – and not a penny more", said Mr Rann today ruling out the government underwriting any cost over-runs at Adelaide Oval.</ref>  In May, treasurer [[Kevin Foley (South Australian politician)|Kevin Foley]] announced that "the government's final offer to the SANFL and SACA for the redevelopment" was $535&nbsp;million, and the deadline was extended to August 2010.<ref>[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/now-its-535m-oval-upgrade/story-e6frea6u-1225871073484 Adelaide Oval plan still short by $50m] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100528114927/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/now-its-535m-oval-upgrade/story-e6frea6u-1225871073484 |date=28 May 2010}}, 27 May 2010, Adelaidenow.com.au</ref> Simultaneously, SACA and the [[SANFL]] were in the process of negotiating an agreement that would enable [[Australian rules football]] to use Adelaide Oval during the [[Australian Football League|AFL]] season as their home ground.<ref>[https://archive.today/20100909052540/http://www.cricketsa.com.au/content.aspx?p=457 AFL at Adelaide Oval], SACA website</ref><ref>[http://helium.saca.com.au/helium/AssetManager/library/100813_SMA_gatefold_v6_A4version.pdf Stadium Management Authority promotional brochure] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706111948/http://helium.saca.com.au/helium/AssetManager/library/100813_SMA_gatefold_v6_A4version.pdf|date=6 July 2011}}, 13 August 2010, SACA website</ref><ref>[http://www.adelaideovalredevelopment.com.au/ Stadium Management Authority official website] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101015212424/http://www.adelaideovalredevelopment.com.au/|date=15 October 2010}}, www.adelaideovalredevelopment.com.au</ref><ref>[http://www.sanfl.com.au/sma/SMA%20Design%20Briefing%20June10%20FACT%20SHEET%20FINAL.pdf SMA Design Briefing] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101129074219/http://www.sanfl.com.au/sma/SMA%20Design%20Briefing%20June10%20FACT%20SHEET%20FINAL.pdf|date=29 November 2010}}, 18 June 2010, SANFL website</ref> In August 2010, SANFL and SACA representatives signed letters of intent committing to the project, including the capped $535&nbsp;million offer from the state government.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2010/09/17/new-adelaide-oval-plans-revealed/|title=New Adelaide Oval plans revealed|date=17 September 2010|access-date=25 February 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305054713/http://www.sportsnewsfirst.com.au/articles/2010/09/17/new-adelaide-oval-plans-revealed/|archive-date=5 March 2014|url-status=dead|publisher=sportsnewsfirst.com.au|df=dmy}}</ref>

The redevelopment included a $40&nbsp;million [[pedestrian bridge]] across the [[River Torrens]] to link the [[Adelaide railway station]] precinct with the Adelaide Oval precinct, which was partially completed for the [[2013-14 Ashes series|Ashes cricket series]] in December 2013 and fully completed ahead of the [[2014 AFL season]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-05/ashes-fans-to-test-new-footbridge/5135908|title=Ashes fans Test new footbridge over River Torrens in Adelaide|date=5 December 2013|work=ABC News Australia|access-date=25 February 2014|archive-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306123056/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-12-05/ashes-fans-to-test-new-footbridge/5135908|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/16966459/construction-begins-on-torrens-footbridge/|title=Construction begins on Torrens footbridge|date=1 May 2013|access-date=25 February 2014|publisher=7 News (Yahoo7)|archive-date=6 March 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306160653/http://au.news.yahoo.com/nsw/a/16966459/construction-begins-on-torrens-footbridge/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In early 2011, the AFL, SANFL, SACA, the SA Government and the [[Australian Government]] reached an agreement to upgrade Adelaide Oval. The SACA and the SANFL proposed, if SACA members vote yes on the upgrade in early May, that the whole Stadium would undergo redevelopment, except for the Northern Mound, the [[Moreton Bay fig]] trees and the [[heritage-listed]] scoreboard. A three-quarters majority of SACA members were required to vote in favour of the proposed upgrade for it to ahead, with a successful vote resulting in the SANFL and AFL having control over the stadium for 7 months of the year and SACA having control for 5 months of the year. SACA members had the choice of voting online on 28 April 2011 or attending in person an Extraordinary Meeting at the [[Adelaide Showground]] on 2 May 2011. At 6&nbsp;pm, 28 April 2011, It was announced that 60% of SACA members that voted online voted yes, 15% short of the majority vote needed for the upgrade to go ahead. At 10.15&nbsp;pm, on 2 May 2011, the final result was announced: 80.37% of total votes cast were in favour of Adelaide Oval being redeveloped (10,078 members voted yes and 2,461 voted no), meaning that the 75% threshold had been reached and the upgrade and stadium reconfiguration was approved.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.novafm.com.au/article/saca-votes-yes-adelaide-oval-redevelopment|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301155401/http://www.novafm.com.au/article/saca-votes-yes-adelaide-oval-redevelopment|url-status=dead|title=SACA votes yes for Adelaide Oval redevelopment (NovaFM)|archivedate=1 March 2014|accessdate=5 April 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://ausleisure.com.au/default.asp?PageID=2&ReleaseID=3885&Display=True |title=SACA Members Vote Results |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140228210257/http://ausleisure.com.au/default.asp?PageID=2&ReleaseID=3885&Display=True |archive-date=28 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Following the vote, the South Australian Government increased its funding commitment to $535&nbsp;million.<ref>AAP, ''Sydney Morning Herald'', 2 May 2011</ref>
[[File:Adelaide Oval demolition in 2012.jpg|thumb|Demolition (April 2012)]]
The upgrade commenced in April 2012. The Chappell Stands and Sir Donald Bradman Stand were demolished.<ref name=sah/> The Riverbank Stand was complete in late 2013 in time for the Ashes test as well as parts of level one of the Eastern Stand. The new Eastern Stand was fully completed with a total capacity of 19,000, bringing the overall seating capacity of the stadium to 50,083 in time for the 2014 AFL season.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/137/fast-facts.aspx |title=Adelaide Oval: Fast Facts |access-date=10 June 2014 |archive-date=19 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140319081438/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/137/fast-facts.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="2014reopening">{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/542/adelaide-oval-ready-for-showdown|title=Adelaide Oval ready for showdown|last=Voss|first=Cameron|date=29 March 2014| website=Austadiums.com|access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref>

As part of the 2012-14 redevelopment, the already rebuilt Western Grandstand (SACA and SANFL members-only stand) had modifications to improve sightlines for some seats, the addition of a new media centre for AFL, Rugby League, Rugby Union and Soccer matches and AFL standard interchange benches. The Northern Mound had its seating capacity increased, and the historic scoreboard and the Moreton Bay fig trees, planted in the 1890s, remained untouched.<ref name=redevover>{{cite web |url=http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=2 |title=Adelaide Oval Redevelopment Overview (Austadiums) |access-date=25 February 2014 |archive-date=4 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120204073327/http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=2 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2014 development included renaming the central part of the Western stand the Sir Donald Bradman Pavilion.<ref name=oval>{{cite web | title=Sir Donald Bradman: Learning Activities Primary & Middle Years | url=https://www.adelaideoval.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/BradmanLearningActivities_Book.pdf|publisher=Adelaide Oval | access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>

====Recent upgrades====
The lights under the roof of the grandstands were replaced with [[Light-emitting diode|LED]]s in November 2017, followed by the light towers in December 2023 with the latter costing $5 million.<ref>{{cite web|title=Adelaide Oval unveils multi-million-dollar LED tower lighting upgrade|url=https://www.austadiums.com/news/1330/adelaide-oval-unveils-multi-million-dollar-led-tower-lighting-upgrade|website=Austadiums|access-date=18 May 2024}}</ref>

Australia's first stadium-hotel, the Oval Hotel, was announced in December 2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=Adelaide Oval to build Australia's first stadium hotel |url=https://sanfl.com.au/league/news/adelaide-oval-to-build-australias-first-stadium-hotel/ |date=4 December 2018 |access-date=2024-02-20 |website=SANFL}}</ref> and opened in September 2020.<ref>{{cite web | title=Oval Hotel opens its doors | website=Adelaide Oval | date=25 September 2020 | url=https://www.adelaideoval.com.au/news/oval-hotel-opens-its-doors/ | access-date=1 August 2024}}</ref> It has 138 guest rooms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Oval Hotel |url=https://www.ovalhotel.com.au |access-date=5 April 2024}}</ref>

==Description and features==
[[File:Completed Adelaide Oval 2014 - cropped and rotated.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Adelaide Oval in 2014]]
The venue is predominantly used for [[cricket]] and [[Australian rules football]], but has also played host to [[rugby league]], [[rugby union]], [[soccer]], and [[tennis]], as well as regularly being used to hold [[concert]]s.<ref>{{cite web|title=Adelaide Oval time line|url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf|website=adelaideoval.com.au|publisher=Adelaide Oval|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150942/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>

In 2012 Austadiums.com described Adelaide Oval as being "one of the most picturesque [[Test cricket]] grounds in Australia, if not the world."<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20120204073327/http://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums.php?id=2 "Adelaide Oval" (Updated 10/11/2010)] Austadiums.com, 10 November 2010. Retrieved 19 May 2014</ref> After the completion of the ground's redevelopment in 2014, sports journalist [[Gerard Whateley]] described the venue as being "the most perfect piece of modern architecture because it's a thoroughly contemporary stadium with all the character that it's had in the past".<ref>[http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/gerard-whateleys-monologue-transcript.1061140/ "Gerard Whateley's Monologue Transcript"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140519150039/http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/threads/gerard-whateleys-monologue-transcript.1061140/ |date=19 May 2014}} Bigfooty.com, 29 April 2014. Retrieved 19 May 2014</ref>

