SANFL grounds according to Dale Clarke (Messenger Newspapers

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Surely a pirate ship and a slippery dip give you extra points...

[Wedgie]

Do think visability is good though.

Never had a problem with it, much easier to see than at Elizabeth, you just have to look at the shadows of the players to see that, even bright enough at Norwood to take photos with a digitial. Also better than Thebby was, only Adelaide is a better place for night footy.

[eaglesfan]

The lighting at Norwood is terrible.

[Thiele]

Unley is terrible

[doggies4eva]

The main problem with Norwood is the player safety issue of the grandstand being too close to the boundary.

[Proud Dad]

Isn't this the same guy who said Centrals would strugle this year and finish no higher than 4th!

Best Oval has to be Adelaide, Day or Night. Best Surface, Best facilities, Best Viewing.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

Agreed Dad. Just lacks the atmosphere of a run down suburban ground...

[HeartBeatsTrue]

The main problem with Norwood is the player safety issue of the grandstand being too close to the boundary.

About the zillionth time this one's come up. In all reality injuries resulted from that 'brick wall' at Norwood has not been any more than injuries resulted going into the fence around the rest of the ground.

[PhilH]

Best or worst ovals probably depends on who you ask.

Kids / Media / Sponsors / Players / Disabled would all have different criteria

Seems apt to include the following release we sent out today.


SAFC Media Release - Friday June 1st 2007.

COME RAIN, HAIL OR SHINE
Sunday’s The Day for PANTHERS FOOTBALL!


Rain, what rain? Don’t let it stop you enjoying the great action of SANFL League Football this Sunday.

Hickinbotham Oval is now, without doubt, the league’s most weather-proof spectator stadium with more “Stay Dry” & “Stay Warm” options than any other suburban oval.

1) ARENA CAR PARK “Stay Dry, Stay Warm”
Everyone can drive into the ground, park just meters away from the action and watch the match from the warmth & comfort of their own car, never getting a drop of rain on them.

2) CLUB SOUTH FUNCTION ROOM “Stay Dry, Stay Warm”
Another dry option includes the member’s area inside the upstairs function room.
Overlooking the whole oval, it’s one of the best vantage points in the league to watch a game.

3) JIM DEANE GRANDSTAND “Stay Dry”
Always a great place to take cover on a wet day, tickets available from the Souvenir Booth.

4) STRATCO SHELTER “Stay Dry”
If you just have to stand up to watch your SANFL League Football then take up a prime position on the centre wing under our free Stratco Shelter. The shelter is by far the biggest stand up, outside, under shelter area in the SANFL.

The club wises to remind patrons that ALL South Adelaide league games at Hickinbotham Oval now start at 2pm.

ALL car parking is now inside the Hickinbotham Oval complex, so please arrive early to avoid delays.

This Sunday it’s a crunch game against Sturt, a must win match for the Panthers who put their club record, 8 game Hickinbotham Oval winning streak on the line against a much improved Double Blues side.

The Reserves commences at 11.15am, the League at 2.00pm.

There will be no radio broadcast this week so the only way to know every minute of action will be to watch it live from the ground.


For more information contact Marketing Manager, Phil Herden
Ph 8186 8200, Fax 8326 6800

[Dissident]

Hickinbotham Oval is now, without doubt, the league’s most weather-proof spectator stadium with more “Stay Dry” & “Stay Warm” options than any other suburban oval.

Only by necessity!!

[mighty_tiger_79]

and i thought that METRES was spelt like that and not meters!!!!!!

a good initiative to have the cars parked around the ground, but you just need to get the people organising the parking to know exactly where people can and cant park!!!!

[Wedgie]

Dunno about the Grandstand Phil, last time I sat in it I was 3 rows from the top and still got wet!

[eaglehaslanded]

I couldn't be bothered typing the whole article, but here's the short version, cant say I agree with much of it (do agree with some though).

1. Norwood "the elevated stand on the wing gives a great vantage point of the whole field, making the footy easy to follow."
2. Glenelg "the footy is easy to follow, mainly because the Bay is a small ground-the SANFL's SCG perhaps."
3. Woodville
4. Unley "both grounds (Woodville & Unley) have great surroundings and aside from the fact that you are at the ground for the footy, both parks are great places to be with or without the footy."
5. Prospect
6. Alberton
7. Elizabeth
8. Richmond "West's home ground is quite similar to South Adelaide, but with slightly more bearable temperatures. .................The biggest dissaspointment about Richmond oval is their dodgy digital clock...........get your act together Westies, or you'll be venue wooden spooner.
That honour currently belongs to South."
9. Noarlunga

1. Adelaide Oval
2. Woodville Oval
3. Richmond Oval
4. Glenelg Oval
5. Thebarton Oval
6. Norwood Oval
7. Prospect Oval
8. Alberton Oval
9. Elizabeth Oval
10. Noarlunga Oval
11. Unley Oval

[Grahaml]

That list just looks like a list of which grounds you've had the best record at, EHL!

HBT, I think most people realise there's not been any problems with the wall of late, it's just the potential for something very serious that worries me. It seems to me to be a very real possibility that someone might be running full tilt along the boundary, get a bump and fly head first for the wall. Probably an unlikely occurence but not an unrealistic chance at all IMHO. I think that the chance alone dictates that ideally it would be taken out of the equation and moved back a few metres if it becomes possible at some stage.

[Ian]

Isn't this the same guy who said Centrals would strugle this year and finish no higher than 4th!

Best Oval has to be Adelaide, Day or Night. Best Surface, Best facilities, Best Viewing.

Agreed Dad. Just lacks the atmosphere of a run down suburban ground...

Little atmosphere with less 12000, none with less than 8, this year I haven't missed it one bit.

[Ian]

.

1) ARENA CAR PARK “Stay Dry, Stay Warm”
Everyone can drive into the ground, park just meters away from the action and watch the match from the warmth & comfort of their own car, never getting a drop of rain on them.

How many cars can you park around the oval? 50, 60 ??, X that by 4, yeh that would be everyone that would turn up to a South game!

[Wedgie]

.

1) ARENA CAR PARK “Stay Dry, Stay Warm”
Everyone can drive into the ground, park just meters away from the action and watch the match from the warmth & comfort of their own car, never getting a drop of rain on them.

How many cars can you park around the oval? 50, 60 ??, X that by 4, yeh that would be everyone that would turn up to a South game!

Good question, my guess would be close to 200 though. Add the grand stand, the function area and the shed and it probably adds up to well over 1000.

[Ian]

Everyone can drive into the ground,

????

[smac]

Everyone can drive into the ground,

????

Can't be good for the playing surface. But will help the players improve their evasive skills.

[Wedgie]

Everyone can drive into the ground,

????

They could at the last game I went there, and everyone can at any other game if they get there early enough.
Phil's also talking about Sunday's game where Im sure everyone can also. Not everyone takes up the option, I know I never have.
It also depends on what constitutes the ground as they now don't open the car park across the road anymore and put every car inside the fence.