In the movie Field of Dreams, a farmer played by Kevin Costner hears a voice say “build it and he will come”. For some odd reason he decides that this means he should rip out his cornfields and make a baseball diamond in their place. Fast forward a bit and he gets visited by some ghosts and things get a bit weird… but “he” (meaning Costner’s father) did come. Then all the locals start rocking up to watch baseball on his farm baseball field and everyone lives happily ever after.
The moral of the story is that if you have a good venue, people will want to get there (especially if you put on a half-decent show).
Hindmarsh Stadium, now re-named under a beer branding sponsorship, is the home of Adelaide United.
The club goes ok. It makes the finals most years, it has helped develop a handful of Socceroos in the past few years and it has a couple of trophies in the cabinet after eleven seasons of existence.
The club’s average attendance last season for A-League games was 13,138. Granted that figure includes the 33,126 people who showed up to Adelaide Oval to see the Reds clash against rivals Melbourne Victory.
But, give or take, on any given weekend during the season, you’d generally see around 10,000 people at Hindmarsh Stadium for an Adelaide United fixture.
The Stadium is close to the city with ample parking plus the bonus of being a short train or tram ride away from town. It is an amazing place to watch football because you’re close to the action and the players really feel the atmosphere.
With a capacity of around 17,000 you’d be within your rights to argue the stadium meets its demand and there is no need for an upgrade.
But, you’d be wrong.
Hindmarsh Stadium. (Source: Alexander Carter)
As a proud football fan from a proud football state, I was gutted that no Asian Cup matches were held in Adelaide during the tournament held earlier this year.
The reason?
Well there were a few, but the main one was that Hindmarsh Stadium was too small; it couldn’t fit enough patrons.
Adelaide Oval was redeveloped in time but it isn’t really a football ground is it? Nobody really likes watching the beautiful game at the beautiful venue because spectators are too far away from the action and too spread out unless there’s a massive crowd.
If the crowd figure of around 19,000 at last week’s season opener against the Victory wasn’t bad enough, the atmosphere was pretty disappointing too, and we’ve become accustomed to an electric atmosphere in those derby matches.
The one exception was when Liverpool came to Adelaide to take on the Reds in July. It was a spectacle like no other.
However, let’s be honest, it isn’t going to happen too often is it?
Hindmarsh Stadium’s main tenant is Adelaide United. Yes, it gets the odd concert or two, but apart from the Reds, no sporting team or organisation really uses it.
Football is growing massively in this country on the back of rising junior participation and the success of the Socceroos and Matildas internationally.
So let’s be smart about planning for the future.
This is when I’m hoping the people with the money and power start hearing the same voice that Kevin Costner was hearing in his cornfield:
“If you build it, he will come.”
Adelaide Oval was redeveloped to make it suitable for both cricket and AFL matches for crowds of up to 54,000.
Rarely did it ever attract its previous capacity of 34,000, and neither did AFL’s previous home ground Football Park at West Lakes.
So why upgrade the oval?
Well the main reason probably had something to do with politicians attracting votes, but it was also about the sustainability of cricket and AFL, and making sure supporters had a venue they’d be proud of and happy to attend.
The result?
Record crowds for AFL and cricket at the Adelaide Oval. The Adelaide Crows have gone from an average crowd of 33,612 in 2013 at Football Park to 46,487 in 2015 at Adelaide Oval. Port Adelaide likewise from 26,915 at Football Park in 2013 to 42,929 at the Oval this year.
Some of that incredible growth can be attributed to a better on-field performance by the clubs, but most comes down to a better game-day experience at a much better (and bigger) venue.
Hindmarsh Stadium desperately needs an upgrade which includes increased capacity, shelter on the three uncovered stands to protect spectators all year round and better catering, corporate and media facilities.
Modernise the place. Put a roof over people who have to put up with rain in the winter and scorching heat and sun glare in the summer. Fill in the gaps in the corners between each stand.
The stadium will be more attractive for more events, and more people will want to get there.
A little bit of foresight (and a little bit of money) will go a long way.
Kevin Costner got it.
Loukas Founten is a journalist for ABC News in Adelaide and the author of A Decade United – 10 Years of the Adelaide United Football Club, which can be purchased here.