Volunteers lead 90-minute guided walking tours of the grounds for interested visitors, including children.<ref name=tours/>

[[File:Adelaide Oval Exterior April 2024.jpg|thumb|Night time view of the Adelaide Oval from the Riverbank Pedestrian Bridge, April 2024]]

=== Oval and pitch===
The oval is {{cvt|190|m}} by {{cvt|125|m}}.<ref>{{cite web | title=Adelaide Oval | website=afl.com.au | date=13 November 2019 | url=https://www.afl.com.au/venues/31 | access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref> This is both unusually long and narrow for an Australian cricket or football ground. The arrangement was highly favourable for batsmen who played [[Glossary of cricket terms#square|square]] of the wicket, and heavily penalised bowlers who delivered the ball [[Short of a length|short]] or wide so that the batsman could play [[Cut (cricket)|cut]], [[Glossary of cricket terms#hook|hook]] or [[Pull shot|pull]] shots. Before the far ends in front of and behind the wicket were roped off, making the playing area shorter, it was not uncommon for batsmen to hit an all-run [[Boundary (cricket)#Scoring runs|four]] or even occasionally a five.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/698717.html|title=A cricket ground's song|last=Ryan|first=Christian|date=9 December 2013|access-date=29 December 2013|archive-date=3 January 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140103130406/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/698717.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Adelaide Oval pitch runs north–south. Historically, Adelaide Oval's integral pitch was generally very good for batting, and offering little assistance to bowlers until the last day of a match. Since the redevelopment in 2013, a [[drop-in pitch]] has been used at the venue.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/beginning-of-changes-to-adelaide-ovals-surface-begin/story-e6frea83-1226594957251|title=Beginning of changes to Adelaide Oval's surface|author=Valentina Changarathil|date=11 March 2013|newspaper=The Advertiser|access-date=5 December 2013|publication-place=Adelaide|archive-date=17 March 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130317073708/http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/news/south-australia/beginning-of-changes-to-adelaide-ovals-surface-begin/story-e6frea83-1226594957251|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Scoreboard ===
[[File:Adelaide Scoreboard1206.jpg|thumb|250x250px|The Adelaide Oval scoreboard during an Ashes Test]]
The [[heritage-listed]] scoreboard, designed by architect [[F. Kenneth Milne]]<ref name=milne/> and located on "The Hill", was first used in 1911, and has been retained. Today there is a manually operated display adjacent to a huge digital one, around four storeys high.<ref name=tours/> The scoreboard, which was first heritage-listed by the [[National Trust of Australia|National Trust]] in 1984, was listed on the [[South Australian Heritage Register]] in 1986.<ref name=byrne2014>{{cite web | last=Byrne | first=Bob | title=The history of Adelaide Oval | website= [[The Daily Telegraph (Sydney)|Daily Telegraph]] | date=27 March 2014 | url=https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/national/south-australia/adelaide-do-you-remember-adelaide-oval-the-way-it-used-to-be/news-story/13243e6c323c2286e2a165ccbd91b8f2?nk=fa0bb2ae71718094d1a9ed4f66a16ea9-1722581134 | access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref> This is the only manual scoreboard still operating in major Australasian cricket venues. Due to the 10-letter limit, some names have to be truncated, or be replaced by nicknames.<ref>{{citation|last=BT Sport|title=Behind the scenes from the second 2017/18 Ashes Test {{!}} No Filter Ashes|date=7 December 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GQUkku-_Pk|access-date=2017-12-08|archive-date=30 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330155041/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8GQUkku-_Pk|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | title=Did you know the #AdelaideOval Scoreboard has been in use since 1911 and is the only manual scoreboard still operating in major Australasian cricket venues? |author=Adelaide Oval| via=Facebook | url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=5513550575361458&id=435077929875440&set=a.583804965002735 | access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref>

=== The Hill ===
'"The Hill" (or "Northern Mound"), located under the scoreboard and shaded by the Moreton Bay fig trees,<ref name=hill/> was created in 1898<ref name=tours/> or 1900,<ref name=cycle1900/> with earth from the banks of the [[River Torrens]].<ref name=tours>{{cite web | title=Review: Adelaide Oval Stadium Tour | website=KIDDO Mag | date=6 April 2021 | url=https://kiddomag.com.au/do/review-adelaide-oval-stadium-tour/ | access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref><ref name=redevover/> It became a favoured spot for some of the most vocal supporters in the crowd, and was known for being very noisy before the 2014 redevelopment.<ref name=byrne2014/>

Since then, seating has been installed on part of the hill, and only around 3,500 spectators can be accommodated on the strip of grass in front of the scoreboard, a fraction of the crowd that used to gather there.<ref>{{cite web | last=Smale | first=Simon | title=Cricket Australia trying to strike the balance of stadiums vs cricket ground with West Test Hill | website=ABC News | date=6 November 2023 | url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-06/west-test-hill-strikes-balance-of-stadiums-vs-cricket-ground/103068338 | access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref> {{as of|2024}} The Hill includes the  Northern Mound Terrace, a hospitality venue set on large [[timber decking]].<ref name=hill>{{cite web | title=The Hill | website=Adelaide Oval | date=13 September 2018 | url=https://www.adelaideoval.com.au/venues/the-hill/ | access-date=2 August 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240802063825/https://www.adelaideoval.com.au/venues/the-hill/| archive-date= 2 August 2024| url-status=live}}</ref>

===Bradshaw Bell===
[[File:Bradshaw Bell.png|thumb|The Bradshaw Bell]]
Since 2021 Bradshaw Bell, named after former SACA CEO [[Keith Bradshaw (cricketer)|Keith Bradshaw]] after his death,  is rung at the start of each day's play in a [[Test match (cricket)|Test match]]. Weighing {{cvt|64|kg}}, the bell was designed by Australian Bell and local digital engineering company Applidyne, and forged at Billmans Foundry in [[Castlemaine, Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web | title=Bell to signal start of Test cricket matches at Adelaide Oval honours trail-blazing CEO of SACA Keith Bradshaw | website=Adelaide AZ | url=https://adelaideaz.com/articles/bell-to-signal-start-of-test-cricket-matches-at-adelaide-oval-honours-memory-of-trail-blazing-saca-ceo-keith-bradshaw | access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref>

=== Members' stands ===
The members' stands were the first section of the ground completed in the 2014 redevelopment of Adelaide Oval. They retain significant portions of the original members' stands, including the brick archways and long room.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

{{as of|2024}} Adelaide Oval has three [[grandstand]]s: Riverbank Stand, Eastern Stand, and Western Stand.<ref name=stands>{{cite web | title=Adelaide Oval Seating Map | website=Austadiums | url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/adelaide-oval/seating-map | access-date=2 August 2024| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240312032136/https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/adelaide-oval/seating-map| archive-date= 12 March 2024| url-status=live}}</ref>

The Riverbank Stand is the southern stand of Adelaide Oval, gaining its name from the River Torrens which is behind it. It has a capacity of 14,000 spectators.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The Eastern Stand holds 19,000 spectators. The five segments are named after South Australian Australian rules football identities: from north to south named [[Gavin Wanganeen]] Stand, [[Jack Oatey]] Stand, [[Max Basheer]] Stand, [[Fos Williams]] Stand, and [[Mark Ricciuto]] Stand.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-09-23 |title=SA Greats Honoured |url=https://www.adelaideoval.com.au/news/sa-greats-honoured/ |access-date=2024-05-05 |website=Adelaide Oval |language=en-AU}}</ref>

===Victor Richardson Gates===
The Victor Richardson Gates, at the south-eastern entrance of the oval<ref name=sah>{{cite web | title=Victor Richardson Gates | website=SA History Hub | date=1 September 2014|first1= Jude |last1=Elton |first2= Bernard| last2= O'Neil| publisher= [[History Trust of South Australia]] | url=https://sahistoryhub.history.sa.gov.au/things/victor-richardson-gates | access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> off King William Road, were locally heritage-listed as of city significance in 2001.<ref name="j648">{{cite web | title=Victor Richardson Road, off King William Road, Adelaide Oval NORTH ADELAIDE | website=Experience Adelaide | date=16 September 2019 | url=https://www.experienceadelaide.com.au/heritage-places/victor-richardson-gates-victor-richardson-road-off-king-william-road-adelaide-oval-north-adelaide/ | access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> Architect and then mayor [[James Campbell Irwin]] suggested the idea of honouring Richardson in 1965, and a public appeal supported by SACA and SANFL raised funds for the gates. In 1966, the small road leading to the Oval from King William Road was named Victor Richardson Drive. The five iron gates, set between rectangular arches, were erected in 1967, in honour of cricketer and footballer [[Vic Richardson|Victor Richardson]] (1894–1969). Former footballer [[Ian Hannaford]] was supervising architect, and [[relief]]s created by South Australian sculptor [[John Dowie (artist)|John Dowie]] were added after over £5000 was raised. The gates include two double-sided bronze reliefs, showing groups of football players competing for the ball and cricketers batting, bowling, and fielding, with the batsman resembling Richardson. Lord Mayor Walter Bridgland led the opening ceremony on 28 October 1967, with Alderman Irwin opening the gates. [[Don Bradman|Sir Donald Bradman]] and Don Brebner, then SANFL president, attended the ceremony, which was held during a [[Sheffield Shield]] lunch break. Players Ian and Greg Chappell, Richardson's grandsons, helped to form the guard of honour. A central bronze plaque was installed after the death of Richardson in 1969.<ref name=sah/>

In 2003, when the Chappell Stands were built, the gates were moved slightly northwards, and precast concrete pillars and a capping beam replaced the original metal framework. After the stands were demolished in April 2012, the Victor Richardson Gates were repositioned in March 2014.<ref name=sah/>

===Other features===
There are also a number of [[#Statues|statues]], mainly of sportsmen, at the oval.

==Cricket==

=== International cricket ===
[[File:Adelaide Oval 1874 England South Australia.jpg|250px|thumb|right|In 1874 a side representing England led by [[W.G. Grace]] defeated a South Australian side by 7 wickets in what was the first international cricket match at the ground]]

[[File:Packed Adelaide Oval.jpg|right|thumb|250px|Adelaide Oval during the [[Australian cricket team in India in 2008–09|2008 Test series]] between Australia and India. [[Sachin Tendulkar]] can be seen fielding in the left of the image.]]

[[File:Adelaide Oval (23183793744).jpg|right|250px|thumb|Adelaide Oval during a day–night match for the [[2015 Cricket World Cup]]]]

Adelaide Oval hosts some of the many events in the cricketing calendar, including the annual Australia Day One Day International on 26 January (replacing a traditional Australia Day Test) and every four years, one of the five Ashes Test matches against England. The Tests are now normally held in early December and is a clash between Australia and the international touring team of that particular season. Adelaide Oval was the host of the first ever day/night Test match, when [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2015–16|Australia played New Zealand]] on 27 November 2015.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Coverdale |first1=Brydon |title=Teams ready to create history |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/new-zealand-tour-of-australia-2015-16-892499/australia-vs-new-zealand-3rd-test-892513/match-preview |website=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=27 August 2024 |date=26 November 2015}}</ref>

In 2011, Adelaide Oval held its first [[Twenty20 International]] between Australia and England, a match which England won by one wicket. The ground was announced as one of the venues for the [[2022 ICC Men's T20 World Cup]], and hosted one of the semi-finals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mens-t20-world-cup-2022-seven-host-cities-announced-mcg-to-host-final-under-lights-1289531|title=Seven host cities announced for 2022 T20 World Cup, MCG to host final|website=ESPNcricinfo|date=16 November 2021|access-date=16 November 2021|archive-date=16 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116051907/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/mens-t20-world-cup-2022-seven-host-cities-announced-mcg-to-host-final-under-lights-1289531|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Domestic cricket ===
Adelaide Oval is the home ground for the first-class South Australian state cricket team, [[Southern Redbacks|The West End Southern Redbacks]] and [[Twenty20]] [[cricket team]], the [[Adelaide Strikers]]. The Strikers compete in the [[Big Bash League]]. The [[Southern Redbacks]] compete in the [[Sheffield Shield]] and [[Jardine Lloyd Thompson|JLT]] One Day Cup.

=== Cricket timeline ===
* 1873 - 13 December – The first cricket game is played on the ground between Australian born players and players born overseas.
* 1874 - 1 March – England beat South Australia by 7 wickets in the first international cricket match at the ground.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article159476307 |title=cricket. |newspaper=[[Adelaide Observer]] |volume=XXXI |issue=1698 |date=18 April 1874 |access-date=19 February 2018 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014440/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/159476307 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1874 - 7 November – South Australia play Victoria on Adelaide Oval for the first time. Victoria won by 15 runs.
* 1877 - 10 November – The first [[first-class cricket]] match played at the ground was between South Australia and Tasmania. South Australia was victorious, winning by an innings and 13 runs.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1870S/1877-78/AUS_LOCAL/SOA_TAS_10-12NOV1877.html|title=South Australia vs. Tasmania, 1877–78|website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]|publisher=[[ESPN Inc.]]|access-date=22 November 2013|archive-date=3 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203141245/http://static.espncricinfo.com/db/ARCHIVE/1870S/1877-78/AUS_LOCAL/SOA_TAS_10-12NOV1877.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1878 - 30 January – The first cricket century at the ground was scored by [[John Hill (businessman)|John Hill]], 102 not out for North Adelaide against the Kent Club.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54872220|title=A Worthy Citizen|date=20 September 1926|newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]]|access-date=4 September 2012|via=National Library of Australia|location=Adelaide|page=9|archive-date=17 December 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191217071623/http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54872220|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1884 - 12 December – The first Test match was played at the Oval. England beat Australia by eight wickets. (Scorecard)
* 1894 - 15 January – [[Albert Trott]] collected 8/43 on debut against England, the grounds best single-innings Test match bowling figure.
* 1931 – [[Donald Bradman]] scored the highest Test score at the ground, 299 not out, against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]]. [[Clarrie Grimmett]] collected the most Test wickets in a match at the ground, fourteen, against [[South Africa national cricket team|South Africa]].
* 1932 – The [[Bodyline]] affair reached its lowest point at the ground when [[Bill Woodfull]] and [[Bert Oldfield]] were struck, and on the third day [[mounted police]] patrolled to keep the 50,962 spectators in order (a record crowd for cricket at the ground). The total attendance for the match was 174,351.[[File:bodyline 3rd Test Oldfield 01.jpg|right|250px|thumb|During the third test of the 1932–33 Ashes series [[Bert Oldfield]] was struck in the head by a ball from [[Harold Larwood]]. This series became known as the [[Bodyline]] due to the controversial aggressive tactics of the English.]]
* 1946 – [[Arthur Morris]] of Australia, and [[Denis Compton]] of England both made centuries in both innings of the Test.
* 1947 – Australia scored the highest team total in a test match at the ground, 674 runs, against [[India national cricket team|India]].
* 1949 - 15 January – The first women's test match held at the ground was between England and Australia. Australia would win by 186 runs.
* 1960 – Australia played the [[West Indies cricket team|West Indies]] in the fourth test of the [[Frank Worrell Trophy]]. The match ended in a draw, with the West Indies unable to take the final wicket of the fourth innings, as the last batsmen [[Ken Mackay]] and [[Lindsay Kline]] held out for 109 minutes. West Indies bowler [[Lance Gibbs]] took the only Test cricket [[Hat-trick (cricket)|hat-trick]] at the ground in Australia's first innings. (Scorecard)
* 1975 – The first One-Day International match at the ground was between Australia and the West Indies. Australia won by 5 wickets. (Scorecard)
* 1982 – In a Sheffield Shield game against [[Victorian Bushrangers|Victoria]], [[David Hookes]] hit a 43-minute, 34 ball century – by some metrics the fastest hundred in history. (Statistics)
* 1991 – South Australia compiled the highest fourth innings winning total in Sheffield Shield history, reaching 6/506 (set 506 to win) against [[Queensland Bulls|Queensland]].
* 1992 – The West Indies defeated Australia by one run in the fourth test of the Frank Worrell Trophy, when a bouncer by [[Courtney Walsh]] brushed [[Craig McDermott]]'s glove to end a 40-run last-wicket partnership. It was the narrowest victory ever in Test cricket. (Scorecard)
* 1997 – The first cricket match under lights was a [[One Day International]] between South Africa and New Zealand on 6 December 1997. (Scorecard)
* 1999 – [[Sri Lanka national cricket team|Sri Lankan]] [[spin bowler|spinner]] [[Muttiah Muralitharan]] was called for [[throwing (cricket)|throwing]] by umpire [[Ross Emerson]] in a One Day International against England. The Sri Lankan team almost abandoned the match, but after instructions from the president of the Sri Lankan cricket board (relayed to captain [[Arjuna Ranatunga]] by mobile phone) the game resumed.
* 2006 – During the Ashes series, many temporary stands were erected to cope with the demand for tickets. Stands were put between the Chappell stands and on the top of the hills. Australia beat England by 6 wickets on a remarkable last day. (Scorecard)
* 2014 - 10 December – [[Michael Clarke (cricketer)|Michael Clarke]] scored his 7th century on the ground, the most test cricket centuries at the ground.
* 2015 - 27 November – Adelaide Oval hosted the first ever day/night Test match, when [[New Zealand cricket team in Australia in 2015–16|Australia played New Zealand]].<ref name="DayNight">{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/892403.html|title=First day-night Test for Adelaide Oval|work=ESPNCricinfo|date=29 June 2015 |access-date=29 June 2015|archive-date=13 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190613080555/http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/892403.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2017 - 2 December – Adelaide Oval hosted the first day/night Ashes Test,<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/1072249.html|title=Adelaide to host maiden Ashes day-night Test|newspaper=Cricinfo|access-date=2016-12-13|archive-date=19 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819110824/http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/1072249.html|url-status=live}}</ref> attended by a record crowd for cricket of 55,317.<ref name="austadiums.com">{{cite web|url=https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=2|title=Adelaide Oval Crowds {{!}} Austadiums|website=www.austadiums.com|access-date=2019-08-01|archive-date=24 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190424120511/https://www.austadiums.com/stadiums/stadiums_crowds.php?id=2|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 2018 - 4 February – Adelaide Oval hosted its first [[Big Bash League]] [[2017–18 Big Bash League season|Grand Final]] with the Adelaide Strikers defeating the Hobart Hurricanes for the Championship.
* 2019 - 30 November - David Warner breaks the record for most runs scored in a single test innings by an individual player at Adelaide Oval with a score of 335* against Pakistan, surpassing Donald Bradman's 299* in 1932.
*2020 - 19 December – India were all out for 36 on the third day of a test match against Australia in the second innings. This is India's lowest ever test score and the lowest ever test score recorded at the Adelaide Oval.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Full Scorecard of India vs Australia 1st Test 2020/21 - Score Report {{!}} ESPNcricinfo.com|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-in-australia-2020-21-1223867/australia-vs-india-1st-test-1223869/full-scorecard|access-date=2021-04-17|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|archive-date=17 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210417092717/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-in-australia-2020-21-1223867/australia-vs-india-1st-test-1223869/full-scorecard|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Test cricket records===
{{main|List of Test cricket records at the Adelaide Oval}}

==Australian rules football==
[[File:SAFA Adelaide Oval 1887.jpg|thumb|right|250px|View of an [[Australian rules football]] match on Adelaide Oval from [[Montefiore Hill]] during the [[1887 SAFA season]]. Note lack of behind posts.]]
[[File:PortAdelaideOval.JPG|thumb|250px|[[Harold Oliver (Australian footballer)|Harold Oliver]] taking a [[spectacular mark]] during the [[1914 SAFL season#Week 1|1914 SAFL Semi-final]]]]
[[File:1929 Women's Australian rules football match Adelaide Oval.jpg|right|thumb|250px|1929 [[women's Australian rules football]] match, witnessed by 41,000 spectators]]
[[File:Ian McKay Spectacular Mark.jpg|thumb|250px|[[Ian McKay (footballer)|Ian McKay]] taking a [[spectacular mark]] during the [[1952 SANFL Grand Final]]]]
[[File:Championship of Australia 1971 Adelaide Oval Hawthorn North Adelaide.jpg|right|thumb|250px|{{SANFL NthA}} playing {{AFL Haw}} for the [[1971 Championship of Australia]]]]
[[File:Contested_mark,_Adelaide_Oval,_Showdown_53,_1_April_2023.jpg|thumb|250px|Players competing in a marking contest during [[Showdown (AFL)|Showdown 53]].]]
From 1877 until the [[1973 SANFL Grand Final]], Adelaide Oval was the marquee ground for [[South Australian National Football League]] matches. After a dispute between cricket and SANFL administrators, Australian rules football in South Australia was moved to [[Football Park]] in the western suburbs of Adelaide until its permanent return to the ground in 2014. Adelaide Oval hosted the [[1889 SAFA Grand Final]], the first grand final in any Australian rules football competition after Port Adelaide and Norwood finished the 1889 SAFA season with the same win–loss–draw record. The record crowd for an Australian rules football match at Adelaide Oval was set at the [[1965 SANFL Grand Final]] between [[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] when 62,543 saw the latter win by three points. After 1973 Australian rules football matches were sporadically held at the ground apart from South Adelaide games as that club continued to use the ground for their home matches after 1973. After the advent of the Australian Football League in 1990 only one AFL match was held at the ground before it was permanently adopted again by the code, with Port Adelaide hosting Melbourne during the last minor round match of the 2011 AFL season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-06-30/power-to-end-season-at-adelaide-oval/2777966|title=Power to end season at Adelaide Oval|date=30 June 2011|work=ABC News ([[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]])|access-date=17 November 2017|archive-date=30 October 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161030191545/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2011-06-30/power-to-end-season-at-adelaide-oval/2777966|url-status=live}}</ref> As of 2014, all SANFL Finals Series matches are played at the ground including the SANFL Grand Final. Regular [[Australian Football League]] matches at the venue also began in 2014.

=== Australian rules football timeline ===
* 1877 May 12 – The first South Australian Football Association match took place on the ground between the [[Adelaide Football Club (SAFA)|Old Adelaide Football Club]] and the [[Bankers Football Club]]. The original Adelaide club won the match 4 goals to 1.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40785608|title=FOOTBALL.|date=14 May 1877|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|access-date=18 December 2014|via=National Library of Australia|location=Adelaide|page=6|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014331/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/40785608|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1877 August 18 – [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] became the first interstate club to play at Adelaide Oval defeating the original [[Adelaide Football Club (SAFA)|Adelaide Football Club]] by three goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article40780662 |title=FOOTBALL. |newspaper=[[South Australian Register]] |volume=XLII |issue=9599 |date=20 August 1877 |access-date=10 February 2018 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014330/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/40780662 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1885 July 1 – The [[Francis Clark and Sons#First Night Game at Adelaide Oval|first football game lit by electric light]] at the ground was conducted at night.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article44944306|title=FOOTBALL BY ELECTRIC LIGHT.|date=2 July 1885|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|access-date=20 February 2015|via=National Library of Australia|location=Adelaide|page=5|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014329/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/44944306|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1887 June 20 – After the previous two encounters between [[Norwood Football Club|Norwood]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] were drawn, the South Australia interest in their next meeting set a record for Australian rules football at the time with at least 11,000 spectators present. Attending the match were Chinese General Wong Yung Ho, Consul-General U. Tsing who were both accompanied by Dr. On Lee of Sydney and Mr. Way Lee of Adelaide. The Chinese commissioners were provided the [[Luxury box|private box]] of the [[Governor of South Australia]] [[William C. F. Robinson]]. Norwood won the match by two goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article94957798 |title=NORWOOD V. PORT. |newspaper=[[South Australian Weekly Chronicle]] |volume=XXIX |issue=1,505 |date=25 June 1887 |access-date=10 February 2018 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014333/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/94957798 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1889 October 5 – [[1889 SAFA Grand Final|The first Grand Final in a major Australian rules football competition]] was played between [[Norwood Football Club|Norwood]] and [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]]. Norwood won the game 7.4 (7) to 5.9 (5).<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.norwoodfc.com.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/memorablematches/1889TheFirstGrandFinalSAFAPremiership.pdf|title=1889 SAFA Premiership Play-off: Norwood vs. Port Adelaide {{ndash}} The First Grand Final|access-date=29 March 2015|archive-date=5 May 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130505050545/http://norwoodfc.com.au/site/DefaultSite/filesystem/documents/memorablematches/1889TheFirstGrandFinalSAFAPremiership.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1892 August 20 – A [[Broken Hill Football League|Broken Hill]] side was the first team from [[New South Wales]] to play at Adelaide Oval. Norwood would beat the visitors by four goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article92293939 |title=BROKEN HILL V. NORWOOD. |newspaper=[[South Australian Chronicle]] |volume=XXXV |issue=1,774 |date=20 August 1892 |access-date=11 February 2018 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014332/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/92293939 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1894 October 6 – [[1894 SAFA Grand Final|The first drawn Grand Final in a major Australian rules football competition]] took place when Norwood and South Adelaide both finished on 4.8 (4). Norwood won the replay by a goal. 
* 1909 July 10 – [[Boulder City Football Club|Boulder City]] become the first [[Western Australia]]n club to play at Adelaide Oval. [[West Adelaide Football Club|West Adelaide]] defeated the visitors by 17 points.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56725897 |title=SATURDAY"S FOOTBALL. |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |volume=LXXIV |issue=19,551 |location=Adelaide |date=12 July 1909 |access-date=11 February 2018 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014403/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56725897 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1911 August 5 – The [[1911 Adelaide Carnival|Australian Football Council Carnival]] was held at the ground for the first time and was won by South Australia. The competing leagues fielding representative sides were the SANFL, VFL, VFA, WANFL, TSL and NSW. This was the first time a Tasmanian side had played at Adelaide Oval. 
* 1914 October 3 – [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] defeated the [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] for a record fourth [[1914 Championship of Australia|Championship of Australia]] title defeating the Victorian side by 34 points, 9.16 (70) to 5.6 (36).
* 1929 August – A [[women's Australian rules football]] match was witnessed by 41,000 spectators, a record crowd for a women's Australian rules football match. A [[de Havilland Moth]] biplane dropped the game ball to start the match.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164898646 |title=ROOSTERS RIDE BICYCLES; GIRLS PLAY FOOTBALL FOR CHARITY |newspaper=[[The Observer (Adelaide)|Observer]] |volume=LXXXVI |issue=4,495 |location=South Australia |date=17 August 1929 |access-date=10 February 2018 |page=13 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014355/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/164898646 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article58617327|title=CROWD AT CHARITY CARNIVAL EXCEEDS LAST YEAR'S|date=10 August 1929|newspaper=[[The Mail (Adelaide)|The Mail]]|access-date=8 February 2018|issue=898|location=Adelaide|volume=11|page=1|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014523/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/58617327|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1945 September 29 – [[Haydn Bunton Sr.|Haydn Bunton Sr]], triple Brownlow and Sandover medalist, played for Port Adelaide in the [[1945 SANFL Grand Final]], the only premiership decider of his career. Despite Port Adelaide obtaining a 32-point lead at quarter time, [[West Torrens Football Club|West Torrens]] would eventually win the match by 13 points.
* 1965 October 2 – The [[1965 SANFL Grand Final]] crowd set the record attendance for a sporting match at the venue with 62,543 people witnessing [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] defeat [[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]] by three points.
* 1972 October 15 – [[North Adelaide Football Club|North Adelaide]] defeated [[Carlton Football Club|Carlton]] to be crowned [[1972 Championship of Australia|Champions of Australia]] defeating the Victorian side by one point being the last time a non-Victorian football side won a national championship until the [[West Coast Eagles]] won the [[1992 AFL Grand Final|1992 AFL premiership]].
* 1973 September 29 – The [[1973 SANFL Grand Final]] between [[North Adelaide Football Club|North Adelaide]] and [[Glenelg Football Club|Glenelg]] was the last SANFL Grand Final at Adelaide Oval until 2014. Due to the advent of the national Australian Football League in 1990, effectively relegating the SANFL to second tier, it remains the last top flight Grand Final hosted at Adelaide Oval.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.thevarnishedculture.com/the-greatest-game-of-football-ever-played/|title=The Greatest Game of Football Ever Played|last=Jakobsen|first=Peter|date=28 June 2014|website=The Varnished Culture|access-date=10 February 2018|archive-date=10 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210181530/http://www.thevarnishedculture.com/the-greatest-game-of-football-ever-played/|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1990 September 8 – The last game at the ground before the presence of an AFL team in South Australia was between West Torrens and Woodville with the latter winning by 45 points. The clubs would merge the following year.
* 1996 July 20 – The last game at the ground involving {{AFL|PA}}'s senior team before entering the AFL was against  Sturt with the former side winning by 40 points.
* 2011 September 4 – The first [[Australian Football League]] match at the venue was played between Port Adelaide and Melbourne. Port Adelaide won the match by 8 points.
* 2014 March 29 – The first [[Showdown (AFL)|Showdown]], between {{AFL|PA}} and {{AFL Ade}}, was played. Port Adelaide won the game by 55 points.
* 2014 September 7 – The first Australian Football League final at the ground, an elimination final, was played between {{AFL|PA}} and {{AFL Ric}}. Port Adelaide won by 57 points.<ref>{{Cite web|title=AFL Fixtures & Results|url=https://www.afl.com.au/fixture|access-date=2020-09-03|website=afl.com.au|language=en|archive-date=18 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118093857/http://www.afl.com.au/match-centre/2018/19/nmfc-v-wce|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*2017 September 22 – The first preliminary final held at the venue brought the largest crowd for an AFL match at the Oval to date. 53,817 watched {{AFL Ade}} defeat {{AFL Gee}} by 61 points.
*2019 March 31 – The first [[2019 AFL Women's Grand Final|AFLW Grand Final]] to be held at the ground featured the Adelaide Crows defeating Carlton by 45 points.
*2023 April 13 – The first AFL [[Gather Round]] is held in Adelaide. The venue hosted six of the nine matches across four days.
*2025 August 16 – A new AFL attendance record is set at the venue, with 54,283 attendees at {{AFL Ade}} vs {{AFL Col}} surpassing the previous record set in 2017.

===Australian rules football records===
{{main|Australian rules football records at the Adelaide Oval}}
The first senior league Australian rules football match was played on Adelaide Oval in 1877 between the [[Adelaide Football Club (SAFA)|original Adelaide club]] and the [[Bankers Football Club|Bankers club]]. The 1990 SANFL season was the last year that the competition was the highest level of Australian rules football in South Australia. In 1991 the newly created Adelaide Crows entered the Australian Football League, subsequently playing the highest level of football in the state. Port Adelaide would join the Australian Football League in 1997.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
<gallery>
File:Ken Farmer SANFL.jpg|<small>'''[[Ken Farmer]]'''<br />({{SANFL NthA}}) Most goals outright (347) and equal most goals alongside [[Neil Hawke]] ({{AFL|PA}}) in a single match (15).</small>
<!-- [[WP:NFCC]] violation: File:Neil Hawke.jpg|<small>'''[[Neil Hawke]]'''<br />({{AFL|PA}}) Equal most goals in a single match (15). Also bowled 139/6 against South Africa in 1964.</small> -->
File:Port Adelaide 1910 premiership team.jpg|<small>'''{{AFL|PA}}'''<br />[[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] won 20 Grand Finals and four [[Championship of Australia]] titles at the Oval.</small>
File:South Adelaide 1877 premiership team.png|<small>'''{{SANFL SthA}}'''<br />The SAFC used Adelaide Oval as its home ground between 1882–1903 and 1905–1994.</small>
File:AlfredTopsyWaldron.JPG|<small>'''[[Alfred Waldron (footballer)|Alfred Waldron]]'''<br /> Captain of [[Norwood Football Club|Norwood]] for the [[1889 SAFA Grand Final]], the first Grand Final in a major Australian rules competition.</small>
</gallery>

== Soccer ==
[[File:Adelaide Oval LFP World Challenge.JPG|right|thumb|250px|[[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]] take on Spanish side [[Málaga CF]] in an exhibition match in July 2014]]
[[Association football]], or soccer, has been played since the early 20th century at the oval.<ref name=sabfa/>

[[Adelaide United FC]] have played a number of [[A-League]] home games against [[Sydney FC]] and [[Melbourne Victory FC]]. Adelaide Oval was the site of an international friendly match between the [[Socceroos]] and [[All Whites|New Zealand]] on 5 June 2011. On 25 July 2014, Adelaide United played its first game at the fully re-developed Adelaide Oval when it played host to Spanish [[La Liga]] side [[Málaga CF]]. In front of 23,254 fans and a television audience in Spain, Málaga defeated the Reds 5–1.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |first=KEEPUP |date=2014-07-30 |title=Reds lose to experienced Málaga |url=https://adelaideunited.com.au/news/reds-lose-experienced-malaga/ |access-date=2025-02-22 |website=Adelaide United |language=en-AU}}</ref>

=== Soccer timeline ===
* 1904 July 20 – The South Australian British Football Association beat the crew aboard {{HMS|Katoomba|1889|6}} 9–0.<ref name=sabfa>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article200820816 |title=BRITISH ASSOCIATION FOOTBALL. |newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)|Evening Journal]] |volume=XXXVIII |issue=10448 |location=Adelaide |date=21 July 1904 |access-date=11 February 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014336/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/200820816 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1920 July 5 – During a visit by the [[Edward VIII|Prince of Wales]], a soccer match was organised between the ''South Australian British Football Association'' and the crew aboard the visiting {{HMS|Renown|1916|6}} with the game resulting in a draw 0–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166431485 |title=Sports and Pastimes. |newspaper=[[The Southern Cross (South Australia)|The Southern Cross]] |volume=XXXII |issue=1602 |location=South Australia |date=9 July 1920 |access-date=11 February 2018 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014335/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/166431485 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1924 October 6 – Over the course of a day three codes were played on Adelaide Oval, Australian rules football, rugby and soccer. The soccer match was between two teams, one called "Adelaide United" and the other "Hindmarsh" with the latter team winning 2–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article43240581 |title=THE FOOTBALL FESTIVAL |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=6 October 1924 |access-date=11 February 2018 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
* 1925 – During a tour of Australia, the English football team was prevented from playing on Adelaide Oval by ground administrators.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 1937 July 29 – England beat South Australia 10–0.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 1951 June 23 – [[English football team|England]] beat [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] 13–1. [[Ike Clarke]] scored four goals.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article129915119 |title=Untitled |newspaper=[[The News (Adelaide)|The News]] |volume=56 |issue=8,698 |location=Adelaide |date=25 June 1951 |access-date=11 February 2018 |page=15 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014336/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/129915119 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1958 May 24 – [[Football League First Division|English First Division]] club [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] beat [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] (men) 1–0.<ref name="Learning2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/140124Historicaltimeline-LearningResource.pdf|title=Adelaide Oval Timeline {{ndash}} Learning Resource|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150309122146/http://adelaideoval.com.au/library/140124Historicaltimeline-LearningResource.pdf|archive-date=9 March 2015|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1959 June 6 – [[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Heart of Midlothian]] beat Australia 6–0.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2007 December 28 – [[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]] play [[Sydney FC]] in first [[A-League]] match held at the ground.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2011 June 5 – [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] (men) beat [[All Whites|New Zealand]] 3–0.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2014 July 25 – [[La Liga]] side [[Málaga CF]] beat [[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]] 5–1.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2015 July 20 – [[English Premier league|Premier League]] side [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] beat [[Adelaide United FC|Adelaide United]] 2–0.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2016 March 24 – Australia (men) beat [[Tajikistan national football team|Tajikistan]] 7–0 in a [[FIFA World Cup]] qualifier.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2016 May 1 – The first [[2016 A-League Grand Final|A-League Grand Final]] hosted at the ground saw [[Adelaide United]] beat [[Western Sydney Wanderers]] in front of 50,119 fans.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2016-05-01 |title=As it happened: Adelaide sink Wanderers in thrilling A-League decider |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-05-01/a-league-grand-final-live-blog/7373954 |access-date=2025-02-22 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}</ref>
* 2017 June 8 – Australia (men) beat [[Saudi Arabia national football team|Saudi Arabia]] 3–2 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in front of 29,785 spectators.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2024 May 31 – [[Australia women's national soccer team|Australia]] (women) drew [[China women's national football team|China]] 1–1 in an [[Exhibition game|international friendly]] in front of 52,912 spectators.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* 2024 October 10 – Australia (men) beat [[China national football team|China]] 3–1 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in front of 46,291 spectators.

== Cycling ==
[[File:1903 Adelaide Oval.jpg|thumb|250px|The 1903 Walne Stakes cycling race at Adelaide Oval was won by American professional cyclist [[Major Taylor]] who is pictured crossing the line]]
From the first cycling race held at Adelaide Oval in 1882, Adelaide Oval regularly hosted cycling races that attracted tens of thousands of spectators.<ref name="EASTER MONDAY">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article208257623 |title=Easter Monday. |newspaper=[[The Express and Telegraph]] |volume=XIX |issue=5,472 |location=South Australia |date=11 April 1882 |access-date=1 August 2019 |page=3 (Second Edition) |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014336/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/208257623 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203468703|title=Cycling.|date=24 November 1911|newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)|Evening Journal]]|access-date=8 February 2018|issue=12665|location=Adelaide|volume=XLV|page=1 (THE SPORTING SECTION)|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014336/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/203468703|url-status=live}}</ref> Cycling races were halted after a fence was erected on the inner side of the asphalt track around 1911.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164739678 |title=Cycling notes. |newspaper=[[The Observer (Adelaide)]] |volume=LXVIII |issue=5,360 |location=South Australia |date=25 November 1911 |access-date=3 August 2024 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia| quote=The recent move on the part of the Adelaide Oval authorities in taking the fence to the inside of the asphalt tract has put an end to all hopes of seeing bicycle races reorganized on that ground.}}</ref>

=== Cycling timeline ===
* 1882 – The first bicycle race took place on Adelaide Oval during part of a Scottish sport fete on Easter Monday that attracted a then record 15,000 spectators over the course of the day.<ref name="EASTER MONDAY"/>
* 1885 – The first time the Intercolonial Bicycle Championship was held at Adelaide Oval. F.H. Shackleford won the premier 10-mile race in 34 minutes 30 seconds. A.L. Henzel won the women's 3-mile bracelet race in 9 minutes 43 seconds.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article36315160 |title=Athletic sports. |newspaper=[[The South Australian Advertiser]] |volume=XXVIII |issue=8419 |date=12 October 1885 |access-date=14 February 2018 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014336/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/36315160 |url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1900 – Ahead of a cycling event held on 24 March, SACA undertook some major renovation of the grounds in order to accommodate a [[cycling track]] around the oval. Thousands of loads of earth were carted from the Torrens to create the necessary slope to the track.<ref name=cycle1900/>
* 1903 – American professional cyclist [[Major Taylor]], the first world champion black athlete, wins the Walne Stakes in front of at least 10,000 spectators. He won the half-mile in a time of 57s ± 2.5.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article56651698 |title=The cycling carnival. |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |volume=LXVIII |issue=17,589 |location=Adelaide |date=30 March 1903 |access-date=14 February 2018 |page=3 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014402/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/56651698 |url-status=live }}</ref>  He won 11 races out of 14, and was placed second in three.<ref name=timeline>{{cite web | title=Adelaide Oval: A timeline | website=adelaideoval.com.au | url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150942/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf | archive-date=15 October 2017 | url-status=dead | access-date=3 August 2024}}</ref> Taylor's trip to Australia to compete in cycling races inspired the 1992 film ''[[Tracks of Glory]]''.<ref>Ed. Scott Murray, ''Australia on the Small Screen 1970–1995'', Oxford Uni Press, 1996 p242</ref>

== Rugby League ==
In 1991, the [[National Rugby League|NSWRL]] came to Adelaide Oval when the [[St. George Dragons]] played the [[Balmain Tigers]] on a cold and wet Friday night under temporary lights in the first of five games that the Dragons would play at the oval over the next five years. That game, with the Dragons winning 16–2, set a rugby league record crowd for the ground when 28,884 people attended{{citation needed|date=January 2023}}, and was in fact the highest minor round attendance for the [[1991 NSWRL season]] (beaten only by four of the six Finals series games including the Grand Final). In 1997 Adelaide got its own side in the much vaunted (but short lived) [[Super League (Australia)|Super League]] competition with the [[Adelaide Rams]]. Their first home game attracted their record crowd when 27,435{{citation needed|date=January 2023}} saw the Rams defeat SL's other new team, the [[Hunter Mariners]] 10–8. However, after disputes over money (and dwindling crowds due to poor on-field results) they left the ground in 1998 and moved to [[Hindmarsh Stadium]]. In the [[2010 NRL season|2010]] and [[2011 NRL season|2011]] [[National Rugby League]] seasons, [[Sydney]] club the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] played home games at the Oval against the [[Melbourne Storm]]. The Bulldogs had intended to make Adelaide Oval their second "home" (the club plays its home games at Sydney's [[ANZ Stadium|Olympic Stadium]]), but the plan was abandoned after 2010. On 20 November 2016, it was announced that the [[Sydney Roosters]] will take on the [[Melbourne Storm]] in the [[2017 NRL season]] meaning that top level Rugby league returned to Adelaide for the first time since 2011. The Roosters won the game, played on 24 June in Round 16 of the season, 25–24 in golden point extra time in front of a crowd of 21,492 fans.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/11/20/roosters-take-game-to-adelaide/|title=Roosters take game to Adelaide|date=2016-11-20|website=National Rugby League|language=en|access-date=2019-08-01|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327014614/https://www.nrl.com/news/2016/11/20/roosters-take-game-to-adelaide/|url-status=live}}</ref>

It was announced in February 2018 that the Oval would host one [[State of Origin series|State of Origin]] match in 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/state-of-origin/adelaide-oval-set-to-host-state-of-origin-in-2020-report/news-story/d3aabd918cf8b25f4666f7b2bc5769a9|title=Adelaide Oval set to host State of Origin in 2020|publisher=Fox Sports Australia|date=14 February 2018|access-date=22 July 2018|archive-date=6 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200706173518/https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/state-of-origin/adelaide-oval-set-to-host-state-of-origin-in-2020-report/news-story/d3aabd918cf8b25f4666f7b2bc5769a9|url-status=live}}</ref>

On 10 November 2022, it was announced that Adelaide Oval would host the first game of the [[2023 State of Origin series]] on 31 May.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-11-09 |title=2023 NRL Draw Released |url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2022/11/10/2023-nrl-draw-released/ |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=National Rugby League |language=en}}</ref>

===Rugby League timeline===
* 1991 June 28 – The [[St. George Dragons]] defeated the [[Balmain Tigers]] in front of 28,884 spectators during the [[1991 NSWRL season]].
* 1997 March 14 – The short-lived [[Adelaide Rams]] won their first home game 10–8 against the [[Hunter Mariners]] in the [[1997 Super League (Australia) season|1997 Super League]].
* 2010 July 10 - The first game of first-grade rugby league is played since the Rams dissolved, with the [[Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs]] taking down the [[Melbourne Storm]] 20–18, in front of a crowd of 10,350.<ref>{{Cite web |title=NRL 2010 - Round 18 - Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs 20 def. Melbourne Storm 18 |url=https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/seasons/nrl-2010/round-18/canterbury-vs-melbourne/summary.html |access-date=2023-05-16 |website=www.rugbyleagueproject.org}}</ref>
* 2020 November 4 – A [[NRL State of Origin]] match was scheduled to be held at Adelaide Oval on 1 June for the opening leg of the 2020 NRL State of Origin series but was postponed due to the ongoing [[Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sports|impact of the COVID-19 pandemic]] which affected the [[2020 NRL season]]. Queensland ended up winning the rescheduled game 18–14.<ref name=Adelaide2020>{{cite web|title=Blues v Maroons – Game 1, 2020 – Match Centre – NRL|url=https://www.nrl.com/draw/state-of-origin/2020/round-1/blues-v-maroons/|publisher=NRL|access-date=11 November 2020|date=4 November 2020|archive-date=10 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201110025603/https://www.nrl.com/draw/state-of-origin/2020/round-1/blues-v-maroons/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Rugby union ==
[[File:Adelaide Oval hosts Wallabies and Springboks Rugby Union 27 August 2022.jpg|thumb|Adelaide Oval hosting Australia and South Africa in a [[Test match (rugby union)|rugby union test match]] on 27 August 2022]]
Adelaide Oval hosted two games of the [[2003 Rugby World Cup]]. On 25 October, [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] played their first international game in Adelaide when they defeated [[Namibia national rugby union team|Namibia]] 142–0 in front of 28,196 fans. The next day [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]] defeated [[Los Pumas|Argentina]] 16–15 in front of 30,203 fans.

On 3 July 2004, Australia hosted the Pacific Islanders at Adelaide Oval, winning 29–14 before a crowd of 19,266.

Adelaide Oval did not host another rugby union match until 27 August 2022, when Australia defeated [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]] 25–17 in a [[2022 Rugby Championship|Rugby Championship]] test match in front of a crowd of 36,336.

=== Rugby Sevens ===
From [[2006–07 IRB Sevens World Series|2007]] until [[2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series|2010]], Adelaide Oval hosted the [[Australia Sevens]] event in the [[IRB Sevens World Series]].

=== Rugby Union timeline ===
* 1888 July 16 – England defeated South Australia 28–3 in a Rugby Union match.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article204455710 |title=ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL. |newspaper=[[Evening Journal (Adelaide)|Evening Journal]] |volume=XX |issue=5854 |location=Adelaide |date=17 July 1888 |access-date=12 February 2018 |page=2|edition=SECOND |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
* 2003 October 25 – The first of two matches of the [[Rugby World Cup]] were played at Adelaide Oval. The first match saw Australia thrash Namibia 142–0. The following day Ireland defeated Argentina by one point.
* 2025 July 12 – The [[2025 British & Irish Lions tour to Australia|touring]] [[British & Irish Lions]] played a [[ANZAC XV|Invitational AU & NZ XV]], defeating the Invitational XV 48–0 in front of South Australian Rugby record crowd of 43,124 fans.

== Baseball ==
[[File:1888 Spalding Baseball world tour Chicago White Sox.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Albert Spalding]]'s 1888 tour sides with the [[Chicago Cubs|Chicago]] team left and All-American team right. The two sides played three matches at Adelaide Oval with Chicago winning 2–1.]]
In 1888, American Baseball administrator [[Albert Spalding]] brought the [[Chicago Cubs|Chicago]] team and an additional composite team called the All-Americans  to Australia and would play a series of three exhibition matches at Adelaide Oval. Chicago would win the Adelaide series 2–1.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url = http://australianfootball.com/leagues/highest_scores/SANFL/107|title = SANFL – Highest Scores|access-date = 17 July 2015|archive-date = 1 April 2016|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160401010628/http://australianfootball.com/leagues/highest_scores/SANFL/107|url-status = live}}</ref> Following on from this exhibition of the match in Australia, over the next few years intercolonial matches were commonly played against other states on the ground.

=== Baseball timeline ===
* 1888 December – American Baseball administrator [[Albert Spalding]] brought the [[Chicago Cubs|Chicago]] team and an additional composite team called the All-American team to Australia and played a series of three exhibition matches at the ground. Chicago would win the series 2–1.<ref name=":02">{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47046959|title=SUMMARY PER PARRAMATTA.|date=31 December 1888|newspaper=[[South Australian Register]]|access-date=9 February 2018|issue=13,145|volume=LIII|page=7|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014732/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47046959|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1934 August 12 – The final game of the inaugural [[1934 Claxton Shield]] series was played between Victoria and South Australia with the latter state winning 5–8.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article17079604 | title=Baseball—Interstate Series | date=14 August 1934 | access-date=29 May 2010 | newspaper=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] | page=17 | archive-date=3 July 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014740/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/17079604 | url-status=live }}</ref>
* 1947 – Adelaide Oval was used for some matches of the [[1947 Claxton Shield]].
* 1951 – Adelaide Oval was used for some matches of the [[1951 Claxton Shield]].

== American football ==
[[File:Gridiron in Adelaide 1942.jpg|thumb|right|250px|During World War II an [[American football]] match was held at Adelaide Oval where 25,000 locals attended as part of [[Independence Day (United States)|Independence Day]] celebrations in 1942]]
During World War II an American football match was held by American soldiers stationed in Adelaide on Independence Day. At least 25,000 spectators attended the match that was staged between teams referred to as the "Packers" and "Bears" with the latter winning the match.

=== American football timeline ===
* 13 June 1938 – During an interval of a Port Adelaide and Norwood SANFL match with 27,764 spectators present, a long distance kicking contest was held using American footballs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35587777 |title=SPORTING HOLIDAY ON MONDAY |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=11 June 1938 |access-date=12 February 2018 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014735/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/35587777 |url-status=live }}</ref> Measurements of kicks were then compared to College footballers in the United States. Robert Elliott of [[North Adelaide Football Club|North Adelaide]] won the competition kicking an Australian football 67 metres. Robert Elliott kicked the American football 62 metres, 13 centimetres short of the top American figure set by Jack Cohen from the [[UCLA Bruins football|UCLA Bruins]] using the American ball.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article35588253 |title=REMARKABLE DROP AND PUNT KICKS |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=14 June 1938 |access-date=12 February 2018 |page=20 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
* 4 July 1942 – An exhibition match was held by American soldiers.

== Tennis ==
The Adelaide Oval grounds have maintained a long tradition of holding tennis tournaments.

=== Tennis timeline ===
* 1889 – The inaugural [[South Australian Championships|South Australian Tennis Championships]] are staged at the Oval tennis courts.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tennisarchives.com/tournament/?t=5&n=South%20Australian%20Championships|title=Tournament – South Australian Championships – editions|website=www.tennisarchives.com|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-date=27 March 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327014119/http://www.tennisarchives.com/tournament/?t=5&n=South%20Australian%20Championships|url-status=live}}</ref>
* 1910 – The [[1910 Australasian Championships|Australasian Tennis Championships]] are staged for the first time at the oval the title is won by [[Rodney Heath]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf|title=Adelaide Oval time line.|website=adelaideoval.com.au|publisher=Adelaide Oval|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150942/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 1920 – [[1920 Australasian Championships|Australasian Tennis Championships]] are staged at the oval for the second time, won by [[Pat O'Hara Wood]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf|title=Adelaide Oval time line|website=adelaideoval.com.au|publisher=Adelaide Oval|access-date=15 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150942/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf|archive-date=15 October 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref>
*1959 - [[Tennis pro tours and tournament ranking series|Ampol world professional championship tournament]], Hoad defeated Rosewall in the final to win the [[Australian Pro|South Australian Pro]] title.<ref>Sydney Morning Herald, 13 January 1959</ref>

== Field hockey ==
[[File:Indian Army Hockey Team 14 August 1926 Adelaide Oval.jpg|thumb|right|250px|[[Indian Army]] hockey team being greeted by the South Australian Governor in 1926]]

Hockey was first played at Adelaide Oval in the early 1900s.

=== Field hockey timeline ===
*1904 September 3 – The premiers of the South Australian Hockey Association played a composite team of the best players from the remaining clubs.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article88073787 |title=Hockey. |newspaper=[[The Chronicle (Adelaide)|The Chronicle]] |volume=47 |issue=2,401 |location=Adelaide |date=27 August 1904 |access-date=17 February 2018 |page=22 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014753/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/88073787 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*1905 July 15 – The first women's hockey match held at the ground was played.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article55820549 |title=HOCKEY. |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |volume=LXX |issue=18,306 |location=Adelaide |date=15 July 1905 |access-date=17 February 2018 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014737/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/55820549 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*1926 – The Indian army hockey team defeat South Australia 14–0.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article47006876 |title=HOCKEY |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=6 August 1926 |access-date=17 February 2018 |page=16 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014743/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47006876 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*1939 August 22 – Australian state hockey championship held at Adelaide Oval.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article41083339 |title=ALL-AUSTRALIA HOCKEY AND BASKETBALL FIXTURES |newspaper=[[The Advertiser (Adelaide)|The Advertiser]] |location=Adelaide |date=11 August 1939 |access-date=17 February 2018 |page=10 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014745/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/41083339 |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Other uses ==

===Other sports===
Aside from the main sports of cricket and Australian rules football, other sports have been played at one time or another at the oval: [[Highland games]], [[lacrosse]], [[quoits]], and [[motorcycle racing]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

===Miscellaneous events===
The largest spectator event of the 19th century at the Adelaide Oval was the "Grand Corroboree", a [[corroboree]] performed by around 100 [[Aboriginal Australians|Aboriginal]] men and women from [[Point MacLeay mission]] and [[Yorke Peninsula]] on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May 1885. They had been invited to Adelaide by the colonial government to perform as part of the  Queen's Birthday celebrations. After organisers expected a crowd of around 5,000, approximately 20,000 spectators (around a sixth of Adelaide's population) turned up. The crowd became rowdy and police had to clear the performance space before the event could begin.<ref name=parsons1997/><ref name=casey2011>{{cite journal | title=Cross-Cultural Encounters: Aboriginal Performers and European Audiences in the Late 1800s and Early 1900s|first=Maryrose |last=Casey | journal=Double Dialogues | date=Summer 2011 |issue=14 | url=https://doubledialogues.com/article/cross-cultural-encounters-aboriginal-performers-and-european-audiences-in-the-late-1800s-and-early-1900s/ | access-date=2 August 2024}}</ref> Profits from the show were assigned to the Aboriginal people.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60620757 |title=Aboriginal corrobboree at Adelaide. |newspaper=[[The Australasian Sketcher with Pen and Pencil]] |volume=XIII |issue=194 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=29 June 1885 |accessdate=2 August 2024 |page=99 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> The corroboree was so successful that other performances were arranged at other venues. Also at this time, the first football match held between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal teams in Adelaide was organised by Football and Cricketing Association secretary [[John Creswell (sportsman)|John Creswell]], and a second followed at the oval on 2 June 1885.<ref name=parsons1997>{{cite journal| journal=[[Aboriginal History]]| url=https://press-files.anu.edu.au/downloads/press/p72631/pdf/article0415.pdf| via=ANU| title= The tourist corroboree in South Australia to 1911| first= Michael|last= Parsons| date= 1997| volume= 21|pages=55–57}}</ref>

As part of the 1927 Royal Tour, the [[George VI|Duke]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Duchess]] of York had a motorcade through Adelaide Oval with many people present for the event.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article168268121|title=Wonderful demonstration at Adelaide Oval.|date=7 May 1927|newspaper=[[The Observer (Adelaide)|Observer]]|access-date=1 February 2018|issue=7,067|location=South Australia|volume=LXXXIV|page=48|via=National Library of Australia|archive-date=3 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014749/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/168268121|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic in South Australia]], the [[Adelaide Christmas Pageant]] was held at Adelaide Oval to a permitted audience of 25,000 in 2020, and 16,000 in 2021. Tickets were drawn from a raffle, and the pageant was held in the evening. The 2022 pageant returned to the streets, although Adelaide Oval was reserved in the event of another [[Variants of SARS-CoV-2|variant]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/christmas-pageant-2020-how-to-access-tickets-for-the-adelaide-oval-event-c-1396620 |title=ANNOUNCED: How you can get tickets to the 2020 Christmas Pageant |date=16 October 2020 |access-date=14 November 2020 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120143826/https://7news.com.au/lifestyle/health-wellbeing/christmas-pageant-2020-how-to-access-tickets-for-the-adelaide-oval-event-c-1396620 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://christmaspageant.com.au/news/national-pharmacies-christmas-pageant-back-on-the-streets-for-90th-year|title=National Pharmacies Christmas Pageant Back on the Streets for 90th year|date=23 May 2022|access-date=27 May 2022|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523030555/https://christmaspageant.com.au/news/national-pharmacies-christmas-pageant-back-on-the-streets-for-90th-year|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Concerts===
{{further|List of concerts at Adelaide Oval}}
Adelaide Oval has regularly been host to large outdoor concerts. The first major international act to perform at the Oval was [[Fleetwood Mac]], in 1977. Many big names have performed there since, including [[David Bowie]], [[Linda Ronstadt]], [[Kiss (band)|KISS]], [[Simon and Garfunkel]], [[Paul McCartney and Wings]], [[Madonna]], [[Michael Jackson]], [[Elton John]], [[Billy Joel]], [[Neil Diamond]], [[Pearl Jam]], [[AC/DC]], [[Metallica]] and the [[Foo Fighters]].<ref name=byrne2014/>

== Attendance records ==
{{further|Attendance records at the Adelaide Oval}}
A concert by [[Adele]] in March 2017, attracting an audience of 70,000, was "the largest ever attendance for a concert in South Australia".<ref name=adele2017>{{cite news|title=Adele joins Dire Straits and AC/DC as Australia's biggest ever tours|url=http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/adele-joins-dire-straits-and-acdc-as-australias-biggest-ever-tours/news-story/6d109bb196b9f348648ec6d639415294|agency=News.au|date=2 December 2017|access-date=27 November 2018|archive-date=3 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203183908/http://www.news.com.au/entertainment/music/tours/adele-joins-dire-straits-and-acdc-as-australias-biggest-ever-tours/news-story/6d109bb196b9f348648ec6d639415294|url-status=live}}</ref>

Other notable record-setting events at the Adelaide Oval include:

* The "[[#Other uses|Grand Corroboree]]", on Friday 29 and Saturday 30 May 1885, witnessed by 20,000 spectators<ref name=parsons1997/><ref name=casey2011/>
* The [[motorcade]] for the [[Royal tours of Australia|1927 Royal Tour of Australia]] by the [[George VI|Duke]] and [[Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother|Duchess of York]], attracting between 60 and 70,000 spectators<ref name=":1">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article54263120 |title=EVENTS OF THE ROYAL VISIT. |newspaper=[[The Register (Adelaide)|The Register]] |volume=XCII |issue=26,743 |location=Adelaide |date=4 May 1927 |access-date=1 February 2018 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia |archive-date=3 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220703014739/https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/54263120 |url-status=live }}</ref>
*A 1942 [[American football]] match,  attracting 25,000 locals, as part of [[American Independence Day]] celebrations{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
* The [[1965 SANFL Grand Final]], witnessing [[Port Adelaide Football Club|Port Adelaide]] 12.8 (80) defeat [[Sturt Football Club|Sturt]] 12.5 (77), attracting 62,543 spectators<ref name="Adelaide Oval Venue Information">{{cite web|title=Adelaide Oval Venue Information |url=http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/3/venue-information.aspx |access-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130918070839/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/3/venue-information.aspx |archive-date=18 September 2013 |df=dmy}}</ref>
<gallery align="center">
File:Corroboree 1885 Adelaide Oval.jpg|<small>'''Aboriginal corroboree''' (1885)<br /></small>
File:Adelaide_Oval_Royal_Motorcade_1927.jpg|<small>'''Motorcade''', [[Royal visits to Australia|1927 Royal Tour]]</small>
File:Gridiron in Adelaide 1942.jpg|<small>'''American football''' (1942)<br /></small>
File:1965 SANFL Grand Final Port Adelaide Sturt Sunday Mail.jpg|<small>'''[[1965 SANFL Grand Final]]'''</small>
File:ADELE LIVE 2017 at ADELAIDE OVAL - Sweet Devotion.jpg|<small>'''2017 [[Adele]] concert'''<br /></small>
</gallery>

== Statues ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width: 100%;"
|+ Adelaide Oval statues
!Subject!!Unveiling!!Notability
!Sculptor!!Donator
!Location
|- align="center"
| [[File:Hercules Statue Adelaide.jpeg|center|frameless|249x249px]] [[Hercules]]|| align="center" |1892 || align="center" |[[Roman mythology|Roman god]]
|||WA Horn
|Pennington Gardens
|-align="center"
|[[File:Ross Smith.jpg|center|frameless|200x200px]] [[Ross Macpherson Smith|Ross Smith]]|| align="center" |1892
| align="center" |[[Aircraft pilot|Aviator]]
|Frederick Brook Hitch
|
|Creswell Gardens
|-align="center"
|[[File:Don Bradman statue.JPG|center|frameless|150x150px]] [[Don Bradman|Donald Bradman]]
|2002
|[[Cricket]]er
|[[Robert Hannaford]] 
|
|East Gate
|-align="center"
|[[File:Jason_Gillespie_statue,_Adelaide_Oval,_22_August_2020.jpg|center|frameless|150x150px]] [[Jason Gillespie]] 
|2010
|[[Cricket]]er
|[[Ken Martin (Australian sculptor)|Ken Martin]]
|Basil Sellers
|SACA members reserve
|-align="center"
|[[File:Darren_Lehmann_statue,_Adelaide_Oval,_22_August_2020.jpg|center|frameless|150x150px]] [[Darren Lehmann]]
|2012
|[[Cricket]]er
|[[Ken Martin (Australian sculptor)|Ken Martin]]
|Basil Sellers
|SACA members reserve
|-align="center"
|[[File:Barrie Robran Statue.jpg|center|frameless|200x200px]] [[Barrie Robran]]|| align="center" |2014|| align="center" |[[Australian rules football]]er
|||Basil Sellers
|South Gate
|-align="center"
|[[File:George_Giffen_statue_Adelaide_Oval,_2017.jpg|center|frameless|172x172px]] [[George Giffen]]
|2014
|[[Cricket]]er
|Judith Rolevink
|Basil Sellers
|
|-align="center"
|[[File:Russell Ebert statue.jpg|center|frameless|172x172px]] [[Russell Ebert]]
| align="center" |2015||[[Australian rules football]]er
|||Basil Sellers
|East Gate
|-align="center"
|[[File:Malcolm_Blight_statue_Adelaide_Oval.jpg|center|frameless|172x172px]] [[Malcolm Blight]]
|2016
|[[Australian rules football]]er
|
|Basil Sellers
|South East concourse
|-align="center"
|[[File:Ken_Farmer_statue_Adelaide_Oval.jpg|center|frameless|172x172px]] [[Ken Farmer]]
|2017
|[[Australian rules football]]er
|
|Basil Sellers
|North West gate
|-align="center"
|[[File:Clem_Hill_statue_Adelaide_Oval.jpg|center|frameless|254x254px]] [[Clem Hill]]
|2018
|[[Cricket]]er
|[[Silvio Apponyi|Silvio Appunyi]]
|Basil Sellers
|South Gate
|}

==Transport access ==
{{update|section|date=August 2024}}
{{unreferenced section|date=August 2024}}
[[Adelaide Metro]] offers free 'Footy Express' services on AFL game days, abbreviated 'AO' and 'AOX' services.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Plan your Adelaide Oval trips as footy season kicks off |url=https://daily.raa.com.au/media-resources/plan-your-adelaide-oval-trips-as-footy-season-kicks-off/ |access-date=2025-03-30 |website=RAA Daily |language=en}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable"
|+ Public transport access
!Service!!Station/stop!!Line/route!!Walking distance
|-
| align="left" |[[Adelaide Metro|Adelaide Metro Buses]] [[File:Aiga bus trans.svg|12px]] || align="center" |King William Rd<br /> Montefiore Rd<br /> North Terrace<br /> Victoria Dr|| align="center" |Several routes || align="center" |300 m<br /> 400 m<br /> 650 m<br /> 400 m
|-
| align="left" |[[Adelaide Metro|Adelaide Metro Footy Express Buses]] [[File:Aiga bus trans.svg|12px]] || align="center" |King William Rd<br /> Sir Edwin Smith Ave<br /> Victoria Dr|| align="center" |20 routes<br /> 6 routes<br /> 4 routes|| align="center" |300 m <br /> 300 m <br /> 550 m
|-
| align="left" |[[Adelaide Metro|Adelaide Metro Trains]] [[File:BSicon BAHN.svg|20px]] || align="center" |[[Adelaide railway station|Adelaide]] || align="center" |7 lines|| align="center" |550 m 
|-
| align="left" |[[Adelaide Metro|Adelaide Metro Trams]] [[File:BSicon TRAM.svg|28px]] || align="center" |Adelaide, North Terrace<ref name="Adelaide Railway Station Tram Stop">{{cite web |title=Adelaide Railway Station Tram Stop |url=https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/stops?id=17753 |website=Adelaide Metro |publisher=Adelaide Metro |access-date=27 July 2025}}</ref><br /> Festival Plaza, King William Rd<ref>{{cite web |title=Festival Plaza Tram Stop |url=https://www.adelaidemetro.com.au/stops?id=18847 |website=Adelaide Metro |publisher=Adelaide Metro |access-date=27 July 2025}}</ref> || align="center" |[[Glenelg, South Australia|Glenelg]], Botanic Gardens<br /> Festival || align="center" |650 m
|}

==See also==
{{Portal|Cricket|Sports|Australia}}
* [[Disappearance of Joanne Ratcliffe and Kirste Gordon]]
* [[List of Australian Football League grounds]]
* [[List of Test cricket grounds]]
* [[List of international cricket five-wicket hauls at the Adelaide Oval]]
* [[List of Australian rules football statues]], a list of Australian rules football-related statues across Australia

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{official website}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20171015150942/http://www.adelaideoval.com.au/library/Adelaide%20Oval%20Timeline.pdf Adelaide Oval historical time line 1871 to present]

{{Adelaide landmarks}}
{{AdelaideParklands}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Related articles
| list = 
{{Test Cricket Grounds AUS}}
{{Big Bash League Cricket grounds}}
{{Adelaide Strikers}}
{{International cricket centuries by ground}}
{{International cricket five-wicket hauls by ground}}
{{AFL Grounds}}
{{AFL Women's venues}}
{{SANFL grounds}}
{{Adelaide Football Club}}
{{Port Adelaide Football Club}}
{{Adelaide Rams}}
{{Australian Football League}}
{{A-League stadiums}}
{{Adelaide United}} 
{{2003 Rugby World Cup venues}} 
{{NRL Grounds}}
{{World Rugby Sevens Series venues}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1871 establishments in Australia]]
[[Category:Test cricket grounds in Australia]]
[[Category:Rugby union stadiums in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports venues in Adelaide]]
[[Category:Rugby league stadiums in Australia]]
[[Category:Australian Football League grounds]]
[[Category:Multi-purpose stadiums in Australia]]
[[Category:Sports venues completed in 1871]]
[[Category:Boxing venues in Australia]]
[[Category:Adelaide Strikers (WBBL)]]
[[Category:Adelaide Park Lands]]
[[Category:Adelaide Strikers]]
[[Category:Soccer venues in South Australia]]
[[Category:Adelaide Rams]]
[[Category:Cricket grounds in South Australia]]
[[Category:South Australian National Football League grounds]]
[[Category:Rugby union in South Australia]]
[[Category:Rugby league in South Australia]]